Netgear was one of the few companies to
introduce Wi-Fi 6 routers back in 2019. The initial wave of Wi-Fi 6 routers
were quite expensive but it seems like in 2020 we'll see more affordable Wi-Fi
6 routers, including mesh systems that can help cover larger areas. At CES
2020, Netgear has announced a new Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that's slightly more
affordable than Google's Nest Wifi and Eero which aren't even supporting Wi-Fi
6. In addition, Netgear has also launched a new mobile router with Wi-Fi 6 and
5G support.
The new Netgear Nighthawk Mesh Wi-Fi 6
system is a dual-band wireless router with two satellite units. The design
somewhat resembled Netgear's Orbi mesh system. Each satellite unit comes with
an Ethernet port at the rear, apart from support for Wi-Fi 6. The wireless
standard enables the router to theoretically clock speeds of up to 600Mbps on
the 2.4GHz band and up to 1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Netgear's Nighthawk mesh system features
two internal antennas with support for 2x2 MU-MIMO connections. This enables
the router to beam signals from each antennae, boosting overall speeds. Of
course, you'll need to use compatible Wi-Fi 6 devices to extract the maximum
juice out of these.
The Nighthawk Mesh system is priced at US$ 230 and will start shipping in the Unites States later this
month. While 5G begins to kick off slowly, Netgear has a new product for those
on the move. The new Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G Wi-Fi 6 Mobile Router features a
touchscreen LCD display. You can easily access the router's settings and make
changes using the display. The display can also be used to monitor data usage
and check connection status. With Wi-Fi 6 support, you can make the most out of
your 5G connection.
The Nighthawk M5 comes with a removable
rechargeable battery. The router comes with a gigabit Ethernet port. The
Nighthawk M5 will ship during the second half of this year. Netgear hasn't
revealed any official price tag yet. Needless to say, it'll be available only
in markets where 5G is being rolled out.
