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NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 — Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
NETGEAR

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500

Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000

86
/ 100
From $599
VS
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro wins by 2
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700
ASUS

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700

88
/ 100
From $279
Specdex verdict

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 lands at 86 and ASUS RT-AX86U Pro at 88. That puts ASUS RT-AX86U Pro ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 if…

  • ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • ✓App-driven setup
  • ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)

Pick ASUS RT-AX86U Pro if…

  • ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • ✓App-driven setup
  • ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Throughput

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Compared on the throughput sub-score

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro leads on throughput (88 vs 86).

Range

Tie

Compared on the range sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Features

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Compared on the features sub-score

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro leads on features (86 vs 84).

Value for money

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro more score per dollar ($279 vs $599).

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 86
vs
88 ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Score breakdown

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
86
throughput 86
range 86
features 84
value 82
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
88
throughput 88
range 86
features 86
value 82

Specs side-by-side

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 versus ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — full spec comparison
Spec NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
Standard
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6
Throughput
▲ AXE11000
AX5700

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500

Pros
  • +Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • +App-driven setup
  • +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Cons
  • −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
  • −Range varies
  • −Firmware stability improves over time

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Pros
  • +Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • +App-driven setup
  • +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Cons
  • −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
  • −Range varies
  • −Firmware stability improves over time

FAQ: NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 vs ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Which is better, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or ASUS RT-AX86U Pro? +

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 worth the price? +

At $599, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in throughput.

Is ASUS RT-AX86U Pro worth the price? +

At $279, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.

Does NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or ASUS RT-AX86U Pro last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for throughput, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or ASUS RT-AX86U Pro? +

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — leads on throughput (88 vs 86). Compared on the throughput sub-score.

Which is better for features, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or ASUS RT-AX86U Pro? +

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — leads on features (86 vs 84). Compared on the features sub-score.