NETGEAR
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
86
/ 100
From $599
VS
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro wins by 2
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)
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
| 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.