NETGEAR
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
86
/ 100
From $599
VS
NETGEAR Orbi 960 wins by 2
NETGEAR
NETGEAR Orbi 960
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
88
/ 100
From $1,499
Specdex verdict
NETGEAR Orbi 960 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 lands at 86 and NETGEAR Orbi 960 at 88. That puts NETGEAR Orbi 960 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 NETGEAR Orbi 960 if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 86
vs 88 NETGEAR Orbi 960
Score breakdown
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
86 throughput 86
range 86
features 84
value 82
NETGEAR Orbi 960
88 throughput 88
range 86
features 86
value 82
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 | NETGEAR Orbi 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Throughput | AXE11000 | AXE11000 |
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
NETGEAR Orbi 960
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 NETGEAR Orbi 960
Which is better, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or NETGEAR Orbi 960? +
NETGEAR Orbi 960 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 NETGEAR Orbi 960 worth the price? +
At $1,499, NETGEAR Orbi 960 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Does NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or NETGEAR Orbi 960 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.