NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Wi-Fi 7 · Tri-band mesh · Dual 10 GbE
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 lands at 86 and TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) at 88. That puts TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) 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 TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) if…
- ✓Dual 10 GbE + dual 2.5 GbE per node
- ✓Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 320 MHz channels
- ✓MLO + 8 antennas — excellent coverage
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 | TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 (BE22000) 4×4 tri-band |
| Throughput | AXE11000 | — |
| Bands | — | Tri-band (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz) |
| Channel width | — | 320 MHz |
| Ports | — | 2× 10 GbE + 2× 2.5 GbE per node |
| Antennas | — | 8 internal |
| Features | — | MLO + Mesh AI roaming |
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
- +Current-gen Wi-Fi
- +App-driven setup
- +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
- −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
- −Range varies
- −Firmware stability improves over time
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
- +Dual 10 GbE + dual 2.5 GbE per node
- +Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 320 MHz channels
- +MLO + 8 antennas — excellent coverage
- −HomeShield subscription for advanced security
- −UI feels dated
- −Slightly less range than eero Max 7
FAQ: NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 vs TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Which is better, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)? +
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) 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 TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) worth the price? +
At $999, TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Does NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) 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.