Netgear is showing off a number of routers at CES this year, including one model for use as a cable modem replacement. The Nighthawk X4S AC2600 Smart Wi-Fi Router is being touted as a networking appliance for gamers and those who value connection speeds, while the AC1600 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router is a high-performance router with a built-in CableLabs-certified DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, allowing it to support cable Internet speeds of up to 640Mbps.
Following after the
Nighthawk X8, the
Nighthawk X4S includes support for Wave 2 Wi-Fi functions, including quad-stream architecture for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, multi-user MIMO, and 160MHz bandwidth. Powered by a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, it can connect at up to 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz band and up to 800Mbps on 2.4GHz, giving it a potential top speed of 2.53Gbps.
Netgear Nighthawk X4S Smart Wi-Fi Router
Alongside four external antennas with Beamforming+, it has five Gigabit Ethernet ports with one for the WAN connection, two USB 3.0 ports, and one eSATA port for content storage. Like others, it includes ReadySHARE USB access and printing, apps for installation and monitoring the router, and application and device-aware Dynamic QoS technology to optimize connections for reduced lag.
Aside from the built-in cable modem, the
AC1600 offers dual-band Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.6Gbps, split up to 300Mbps and 1,300Mbps depending on the band. Like the Nighthawk X4S, it includes the same selection of app-based services, ReadySHARE and AirPrint compatibility, with it also including two autosensing Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Netgear AC1600 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router
On the modem side, it includes 16x4 channel bonding, allowing it to support 16 downstream bonded channels simultaneously, four times the typical number supported. Xfinity customers also have an easy time setting up the modem, as it has a web-based self-activation capability that can save subscribers from waiting for a service call.
The Nighthawk X4S is available now, priced at $270. The AC1600 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router will go on sale soon for around $170.
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