▷Netgear Nighthawk AX12 review: what changes with Wi-Fi 6? 🥇

Netgear Nighthawk AX12, in the version RAX120, is one of the first routers to take advantage of the Wi-Fi 6. A future-proof product that allows you to manage 12 streams, therefore ideal for modern smart homes.

But before we draw conclusions and understand if it is worth buying, let's take a step back and start from the base: what is WiFi 6?

Wi-Fi 6… what does it mean?

We have been hearing about Wi-Fi for years, but we often forget a vital element: wireless connection is a technology and, as such, it is constantly evolving. The Wi-Fi is therefore not the same that we started using back in 1997. Think that since then this kind of connectivity has been studied, modified and enhanced 5 more times.

That's why today, more than 20 years later, we are talking about Wi-Fi 6 a standard that only landed on the market last year.

But what changes compared to its predecessor? Speed first: the new standard allows us to reach 1,2 Gigabits per second.

The second big advantage concerns the amount of devices connected to the same network: Wi-Fi 6 it handles many different terminals very well even when they are struggling with demanding tasks such as streaming in 4K, downloading a heavy file and gaming.

Finally we have the consumption: in fact, the new technology helps to reduce them considerably.

To take advantage of all this you need a proper router and this is where it comes into play Netgear Nighthawk AX12.

Netgear Nighthawk AX12 review: did someone say gaming?

Netgear Nighthawk AX12 isn't exactly a one-size-fits-all router. The generous dimensions, the big wings and the futuristic lines these are all elements that can easily be traced back to products dedicated to gamers.

The vaguely aggressive aesthetic, however, hides ben 8 antenna that support as many streams on the 5 GHz band and up to 4 on the 2,4 GHz band. Of course you can also use the good old Ethernet cable: on the back we find 4 porte Ethernet, a door Multi-Gig for higher speeds e two USB to which to connect hard disks or keys, to be used as an online storage space.

The rear also houses the input for the power supply, the on and off button and a switch to activate or deactivate the LEDs of the traditional status indicators. Finally, on the upper part we have a button to activate or deactivate the Wi-Fi.

[

The configuration? Just an app

I have configured Netgear Nighthawk AX12 twice. No, not because it didn't work, but because I used it in two different situations.

The first time at Milan Games Week 2019, where, associated with a switch, provided connectivity to 20 gaming stations connected via Ethernet and to a handful of PCs and smartphones connected via a wireless network. To configure it on that occasion I used a laptop and the procedure was really fast: you connect to the network generated by default by the router, go to the link indicated in the instructions - www.routerlogin.net - and then follow the wizard. You hardly have to do anything but decide the WiFi name and password and, in seconds, you will be online.

The second time, to set up the home connection, I used the dedicated application. Is called Netgear Nighthawk, you can download it for free from the App Store or Google Play Store and, once opened, select the New Configuration option. Also in this case it will only take a few minutes to be ready to navigate.

In short, installation is very simple and does not require any kind of technical expertise. You just have to let yourself be guided by the simple instructions shown by the app or website.

Let's talk about the web interface

The last time I got my hands on a router from the Nighthawk family, I found myself managing the home network with Duma OS, a powerful operating system with a decidedly aggressive interface. Here we are faced with something extremely different: the UI is simple and minimal, both in the lines and in the colors, practically absent since the shades present are mainly white, gray and black.

Two ways are foreseen: the Basic one and the Advanced one. However, the first allows you to carry out the main operations: you can check the connection status, change the wireless network, activate the QuS – Quality of Service -, create a guest network and set up a VPN client. Plus you have the ReadySHARE; so you can connect a pen drive or hard disk to the USB port to access its content remotely.

Advanced mode offers more or less the same functionality, but with a few more options and a panel dedicated to safety which allows you to control access to the network of individual devices, as well as block sites or services that are not suitable, for example, for minors. Too bad that the management here is a bit more cumbersome than what is seen in other devices of the US multinational. In short, we would not have minded the integration with Circle With Disney or something equally intuitive.

An app dedicated to simplicity

Do you prefer to manage the network via your smartphone? Well, know that you will have to give up some features that you find in the web interface instead.

The application is devoted to minimalism and equipped with 6 main sections:

Device Manager, to see which devices are connected to the network;
Internet speed, to perform a speed test;
WiFi Analytics, for statisticians;
WiFi settings, to manage the homonymous connection;
WiFi Guest, for those who want to create a network dedicated to guests,
Traffic statistics, for those who want to understand how many MB / GB are uploaded and downloaded daily.

In short, there is basically everything you need for an extremely basic management of the home network. Ideal for the less experienced and for those who do not want to waste time with more advanced settings.

However, I would have preferred a double version of the UI, just like the web variant, so as to be able to find all the options seen on routerlogin.net, starting from ReadySHARE and the Security menu.

[

Netgear Nighthawk AX12 review: the user experience

Nighthawk AX12, with its 12-stream support, 2,2GHz quad-core processor and 512GB of RAM, is perfect for supporting multiple activities at the same time. You can then start streaming in 4K on your TV, while someone plays online and other family members use PCs, smartphones and tablets. All this without displeasing or penalizing anyone and without any effort on your part. Netgear takes care of the optimization of the network, which not only helps you manage all these activities but guarantees good coverage for medium-sized apartments and houses.

Obviously, to enjoy all this you don't necessarily have to have devices equipped with WiFi 6. I in fact, the benefits also involve all those devices linked to previous standards.

Speaking of new technologies, know that the router supports WPA3 security keys. To be able to use them, however, you will have to wait until all the devices in your possession are compatible with the new standard, which will probably happen in a few years. A useless function? Actually no: considering the economic investment necessary to win a Nighthawk AX12, this propensity for the future is absolutely welcome. In short, you will have to spend 429 euro, but you will have the certainty of being able to use it for years.