Netgear R7000 Nighthawk AC1900 review

When testing with the iPad Air, which supports only 802.11n connections and has a 2×2 MIMO stream antenna setup, the Netgear excelled at long range, too, scoring 10.8MB/sec over 5GHz and 5.6MB/sec over 2.4GHz. It would appear that Netgear’s inclusion of universal beamforming has paid real dividends here.

Netgear R7000 Nighthawk AC1900 review: software and ease of use

You might expect a router as thoroughly modern as this to boast the latest in-app driven interface design; alas, this is the one area where the Nighthawk falls short. Compared with Linksys’s Smart Wi-Fi features, Netgear’s basic HTML UI is rudimentary and opaque.

This is a shame, since there’s plenty of power on tap if you have a dig around. We particularly like Netgear’s Live Parental Controls system that allows you to quickly hook the router up to OpenDNS’s web-content filtering. Once you’ve set it up, you can use the tool to block websites by category, and apply different levels of filters on a scheduled basis.

Elsewhere, there’s DLNA media server support, plus http and ftp file-sharing from connected USB storage devices. Install the Netgear Genie client software on a PC or laptop, and the router’s ReadySHARE Vault feature lets you set up a scheduled backup to a USB storage device. There’s plenty of speed on tap – we measured USB speeds of 60.8MB/sec over a wired Gigabit connection. It’s also possible to turn any printer into an Apple AirPrint-enabled device by simply plugging it into one of the USB ports.

Netgear R7000 Nighthawk AC1900 review: verdict

In all, despite the clunky web user interface, the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 AC1900 is a triumph. It may not deliver the fastest top speed over 802.11ac, but its class-leading range across all network types more than makes up for this slight lack of top-end grunt.

Combined with a raft of genuinely useful features, including content-based parental controls, Android and iOS app support, and free backup software, it’s our new A-List wireless router champion.