NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router
By NETGEAR · Wifi Routers · Desk & Streaming Setup
- Ports: 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 2x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 2x Gigabit LAN, 1x USB 3.0 (XDA, NETGEAR)
- Quad-core 2.0 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, 4 internal high-performance antennas (NETGEAR, XDA)
- Coverage up to 2,500 sq
- WPA3 encryption, separate IoT and Guest networks, VPN support, automatic firmware updates
- Measures 9.8 x 5.9 x 4 in, 2.09 lb (NETGEAR)
Price not listed
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Summary
NETGEAR’s $299.99 standalone tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, sold as the RS300 and also as the BE9300. Check your floors and wireless congestion before you buy: the one measured test shows throughput falling from 994.55 Mbit/s next to the router to 195 Mbit/s and 115.15 Mbit/s on upper floors.
Strengths
- Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with a 6 GHz radio and 320 MHz channels for crowded 5 and 6 GHz areas.
- One 2.5 Gbps WAN and two 2.5 Gbps LAN ports, so most wired setups skip a separate switch.
- Close-range speed is strong: 994.55 Mbit/s measured beside the router over a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet link.
- Four internal antennas and a quad-core 2.0 GHz processor keep it a compact single box.
- The Nighthawk app setup wizard is quick, and its main screen shows network status and connected devices.
- WPA3, VPN support, automatic firmware updates and separate Main, IoT and Guest networks are built in.
Weaknesses
- The one measured test shows 195 Mbit/s on the first floor and 115.15 Mbit/s on the second in a congested wireless area.
- Port forwarding and manual channel selection need the web interface, not the Nighthawk app.
- Two separate paid subscriptions, NETGEAR Armor and Shield Parental Controls, sit on top of the price.
- The 6 GHz band is indoor-only and needs 6 GHz-capable clients.
- The 2,500 sq ft and 100-device figures are manufacturer claims, not independently verified results.
- NETGEAR’s warranty needs purchase from an authorized reseller and product registration.
Verified specifications
| Model | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300, also sold as Model BE9300; the RS280 is a separate 9.2 Gbps sibling. |
|---|---|
| WiFi | tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), up to 9.3 Gbps combined. |
| 2.4 GHz radio | up to 0.7 Gbps, 4096-QAM, 20/40 MHz channels. |
| 5 GHz radio | up to 2.9 Gbps, 4096-QAM, 20/40/80/160 MHz channels. |
| 6 GHz radio | up to 5.8 Gbps, 4096-QAM, 20/40/80/160/320 MHz channels; 320 MHz is this band only. |
| Processor | quad-core 2.0 GHz. |
| Antennas | four internal high-performance antennas with high-power amplifiers. |
| Ports | one 2.5 Gbps WAN, two 2.5 Gbps LAN, two 1 Gbps LAN, one USB 3.0. |
| Coverage | up to 2,500 sq ft and up to 100 connected devices, as claimed by NETGEAR. |
| Security | WPA3, VPN support, automatic firmware updates, access control, and separate Main, IoT and Guest networks. |
| Subscriptions | NETGEAR Armor (powered by Bitdefender) and Shield Parental Controls are separate optional subscriptions. |
| Setup | Nighthawk app with a setup wizard, plus a web interface at 192.168.1.1. |
| USB | ReadySHARE shares a USB 3.0 storage device over the network. |
| Factory reset | user name admin, password password, DHCP enabled, LAN IP 192.168.1.1. |
| 6 GHz | indoor range only, and clients must support 6 GHz. |
| Dimensions | 9.8 × 5.9 × 4 in (249 × 150 × 101.6 mm); 2.09 lb (.95 kg). |
| Power | 12V/3.5A adapter. |
| In the box | router, Ethernet cable, 12V/3.5A power adapter, quick start guide. |
| Warranty | purchase from a NETGEAR authorized reseller and registration required; refurbished units carry 90 days. |
Full research notes and sources
What the 9.3 Gbps figure means
The 9.3 Gbps number is an aggregate of the three bands’ maximum IEEE 802.11be link rates: 0.7 Gbps on 2.4 GHz, 2.9 Gbps on 5 GHz and 5.8 Gbps on 6 GHz. It is not real throughput, and NETGEAR’s own footnote says actual throughput and coverage vary with network conditions, regulation, traffic, device limits and building construction.
Range, floors and congestion
That same review recorded 195 Mbit/s one floor down and 115.15 Mbit/s two floors down, in what the reviewer describes as a congested wireless area where the router could not combine its channels the way a mesh system with satellites can. The reviewer concludes the RS300 suits smaller flats and that multi-floor homes in crowded areas are better served by a mesh system. It is one unit, one house and one reviewer, but it is a measured result and it points one way: close-in speed is good, and range is where the compromises live. Trusted Reviews priced the router at £199.99 in the UK in January 2026, a different market from NETGEAR’s US list.
App, ports and subscriptions
The Nighthawk app handles setup and day-to-day status, but not everything: port forwarding and manual wireless-channel selection require the web interface at 192.168.1.1. NETGEAR’s manual and spec sheet list two 2.5 Gbps LAN ports and two 1 Gbps LAN ports; Trusted Reviews describes four 2.5 Gbps ports, so check the rear panel on the unit you get. The USB 3.0 port runs ReadySHARE file sharing. Security splits into a free base and two paid extras: WPA3, VPN support and automatic firmware updates are built in, while NETGEAR Armor (powered by Bitdefender) and Shield Parental Controls are separate subscriptions, so the full feature set costs more than the $299.99 sticker.
Warranty and support
NETGEAR’s limited warranty is valid only if the router is bought from an authorized reseller and registered, the standard duration is set by the region of original purchase, and a receipt is needed as proof of purchase; refurbished units carry 90 days. Firmware updates are published at NETGEAR’s support download page and can be applied manually, and the manual warns that behaviour may differ from the documentation until firmware is updated. No published spare-parts program was found. No owner discussion was readable at check time, so there is no owner-reported reliability data for this model.
Is it worth it?
NETGEAR lists the RS300 at $299.99, between the RS200 at $229.99 and the RS500 at $399.99, with the RS150 at $169.99 and the RS100 at $149.99 below and the RS600 at $499.99 and RS700S at $599.99 above. Up to $250, a single-box Wi-Fi 7 tri-band router with 2.5 Gbps wired ports is good value. At NETGEAR’s $299.99 it is a reasonable buy for a small flat or single-floor home in a less crowded wireless area. Above $300 it is harder to justify, because the RS500 and RS600 sit above it and mesh systems address the multi-floor problem the one test flagged.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 product page
- NETGEAR RS300 technical specifications
- NETGEAR RS300 user manual
- NETGEAR consumer warranty
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
No owner discussion was readable at check time, so there are no owner-report links.
