In depth
At a glance
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 combines a useful set of wired connections with tri-band Wi-Fi 7. Its 6 GHz radio gives compatible devices another place to connect, while two 2.5-gigabit LAN ports leave room for both a faster computer and network storage.
That combination matters more than the large 9.3 Gb/s figure on the box. The number adds up radio ratings, while the value of this router depends on the devices you own, where they connect and whether a single router can cover the space.
The RS300 is a vertical Black tower with its antennas inside the case. That avoids external aerials spreading across a shelf, although the router still needs open space and a sensible central position. Its height is about 9.8 inches, so check the clearance if it will sit beneath another shelf.
The verified purchase option is one router with an Ethernet cable and power adapter. It connects to the modem or other Ethernet handoff supplied for your Internet service; it is not a replacement for every provider’s modem. The RS300 is the reviewed model here, rather than every Nighthawk carrying a similar speed label.
The port arrangement is particularly useful for a small network with fast local storage. One 2.5-gigabit port handles the Internet connection, leaving two equally fast LAN ports for a computer and NAS, or a switch. Two additional Gigabit ports can serve devices that do not need the faster connection.
There is no 10-gigabit port. If your priority is a very fast wired workstation network, consider the connections across the whole path before buying. A 2.5-gigabit router port remains a 2.5-gigabit link even when the wireless packaging advertises a larger combined number.
The manual also documents WAN and LAN link aggregation with compatible equipment. WAN aggregation uses one of the faster LAN ports, while LAN aggregation uses the two Gigabit ports. That changes which connections remain available; it should not be treated as a universal way to double the speed of one transfer.
The extra 6 GHz band is the reason to choose this model over a dual-band router when your devices can use it. Suitable Wi-Fi 7 clients can use wider channels there, while Wi-Fi 6E devices can also benefit from the band without gaining every Wi-Fi 7 feature. Older 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz devices remain supported.
The benefit is most convincing near the router or across a manageable number of obstacles. KitGuru tested a Wi-Fi 7 Acer Swift 14 AI using iPerf3, with a wired workstation connected to a 2.5-gigabit LAN port. It measured 1.18 Gb/s at one meter and 1.02 Gb/s at five meters through a wall. At ten meters, across multiple walls and a floor, throughput fell to 134 Mb/s.1 Those are results from its particular building and client, but they make placement more useful to think about than an advertised coverage area.
A household with mostly older wireless devices should be realistic about the upgrade. The RS300 does not give a Wi-Fi 5 laptop a 6 GHz radio. If current performance is already satisfactory, the strongest reasons to replace a router are a specific coverage problem, newer compatible clients or the need for faster wired connections.
The Nighthawk app handles setup and everyday tasks, while the browser interface exposes more detailed settings such as port forwarding, access rules and connection options. The app requires a NETGEAR account. Having both interfaces is helpful when you want convenient checks on a phone without putting every advanced task into a small screen.
Guest networking lets visitors use a separate network name. An IoT network was added in the RS300’s January 2026 firmware update, and appears in the current specifications. Update the router before relying on features added after launch, and select access settings deliberately rather than assuming a separate name provides every form of isolation.
WPA3 and automatic firmware updates are part of the router’s documented security features. Armor is an optional subscription that adds network and device protection services. Smart Parental Controls has its own Premium tier for features such as scheduling and time limits. Consider those ongoing services if they are part of the reason for choosing the router; a bundled trial is not permanent access.
The built-in OpenVPN service lets a suitable remote device connect back to the home network. That can be useful for accessing a file or other local resource while away, provided the Internet connection and remote setup permit it. It is a remote-access server, so do not assume this feature routes every household device through a commercial VPN provider.
Armor’s VPN offering is separate from that built-in server. If your main requirement is choosing a commercial VPN tunnel for devices across the home, look for explicit router-client support for the protocol and provider you intend to use.
The USB port supports storage sharing through ReadySHARE and media serving through DLNA. It can be a convenient place for an occasional shared drive, although it does not replace a NAS with dedicated backup and drive-management features. The manual explicitly excludes USB cellular modems, so this port should not be chosen as a mobile-broadband backup connection.
The Nighthawk RS200 is worth comparing if your devices do not use 6 GHz and it is priced meaningfully lower. It has one 2.5-gigabit LAN port rather than two. The RS300’s stronger case is the combination of the additional band and the second faster LAN connection, rather than an assumption that it will outperform the RS200 on every band.
The GL.iNet Flint 2 suits a different priority: configurable OpenVPN and WireGuard client and server features. It uses dual-band Wi-Fi 6, so it gives up the RS300’s 6 GHz option. For a home where coverage across several floors is the main problem, a purpose-built mesh system or carefully placed access points may be a more useful purchase than a faster single router.
The RS300 is a sensible match for a home that can make use of both 6 GHz Wi-Fi and its two faster LAN ports. I would choose it with a clear placement plan and compatible devices in mind. Its radio rating is not a reason on its own to replace a router that already meets the household’s needs.
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Independent sources cited in this article.
Original November 2024 UK review using a Wi-Fi 7 Acer Swift 14 AI, iPerf3 and a 2.5-gigabit wired link. Distances and obstacles are retained; these results do not promise identical coverage in another building or regulatory region.