Paid partnership disclosure: This article is part of a paid Amazon campaign with NETGEAR. As an Amazon Associate, ModemGuides earns from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon in this article are paid links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. NETGEAR did not provide a sample unit. Everything below is based on NETGEAR's published specifications and the Amazon listing.
Most router advice pushes you toward the biggest, fastest, most expensive box on the shelf. If you live in an apartment, a condo, or a smaller house, that is money spent on range you have no rooms for and speed your internet plan cannot deliver. What you need is a router that covers your space, keeps every phone, laptop, and TV connected, and does not cost more than the problem it solves.
That is the whole idea behind the NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router (model R6700AX). It is an entry-level AX1800 router that brings WiFi 6 to homes up to 1,500 square feet and up to 20 connected devices, at one of the lowest costs you will find for WiFi 6 from a major brand. This guide covers what it does, who it fits, and how to tell if it is the right size for your home.
See the NETGEAR R6700AX on Amazon(paid link) Check the listing for the current price.
Key Takeaways
- The R6700AX is a dual-band WiFi 6 (AX1800) router with wireless speeds up to 1.8 Gbps, sized for apartments, condos, and smaller homes up to 1,500 sq. ft.
- It handles up to 20 connected devices at once, which covers the phones, laptops, TVs, and smart home gear in a typical one to three person household.
- It is priced as an entry-level router, so you get WiFi 6 without paying for coverage and capacity a smaller home will never use.
- Setup runs through the Nighthawk app in minutes, and every unit includes access to NETGEAR's free Expert Help service.
Why a Smaller Home Does Not Need an Expensive Router
Router pricing climbs with three things: how far the signal reaches, how many devices it can juggle, and how fast its top speed is. High-end models are built for 3,000 square foot houses with 50 or more devices and multi-gig internet plans. In a 900 square foot apartment on a 300 or 500 Mbps plan, none of that extra capability ever gets used.
The R6700AX is built the other way around. NETGEAR sized it for the space most renters and first-time buyers live in, then kept the parts that matter: current-generation WiFi 6, a gigabit internet port, four gigabit Ethernet ports, and modern WPA3 security. The result is a router that does the job in a smaller home and leaves the rest of your budget alone.
There is a second way it saves money. Many internet providers charge a monthly fee to rent their WiFi equipment. A router you own has no monthly fee, and at this end of the market it can pay for itself within months. If you also rent your modem, owning both removes the equipment charge entirely. You can find a compatible modem for your provider in our collections for Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox.
What WiFi 6 Changes in an Apartment or Condo
WiFi 6 is the generation of wireless that came after WiFi 5 (also called 802.11ac). Top speed gets the headlines, but the bigger improvement is how it handles many devices at the same time. Older routers talk to devices more or less one at a time, very quickly. WiFi 6 can send data to several devices in the same moment, so a video call, a 4K stream, and a game download stop waiting on each other.
That matters more in apartments and condos than anywhere else. When dozens of neighboring networks share the same airwaves, efficiency is what keeps your connection steady in the evening when everyone in the building is online. NETGEAR rates the R6700AX at up to 1.5 times the performance of an AC1200 WiFi 5 router on newer devices.
The AX1800 rating breaks down to up to 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 1,200 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther and suits smart plugs, cameras, and older gadgets. The 5 GHz band is faster and suits phones, laptops, and streaming devices. The router is backwards compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier devices, so everything you already own will connect.
Wireless speeds are maximum rates from the WiFi standard. Your results depend on your internet plan, your devices, and what your walls are made of.
Sized for Apartments, Condos, and Smaller Homes
NETGEAR rates the R6700AX for up to 1,500 square feet. That covers most studio, one, and two bedroom apartments, condos, townhome floors, and smaller single-story houses. In those spaces a single well-placed router reaches every room, which means no mesh system to buy and no extenders to manage.
Placement does most of the work. Put the router in a central spot, out in the open, and off the floor. A shelf in the living room beats the inside of a TV cabinet or a closet every time. At 9.27 by 7.26 by 2.25 inches and just over a pound, it is small enough to sit on a bookshelf without taking it over.
What 20 Devices Looks Like
Twenty devices sounds like a lot until you count. A household of two might have two phones, two laptops, a tablet, a smart TV, a streaming stick, a game console, a smart speaker, a printer, a video doorbell, and a few smart plugs or bulbs. That is around 14 devices, with room left for guests.
The R6700AX uses four WiFi streams to keep those connections moving together. For a single person, a couple, roommates, or a small family, it has the capacity to stream, work from home, and browse at the same time without slowdowns.
Ports and Wired Connections
The back of the router has five gigabit Ethernet ports: one 1 Gbps internet (WAN) port that connects to your modem, and four 1 Gbps LAN ports for wired devices. Plugging in a game console, a desktop PC, or a smart TV gives that device the steadiest connection possible and frees up wireless capacity for everything else.
The R6700AX works with any internet provider on plans up to 1 Gbps, including cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite. It is a router only, so it connects to a modem or a fiber terminal (ONT) with the included Ethernet cable. It does not replace the modem itself.
Setup Takes Minutes with the Nighthawk App
You do not need any networking knowledge to get this router online. Download the free Nighthawk app on your iPhone or Android phone, plug the router into your modem, and follow the prompts. The app finds the router, walks you through naming your network and choosing a password, and installs the latest firmware.
After setup, the same app lets you see which devices are connected, pause the internet on any device, check your data usage, run a speed test, and manage the network when you are away from home. If you prefer a computer, the router also has a standard web interface.
Security and Support
The R6700AX supports WPA3, the current WiFi security standard, along with WPA2 for older devices. It includes a guest network, so visitors can get online without learning your main password or seeing your devices. Automatic firmware updates deliver security patches without you having to remember to check for them. It also includes VPN support for secure access to your home network while you are away.
NETGEAR Armor, the company's network security service, comes with a 30-day free trial. It requires a paid subscription after the trial, and the router works normally without it.
Every R6700AX comes with access to NETGEAR's free Expert Help service. If you get stuck during setup or something stops working later, you can reach a support specialist instead of searching forums. For a first-time router buyer, that is a meaningful safety net. NETGEAR has been making home networking gear for nearly 30 years, so long-term firmware and support are part of what you are buying.
NETGEAR R6700AX Specifications
| Specification | NETGEAR R6700AX |
|---|---|
| WiFi standard | WiFi 6 (802.11ax), dual band, 4 streams |
| Speed class | AX1800, up to 1.8 Gbps combined |
| 2.4 GHz band | Up to 600 Mbps |
| 5 GHz band | Up to 1,200 Mbps |
| Coverage | Up to 1,500 sq. ft. |
| Connected devices | Up to 20 |
| Internet port | 1 x 1 Gbps WAN |
| Ethernet ports | 4 x Gigabit LAN |
| Internet plan support | Any provider up to 1 Gbps (cable, fiber, DSL, satellite) |
| Security | WPA3 and WPA2, guest network, automatic firmware updates, VPN support |
| Backwards compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac devices |
| Setup and management | Nighthawk app (iOS and Android) or web browser |
| Support | Free Expert Help included |
| Dimensions and weight | 9.27 x 7.26 x 2.25 in, 1.10 lb |
| In the box | Router, Ethernet cable, power adapter, quick start guide |
Specifications from NETGEAR's R6700AX technical sheet and the Amazon listing.
Who the R6700AX Fits
- Renters. It covers an apartment from a single spot, moves with you, and ends the monthly router rental fee from your provider.
- Smaller homes and condos. Up to 1,500 sq. ft. on one router, with no mesh units or extenders to place.
- First-time WiFi 6 buyers. If your router is five or more years old, this is the lowest-cost way to get current WiFi from a well-known brand.
- Students and first apartments. Simple app setup, a guest network for visitors, and support on call if something goes wrong.
- Parents, grandparents, and anyone you do tech support for. The app and Expert Help make it an easy router to set up for someone else.
If your home is larger than 1,500 sq. ft., has more than one story with thick floors, or runs well past 20 devices, a mesh system is the better fit. You can browse our mesh network systems for whole-home options. The same goes for internet plans faster than 1 Gbps, which need a router with a multi-gig internet port.
Check the NETGEAR R6700AX on Amazon(paid link)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NETGEAR R6700AX good for an apartment?
Yes. It is rated for up to 1,500 sq. ft. and 20 devices, which matches most apartments and condos. WiFi 6 also handles crowded airwaves better than older routers, which helps in buildings with many neighboring networks.
Is the R6700AX a modem and a router?
No. It is a router only. It connects to your existing cable modem, DSL modem, or fiber terminal with an Ethernet cable and creates your WiFi network.
Which internet providers does the R6700AX work with?
It works with any internet provider on plans up to 1 Gbps, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, AT&T Fiber, Verizon Fios, and satellite services. Because it is a router and not a modem, it does not need to be on a provider's approved modem list.
How many devices can the NETGEAR R6700AX handle?
NETGEAR rates it for up to 20 connected devices at the same time. That covers a typical household of one to three people, including phones, laptops, TVs, a console, and a handful of smart home devices.
Will my older devices work with a WiFi 6 router?
Yes. The R6700AX is backwards compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier devices. Older devices connect at their own top speed, and WiFi 6 phones and laptops get the full benefit.
Is WiFi 6 worth it if my internet plan is not very fast?
Yes, for most homes. The main benefit of WiFi 6 is smoother performance when several devices are in use together, which helps on any plan. At this router's entry-level cost, there is little reason to buy an older WiFi 5 model.
How do I set up the NETGEAR R6700AX?
Install the Nighthawk app on your phone, connect the router to your modem with the included Ethernet cable, plug in the power adapter, and follow the prompts in the app. Most people are online in a few minutes. The R6700AX on Amazon (paid link) ships with everything needed for setup.
Does the R6700AX require a subscription?
No. The router and the Nighthawk app work without any subscription. NETGEAR Armor security is optional and becomes a paid service after its 30-day free trial.
As an Amazon Associate, ModemGuides earns from qualifying purchases. This article is part of a paid campaign with NETGEAR, and Amazon links above are paid links.
