The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX30 is a simple dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It's on the lower end of NETGEAR's Nighthawk lineup and has a fairly basic feature set. It has four 1 Gbps wired LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port for local file sharing. You can set it up and change its settings with the Nighthawk mobile app.
Our Verdict
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX2400 is a decent router if you live in an apartment, condo, or single-story home. It provides fast speeds suitable for high-bandwidth activities like 4k video streaming throughout a single floor. However, it doesn't have Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) support, so you can't use the often less congested DFS-only channels. It has four 1 Gbps LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port for local file sharing.
- Fast speeds throughout average-sized homes.
- Wi-Fi 6 doesn't take full advantage of new Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices.
- Lacks DFS support, so it can't avoid more congested channels.
The NETGEAR RAX30 is a decent router if you live in a multi-level home with a backyard. It provides speeds that are suitable for high-bandwidth uses like 4k video streaming throughout the whole home. Its speeds are just okay if you're far from the router or have a very large home. It has four 1 Gbps LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port for local file sharing.
- Fast speeds throughout average-sized homes.
- Standalone router that may have deadzones if you have a very large home.
- Wi-Fi 6 doesn't take full advantage of new Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices.
- Lacks DFS support, so it can't avoid more congested channels.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX2400 delivers good speeds suitable for an internet connection up to ~700 Mbps. Unfortunately, it lacks Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) support, so it can't use the often less congested DFS-only channels, which would help if you live in a congested wireless environment.
- Fast speeds throughout average-sized homes.
- Lacks DFS support, so it can't avoid more congested channels.
The NETGEAR RAX30 has decent range. It's a standalone router without mesh capabilities, so its speed drops linearly over distance. It's still fast enough for 4k video streaming at longer distances. If range is a priority for you, consider getting a mesh setup.
- Standalone router that may have deadzones if you have a very large home.
Changelog
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Updated Jan 20, 2026:
We've added a link to the GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) in the Interior Long Range Section of the review.
- Updated Dec 16, 2025: We've added an MLO Implementation test for Test Bench 0.8.2! Read the changelog for more details.
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Updated Jun 12, 2025:
We've added a link to the newly reviewed GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) in the Network Ports section of the review.
- Updated May 01, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.1. This includes a new test result for our Test Configuration box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX2400 that we bought and tested has no variants. Here's a photo of our unit's label.
Popular Router Comparisons
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX2400 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It's a mid-range router with a fairly basic feature set without support for mesh networking, DFS, or other more advanced features. However, it does have a USB 3.0 port on its side for local file sharing.
Performance-wise, it's similar in speed to other routers in its price range. Its signal strength and speed aren't as good as those of the ASUS RT-AX3000, but it's faster overall than the TP-Link Archer AX21.
For more recommendations, check out the best Wi-Fi 6 routers, the best Wi-Fi routers, or the best routers for streaming.
The TP-Link Archer BE230 is better than the NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX30. The TP-Link provides faster speeds overall, and unlike the NETGEAR, you can improve its performance in the far corners of your home by adding another EasyMesh-compatible router or extender. It also supports Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), which can be helpful in noisy wireless environments like large apartment buildings. Both routers have five network ports; however, the TP-Link has two ports that support up to 2.5Gbps speeds, while the NETGEAR only has 1Gbps ports.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX30 and the Netduma R3 are dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers. The NETGEAR is a better performer with faster speeds and longer range, but the Netduma has access to DFS channels, which can be beneficial in noisy wireless environments.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
Check out the GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) if you want a higher bandwidth 2.5Gbps WAN port.
for pictures & test results
- Ethernet cable
- Power adapter
- User documentation
for pictures & test results
This router has a pair of screw head slots on the bottom, so you can easily mount it to your wall or ceiling.
for pictures & test results
This is a standalone router without mesh capabilities, so the mesh satellite position line on this graph isn't applicable.
Check out the GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) if you're looking for a router with better range.
for pictures & test results
This is a standalone router without mesh capabilities, so the mesh satellite position line on this graph isn't applicable.
Check out the TP-Link Archer BE230 if you want a router that supports Dynamic Frequency Selection, which can help improve performance in noisy wireless environments like large apartment buildings.
