Router
Products
In The Lab
Forums
Newsletters
Insider Access
Best
Mesh Wi-Fi Systems Wi-Fi Routers Wi-Fi 6 Large Homes Long-Range Budget And Cheap Streaming
Tools
Compare NEW Results Table Tool Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
TP-Link Archer BE550 TP-Link Deco BE63 eero Max 7 TP-Link Archer AX55 ASUS RT-BE96U GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) UniFi Dream Router 7 TP-Link Archer BE230 TP-Link Deco BE65 Pro TP-Link Archer AXE75 ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro ASUS RT-AX86U Pro UniFi Express 7 eero Pro 6E ASUS RT-AX3000 NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 eero Pro 7 TP-Link Deco XE5300 ASUS ZenWiFi BT10 eero 6
54 Routers bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
  1. Home
  2. Router
  3. Compare

ASUS RT-BE96U vs NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300

Which Router Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      DimensionsNetwork PortsUSB PortsIn The BoxWall/Ceiling Mount
    Wi-Fi
      Interior Long RangeInterior Short RangeWi-Fi Specifications
    Wi-Fi Coverage
      Indoor Coverage - Same StoryIndoor Coverage - 1 Story AboveBroad Coverage
    Comments

Products

ASUS RT-BE96U
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300

Tested using Methodology v0.8.1

Updated Nov 06, 2025 02:46 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8.1

Updated Aug 28, 2025 06:00 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
ASUS RT-BE96U Picture
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Picture
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 7 (be)
Multi Band
Tri-Band (2.4 / 5 / 6)
Test Configuration
Standalone
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 7 (be)
Multi Band
Tri-Band (2.4 / 5 / 6)
Test Configuration
Standalone

Our Verdict

ASUS RT-BE96U

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300

The ASUS RT-BE96U is a better router than the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300. They're both Wi-Fi 7 capable, but the ASUS is faster, has better range and more wired networking ports, and supports AiMesh for mesh expandability. The NETGEAR is physically smaller, however.

0 

Variants

  • RT-BE96U (Black)
  • Nighthawk RS300 (Black)

Review

See ASUS RT-BE96U Review
See NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Review
2 
2 

Check Price

Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
RT-BE96U
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEARCH
Walmart.com

Main Differences for
Apartment/Condo

Threshold 

0.10

Apartment/Condo 

8.5
8.4

Interior Short Range 
 

9.3
8.6

Dimensions 
 

5.8
7.3

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

5.8
7.3

Dimensions Photo  

ASUS RT-BE96U Dimensions Photo
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Dimensions Photo

Height 
 

8.54" (21.7 cm)
9.84" (25.0 cm)

Width 
 

14.02" (35.6 cm)
3.94" (10.0 cm)

Depth 
 

11.81" (30.0 cm)
5.91" (15.0 cm)

Depth With Cables 
 

12.44" (31.6 cm)
6.61" (16.8 cm)
Show Text 

Network Ports 
 

8.5
8.5

Ports Photo  

ASUS RT-BE96U Ports Photo
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Ports Photo

WAN Port Speed 
 

10.0 Gbps
2.5 Gbps

LAN Port Count 
 

5
4

10 Gbps Ports 
 

2
0

2.5 Gbps Ports 
 

0
3

1 Gbps Ports 
 

4
2

10 Gbps Ports (SFP+) 
 

0
0
Show Text 

USB Ports 
 

USB-A 3.0 Ports 
 

1
1

USB-A 2.0 Ports 
 

1
0

USB-C Ports 
 

0
0

USB-C Speed 
 

N/A
N/A

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

ASUS RT-BE96U In The Box Photo
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 In The Box Photo
Show Text 

Wall/Ceiling Mount 
 

0.0
0.0

Mount Photo  

ASUS RT-BE96U Mount Photo
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Mount Photo

Mount Type 
 

None
None
Show Text 
Wi-Fi

Interior Long Range 
 

7.8
7.4

Long Range Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Lowest Speed 
 

137 Mbps
105 Mbps

Average 5GHz Speed 
 

658 Mbps
381 Mbps

Average 6GHz Speed 
 

2,082 Mbps
1,055 Mbps

Test Configuration 
 

Standalone
Standalone
Show Text 

Interior Short Range 
 

9.3
8.6

Short Range Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Highest Speed 
 

3,490 Mbps
1,830 Mbps

Average 5GHz Speed 
 

1,360 Mbps
800 Mbps

Average 6GHz Speed 
 

3,082 Mbps
1,558 Mbps

Test Configuration 
 

Standalone
Standalone
Show Text 

Wi-Fi Specifications 
 

9.4
9.4

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Wi-Fi 7 (be)
Wi-Fi 7 (be)

6GHz Band 
 

Yes
Yes

Multi Band 
 

Tri-Band (2.4 / 5 / 6)
Tri-Band (2.4 / 5 / 6)

DFS Channels 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Wi-Fi Coverage

Indoor Coverage - Same Story 
 

Wi-Fi Coverage Map  

ASUS RT-BE96U Wi-Fi Coverage Map

Indoor Coverage - 1 Story Above 
 

Wi-Fi Coverage Map  

ASUS RT-BE96U Wi-Fi Coverage Map

Wi-Fi Coverage Map (Dual Mesh)  

ASUS RT-BE96U Wi-Fi Coverage Map (Dual Mesh)

Broad Coverage 
 

Outdoor Coverage Map  

ASUS RT-BE96U Outdoor Coverage Map

Check Price

Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
RT-BE96U
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEE PRICE
B&H
Black
RT-BE96U
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Black
Nighthawk RS300
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Back to Top

ASUS RT-BE96U

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 12 months ago

ASUS RT-BE96U vs NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
We make money directly from you via Insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. See what products we currently have for sale.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved.