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NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk® Pro Dual-band AC2600 Wi-Fi 5 gaming router

Item # 941XR500

Made for hardcore gamers, with a blazing-fast processor, four free Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a customizable dash.

Made for hardcore gamers, with a blazing-fast processor, four free Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a customizable dash.

2 questions - 2 answers

Item # 941XR500

Shop all NETGEAR Routers

About the NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk® Pro

Eric A.

Made for gamers

Hardcore gamers rejoice: the NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500 is made for you. Four available Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports let you make wired connections to PCs and consoles to get the high speeds demanded by online gaming. And Wi-Fi streams up to a blazing-fast 2.6Gbps. The dual-core 1.7GHz processor inside has no problem keeping up when the action gets heavy.

Made for gamers

Hardcore gamers rejoice: the NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500 is made for you. Four available Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports let you make wired connections to PCs and consoles to get the high speeds demanded by online gaming. And Wi-Fi streams up to a blazing-fast 2.6Gbps. The dual-core 1.7GHz processor inside has no problem keeping up when the action gets heavy.

The router's built-in DumaOS operating system is designed to support high definition video, lag-free gaming and fast internet browsing. And that's just the beginning.

Smarter than the average router

The router's built-in DumaOS operating system helps you manage your network for glitch-free video streaming, lag-free gaming, and fast internet browsing. It can automatically prioritize activities that call for high throughput and block slow server connections to minimize network congestion. And it gives you a powerful dashboard for monitoring your network and adjusting its settings. The dash is customizable, so you can place important information panels where you want them, and re-size them for easy visibility.

Simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi

The XR500 offers fast Wi-Fi, but it's super-efficient, too. It generates simultaneous dual-band, essentially doubling the available bandwidth. Four external antennas ensure wide coverage, faster speeds and less interference. Fifteen additional DFS (dynamic frequency selection) channels give you full access to the 5GHz band.

MU-MIMO (multi-user, multi-input, multi-output) allows simultaneous streaming to multiple devices, so you can have friends over and ensure each person who logs on has equal access. We like to use a grocery store analogy: a generic router may be like the store that only has one or two lanes open, leading to long, slow lines. The XR500 has multiple lanes open, staffed with speedy, accurate checkers who keep the lanes clear and the customers happy.

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Product highlights:

  • Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) wireless router
  • blazing-fast dual-core 1.7GHz processor
  • 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (1 WAN, 4 LAN)
  • dual USB 3.0 ports for connecting peripheral devices
  • DumaOS operating system with customizable dashboard:
    • pin and resize information panels for easy visibility and access
    • view real-time bandwidth utilization by device
    • network and system performance analytics
    • monitor live game ping
  • four external antennas for strong, fast wireless coverage
  • MU-MIMO generates fast wi-fi streams for multiple users
  • geo-filtering prioritizes servers near your location
  • Gaming VPN helps protect your network identity and prevent DDoS attacks
  • 15 DFS (dynamic frequency selection) channels in the 5GHz band
Dimensions and warranty:
  • 12-3/4"W x 2-1/4"H x 9-5/8"D
  • weight: 1.77 lbs.
  • warranty: 1 year
  • MFR # XR500-100NAS

What's in the box:

  • Pro gaming router
  • AC power adapter w/ 71" cord (12VDC / 3.5A output)
  • Four 7.5" antennas
  • 78" CAT-5e cable
  • Quickstart guide

Not sure what you need? Learn how modems, routers, and mesh Wi-Fi systems work.

Customer reviews for NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk® Pro

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More details on the NETGEAR XR500 Nighthawk® Pro

Stacey B.

Features & specs

General
Wireless Range Not given
Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi 5
Mesh Network No
Beamforming No
MU-MIMO 4x4
Parental controls Yes
Processor 1.7GHz Dual-Core
App Control Yes
Amazon Alexa No
Google Assistant No
Speed
Wi-Fi bands/total speed Dual-Band 2.53 Gbps
2.4GHz band 800 Mbps
5.2GHz band 1733 Mbps
5.8GHz band N/A
6GHz band N/A
Connections
LAN ports 4
USB 2.0 ports N/A
USB 3.0 ports 2

Product Research

Features

Overview: NETGEAR's Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router with simultaneous Dual-Band performance delivers combined WiFi speeds of up to 2.53Gbps. The XR500's powerful 1.7 GHz dual-core processor gives you a high-performance networking engine for faster connections. Designed for gaming, the XR500 features proven high-performance while preventing lag spikes, drop outs, and high ping times for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices.

DumaOS: The Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming WiFi Router features an integrated DumaOS network platform that allows easy viewing and configuration of the router through its Dashboard screen, accessible from your computer or from a mobile device using the NETGEAR Nighthawk app. Dashboard features include:

  • Quality of Service (QoS): QoS resolves internet traffic congestion when you have competing internet demands at home. QoS identifies your online activities by application and device, then utilizes bandwidth allocation and traffic prioritization techniques to automatically allocate more bandwidth to latency sensitive applications like online gaming and video streaming. This ensures that lower priority applications continue to work.
  • Geo Filter: One of the main causes of lag in console games is the distance from you to the host server of the game. The Geo Filter can limit the distance of the host servers by blocking all hosts or servers outside the range that you can specify, allowing for improved response times.
  • Anti-Bufferbloat (ABB): The Anti-Bufferbloat feature can prevent congestion and queuing delays that are caused by devices that consume a lot of bandwidth. You can set a maximum percentage of the total bandwidth that bandwidth-intensive devices can consume, allowing bandwidth to remain available for other devices.
  • Device Ping: You can allow (whitelist) or block (blacklist) connections to individual devices, regardless of the distance radius of your GeoFilter. A dedicated server cannot be blocked.
  • Bandwidth Allocation: Some devices on your network need more bandwidth that others, such as for gaming or media streaming. You can allocate a percentage of the total router bandwidth to each of the devices on the network, ensuring each device gets the bandwidth it needs. By default, the router automatically allocates excess (unused) bandwidth to a device that needs it. This option can be disabled so that the router does not share unused bandwidth across your network and each device will get only the bandwidth allotted.

1.7GHz Dual-Core Processor: The NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500 utilizes a powerful 1.7GHz dual-core processor to separate processes and prioritize high performance WiFi connections to get maximum combined WiFi speeds of up to 2.53Gbps

Dual-Band WiFi: Dual-band WiFi delivers up to 2.53Gbps combined WiFi speeds through two dedicated WiFi bands. Both WiFi bands can operate simultaneously and provide up to 4 separate streams each. Dual-band WiFi combined with the intelligence to segregate traffic based on WiFi speed and load balancing provides the best performance for multiple WiFi devices in your home.

  • 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz + 256 QAM support (up to 800Mbps)
  • 802.11 a/n/ac 5 GHz + 256 QAM support (up to 1733Mbps)

Beamforming+: Beamforming+ boosts speed, reliability, and range of WiFi connections on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Unlike typical WiFi routers that just blast the WiFi signals in all directions; with Beamforming+ the router & device communicate with each other, so the router can directly beam the WiFi signal to the device. The result is a stronger, faster, more reliable connection that is locked in even when the device is moved around the home.

Quad Stream + Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO): Quad Stream gives you the fastest WiFi speeds combined with MU-MIMO capability allows you to simultaneously stream to multiple devices at the same time. Thanks to Quad Stream, up to four data streams per WiFi band maximizes connection speed. Using Multi-User MIMO technology, the NETGEAR router can stream data to multiple devices simultaneously. With MU-MIMO, your WiFi network can deliver faster throughput to every MU-MIMO connected device. That means faster downloads and smoother streaming for your devices.

Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Five Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 ports (1 WAN & 4 LAN) allow you to connect multiple wired devices. The WAN port is used to connect your internet modem, while the LAN ports are used to connect your local network devices.

ReadySHARE: The NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming WiFi router allows you to share USB devices, DLNA media, and printers through ReadySHARE.

  • USB Ports w/ ReadySHARE: The XR500 includes two USB 3.0 ports on the side of the router can be used to connect USB storage devices such as flash drives, hard drives, or a printer. The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives (if your USB drive uses special drivers, it is not compatible). You can share data that is stored on most common USB storage devices across your WiFi network with ReadySHARE USB Storage Access. ReadySHARE lets you access and share a USB drive connected to the router's USB port. Computers, USB modems, CD drives, and DVD drives are not supported on the USB port.
  • ReadyDLNA Media Server: By default, the router functions as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you stream music and movies from an attached USB device to DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, Smart TVs, game consoles, and NETGEAR media players. As a ReadyDLNA media server, you can also setup the router to play music from iTunes and media from TiVo.
  • ReadySHARE Printer: The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on the XR500. You can share this USB printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network.

Auto Backup: Keep your content safe by using the included ReadySHARE Vault application for backing up Windows-based PCs. For Mac OS users, back-up using Apple Time Machine.

  • ReadyShare Vault PC: Free ReadyShare Vault PC software it there for you to schedule automatic hassle-free backups to safeguard precious photos and files from any PC directly to the connected USB storage. ReadyShare Vault is free to download and use with the Nighthawk XR500.
  • Time Machine: You can use Time Machine to back up your Mac computers onto a USB hard disk drive that is connected to one of the router's USB ports.

Simple Setup: NETGEAR makes installation and management fast & simple, so you can connect quickly & make sure you stay that way. The router offers a built-in Setup Wizard for computer setup, an Apple & Google Play app for Apple iOS & Android setup, plus a WPS push-button setup.

  • Setup Wizard: You can use the router's built-in Setup Wizard for Windows & Mac to detect your internet settings and automatically set up the router from your computer.
  • NETGEAR Nighthawk App: Setup and management of the router can be easily done using the Nighthawk app (iOS and Android) from your mobile device connected to the same network. Along with initial setup, the Nighthawk app lets you manage devices, adjust GeoFilter and QoS settings, as well as monitoring the network and internet usage.
  • Push 'N' Connect: Easy push button WiFi connections (WPS).

High Security: Maintain the highest security across your network to ensure your privacy & family is safe while online. Whether it's preventing phishing & spyware or just limiting access for kids & guests, NETGEAR has you covered.

  • VPN Support: VPN support offers secure remote access for telecommuters.
  • Parental Controls: Keep your Internet browsing experience safe and secure with free parental controls. It allows you to limit access to certain web sites at certain times. For example no social networking or gaming site access after dinner time.
  • Guest Network Access: Separate & secure access for guests. Guest networks create a completely separate WiFi network for your guests' devices, ensuring they do not have access to your home network or to the shared USB hard drive with all your personal data.
  • Secure WiFi Connections: Secure WiFi connections offer the highest level of 802.11 WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK, WPA/WPS mixed mode, WPA/WPA2 Enterprise, and WEP security with Double firewall protection (SPI/NAT firewall) and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack prevention.
  • Personal FTP Server: With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you aren't home through Dynamic DNS.

IPv6: The XR500 supports Internet Protocol version 6 and can be configured as such.

Firmware/Software Updates: The Nighthawk router will display an on-screen message when a firmware update is available. By logging in to the router, an update can be selected for automatic installation. If you want to upload a specific firmware version, it can be dowloaded and saved to the desktop, unzipped, and then manually loaded.

Memory: The NETGEAR Pro Gaming router features 256MB of flash memory and 512MB of RAM.

Antennas: The XR500 includes 4 high-performance antennas with threaded connectors. Each antenna can be swiveled and tilted for optimal performance.

LEDs: LEDs on the front-panel of the Nighthawk XR500 indicate the router's status. A dedicated rear-panel switch allows the front-panel LEDs to be turned on and off.

Mounting Options: The NETGEAR router can simply be placed on a flat-surface table-top or it can be wall-mounted using its integrated keyhole slots (mounting screws not included).

System Requirements: Make sure your home network meets the following system requirements.

  • Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, or Linux.
  • Internet Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome 55 or higher, Firefox 45 or higher, Safari 10 or higher.

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Customer Q&A

2 questions already asked

Q
Is the VPN help through an outsourced service provider or is it built into the software on this router?
brenda  Dec 01, 2020
1 answer
A
The VPN is built into the router, set up within the router's menu, and accessed using software that you download onto the computer or smart device
jason  Dec 15, 2020 (Staff)
Q
can the xr500 router be used like a regular smart router?
marshall  Apr 06, 2020
1 answer
A
We have not received any answers from other customers on your question. I would recommend reaching out to an Advisor by phone (1-800-324-9695) or online chat. They should be able to help answer your question.
thomas  Apr 21, 2020 (Staff)

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