Verdict
All guidesResearchMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best Gaming Routers

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S vs TP-Link Archer BE800

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

TP-Link Archer BE800 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Gamers who want near-flagship Wi-Fi 7 speed and a strong multi-gig wired backbone without paying top-tier ASUS ROG prices. — read the strengths below before deciding.

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Ranked #3 in Best Gaming Routers
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
$549.99as of Jun 7

The RS700S is NETGEAR's first Wi-Fi 7 router and it earns its keep on real-world coverage: Tom's Guide praised its throughput 'at medium distances where it's most needed in the home,' and TechRadar called it 'blistering performance.' A 10 Gig port and 3,500 sq ft of BE19000 coverage make it a strong whole-home gaming pick, with an unusually painless setup. It is pricey and not the fastest up close, but it is dependable.

Strengths
  • — Blistering Wi-Fi 7 performance, strong at the medium distances most homes need
  • — 10 Gig internet port for multi-gig broadband
  • — Covers up to 3,500 sq ft with tri-band BE19000 Wi-Fi 7
Watch-outs
  • — Premium price among traditional home routers
  • — Not the fastest at very close range versus rivals
  • — Lacks the front info screen of the TP-Link Archer BE800
$549.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
TP-Link Archer BE800
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Gaming Routers
TP-Link Archer BE800
$349.97as of Jun 7

The Archer BE800 is the value-flagship pick: Tom's Guide called it 'the fastest and most capable traditional router available,' and XDA scored it 8/10 for reliable, high-throughput Wi-Fi 7. Dual 10Gbps ports and four 2.5Gbps ports give it a strong multi-gig backbone, and it held up flawlessly under heavy mixed load in testing. It has less gaming-branded software than ASUS, but the raw speed and value make it a top gaming pick.

Strengths
  • — Among the fastest traditional routers tested, with strong 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 speed
  • — Dual 10Gbps ports (one SFP+) plus four 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports
  • — Distinctive design with a customizable LED info screen
Watch-outs
  • — Expensive among traditional home routers at around $550-600
  • — Less gaming-specific software than the ASUS ROG models
  • — 6GHz range is limited, as with all Wi-Fi 7 routers
$349.97 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Trades the close-range speed crown of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro and TP-Link Archer BE800 for the strongest medium-distance, whole-home coverage in the group, and pairs it with the easiest setup. It costs more than the TP-Link Archer BE800 in some configurations and lacks that router's info screen, while sitting a generation ahead of the Wi-Fi 6 ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000.

TP-Link Archer BE800

The value-flagship of the group: it delivers Wi-Fi 7 speed approaching the pricier ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro for less money, with dual 10Gbps ports that match it on the wired front. It is a safer, more proven buy than the TP-Link Archer BE900, and a generation ahead of the Wi-Fi 6 ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, though it lacks the deep gaming software of the ASUS ROG models.

Specs side-by-side

SpecNETGEAR Nighthawk RS700STP-Link Archer BE800
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (BE19000), tri-bandWi-Fi 7 (BE19000), tri-band
SpeedUp to 19 Gbps—
Internet Port10 Gig (10GbE)—
CoverageUp to 3,500 sq ftWhole-home tri-band
SetupNETGEAR Nighthawk app—
SecurityNETGEAR Armor (1-year included)HomeShield
AntennasInternal (upright design)8 internal
LANMulti-gig Ethernet—
Wired—2x 10Gbps (1 SFP+) + 4x 2.5GbE LAN
USB—USB 3.2
Display—Customizable LED info screen
Mesh—EasyMesh support
← See the full ranking of best gaming routers