Key takeaways
- 2.4 GHz: up to 450 Mbps (three spatial streams at 40 MHz).
- 5 GHz: up to 1,300 Mbps (three spatial streams at 80 MHz, 802.11ac).
The Netgear AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (model R6400) is still a capable Wi-Fi 5 router for an apartment or small home on an internet plan of 300 Mbps or less, but in 2026 it is an older-generation design, so if you are buying new, an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router at a similar price is the better purchase.
That verdict depends on what you already own, how fast your internet plan is and how many devices are on your network. Below is what the R6400 actually delivers, where it falls short today, and exactly what to buy instead.
Our top picks
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What the AC1750 name means
“AC1750” is a marketing total, not a speed you will ever see. It adds the maximum link rates of both bands:
- 2.4 GHz: up to 450 Mbps (three spatial streams at 40 MHz).
- 5 GHz: up to 1,300 Mbps (three spatial streams at 80 MHz, 802.11ac).
No single device uses both bands at once, and most phones and laptops have only two antennas, so they connect at a lower ceiling. Netgear has used the AC1750 Smart WiFi name on more than one model over the years, and the related Nighthawk R6700 is also an AC1750 router; this review focuses on the R6400, the model most people mean.
Key specifications
| Spec | Netgear R6400 (AC1750) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual-band |
| Max link rate | 450 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 1,300 Mbps (5 GHz) |
| Antennas | 3 external |
| Wired ports | 1 Gigabit WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN |
| USB | 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 (printer and drive sharing) |
| Beamforming | Yes (Netgear Beamforming+) |
| WPA3 | Not part of the original feature set |
| Multi-gig port | No |
| Typical street price | Roughly $50–$90 new old stock; $20–$40 used |
What speeds to expect in a real home
The useful question is what a typical two-antenna phone or laptop gets. For a 3×3 Wi-Fi 5 router like this one, realistic throughput ranges look like this:
| Client location | 5 GHz, 2×2 Wi-Fi 5 device | 2.4 GHz device |
|---|---|---|
| Same room, clear line of sight | About 400–600 Mbps | About 80–150 Mbps |
| One wall or room away | About 200–400 Mbps | About 60–120 Mbps |
| Two or more walls, other floor | About 50–150 Mbps | About 30–80 Mbps |
The practical takeaway: on a 100–300 Mbps internet plan, the R6400 can deliver most of what you pay for in nearby rooms. On a 500 Mbps or gigabit plan, Wi-Fi becomes the bottleneck everywhere except right next to the router, and wired devices are the only ones that see full speed.
Where it still does well
- Four gigabit LAN ports. Enough for a desktop, a console, a TV and a NAS without adding a switch.
- USB 3.0 port. Basic network storage and printer sharing, useful for backups on a small network.
- Simple setup. Setup runs through a web interface or Netgear’s app, and basic parental controls, guest network and QoS are built in.
- Access point duty. Switched to AP mode, it can add Wi-Fi coverage to a garage or upstairs room behind a newer main router.
Where it falls behind in 2026
Crowded networks
Wi-Fi 5 handles many devices less efficiently than Wi-Fi 6. With 25–40 connected phones, TVs, cameras and smart plugs, airtime gets congested and latency rises during busy evenings. Wi-Fi 6 adds OFDMA and better scheduling specifically for this.
Security and firmware
This is the bigger issue. Older consumer routers eventually stop receiving firmware updates, and a router is the device most exposed to the internet. Netgear’s support page for your exact model and hardware version (R6400 v1 or v2) shows the latest firmware release. If no update has appeared for a year or more, treat the router as end-of-life for internet-facing use. A missing WPA3 option is another sign of its age.
No path to faster plans
There is no 2.5 Gbps port, so it cannot take advantage of multi-gig fiber plans, and its 5 GHz radio has no 160 MHz channel support.
Should you keep it, buy it or replace it?
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Already own one, plan under 300 Mbps, fewer than 20 devices, firmware still updated | Keep it; enable automatic updates and change the default admin password |
| Already own one, firmware no longer updated | Replace the main router; reuse the R6400 as a wired access point if you like |
| Buying new, plan up to 500 Mbps | Skip it; buy an AX1800–AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router |
| Buying new, gigabit plan or 2,500+ sq ft home | Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E mesh, or a Wi-Fi 7 router with a 2.5 Gbps port |
| Need a cheap router for a workshop or guest building | A used R6400 at $20–$40 is acceptable if it is on current firmware |
What to buy instead
Each of these is a direct, current-generation replacement at roughly the same tier.
| Router | Standard and class | Notable ports | Best for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Archer AX21 | Wi-Fi 6, AX1800 | Gigabit WAN + 4 LAN | Budget like-for-like upgrade | $60–$90 |
| Netgear Nighthawk RAX10 | Wi-Fi 6, AX1800 | Gigabit WAN + 4 LAN | Staying with Netgear’s app and interface | $80–$130 |
| TP-Link Archer AX55 | Wi-Fi 6, AX3000 | Gigabit WAN + 4 LAN, USB 3.0 | Better 5 GHz speed with 160 MHz support | $90–$140 |
| ASUS RT-AX58U | Wi-Fi 6, AX3000 | Gigabit WAN + 4 LAN, USB | Advanced settings, VPN server, AiMesh expansion | $120–$180 |
| eero 6+ (2- or 3-pack) | Wi-Fi 6 mesh | 2 gigabit ports per node | Larger homes with dead zones | $200–$300 |
A 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 phone connects to these at up to 1,201 Mbps at 80 MHz, or 2,402 Mbps on a 160 MHz channel with routers that support it (most phones and laptops sold in recent years have Wi-Fi 6 or newer). That alone typically moves real-world speeds near the router into the 600–900 Mbps range.
If you keep your R6400: a quick hardening routine
- Update firmware from the admin page or app, then turn on automatic update notifications.
- Change the admin password from the default and use WPA2-AES (not mixed TKIP) for Wi-Fi.
- Disable remote management and UPnP unless a specific device needs it.
- Give the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands separate names if smart-home gadgets struggle to connect, and put those gadgets on the guest network.
- Reboot on a schedule if you notice slowdowns after several days of uptime.
Verdict
The Netgear AC1750 Smart WiFi Router was a strong mainstream router for its generation, and on a modest plan with a handful of devices it still works. For a new purchase in 2026, though, it is no bargain: a Wi-Fi 6 router like the TP-Link Archer AX21 or Netgear Nighthawk RAX10 costs about the same, handles busy households better and receives current security updates.
