Netgear has found a clever way to bring Wi-Fi 6E speeds to older PCs. The new standard is delivered via Netgear's Nighthawk AXE3000 USB 3.0 adapter, which can be connected to a computer and upgraded to Wi-Fi 6E.
Wi-Fi 6E has been gradually rolled out in recent years, allowing devices to access the 6 GHz band in addition to the 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The standard enables "faster speeds, more connections, and less congestion interference. However, there aren't many devices or accessories that support Wi-Fi 6E yet, which limits its range. With the Nighthawk AXE3000(Opens in a new tab), it retroactively adds Wi-Fi 6E connectivity to laptops and desktops that lacked native support.
Features
The AXE3000 comes in the form of a USB dongle that can be plugged directly into a computer's USB ports. According to NETGEAR, it will automatically detect your router's Wi-Fi bands so the device can connect to the correct one, whether it's the 2,4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band. Connection speeds start at 600 Mbps (megabits per second) on 2,4 GHz up to a maximum of 1200 Mbps on 6 GHz. Because of these speeds, the company says users will experience smoother data transfers and experience "less lag." Game. "
If this concept seems a bit retro it's because, as those of long memory will remember, we used to add basic Wi-Fi to some computers by connecting USB-based Wi-Fi antennas.
You'll also notice support for the AXE3000. NETGEAR says it is a dock and can be used instead of plugging the dongle directly into a computer. Once the dongle is connected to the base, you can unfold the AXE3000 and operate it as a Wi-Fi 6E antenna. At the other end of the cradle is a USB cable to connect it to your computer. And if you're concerned about security, the AXE3000 is equipped with the Wi-Fi Alliance's WPA3 protocol (opens in a new tab) to ensure your devices are protected.
Have access
Keep in mind that you'll still need to buy a Wi-Fi 6E router, which can be quite expensive. The AXE3000 is just an adapter that allows you to access these speeds. It's compatible with any Wi-Fi router and mesh system, so you don't have to connect to a NETGEAR device. However, the company recommends getting a 6E router and supporting a mesh system like the Orbi 960 series to access those high speeds.
You'll also need a computer running Windows 11 because, at the time of this writing, it's the only version of Windows that natively supports Wi-Fi 6E (and its promised speeds). The AXE3000 works with Windows 10 computers, according to the official spec sheet (opens in a new tab), but you'll miss those high speeds.
The AXE3000 adapter will launch at the end of September for €89.99, but it will only be available in the United States, one of the few countries in the world that supports Wi-Fi 6E. A company representative told us that the dongle could be released in other places as more countries adopt 6E, but did not specify which ones.
If you're looking for a new Wi-Fi 6 router, we recommend checking out TechRadar's recently updated list of the best routers. Just be prepared to shell out a few hundred dollars for the 6E entry.