Linksys EA8300 Dual Band AC2600 Router vs Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 Wi‑fi 6 Router

Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 wins — The Netgear RAX40 outperforms the Linksys EA8300 in raw speed (3

Scores: Linksys EA8300 Dual Band AC2600 Router 6.5/10 · Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 Wi‑fi 6 Router 8/10

The Netgear RAX40 outperforms the Linksys EA8300 in raw speed (3.0 Gbps vs 2.6 Gbps) and supports newer Wi‑Fi 6 features such as OFDMA and WPA3 (RTINGS, Tom’s Guide). However, the EA8300 remains a solid budget choice, offering MU‑MIMO and four external antennas at a comparable price point (CNET). For most new‑device households, the RAX40’s future‑proofing justifies the modest price premium.

Spec-by-spec comparison

Linksys EA8300 Dual Band AC2600 RouterNetgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 Wi‑fi 6 Router
Wi‑Fi Standard802.11ac (Wi‑Fi 5)802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6)
Max Theoretical Speed2.6 Gbps (800 Mbps 2.4 GHz + 1.73 Gbps 5 GHz)3.0 Gbps (574 Mbps 2.4 GHz + 2.4 Gbps 5 GHz)
CPU1.2 GHz dual‑core1.5 GHz quad‑core
Ports4 × Gigabit LAN, 1 × Gigabit WAN, 2 × USB 3.04 × Gigabit LAN, 1 × Gigabit WAN, 1 × USB 3.0

Linksys EA8300 Dual Band AC2600 Router

What works

  • MU‑MIMO support for multiple simultaneous streams
  • Four external antennas give solid coverage in 2‑story homes
  • Generally lower street price than many Wi‑Fi 6 models

What doesn't

  • No Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) support
  • Older CPU can limit performance under heavy load

Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 Wi‑fi 6 Router

What works

  • Wi‑Fi 6 delivers higher throughput and better device density
  • Higher max speed improves 4K streaming and gaming latency
  • Supports WPA3 security out of the box

What doesn't

  • Slightly higher MSRP than comparable Wi‑Fi 5 routers
  • Only one USB 3.0 port limits peripheral connections

Bottom line

Our pick: Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 Wi‑fi 6 Router.

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