For a reliable household router, Netgear provides some of the best wireless devices to consider. Two of their top-notch models are Nighthawk AC1750 and Nighthawk AC1900. But which of the two is your best choice? This article will compare the two routers in terms of their performance, features, and prices to help you decide which model is the right one for you.
Main Differences
- The Nighthawk AC1900 provides a faster connection than the Nighthawk AC1750.
- The Nighthawk AC1900 can connect to up to 30 devices, and the Nighthawk AC1750 “only” to up to 25.
- Otherwise, both devices are pretty identical except for the price (the AC1900 is more expensive).
Comparison – Nighthawk AC1750 vs AC1900
Nighthawk AC1750 | Nighthawk AC1900 | |
 |  | |
Wi-Fi 4 | IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz | IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
Wi-Fi 5 | IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz | IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz |
Wi-Fi 6 | ||
WiFi Speeds | 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11 ac) | 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11 ac) |
External Antennas | 3 | 3 |
RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
Processor | 1 GHz dual core | 1 GHz dual core |
WAN Ports | 1 | 1 |
LAN Ports | 4 | 4 |
USB Port | 1 (USB 3.0) | 1 (USB 3.0) |
Wi-Fi On/Off Button | ||
Power On/Off Button | ||
WPS/Reset Button | ||
WiFi Encryption | WPA2 | WPA2 |
SPI Firewall | ||
IPv4 | ||
IPv6 | ||
Dual-Band Trechnology | ||
External Memory Slot | ||
Dimensions | 11.22" x 7,20" x 2.44" / 28,50 x 18,30 x 6,20 cm | 11.22" x 7,26" x 1.97" / 28,50 x 18,44 x 5,00 cm |
Warranty | not stated | not stated |
Nighthawk AC1750 | Nighthawk AC1900 |
| | |
Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz | Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz |
Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
WiFi Speeds 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11 ac) | WiFi Speeds 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11 ac) |
External Antennas 3 | External Antennas 3 |
RAM 256 MB | RAM 256 MB |
Processor 1 GHz dual core | Processor 1 GHz dual core |
WAN Ports 1 | WAN Ports 1 |
LAN Ports 4 | LAN Ports 4 |
USB Port 1 (USB 3.0) | USB Port 1 (USB 3.0) |
Wi-Fi On/Off Button | Wi-Fi On/Off Button |
Power On/Off Button | Power On/Off Button |
WPS/Reset Button | WPS/Reset Button |
WiFi Encryption WPA2 | WiFi Encryption WPA2 |
SPI Firewall | SPI Firewall |
IPv4 | IPv4 |
IPv6 | IPv6 |
Dual-Band Trechnology | Dual-Band Trechnology |
External Memory Slot | External Memory Slot |
Dimensions 11.22" x 7,20" x 2.44" / 28,50 x 18,30 x 6,20 cm | Dimensions 11.22" x 7,26" x 1.97" / 28,50 x 18,44 x 5,00 cm |
Warranty not stated | Warranty not stated |
Performance
The two models have smart parental controls, but the Nighthawk AC1900 has a bigger advantage than the two routers because it has a faster speed than Nighthawk AC1750. In terms of their specifications, both wireless devices are almost similar to each other. They are built with a 1GHz dual-core processor with 128MB flash memory and 256MB RAM.
They also have dual-band frequencies of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, but they differ in their Wi-Fi speed connection wherein AC1750 can go 450+1300Mbps† and AC1900 has 600+1300Mbps†. The AC1750 can accommodate up to 25 devices, while the AC1900 is strong enough to support a maximum of 30 devices simultaneously.
With three external antennas, AC1750 and AC1900 can provide an internet connection for everyone living in a huge house. To give you an idea, the AC1750’s Wi-Fi range can cover an area of up to 1500 ft², while AC1900 has a maximum coverage of 1800 ft². But the signal can still be affected by physical factors like the layout of the house and even the location of your residence.
Features
Let’s talk about the key features of the two routers, starting with Nighthawk AC1750. This model features an advanced QoS that optimizes internet traffic for an uninterrupted, lag-free gaming experience. It has an automatic firmware update to keep the router updated with the latest security patches. It supports VPN and has separate and secure guest network access. It also features Beamforming that boosts the range, speed, and strength of the Wi-Fi connection.
Additionally, the AC1750 has an Airtime Fairness, which prevents lag when slower devices are connected to the router. Since this is a smart device, you can set up and control the router through the Nighthawk app. Through the app, you can see the connected devices, do an internet speed test, and manage other perks wherever you are.
It also features Circle® Smart Parental Controls, which allow you to manage the content that your children can access and limit or control the internet usage on any connected device. And if your children have been good kids, you can reward them with additional online time through the pre-installed parental controls. The AC1750 is equipped with Netgear Armor™, a cybersecurity feature that protects all devices connected to the router to ensure you are safe from cyber threats.
As previously mentioned, the AC1900 is more advanced than AC1750. It has most, if not all, of the features that the AC1750 has, including the Beamforming, Nighthawk app, parental controls, and the Netgear Armor™.
But one of the key features that set AC1900 apart from the other models is the Smart Connect. With this feature, it triggers the automatic dual-band Wi-Fi selection, selecting the best connection once you’re connected to the router. It has a Dynamic QoS that can help improve the internet traffic going to the router. It’s the same feature that resolves traffic congestion when the internet bandwidth has reached its limit.
Although the AC1900 doesn’t feature the Airtime Fairness, the router is compatible with Amazon Alexa™. You can control the router through voice commands, and this feature makes the device more convenient to use.
Security Features
The security features of the two models are similar. Both of them have a 128-bit AES encryption with PSK. They have double firewall protection – NAT and SPI. They are also equipped with a DoS (Denial-of-Service) attack prevention. Complement these with NETGEAR Armor™, you have a well-secured Wi-Fi router for your household.
Buttons and Ports
At this point, we already know how different Nighthawk AC1750 and Nighthawk AC1900 are in terms of their performance and features. But let’s check out the physical attributes this time, particularly their buttons and ports.
It’s important to point out that they have a similar physical design. Both of the models have a USB 3.0 port on the front panel. It’s a storage port, which means you can transfer data from the router to the USB. But if you turn it around and take a closer look at the rear panel, you will see a slight difference.
On the rear panel of both routers, you will find the on/off and reset buttons. The AC1750 has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and one Gigabit Ethernet WAN port to connect the router to the internet source. Meanwhile, the AC1900 has the same number of ports, but it has an additional USB 2.0 port next to the WAN port.
Price
Of course, this comparison will not be complete if we don’t talk about their prices. First of all, their individual prices are not in the same range. Second, there is a little difference between their prices, but they can be considered a little more expensive than a basic home router. Remember that these two models are smart devices so they can be a bit pricey.
Right off the bat, the Nighthawk AC1750 costs around $85 to $100, depending on where you’re purchasing the device. On the other hand, the cost of Nighthawk AC1900 is within the $125-$140 range. Obviously, it’s the more expensive one, considering that it has a wider coverage, faster speed, and more attributes and features than AC1750.
Conclusion – Nighthawk AC1750 vs AC1900
Now, we have come to the final part of this article. We bet that you’re excited to know which model is the winner, right? If we based the decision on performance and features, the clear winner is the Nighthawk AC1900. But if you’re more of a practical buyer, the winner will is the AC1750.
Although both Nighthawk routers have similar specifications, the AC1900 has a much faster speed, reaching up to 1.9Gbps. With that speed, it has a wider coverage of up to 1800 ft². The router is also powerful enough to provide an internet connection to 30 wireless devices. And if they are used altogether, the device can eliminate the slower connected devices, resolving the internet traffic congestion. Best of all, the router is a smart device, which means you can easily control it at the tip of your fingers.
The only downside (but it’s reasonable) is that the Nighthawk AC1900 is an expensive router. If you don’t want to spend more than $100 for a household router but still want a high-quality device, then go for the AC1750. No, it doesn’t have the features of AC1900, but it’s almost similar to its competitor. It’s a smart Wi-Fi router and still has an excellent internet speed of up to 1.75Gbps. The coverage is also good because it can provide an internet connection within an area of 1500 ft² for 25 wireless devices. If you don’t really have that big of a house and not too many gadgets, then the AC1750 is already a great choice.
Whichever you choose between the two, you still get the best for your money.
