Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Review 

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000
Source: Netgear.com

Our Verdict

4.0
4.0/5

If you're in the market for a high-quality mid-level Wi-Fi extender, the Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 is an excellent choice.

The Netgear X6S Wi-Fi extender sports a sleek design, high performance, and numerous Ethernet ports. It also delivers decent Wi-Fi speeds of 318.21 Mbps and 628.21 Mbps at five feet on Wi-Fi and Ethernet, respectively. Plus, it is a tri-band unit (which allows you to connect more devices) and is faster than most Wi-Fi extenders but not the fastest. 

The most significant drawbacks we encountered were its setup and modest range (some lower-cost options outperform it).

Pros

Cons

Performance

4.4
4.4/5

Range

3.3
3.3/5

Design

4.6
4.6/5

Setup

3.5
3.5/5

Value

4.0
4.0/5

We recently got our hands on 12 of the most popular Wi-Fi extenders, including the Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000. We put them under various tests and thoroughly examined all of their features and functions.

The X6S generally performed well, with a few minor flaws. It’s of excellent quality and will meet most home Wi-Fi requirements.

We’re home networking experts, and we understand what tests to perform on Wi-Fi extenders and their crucial standards. And we want to share all of the test results and considerations with you.

So, let’s get started with the review. 

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Overview

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Overview

Hello, and thank you for reading our Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Wi-Fi extender review.

This review explains who this extender will benefit the most and its key features and significant advantages. It’s full of valuable features and has something for everyone, even those that aren’t tech-savvy.

So who is the Netgear X6S best suited for? The Netgear X6S is generally ideal for homes with medium to high-speed Internet plans (500 to 1,000 Mbps or more) and homes with many (25 or more) wireless devices

This tri-band wireless extender can handle many wireless sensors in “smart homes” due to its extra bandwidth. And it provides enough throughput for everything from Zoom meetings to 4k streaming to online gaming and heavy internet usage daily.

It isn’t the fastest extender we’ve tested (but it is in the top 50%), and it has an adequate range to cover most homes. But it makes a single network. 

On the other hand, the X6S extender has some drawbacks. During setup, it gave us a few headaches. It wouldn’t connect to the router but worked after a couple of tries. 

However, after the initial setup problems, it performed fine. It isn’t the fastest extender, nor does it provide the best range. But it has lots of bandwidth, plenty of Ethernet connections, and it provides speeds and range that are good enough for most people

Is the X6S a good extender? Yes, we would recommend it to most people. 

Keep reading to learn why the Netgear X6S EX8000 AC300 might be just what you need to eliminate the Wi-Fi dead spots in your home. 

Specs

BrandNetgear
ModelX6S EX8000 AC3000
Max Tested SpeedWi-Fi: 318.21 MbpsEthernet: 628.21 Mbps
Approximate RangeWi-Fi: 50 feetEthernet: 60 feet
Wireless StandardWi-Fi 5
BandsTri-band
LAN Port4 (four) Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Dimensions8.08 x 10.01 x 5.2 inches
Weight3 pounds
Warranty1 year

Performance 4.4

​​The Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 performed fine in our speed tests. While connected to our router with Wi-Fi, it reached speeds of: 

  • 318.21 Mbps at 5 feet
  • 184.51 Mbps at 15 feet
  • 158.51 Mbps at 25 feet

Compared to other extenders we tested, the drop in speed from 5-feet to 15-feet was more significant than average. For example, the TP-Link RE450 (which had comparable speeds) dropped from 320.83 Mbps to 245.31 Mbps. 

Connecting the extender to our router with Ethernet, of course, yielded higher download speeds, and the X6S didn’t lose as much speed at further distances:

  • 628.21 Mbps at 5 feet
  • 318.47 Mbps at 15 feet
  • 197.86 Mbps at 25 feet

The Netgear X6S’s Wi-Fi and Ethernet speeds are good – in the top half of the pack. 

Most homes will have no problems with multiple users and many devices on the X6S’s network. It’s fast enough to stream numerous 4k films, play multiple online video games, and host a few webinars simultaneously.

We should note that we tested this extender (and all the other models) with the ASUS RT-AX88U, a powerful, fast router. Keep in mind that your speeds will differ depending on your current router’s speed, specs, age, etc.

You could connect your gaming console, printer, laptop dock, or desktop computer to one of the extender’s four 1 Gigabit Ethernet connections for even greater performance.

The Netgear X6S is a tri-band extender, a significant benefit over dual-band models. This means it has three bands (one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz bands), meaning it has greater bandwidth and the ability to connect more devices. Perfect for smart homes. 

Despite the slower than anticipated Wi-Fi speed beyond five feet, the Netgear X6S is still quite quick. It will work well for most home Internet packages, even those with speeds of 1 Gbps or more.

Range 3.3

The Netgear X6S had a less than ideal range in our testing–

  • 50 feet on Wi-Fi 
  • 60 feet on Ethernet 

Even though this is tied for the worst range of the 12 extenders we tested, 50-60 feet of additional Wi-Fi coverage still isn’t bad. It should be more than enough to cover an average home with Wi-Fi. 

Place the extender halfway between your router and the hard-to-reach place for maximum coverage and elimination of all Wi-Fi dead zones.

Design 4.6

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 front

The Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 sports a curved, black tower design. It is appealing to the eye, but it is physically large and weighs 3 pounds. But, it fits fine on most shelves and desks.

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Back

It’s about the size of a paperback book, at 10.01-inches tall, 8.08-inches deep, and 5.2 inches wide at the base. 

Its four Gigabit Ethernet ports can be found on its back. You can use these ports to link nearby connected devices like printers, gaming consoles, desktop PCs, laptop docks, and so on for improved downloading speeds.

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 back 2

Setup 3.5

Just like other Netgear extenders we tested (the EAX80 and EAX20), the setup for the Netgear X6S wasn’t the easiest. We couldn’t get it to connect. So we tried again. And again. Then finally, it worked.

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 setup

Alas, all went smoothly after we were able to link it. So, if you’re having trouble setting up yours, just keep trying. You’ll get there. 

One of the X6S is that it makes a single network– meaning you’ll have one network in your home. So, you will never have to switch back and forth between the two Wi-Fi networks like you would with some other extenders. 

Value 4.0

The Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 is a bit on the pricey side for the range, speed, and features it offers. But, we still think it is worth its cost

It has features that competing extenders don’t match. And comparing the price to performance and features, it comes out on top against competing models. 

Even with some minor downsides, the Netgear X6S is worth the money. Decent connection speeds, extra bandwidth, multiple Ethernet ports, and an adequate range. It’s suitable for any Internet plan, but especially for those with speeds of 500 to 1,000 Mbps or more.

Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Reviews

The vast majority of online reviews of the Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Wi-Fi extender are positive. It has an excellent average rating on Amazon and more than 700 reviews. It also has ratings of 4/5 stars and higher on other platforms.

The X6S has fantastic ratings and is regarded as a top pick, with high ratings from both professionals and customers. The majority of reviews note minor shortcomings and incredible performance and capabilities.

The X6S isn’t without fault, though. Many reviewers had a few gripes.

The most common complaints are setup difficulties (as we discovered in our evaluation) and dropping connections

Some other customers complained about their unit failing after a few months. Likely from a defect or possible misuse. With that said, ours is still working fine. If yours does happen to fail (which is very rare), you would be covered under Netgear’s 1-year warranty. 

Nevertheless, the majority of customers were pleased with its range, bandwidth speed, and features.

Some of the extenders we have tested
Extenders we have tested

Alternatives

Here are some alternative recommendations to the Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 Wi-Fi booster. 

Netgear EAX80 AX6000
Source: Netgear.com

Netgear EAX80 AX6000

If you want to keep with the Netgear brand and obtain faster speeds, greater range, and have a single network, then the Netgear EAX80 is an excellent alternative to the X6S. It’s quicker and has a larger coverage area (65-75 feet).

The EAX80 also has four Ethernet connections, like the X6S. It also includes a USB 3.0 connection for a network printer or network storage, which the X6S lacks. But, the EAX80 is dual-band, which means it will have less bandwidth than the X6S. 

But, with this better speed, range, and extra features, the EAX80 costs more. 

TP-Link RE650 AC2600
Source: TP-Link.com

TP-Link RE650 AC2600

The TP-Link RE650 AC2600 is a direct competitor to the Netgear X6S, making it an excellent alternative. It’s slightly faster than the X6S on both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. Making it suitable for online gaming, video conferences, and 4k video streaming

The TP-Link RE650 has a greater range (60-70 feet) but just one Ethernet connection. It is, however, about 25% cheaper than the X6S. And if you already own a TP-Link router, the RE650 system may be a better choice because it allows you to quickly link them with OneMesh.

Netgear AX6120 AC1200
Source: Netgear.com

Netgear EX6120 AC1200

If you’re on a budget and the Netgear X6S is too expensive; the Netgear EX6120 is a fantastic, low-cost alternative. It’s only 25% of the cost of the X6S, but it has slower speeds and only one Ethernet connection

However, if you have a slower internet plan (less than 500 Mbps), the EX6120 will be fast enough. As an added plus, the EX6120 has better range– 60 feet on Wi-Fi and 70 feet on Ethernet. 

Bottom Line

The Netgear X6S EX8000 AC3000 is in the top half of our Wi-Fi extender speed rankings. It’s a fantastic option for consumers looking for fast downloads, a decent coverage area, a single network, the ability to connect multiple wireless devices (smart homes), and multiple local Ethernet connections.

The X6S is a fantastic value for the money. It’s decently priced, especially given its performance and features.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider: it has a subpar range, and setting it up may take a couple of tries.

Despite its few flaws, the X6S is a great way to expand your Wi-Fi network. It’s especially appealing if you have a smart home with numerous wireless sensors and network devices.

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