Netgear recently released the Netgear EAX20 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender. So, how does the new model compare against the EAX80?
You can find out in this comparison guide between the two extenders.
Quick Summary
The Netgear EAX80 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender has the clear advantage when it comes to coverage (up to 2,500 sq. ft.), speed (up to 6 Gbps) and connected devices (at least 30).
The EAX80 is easily the best choice out of the two options in this comparison guide if you are looking for the fastest connection and best wireless coverage.
The Netgear EAX20 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender is still a great choice if you have smaller area to cover (up to 1,500 sq. ft.), slower internet speed (up to 1.8 Gbps) and less devices to connect (the EAX20 can support more than 20). Under these circumstances, the EAX20 is the more affordable option when compared to the EAX80.
EAX20 vs. EAX80 Comparison Chart
You can check out Seeking Tech’s comparison table between the mesh extenders below.
| EAX20 Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender | EAX80 Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 6.7" x 2.5" (241.7 mm × 169.5 mm × 63.4 mm) | 10" x 7.75" x 4.2" (279 mm x 197 mm x 106 mm) |
| Weight | 1.1 pounds (or 504.4 g) | 1.9 pounds (or 860 g) |
| CPU | 64-bit 1.5GHz dual-core processor | 64-bit 1.8GHz dual-core processor |
| Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage | Up to 1,500 sq. ft. | Up to 2,500 sq. ft. |
| Wi-Fi Speed | AX1800 WiFi 6 (up to 1.8 Gbps) | AX6000 WiFi 6 (up to 6 Gbps) |
| Wi-Fi Bands | Band 1: 0.6Gbps @2.4GHz - 1024QAM Band 2: 1.2Gbps @5GHz - 1024QAM | Band 1: 1.2Gbps @2.4GHz - 1024QAM Band 2: 4.8Gbps @5GHz - 1024QAM |
| Wi-Fi Backward Compatibility | Wi-Fi 1: 802.11b Wi-Fi 2: 802.11a Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 1: 802.11b Wi-Fi 2: 802.11a Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac |
| Connected Devices | More than 20 devices | More than 30 devices |
| Ethernet Ports | 4x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports with auto-sense | 4x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports with auto-sense |
| OFDMA? | Yes | Yes |
| MU-MIMO? | Yes | Yes |
| 160MHz Channel? | Yes | Yes |
| Nighthawk App? | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Protected Setup? | Yes | Yes |
| Security | Standards-based WiFi Security (802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK) | Standards-based WiFi Security (802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK) WEP standards |
| Router/Gateway Requirements | 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Browsers Requirements | Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher Firefox 20 or higher Safari 5.1 or higher Google Chrome 25.0 or higher | Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher Firefox 20 or higher Safari 5.1 or higher Google Chrome 25.0 or higher |
| Warranty | Limited 1-year hardware warranty 24/7 basic technical support for up to 90 days of purchase date from authorized Netgear resller | Limited 1-year hardware warranty 24/7 basic technical support for up to 90 days of purchase date from authorized Netgear resller |
| Pricing | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) |
Dimensions
The EAX20 is smaller when compared to the bulkier EAX80.
You can find the exact measurements for both products below:
- EAX20: 9.5 in. x 6.7 in. x 2.5 in. (241.7 mm × 169.5 mm × 63.4 mm)
- EAX80: 10 in. x 7.75 in. x 4.2 in. (279 mm x 197 mm x 106 mm)
Weight
The EAX20Wi Fi 6 Mesh Extender weighs nearly half as much as the EAX80 Wi Fi 6 Mesh Extender.
You can find the weight specifications below:
- EAX20: 1.1 pounds (or 504.4 g)
- EAX80: 1.9 pounds (or 860 g)
CPU
The Netgear EAX20 WiFi 6 Mesh Extender is equipped with a 64-bit 1.5GHz dual-core processor.
The Netgear EAX80 WiFi 6 Mesh Extender has a faster 64-bit 1.8GHz dual-core processor.
Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage
The EAX20 will be able to provide up to 1,500 sq. ft. of additional wireless coverage.
The EAX80 will be able to extend the wireless coverage to a maximum of 2,500 sq. ft., which is 66.67% more than the EAX20.
Wi-Fi Speed
The EAX20 uses AX1800 WiFi 6, which provide a wireless speed of up to 1.8 Gbps.
The EAX80 utilizes AX6000 WiFi 6 to provide a wireless speed of up to 6 Gbps, which is 233.33% faster than the EAX20.
Wi-Fi Bands
The EAX20 WiFi 6 Mesh Extender use the following bands:
- Band 1: 0.6Gbps @2.4GHz – 1024QAM
- Band 2: 1.2Gbps @5GHz – 1024QAM
The EAX80 Wi Fi 6 Mesh Extender utilizes the following bands:
- Band 1: 1.2Gbps @2.4GHz – 1024QAM
- Band 2: 4.8Gbps @5GHz – 1024QAM
Wi-Fi Backward Compatibility
Both mesh extenders are backward compatible with devices that use older Wi-Fi versions:
- Wi-Fi 1: 802.11b
- Wi-Fi 2: 802.11a
- Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g
- Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n
- Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac
Connected Devices
The EAX20 will be able to connect to more than 20 devices.
The EAX80 can connect to more than 30 devices.
Ethernet Ports
Both products come with four 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports that have auto-sensing technology.
OFDMA
Both Wi-Fi range extenders also use OFDMA, which helps provide efficient high volume data transmission for up to 4 devices simultaneously.
MU-MIMO
Furthermore, the two product support MU-MIMO, which will let you stream content on four different devices at the same time.
160MHz Channel
The EAX20 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender and EAX80 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender also support the 160MHz Channel, which provides gigabit speeds on compatible laptops, smartphones and other devices.
Nighthawk App
Both products also use the Nighthawk App.
After downloading the application on your smartphone, you can easily set up the Wi-Fi extenders.
You can then use the dashboard to check out the wireless settings, connected devices and perform other actions.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup
The two WiFi range extenders also use Wi-Fi Protected Setup (or WPS for short).
This security feature will provide a faster and easier connection between the router and connecting devices.
To utilize WPS, your wireless network must be using either the WPA Personal or WPA2 Personal security protocols.
Security
The Netgear EAX20 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender uses a standards-based WiFi Security (802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK).
The Netgear EAX80 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender utilizes a standards-based WiFi Security (802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK) in addition to having WEP standards.
Router/Gateway Requirements
The router or gateway requirements are the same for both extenders. You will need 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax.
Browsers Requirements
The EAX20 and EAX80 also have identical browser requirements.
You can find the list of supported browsers below:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher
- Firefox 20 or higher
- Safari 5.1 or higher
- Google Chrome 25.0 or higher
Warranty
The EAX20 and EAX80 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extenders come with Netgear’s limited 1-year hardware warranty.
The company will also provide 24/7 basic technical support for up to 90 days of purchase date if you buy the product from a Netgear authorized reseller.