Winner
$399.99
Also sold in packs
- Pack of 215% OFFC$934.98C$1099.98C$467.49 per unitYou save C$165.00Buy
Updated November 2026
Data from the official eero and NETGEAR sites.
2026 verdict
An outdoor mesh node against a standalone flagship: on the rows this page compares, the eero Outdoor 7 sweeps the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S.
It costs less, is rated higher by owners, and is backed by a 3-year warranty that triples the Nighthawk's one year. But the specs tell a different story, because these solve different problems. The Nighthawk RS700S is tri-band Wi-Fi 7 rated up to 19 Gbps combined, with a 10 Gbps internet port, a 10 Gbps LAN port and USB 3.0 storage sharing, and no mesh support at all. The eero Outdoor 7 is weatherproof dual-band Wi-Fi 7 over a single PoE+ port, with a built-in Thread border router and Matter controller, and it needs an existing eero network to join. Choose the eero Outdoor 7 to extend an eero home outdoors, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S for raw single-unit speed indoors.
Connectivity
vs
10% OFF
$539.99
$599.99
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The biggest differences
Where these two are furthest apart, and by how much.
- Max Wi-Fi Speed6.8×NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S19 Gbps vs 2.8 Gbps
- LAN Port Count5×NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S5 vs 1
- Warranty3×eero Outdoor 73 years vs 1 year
| Feature | eero Outdoor 7 | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.99 | $539.99 | eero Outdoor 7 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 | eero Outdoor 7 |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | eero Outdoor 7 |
| Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | NO | YES | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
| Max Wi-Fi Speed | 2.8 Gbps | 19 Gbps | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
| Mesh Wi-Fi | YES | NO | eero Outdoor 7 |
| LAN Port Count | 1 | 5 | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
| LAN 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ports | 1 | 0 | eero Outdoor 7 |
| WAN & Failover | WAN Failover | None | eero Outdoor 7 |
| USB Storage | None | FTP, Samba, Media Sharing | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
| Smart Home Protocols | Thread Border Router, Matter Controller | None | eero Outdoor 7 |
| VPN | DDNS | VPN Server, OpenVPN, DDNS | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
What the differences mean
What each one is
The eero Outdoor 7 is a weatherproof extender that needs an existing eero network. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S is a standalone flagship router with no mesh support of its own.
Wired ports
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has a 10 Gbps internet port plus a 10 Gbps LAN port and USB 3.0 storage. The eero Outdoor 7 has one 2.5 GbE port that also powers it over PoE+.
Wi-Fi bands
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S is tri-band with 6 GHz, rated up to 19 Gbps combined. The eero Outdoor 7 is dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz only.
Smart home protocols
The eero Outdoor 7 is a Thread border router and a Matter controller. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has neither.
Weatherproofing
The eero Outdoor 7 is IP66 rated for outdoor mounting. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S is an indoor tower with no weather rating.
Which one to buy if
- you already run eero and need weatherproof coverage outdoors
The eero Outdoor 7 is built and rated for exactly that placement over PoE+.
- one powerful router in the middle of the house is the plan
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S is rated up to 19 Gbps combined with 4x4 radios on all three bands.
- a NAS or fast wired PC needs a multi-gig port
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has two 10 Gbps ports and USB 3.0 storage sharing; the eero Outdoor 7 has one 2.5 GbE port.
- Thread or Matter devices need a built-in controller
The eero Outdoor 7 is a Thread border router and a Matter controller; the Nighthawk RS700S is neither.
Winner
$399.99
- + Price: $399.99
- + Rating: 4.5
- + Warranty: 3 years
- - Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax): NO vs YES
- - Max Wi-Fi Speed: 2.8 Gbps vs 19 Gbps
10% OFF
$539.99
$599.99
- + Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax): YES
- + Max Wi-Fi Speed: 19 Gbps
- + LAN Port Count: 5
- - Price: $539.99 vs $399.99
- - Rating: 4.4 vs 4.5
What owners say
Owners of both routers describe fast setup, though for different reasons. eero Outdoor 7 owners praise reaching outdoor cameras and detached buildings that were dead zones, and like that it folds into an existing eero mesh with every earlier generation, but some report the wireless backhaul running on 2.4 GHz and slower, or dropping, when the next node is far away. NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S owners upgrading from older Nighthawk or Wi-Fi 5 gear describe their throughput doubling or better, and several with large or thick-walled houses say outdoor cameras and far-corner devices finally stay connected from a single unit, with one retiring a mesh system entirely. Their complaint that repeats most is the total absence of mesh support, so whole-home coverage has to come from wired access points or a switch to NETGEAR's Orbi line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: eero Outdoor 7 or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S?
The eero Outdoor 7 wins overall on price, owner feedback and warranty. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S is the far faster standalone router.
How do the warranties compare?
The eero Outdoor 7 has a 3-year warranty, while the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has 1 year.
Does the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S support mesh?
No. The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has no mesh support, while the eero Outdoor 7 is built to join an eero mesh network.
Which has faster wired ports?
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S has a 10 Gbps WAN and a 10 Gbps LAN port. The eero Outdoor 7 has a single 2.5 GbE port that also powers it over PoE+.
Who should buy the eero Outdoor 7?
Choose the eero Outdoor 7 if you already have eero and need weatherproof Wi-Fi outdoors, with Thread and Matter support.
Who should buy the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S?
Choose the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S for a single powerful router with 6 GHz, multi-gig ports and USB storage.
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