On paper, both routers are some impressive features, hardware, and even the same design language. Both the AX6 and AX12’s design share a resemblance to stealth fighter jet. The only the drawback to the design is the antenna are not adjustable, having been set in a fixed position because of its design. Both routers can also handle wireless data traffic at speeds of 6Gbps at any single point. Ports-wise, the AX12 hosts five Gigabit Ethernet ports, while the AX8 supports six ports. Besides that, both routers come with a single 5Gbps ethernet port installed, as well as two USB 3.0 ports.
What sets the two models apart are the number of data streams they can handle. As per their namesake yet again, the AX12 can handle a total of 12 independent streams at a time, while the AX8 can only handle eight. Oh, and they also support Beamforming+ technology, which boosts the connectivity across the 2.4GHz and 5GHz waveband. At the time of writing, no local pricing or availability for the Nighthawk AX12 and AX8 was announced by Netgear. Given the power and features of these routers, it wouldn’t surprise us if either model was priced at a premium upon arrival. (Source: Netgear [1] [2], Engadget)
