When comparing Norton Core vs Linksys AC3200, the Slant community recommends Norton Core for most people. In the question“What are the best wireless routers?” Norton Core is ranked 8th while Linksys AC3200 is ranked 17th. The most important reason people chose Norton Core is:
The Core is capable of achieving maximum throughput speeds of 2.5 Gbps and can cover a home of somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. It has a powerful 1.7 GHz Dual Core processor and performance-enhancing features, such as 4x4 MU-MIMO and beamforming. 4x4 MU-MIMO means that router can handle simultaneous transmission with up to three devices and beamforming allows router to focus Wi-Fi signal specifically on a device.
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Pros
Pro Great performance and range
The Core is capable of achieving maximum throughput speeds of 2.5 Gbps and can cover a home of somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. It has a powerful 1.7 GHz Dual Core processor and performance-enhancing features, such as 4x4 MU-MIMO and beamforming. 4x4 MU-MIMO means that router can handle simultaneous transmission with up to three devices and beamforming allows router to focus Wi-Fi signal specifically on a device.
Pro Great design
The Norton Core has a very unique design, instead of a clunky box, it's a geodesic dome. It is available in two colors, Titanium Gold or Granite Gray, so you can match the router with your interior.
Pro State of the art security for safer browsing
The Norton Core is a combination of powerful router and an antivirus . It's able to defend you from spyware, malware, viruses, hackers and any other online threats. It checks every data packet for any suspicious activity and if Core notices anything strange about it, the packet gets denied.
Pro Provides network security for Internet of Things devices
The Norton Core will protect any internet-connected smart devices that you are using at your home. So if your fridge is connected to the internet, the Norton Core will protect it from hackers.
Pro Great performance using tri-band technology
This AC3200 router utilizes three simultaneous WiFi bands for maximum theoretical throughput of 3.2 Gbps. In real life testing at a close range of 15 feet it clocks in close to 600 Mbps. When distance is increased to about 100 feet, the speed drops to 240 Mbps.
Pro Can be remotely managed with a companion app
There’s an easy to use app for your smartphone or tablet. You can use it to access your router's settings and customization options.
Pro Easy to set up
Setting up this router is very similar to installing a game on your computer. Once you’ve powered it up and connected it to your modem, just open the browser and go to 192.168.1.1. This will open Linksys Smart WiFi setup wizard, where you'll have to click "Next" few times and write in the name and password of your network.
Pro You can prioritize bandwidth for devices and some specific applications of those devices
For example you can give Skype a higher priority, so the quality of your video calls wouldn't be affected because someone else is streaming a movie and using up all of bandwidth . You can also give higher priority to some online games for better latency.
Cons
Con Lacks advanced customization features
You can’t set up a VPN server or have multiple internet service provider connections to your router. With a VPN server you can be traveling around the world and browsing the internet, but your smartphone or laptop would think that it’s connected to your home network. And multiple internet service provider connections could be used for redundancy or load-balancing.
Con Expensive
At $300 this router is more expensive when compared to other tri-band routers.
Con Most devices don’t support three simultanious WiFi bands
Most consumer devices are built to support two simultaneous WiFi bands, not three. Before upgrading your network with a tri-band router, you should make sure that your computer and/or smartphone supports this technology. Otherwise you won't be able to use this router to its full potential.