Netgear has announced the Orbi 870 series, a new mesh WiFi 7 router. This system performs much better than older versions, with up to 21 Gbps of total bandwidth and 6GHz support.
The router and its satellites come with several 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing for fast wired connections, which is great for heavy internet use like gaming and connecting smart home devices. It also supports a 10 Gigabit internet connection. The nodes can be connected to each other over Wi-Fi or with a wired backhaul. A wall mount for the system is also available for purchase separately.
The Orbi 870 series has three options: a router with two satellites that can cover 9,000 square feet (RBE873), a router with one satellite that covers 6,000 square feet (RBE872), and a satellite-only option that covers 3,000 square feet (RBE870). You can get all of these in black or white. These systems include WPA3 security, guest WiFi, access control, automatic firmware updates, and a separate network for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Additionally, the Orbi app lets you manage your network remotely and includes Smart Parental Controls to help monitor your children’s online activities.
The Netgear Orbi 870 takes a different approach to something like the Amazon eero Max 7. The Orbi 870 offers much faster speeds—up to 21 Gbps, while the eero Max 7 maxes out at 4.3 Gbps. This speed difference is mainly because the Orbi fully utilizes the capabilities of WiFi 7, while the eero, although also WiFi 7, doesn’t take full advantage of all its features. On the other hand, the eero includes a Smart Home Hub that works with various smart home devices, a feature missing from the Orbi. If you already own Eero units, you might want the Max 7 to repurpose your existing Eero nodes as additional mesh units.
Netgear’s Orbi 870 series is part of their WiFi 7 product line, which also features the RBE97x series that offers even faster speeds and more bandwidth. The pricing for the Orbi 870 series ranges from $549.99 for one satellite to $1299.99 for a three-pack, and it will be available on January 7, 2025, from the official website.
Source: Netgear
