One of the Fastest Wifi Mesh System Is $500 Off Right Now

By ice41 | 8:12 AM Leave a Comment

The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Wifi 6E Mesh System, now down to $989 from $1,499.99, is designed for big spaces—like really big, 9,000-square-foot kind of spaces. It includes a router node and two satellite nodes, all in an aesthetic white finish with chrome accents. Both the router and satellites have a 2.5Gbps LAN port, three 1Gbps LAN ports, 12 high-performance internal antennas, and buttons for reset and sync. However, the router node has an additional 10Gbps WAN port for even faster connectivity while the satellites use one of the 5GHz bands for a dedicated wireless backhaul to keep everything running smoothly. You can also opt for a wired backhaul using the 2.5Gbps port.

The setup is user-friendly with the Orbi mobile app, which offers features like network map, wifi settings, device management, and more, at your fingertips. And, for those who like a bit more control, its web console on PC offers advanced options like IoT network separation and VPN configurations. Plus, parental controls and security features are solid with this mesh system. That said, they come with subscription fees ($7.99/month for Smart Parental Controls and $99.99/year for Netgear Armor, which protects your network and devices from malware). So, while the free 30-day trial seems like a nice perk, the added ongoing cost might feel like a sting given the system’s upfront expense.

Performance-wise, this PCMag review notes that the quad-band AX11000 system delivers impressive speeds—up to 4,800Mbps on the 6GHz band, 2,400Mbps on the two 5GHz bands, and 1,200Mbps on 2.4GHz. However, even with its excellent backhaul, Wifi 6 tech support, and MU-MIMO capabilities, the Orbi doesn’t come cheap—and its premium features may be overkill for smaller homes or those with basic internet needs. (Just keep in mind that while older devices can connect to this mesh system, only 6E-compatible devices can take advantage of the 6GHz band.)

For a fraction of the cost, options like the Asus ZenWiFi ET8 ($243.85, down from $329.99) could deliver enough performance for smaller homes without breaking the bank.


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