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Customer reviews

Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars with 243 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Setup

    Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars

  • Range

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Signal Strength

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

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77%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers are pleased with the Orbi 970 Series BE27000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System's speed and coverage, and many found the setup to be easy. The system also delivers great performance, ease of use, and range with amazing signal strength throughout the house. However, some customers have experienced connectivity issues and find the price to be a concern, while others feel the router is large.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 243 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Price, Size
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    The best whole house coverage at a bit of a cost

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Wow! The Orbi WiFi-7, (Model Orbi 970) is about the best MESH system you can pick up on the market at this time. With homes relying on more connected devices, it has become more important than ever to have a strong, reliable Wi-Fi network to handle all the traffic. The Orbi WiFi-7 network meets these challenges. Included in the package was one router and two satellite units. The router has four 2.5 Gigabit ethernet ports, a ten Gigabit ethernet port and a ten Gig Internet port. The two satellite units have two 2.5 Gigabit ethernet ports and one 10 Gigabit ethernet port. This allows you to hard wire your non-Wi-Fi devices as well. You can create up to three networks, guest, smart devices and a main network for your connected PCs, phone and other peripherals. Below are my observations of the WiFi-7 Set up was extremely easy to do through the app on your phone or tablet. I first downloaded the Orbi application to my mobile phone and followed the prompts to set up the Router. It is a three-step process. First you need to scan the QR code to download the application and follow the prompts. Secondly, once setup, Orbi 7 runs the included NETGEAR Armor to ensure your system is secure. The last process is to use the Orbi application to configure and maintain your system. One of the great things when setting up the WiFi-7 is that it works with any internet service, which makes setting up much easier. The application allows you to Customize your networks name and passwords for the main Wi-Fi network, a dedicated Wi-Fi network for your smart devices to reduce conflicts or slowing down speeds and to create a guest Wi-Fi network as well. The system allows up to 200 devices to be connected at one time with great coverage for the whole house. The speed of the internet while using the WiFi-7 is extremely fast and seamless as you move from the main unit to the satellite units. I can’t even notice any change in speed while moving around my home. The only thing that you will notice and may be perceived as a negative is the size of the three units. They measure 12” x 6” x 5.5” and will need a bit of room to sit. That is the only downside I see on the WiFi-7. The price is the other concern. This is a premium system and you will pay more for that. Overview of the Orbi-7’s characteristics. • Quad-band Router 10 GBPS ethernet lan port o 10 Gig wan port o 4- 2.5 GBPS ethernet lan ports • 2- Satellite units o 2-2.5 GBPS ethernet lan ports • 360-degree coverage. • 10,000 sq. ft. covering whole house. • Multiple bands to keep traffic low and not bog down speed. • Mobile app to control your network and orbi units. • Included Netgear Armor for one year. Automatically protects your network and connected devices.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Size
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    i’ll see yall in the future!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    man this Orbi 970 wifi 7 is massive, coming from owning eero wifi 6 this is such a huge jump compared to the sizes of each device with all the latest features in wifi 7 i’m kinda skeptical if im actually gonna find a difference in speed and latency. I have about 20 devices at my house and im always looking for a wifi that can handle all things I do specifically I do a lot of gaming. there’s just a lot of features that wifi 7 I honestly prob won’t even be able to try but we are future proofing over here. wifi 7 is 2.4x faster than wifi 6, in real world performance im guessing hey its says it’s faster but how fast does it effect us specially verizon doesn’t even offer anything higher than 5gb, it might be 2gb coz thats what I have. but wifi 7 suppose to support up to 27gbps of speed. currently using all 3 with the two safelites, one downstairs at the basement and the main is in the livingroom, I have the third satellite inside the game room at 3rd floor, i’ll have some picture to compare this device beside a gaming console and its big. now let’s talk about setting up first so far it’s fairly straight forward and no complaints on installing all the devices, the app was also pretty simple minimalist and easy to follow. did a speed test before switching to Orbi wifi 7 and the result was Download is 477 Upload is 621. after switching to wifi 7 Download is 658 and Upload is 682 wow I was already impressed because it actually boosted my connection. checking my download speed with Wifi 6 on Xbox Series X, result came out Download 650Mb to wifi 7 1025Mb! yup huge difference and it did help a lot, these speed I feel like it’s based on how the layout of the house is to get a much better signal, and this from me placing my router at the middle section of metal stand. i’ve also had a much better experience connecting my Tesla with much better signal as well. I did like the fact when I kept the same name and password for my Orbi wifi 7 all my previous devices that was connected it automatically was added like nothing was change. such an easy experience since I was dreading to add every devices I had to the wifi. so far my experience with this device was solid 5 out 5 it definitely help improve even more connection on my end, the fact that this can cover up to 9k sqft of is nuts. i’m future proof and I don’t think i’ll ever need to upgrade anymore when I haven’t fully open the potential connectivity power Orbi wifi 7 offers!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Amazing Signal and Coverage

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I upgraded to the Orbi 970 from the 960, the improvement in coverage is noticeable even though many of the features are the same. The setup was pretty simple, step by step instructions to add the Orbi System using the app. I still get the great signal strength and te increased WIFI 7 speeds won't be very noticeable until they come up with devices that can take advantage of the faster speeds. I get very fast speeds from every point in the house, the satellites provide a stronger signal than my previous 960 model. The NEW design is slightly bigger than the old system but it looks nicer and has an extra LAN port. The security provided by the Armor Security is pretty easy to navigate and it does a good job of helping you tweak your settings. There is improved coverage area as well, i was not able to get a stable signal to my wireless devices in the garage with the old system but i get a stable signal now even though the signal strength is moderate...it is a big improvement. Overall a very stable system, with fast, fast speeds and great future proofed features.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    App, Size
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great Speeds

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I received my NETGEAR - Orbi 970 today and there is much to say about this router. First, the speeds are amazing. I used to wire my satellites to improve speed but this router does not require wired satellites. I found I get the same speed whether they are wired or not. I have 1g internet speed. If the speed was higher, it may be different. You can set it up in AP mode in the event you have a provider that doesn’t allow you to use your own router. It has a web interface which I really like. I don’t like when routers are only app based. It comes with a security suite that is good for 1 year. The warranty is 1 year with 90 day tech support. At this price point, tech support should be a year. When you call tech support, they try to sell you on a two-year plan. This is the fastest router I have used. So why only 4 stars? Set up was very cumbersome. The basic set up was fairly easy, just followed the steps on the app. I had the original Orbi and switched to another router several years ago. All I had to do was set up the router and all wifi devices connected. I thought that would be the case here, but it wasn’t. I had to reconnect every device to the router. I have a lot of light switches that required me to remove them from the wire box to scan the QR code. My appliances had to be reconnected as well as my sound system. This took me 8 hours. At this price point, it should have been easier. If I was ranking this on setup, it would be 1 star. The other frustrating thing is the app is clunky. I prefer the web based connection and am glad it is available, but I had higher expectations at this price point. Whether you are on the apk, or call for support, they are selling features for this router. I just don’t like that. The router is big. It’s not a small device that is easy to conceal. Overall, the NETGEAR - Orbi 970 is in an elite category. Once setup is complete you will like it.

    • Brand response from Netgear Support
      Posted .

      Hi ammcb,

      Thank you for your review, we appreciate your valuable feedback and we want you to know that your experience is important to us. We are sorry to hear that you had a difficult experience with installing your product while using the NETGEAR Orbi App, as this was not the intended experience to manually reconnect your devices. We would love to hear from you and learn about your experience. Please email us at [email protected] with your contact information and a copy of your review, and we will be happy to help you!

      Regards,
      NETGEAR Team

  • Pros mentioned:
    Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Choice If You Have The Need AND Means

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    OK, so I am not going get into the tech-spec stuff because, well, all of that is abundantly available in other reviews and from BB/Netgear web-site. Instead, I am going to focus on set up and functionality. To start, we have a realatively large house at just over 5900 square feet and then an additional 1400 square feet of enclosed pool. The main level is 2862 sq ft with 1500 sq ft in second level and 1500 sq ft in the basement. We have always had a mesh system and had decent coverage. Comparing this mesh to the WiFi 6 system it replaced, not only is it faster, but has a better coverage footprint also. I was getting speeds over 950 Mbps over the entire property (just over 1/3 acre) and clear across street onto the lake. Much farther reach than old system. As for placement I am a CWNA so I originally used network analytics to map out original mesh system. With this, I re-used the same locations. We have the main router in the far left, dead center of main floor. The first satellite is also on main floor, almost dead center of house. The second satellite is on second floor, far right of the house. This satellite covers the pool, driveway and garage very well. Installation was simple, albeit understandably a little time consuming. Load the Orbi app and it walks you through every step. Start with the router. Install (after firmware update) took maybe 10 minutes. Next step was simply to place and plug the satellites. It took maybe 4 minutes for each to boot and start Internet traffic. And then another 25 or so minutes as the system optimized for tuning and channel allocation. The app is attractive and useful. It offers Device Manager, Security, Internet Speed Test, Parental Controls, WiFi Analytics, Network Map, WiFi Settings, Guest WiFi, Traffic Meter and Support. All of those are self explanatory and offer decent information. The one downside and only reason I gave a 4 star instead of a 5 star rating is the size of the power outlet connector. It is quite large. And in this 55 year old house, some of the outlets where you plug the device into, do not have the same retention strength as new receptacles. It's not necessarily the size that is the problem, but the design. When plugged into a wall, this heavy and large plug in rests hoizontally. Being horizontal, when plugged in, the weight pulled the outlet out of the socket. Had the design been a vertical orientation, the lower half of the plug would have offered support so it would not come disconnected. The solution was pretty simple, I just swapped this outlet to the top and pulled the othe cable from the tom to the bottom and that allowed forme to place a small "shim" that let the lower plugged in support the weight of this large outlet. Again, not a deal-breaker but an odd design decision that probably few others will experience. I was talking to a friend of mine about this system and he asked why I needed a WiFi 7 mesh system when there are relatively few WiFi 7 devices out there. I answered that if I were to buy a 765 horsepower super car, would I NEED that 765 horsepower? Well, no, but it is awfully nice to have! Same here. If you have the need this is a great choice but on the pricey side. End of the day, if you need a larger area covered, this is a great option.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent speed and range in Two Story Townhome

    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Disclaimer, I purchased only the single router directly from netgear, but still wanted to share my experience concerning the router's performance....... I stared off with the supplied XB8 Gateway with Xfinity, which gets the job done as far as wifi but is definitely limited in speed and range performance. Later I purchased the Asus GT-BE98 Pro which was an excellent and flashy designed router with very good features, except it utilized a "not so consistent" AiMesh system as opposed to a dedicated mesh system such as this one. With the price being the same I returned the Asus Router when I learned that I could purchase a single Orbi 970 router straight from Netgear's website. The wireless performance and speed in my upstairs area actually surpassed the Asus wireless performance and embarrassed the Xfinity XB8 gateway wireless performance. I have 2Gbit internet and would get less than half of that upstairs, like 700-800mbps average with the GT-BE98 Pro, and maybe 200-300 with the XB8. This single 970 orbs router averages at 1gbps - 1.2gbps wireless. That being said I'm glad I didn't continue to fall for the "gaming router gimmicks" that Asus tried to market. And the best part is you can also purchase single satellites to add at a later time straight from Netgear when you want to expand your mesh system as needed. In the meantime I am beyond happy with running only the router since Im in an 1600 square foot area.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Speed
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Powerful

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Are you looking to upgrade that home WiFi system? Need full coverage that’s future proof while delivering constant speeds all over the house? The. Look no further than the Orbi 970 WiFi 7! I had a previous Orbi system that this replaced so was a very simple setup and took less than 5 minutes. Walking through the app was a very intuitive and detailed guide. Once it came to naming the network I used the same network name and password and everything was able to reconnect automatically. Once was all hooked up it was time to test out how the coverage was. This system can cover up to 9,000sq ft. My home is a little over 3300 sqft. So overkill yes but lots of walls. I place one satellite in the middle of house and on at each side of house. I figured this would give best range coverage through the mesh system. How is the speeds? I have 1Gig service and stream a lot of 4K TV and video games. I have roughly 48 devices on the network plus a security system and lots of outdoor cameras. The upgrade over the last gen system shows my speeds are up 2x as fast in DL speeds right off the bat. Plus My Gaming system on downloads are seeing 500-600 DL speeds across the house in a back room that has 14 walls to go through. Even outside I have excellent coverage on my 1/2 acre property and receive 80% strength signal from the system in the yard by trees. Overall this system has delivered on its promises, it just works and is flawless. I haven’t had any drops, disconnects or struggle in this system to push out the signals needed. I’m looking forward to more WiFi 7 devices to come online so I can take full advantage of this systems capabilities. If you truly want the best, zero worry and are a heavy data consumer this system will be perfect for you and your house.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Setup, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Upgrade & Easy Install!

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Upgraded from the original Orbi 1 and could immediately tell a difference! This system covers more area and provides a much quicker connection. Was very easy to set up following the in-app instructions. A nice touch is that the app scans all the connected devices, it included a trial period of a year. Would certainly recommend to anyone looking to up their Wi-Fi speed without any headache.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Performance, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Should have bought Netgear long ago…

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    These may cost more…but what is your online safety with hasslefree reliability and speed worth? I have always used Linksys and over the years struggled with my wifi; trying to balance speed, access, and parental and guest wifi controls. Time wasted and headaches across the family—no more:). Theae Netgear routers deliver the max throughout I pay for (>2000 Mbps) and allowed me to set all the security and access controls I need without needed me to make frequent changes. No dead spots. No headaches. Just fast, secure and safe internet so I can spend my time doing other things.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Absolutely Mental Speeds Over Wi-Fi

    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I purchased all my stuff from Bestbuy, however unfortunately I was unable to get this one from here because it was not available at my local store when I checked, and I needed it right away. With this router, I have seen speeds of up to 2,063 Mbps with my Pixel 9 Pro XL over Wi-Fi, which is absolutely crazy and really impressive. I couldn't believe my own eyes when I saw that on the speed test. (See attached screenshots). This is my third Orbi system (Started with Orbi RBK50 years ago). So far this has been the greatest experience ever with an Orbi. Specially, the initial setup was always a little difficult, not with this 970. Also, with the other ones I always purchased them right away after release, and they always had some firmware issues that I had to deal with for a while until Netgear fixed them. However, this time I have not experienced any issues with my connection either. It's been very stable. I have over 40 devices connected to my network, that includes IoT devices such as Cameras, Smart Lights and door locks and so on, plus several laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones, no issues for any of these connecting, so very happy so far. Now, the only two negatives I have experienced so far are the following: For some reason, my Meta Quest 3 VR Headset cannot connect to the 6GHz band for some reason. Most of the time it connects to the 5GHz one, but this is probably a limitation with the Quest 3 as it runs a version of Android that doesn't officially support Wi-Fi7 I believe, hopefully Meta updates and fixes this soon. The other thing I dislike is that this Orbi runs VERY hot. I live in Florida, and we already have more than enough heat over here. More devices adding to the furnace that my room can become during hot summers (even with the AC on 24/7 is not ideal) Other than that, if you can afford this without having to sell your soul, then go for it. However, this might be overkill for probably %60 of people out there. I do need it because I work from home and want to take full advantage of my fiber service. If something changes, or I start to experience issues, I'll be sure to update this review.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Cons mentioned:
    Size

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Big size and cost but great performance and tools!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The orbi is a great product. I have been using it since it's first version and only replaced my units now as they were 8 years old and I wanted newer wifi tech and better range. These units are operating great and easily covering my home property 3,000 sq foot house. The are a little large but worth it and do look classy and neat. The setup is easy with good security tools and there are lots of helpful advanced features for those who want to do things like vpn, nat, etc. The cost and size may be high but I would highly recommend.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Setup, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Orbi 970: Unleashing Unparalleled Connection

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    After upgrading to the Netgear Orbi 970 Mesh system, I've experienced firsthand why this is hailed as the best mesh system on the market. Transitioning from the previous model, the Orbi 960, which capped at 2.5gb/sec, the leap in performance is nothing short of remarkable. The Orbi 970 not only promises superior coverage but also delivers unprecedented speeds that truly set it apart. One of the standout features of the Orbi 970 is its 10gig port, a significant upgrade over the older model. Testing this with my laptop connected directly, I consistently hit full 5gb/sec speeds on Speedtest, fully leveraging my Fios connection to its maximum potential. This is a game-changer for both work and entertainment, ensuring that high-speed internet is no longer a bottleneck in my daily digital interactions. The setup process was seamless, and the system's coverage is extensive, easily blanketing every corner of my home with strong, reliable Wi-Fi. The Orbi 970's performance is not just about raw speeds; it's about the quality of connection it maintains across devices, ensuring that video calls, streaming, and online gaming are uninterrupted and at their highest possible quality. Comparing the Orbi 970 to its predecessor, the 960, it's clear that Netgear has made significant improvements. The inclusion of a 10gig port is a forward-thinking feature that caters to the evolving needs of tech-savvy households, where faster internet speeds and higher bandwidth demands are becoming the norm. For anyone on the fence about upgrading their home network system, the Netgear Orbi 970 comes highly recommended. It's an investment in not just faster internet, but in a smoother, more reliable digital experience at home. Whether you're working from home, streaming 4K content, or engaging in competitive online gaming, the Orbi 970 has the power and performance to meet and exceed your expectations. In summary, the Netgear Orbi 970 Mesh system stands out as the pinnacle of home networking solutions. Its unmatched speed, easy setup, and robust coverage make it the ultimate choice for anyone looking to elevate their home internet experience. If you're looking to make the most out of your high-speed internet service like Fios, look no further than the Orbi 970.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Performance, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    The best network mesh system by far

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I'm impressed about the performance and productivity of the system. I have the set with 2 satellites and covers all my home, garage and basement with an incredible speed and reliability. The set up is seamless and very intuitive with the mobile app. Having all ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps and the 10Gbps dedicated to my NAS, my home network flies at speeds I never experienced. I know is a big investment but totally worth it, especially for home office. I fully recommend it if you have the budget.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Performance, Setup

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best WiFi Router Ever!

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Love these!! My house was built in 1945 and has Marble exterior walls, plater with wire mesh on the interior walls and block in some areas. Old WiFi couldn’t get a signal to all parts of my home without multiple extenders. Tried EERO and had the same issue. These three flawlessly get a signal all over my home and well out into my yard. Simple set up and I love how they automatically assign certain wireless accessories to the 2.4 band. These have definitely made my life so much easier and my internet so much more fast and reliable! Well worth the cost to save my sanity from the buffering and interruptions I was dealing with. Wish I had been able to buy these sooner!!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Setup, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A bit pricey but worth every penny to me.

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The orbi 970 series system was very easy to setup. It has amazing coverage, not only is our Wi-Fi signal incredibly strong and fast throughout the entire house, it also covers a nice portion of our outdoor pool area and other parts of the property. I was using an older orbi system and the 970 is really worth the upgrade. I also increased our fiber internet speed and the Orbi handles it with ease, having a 10g internet and LAN connection.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Performance

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best Router

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I recently had the pleasure of integrating the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series into my home, and it has been nothing short of a game-changer. With a household that juggles multiple devices simultaneously, maintaining a strong, consistent internet connection has always been a priority, and I'm pleased to say, a challenge that the Orbi 970 has met with aplomb. Performance: The Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh System not only promises enhanced connectivity but delivers on this promise with gusto. The speed, reliability, and range of the WiFi have seen significant improvements. Streaming, gaming, and online meetings now occur seamlessly, without the interruption of lag or disconnection. Installation: The setup was straightforward and user-friendly. Each step was well-instructed, making the process quick and hassle-free. The design of the units is sleek and unobtrusive, blending effortlessly into the home environment. Functionality: Navigating through the user interface is intuitive, offering a wealth of options to customize the user experience. The security features embedded provide peace of mind, ensuring that our digital footprint remains protected. Overall Experience: The NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series has elevated our home’s internet connectivity, offering a seamless, secure, and robust online experience. The noticeable enhancement in speed and reduction in dead zones has made working from home, streaming entertainment, and online gaming a joy. I am thoroughly satisfied with the performance and reliability of the Orbi 970 and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking to enhance their WiFi experience. The real prize has been the unparalleled connectivity the Orbi 970 has infused into our digital lives.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Connectivity

    Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Falls well short of marketing hype

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    * The 970 series fails to deliver on the marketing hype with disappointing connectivity issues, underwhelming range and concerning privacy issues. * When it worked as intended, the mesh router delivered reasonable up/download speeds throughout the property. We also appreciated the separate IoT and Guest networks. * The system is overly expensive since only a tiny fraction of devices can take advantage of wifi 7 connectivity and speeds, so it really needed to deliver on all the other marketing promises including reduced interference and “impossibly fast” up/downloads throughout the house. We purchased the Netgear Orbi mesh network 970 as an upgrade to a six-year-old Orbi mesh network series 6 that finally died after several years of faithful service. We connect the mesh network to an Xfinity XB-8 gateway, which we bridge to act as just a modem. Both the Orbi series 6 and the XB-8 are fully capable of providing full coverage across our three-story home. We were excited to take advantage of the latest technology with the 970, particularly given the much broader coverage, “consistent 10 gig” speed and whole-house connectivity promised on Netgear’s website. Unfortunately, the real device failed to deliver on those promises and, after two days of frustrating set up and several hours with Netgear tech support, we will reluctantly return the system to BestBuy. Our home is three stories high and 4,500 square feet — well within the promised range of the 970 series, which is supposed to cover multiple floors and up to 10,000 sq. ft. The base station set up was super simple using the Orbi iOS app, which walked you through the process of powering down your existing modem/router, then initiating the new system. It also installed a firmware update and then kicked off the Netgear Armor security system. Please note Netgear charges $100 a year for this all-system anti-virus after the first year; other manufacturers offer similar security systems for free for the life of their systems. Netgear’s tech support only lasts for three months. Once the base station was working fine, I proceeded to set up the first satellite on the second floor. Unfortunately, the satellite failed to connect with the device when positioned one floor up and directly above the base station. I tried multiple positions on the second floor without success. Frustrated, I moved the satellite back to the first floor and was even more disappointed when the system still failed to connect one room and an open hallway away. I finally placed the satellite across the room where the base station was positioned and... success! Using a $2,300 mesh system in a single room seems like overkill, so I used my laptop and some software to locate possible positions for the satellite on the second floor and finally found a location that worked. The base station, which was ethernet-cabled to my MBP, delivered 943 mbps down and 43 up. When in place, the satellite delivered a less-than-stellar but acceptable 112 mbps down and 27 up. I was also able to get a strong enough signal to drive the Ring cameras on the outside of the first and second floors, which I placed on the separate IoT network. Those numbers are okay, but Netgear promises 8K streaming on every floor, so that’s a stretch (unless the streaming signal is hyper compressed). I used a similar process on the third floor, using my laptop to find a suitable position for the second satellite. Once in place, I got 99 mbps down and 23 up. Okay, again, but not the blazing speeds with ultra-low latency promised by the Netgear website. For each satellite, it took me a couple hours with Netgear tech support to understand why I first couldn’t get any signal at all, even though I was placing the satellite in a spot my laptop/software said was ideal. Please note that you’ll need to be patient, as the satellites run through multiple cycles to initiate, update the firmware and establish the dedicated backhaul. It’s helpful to download the chart that shows the meaning of the different color LEDs on the base station and satellites. Once the system was set up, it worked great... for a while. The ring cameras on all three floors connected easily enough, as did the Ecobee thermostats. We were also able to connect approximately 43 personal devices throughout the household. For this test, we used the existing network name and password, which facilitated the connection process. Within a couple of hours, however, the system began dropping connections on the second and third floors. I can’t relay how frustrating it is to get a “connecting” message and a spinning circle on the Orbi app and to have your devices switch to Verizon when you just spent $2,300 and four hours setting the system up. I spent a couple of more hours inside the web-based settings app getting everything aligned and perfect, which helped a little bit, but an hour later the system was dropping connections again. Also, I was a little dismayed that the network to access the settings uses an unsecured orbi dot com address, which has all kinds of privacy/cybersecurity implications. Make sure you use a VPN and a private browser setting at a minimum if you use a browser to fine tune your settings (which you’ll need to do since the Orbi app isn’t very robust). Long-story short, we’re using Xfinity’s XB-8 for right now. I understand Xfinity’s coming out with the XB-10 later this year, which will also offer wifi 7 and DOCSIS 4.0. We will wait for that instead of suffering the frustration and buyer’s remorse of the $2,300 Netgear Orbi 970.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Performance, Setup

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    The best investment ever made!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I recently purchased the Orbi Netgear router, and overall, I’m very pleased with its performance. The setup process was straightforward, thanks to the Orbi app, which guided me step by step. Within minutes, I had the router and satellites connected, and my entire home was covered with strong Wi-Fi.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup, Speed
    Cons mentioned:
    Connectivity

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Very good product

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I upgraded from an Orbi WiFi 6 which we had an amazing experience with, no troubles at all with super fast speeds. The Orbi WiFi 7 was a breeze to setup, as it’s not perfect yet we are having a few issues with things staying connected. It’s easy fixes but for the cost it should be flawless. I hope for updates to the system to help it become better over time. Still a happy customer.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Coverage, Setup, Speed

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    This does exactly what I want!

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This mesh system gives me excellent coverage all throughout my 3-level home, front yard, back yard AND detached garage! I'm very impressed with the speed and stability. Setup was super easy.

    I would recommend this to a friend
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