NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad‑Band WiFi 7 Mesh Network System

Features of the Product or Technology

At the heart of the Orbi 970 is Wi‑Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), delivering theoretical throughput up to 27 Gbps, about 2.4× faster than Wi‑Fi 6 systems, according to Best Buy. This quad‑band configuration includes a 6 GHz, two 5 GHz, and a 2.4 GHz band. One of the 5 GHz bands serves exclusively as a high-speed backhaul between router and satellites, freeing up the others for client devices—key to keeping network congestion minimal even as 200 gadgets chat at once, according to Netgear.

Support for Multi‑Link Operation (MLO) means compatible devices can talk on multiple bands at once, boosting reliability and lowering lag. Preamble puncturing further helps split interference-prone channels to reduce congestion—even if your neighbor’s karaoke night gets lively.

The system is well-equipped with ports: the router unit includes a 10 Gbps WAN, a 10 Gbps LAN, and four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports. Each satellite adds a 10 Gbps LAN and two 2.5 Gbps ports too—great for hooking up NAS, gaming consoles, or multi‑gig internet plans, as noted by Tom’s Guide.

Security-wise, Orbi ships with a one‑year subscription to NETGEAR Armor, offering malware, phishing, and identity-theft protection, plus VPN access and guest/IoT network segmentation via the Orbi app, according to Netgear.

Physically, the router and satellites stand about 11.4 inches tall and are roughly 5.5 × 5.1 inches in footprint—chunky but engineered for maximum indoor range with 12 internal high-gain antennas per unit, per Tom’s Guide.

Comparison with the Competition

Behind the Orbi 970’s badge, two notable rivals offer competition: the TP‑Link Deco BE85 and Eero Max 7. The Deco BE85 is TP‑Link’s first Wi‑Fi 7 mesh offering, tri‑band only (6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz). Its theoretical top speed is about 21.5 Gbps (11.5 Gbps at 6 GHz, ~10 Gbps across other bands), according to Tom’s Guide. Deco supports MLO and automated frequency coordination (AFC), although some advanced Wi‑Fi 7 features still depend on future firmware updates—and it requires a HomeShield Pro subscription for full parental/security features, according to Wired.

Deco BE85’s 3‑pack covers up to 9,600 sq ft, slightly less than Orbi’s 10,000 sq ft, and costs around 1,300 to 1,500 dollars, depending on the retailer. By contrast, a three‑pack Orbi 970 runs about 2,299 dollars, a two‑pack around 1,699 dollars, and each add-on satellite about 900 dollars, according to Dong Knows and Tom’s Guide.

Wired reviewers called BE85 impressive, reliable, and simpler to set up—but noted its pre‑certification status and extra cost for full feature access as limitations. Meanwhile, Tom’s Guide crowned the Orbi RBE973 “fastest Wi‑Fi 7 mesh kit,” with real-world throughputs over 2 Gbps at 15 ft, but found its long-distance speeds drop sharply—roughly 25 Mbps at 90 ft on the 6 GHz band, whereas devices shift over to 5 GHz to regain performance.

AppleInsider praised the Orbi’s design and reliability under heavy load, saying it looked good and delivered as promised—if you can stomach the high price.

In summary: Orbi delivers unmatched speed, high‑end ports, and quad‑band backhaul; Deco gives you decent Wi‑Fi 7 performance at a lower price and simpler setup.