What Makes Netgear's Orbi Mesh System So Expensive?

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If you're in the market for a new router upgrade, you might've had quite the shock checking the price of Netgear's Orbi system of mesh networking nodes. A three-pack from the latest model series, Netgear Orbi 970, has a suggested retail price of $1,999.99. On top of that, some features are locked behind paid subscriptions. You have to pony up $7.99 per month for advanced parental controls, plus at least $99.99 per year for Netgear's add-on security suite.

That means you could be shelling out hundreds a year on top of the initial purchase, depending on how you use your Wi-Fi. The main reason that Netgear Orbi units are so expensive is the top-of-the-line hardware built into the mesh system, delivering speeds higher than 2Gbps. The Orbi 870 and 970 series both use Wi-Fi 7, the newest Wi-Fi standard that you can also put to use right now with the latest gadgets.

Cheaper Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems are out there, such as the TP-Link BE3600, but they lack certain features like tri-band coverage and expanded channel use. Plus, the Ethernet port offering an Orbi, combined with its maximum Wi-Fi coverage and speeds, means you can easily make the most of even multi-gigabit internet plans. The benefits and dollar cost of the latest Netgear Orbi models will mostly go to waste if you don't have those kinds of plans and cutting-edge tech to boot.

With the technology in Netgear Orbi routers, you're able to take full advantage of upper-tier home internet plans. The Ethernet ports on the Orbi 970 system alone give you a lot for your money. In addition to the 10GbE Internet port that plugs into your modem, you get another 10GbE LAN port on every node that you can use either as a device connection or to wire a powerful backhaul. Then you get another four 2.5GbE ports for any purpose on the main router, plus two more on each satellite.

That's generous for mesh systems; most offer a more limited set of Ethernet ports. If you do much LAN wiring, then you know how annoying it can be to run out of places to plug in. More built-in ports means you have less need to purchase a network switch, so, on that one point, you may be saving money with Netgear Orbi. Then there's the coverage.

The Orbi 970 system promises 3,300 square feet of wireless coverage per node, and the Wi-Fi 7 technology allows for better management of each device. Reviews like that of ZDNET praise the expansive coverage that, even on the edges, gets you better speeds than some conventional routers do at their peak. Combined with the stability benefits of a high-end mesh system, a Netgear Orbi purchase lets you take full advantage of those premium 2-gig or even 8-gig fiber plans you might have heard about.

Justifying a Netgear Orbi mesh system purchase is difficult unless you're an early adopter who buys the latest tech and upgrades to the highest internet speeds that providers offer. After all, those higher gigabit tiers ISPs offer are quite pricey themselves, and they're still not even available in most regions. A need for exceptional Wi-Fi coverage and heavy use of that Wi-Fi are also requirements.

The purchase could make sense, too, if you plan in the near future to make heavy-duty upgrades to both your ISP plan and the wireless tech. Otherwise, buying an Orbi system just puts undue pressure on your wallet. While another benefit of the Orbi system is its long-term support, NetGear's timeline of firmware updates doesn't stretch as far as that of more affordable mesh competitors.

If the wired ports on your router tend to go unused, then mesh systems with a more humble port selection will suit you fine. As always, it's important you take into consideration how large your home is before you invest in a router solution. Nodes that cast a coverage net upward of 3,300 square feet in size, each, can easily be more than you really need. Taking a careful look at your mesh Wi-Fi options across the price spectrum is well worth your time.