Pros & Cons
-
- Speedy tested throughput for a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system
- Strong signal throughout our test home
- Support for 10Gbps WAN
- Four 2.5Gbps LAN ports
-
- Pricey relative to our Editors' Choice winner
- Some software features (parental controls, security) require a subscription
- Lacks USB ports
Netgear Orbi 870 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System (3-Pack) Specs
| Anti-Malware Tools | |
| Coverage Area for Hardware as Tested | 9000 |
| IPv6 Compatible | |
| MU-MIMO | |
| Number of Antennas | 8 |
| Number of Nodes | 3 |
| Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port) | 3 on router, 4 on node |
| Parental Controls | |
| Quality of Service (QoS) | |
| Security | WPA2 |
| Security | WPA3 |
| Separate Bands | |
| Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput) | BE21000 |
| Wired Backhaul | |
| Wireless Specification | 802.11be |
When we reviewed the Netgear Orbi 770 Series (BE11000) back in 2024, we gave it high marks for its strong performance and multi-gig networking connectivity. But we dealt out some dings, too: The device lacked USB ports, and it used subscription-based parental-control and network-security software. So how does Netgear's updated model—the Orbi 870 Series—hold up?
The newcomer keeps up the standard for strong performance—but adds on more multi-gig networking ports, including a 10GbE WAN connection. At $1,299.99 for a three-pack, it’s a pricey whole-home networking solution, but if you need multiple high-speed LAN connections and 10GbE WAN, it’s a solid choice. If you can get by with just two high-speed networking ports, though, you can save a bundle with our Editors’ Choice award winner for Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems, the eero Pro 7. At $699 for a three-pack, it’s close to half the price of the Orbi 870 system, and it offers better overall performance.
Design and Features: Multi-Gig Ports Take Center Stage
For testing, Netgear sent us the RBE873B, a three-piece Black Edition system that goes for $1,299.99 and offers 9,000 square feet of coverage. In comparison, the $1,699.99 three-piece eero Max 7 covers 7,500 square feet. Netgear also offers a two-node system that covers 6,000 square feet and costs $999.99, and single-node satellites that provide 3,000 square feet of coverage go for $549.99 each. In terms of aesthetics, you can also get the 870 Series in a white finish.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The three-piece system includes a router node and two satellite nodes, and all three components have the same dimensions: 10.6 by 5.7 by 4.4 inches (HWD). Each node, meanwhile, comes with eight internal antennas with high-power amplifiers.
For info on the router's status, there's a small LED indicator that signals several possible statuses. The LED pulses white when the router is first powered on or syncing, and glows solid white when the router is being reset to factory defaults; a solid magenta LED indicates the router is no longer connected to the internet. When there's no light at all, it means everything is working properly.
On the satellite nodes, the LED glows solid blue for three minutes, then turns off when the connection to the router is good. It turns solid amber when the connection is only fair, and solid magenta when the connection has failed.
The rear panel of the router node is home to a 10GbE WAN port and four 2.5GbE LAN ports, while each satellite node has four 2.5GbE LAN ports that support wired backhaul to the router. Both the router and satellite nodes have a sync button, a reset button, a power jack, and a power LED on the rear panel. None of the nodes has USB ports, which are rare on mesh systems.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The Orbi 870's tri-band BE21000 system can reach maximum data rates of up to 688Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, 8,640Mbps on the 5GHz band, and 11,520Mbps on the 6GHz band. Inside, the Orbi 870 operates on a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 4GB of flash memory, and 2GB of RAM. It also supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 technologies, including MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming, 320MHz channel bandwidth, orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) transmissions, 4K QAM, direct-to-client beamforming, and WPA3 encryption. You'll also get multi-link operation (MLO) technology to combine the 5GHz and 6GHz bands for enhanced backhaul performance.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Software: Some Essentials Are Added-Cost
Then there's the software side. The Orbi 870 comes with free 30-day trial versions of parental-control and network-security software, but once they expire, you’ll have to pony up to keep using them. For $7.99 a month, you can use Parental Control to create user profiles, monitor internet activity, block access to specific websites, and schedule internet downtime. For $99.99 per year, meanwhile, the Armor network-security software protects all your connected devices and up to 50 mobile devices from virus infections and other malware attacks. The plan offers 24/7 tech support and a three-year extended warranty. For $149.99 per year, the Armor Plus plan adds unlimited VPN, ad blocking, and anti-tracking tools.
The Orbi 870 uses the same mobile app as the Orbi 770 and Orbi 970 Series; you can also manage the device via a web console that offers a few more advanced settings than the app does, such as port forwarding, port triggering, and static routing. The app opens to a Dashboard screen that displays an image of the router, its online status, and the number of connected satellite nodes. Tapping the router image calls up a network map showing which devices are connected to each node and how they are connected (Wi-Fi or wired).
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network Systems for 2026
(Credit: Netgear)Below the router image are eight tiles that let you access various functions. Device Manager, for instance, opens a screen that lets you view a list of connected devices. Tap any device to see which node it is connected to and to view its link rate, IP address, and MAC address. Here, you can also enable Armor protection and check network security activities. To get full network security reports, tap the Security tile to review detected threats and the number of devices currently protected. With the Internet Speed tile, you can eyeball your internet upload and download speeds, and the Wi-Fi Settings tile summons up a screen where you can edit your network password and share Wi-Fi credentials using a QR code. Additional tiles include Guest Wi-Fi, Network Map, Traffic Meter, and Parental Controls.
Installation: A Fast, App-Driven Setup Process
You’ll have to download the Orbi mobile app and create an account to install the Orbi 870, but once you do, the installation process is quick and easy.
I opened the app, tapped Set up an Orbi, and used my phone to scan the QR code on the front of the router node. Next steps: Unplug the modem and hook it up to the Orbi router with the included LAN cable, then tap Cable is Connected. From there, I powered up my modem and the Orbi router, verified that the LED was a steady white, and joined the network.
Once the router passed the internet diagnostics, I tapped Next, then entered a name and password for the network. I enabled Face ID, answered a couple of security questions, and waited a minute or two for the settings to be applied and for the app to create the new network. After a five-minute wait—the firmware was updating—I plugged in my satellite nodes, confirmed that they were powered up, and sat through a brief optimization period. And that was it.
Performance and Range Testing: Superb Coverage, Snappy Speeds
The Orbi 870 turned in respectable scores on our throughput tests, but it’s not the fastest mesh system we’ve seen. The router node’s score of 2,180Mbps on the close-proximity (same room) test beat the Orbi 770 router node (2,099Mbps) and was just a hair slower than the TP-Link Deco BE67 router node (2,184Mbps). The eero Pro 7 router node, meanwhile, blew away the rest of the pack, with a score of 2,850Mbps.
On the 30-foot test, the Orbi 870 router (822Mbps) topped the TP-Link Deco BE67 router (812Mbps) and the Orbi 770 router (768Mbps), but once again, they all lagged behind the eero Pro 7 router (860Mbps).
On the close-proximity test, the Orbi 870 satellite node registered 1,987Mbps, walloping the Orbi 770 node’s 1,622Mbps, but trailing the nodes for the TP-Link Deco BE67 (2,028Mbps) and eero Pro 7 (2,293Mbps). On the 30-foot version of the satellite test, the Orbi 870 node notched 1,075Mbps, edging out both the TP-Link Deco BE67 node (1,058Mbps) and the Orbi 770 node (1,033Mbps). Once again, the eero Pro 7 node took top honors, here with a score of 1,118Mbps.
We use an Ekahau Sidekick 2 Wi-Fi diagnostic device and Ekahau’s Survey mobile app to test wireless signal strength. This combo generates heat maps that illustrate the signal strength of the router and satellite node throughout our test home. (Note: Ekahau is owned by Ziff Davis, the publisher of PCMag.) The circles on the map indicate the locations of the router and the satellite, and the colors indicate signal strength. Dark green areas represent the strongest signal, lighter yellow areas signify a weaker signal, and gray areas mean a very weak signal or no measurable signal reception.
(Credit: Ekahau/PCMag)As shown on the map, the Orbi 870 had no trouble delivering a strong signal throughout our test home.