Netgear now has a slightly less expensive Wi-Fi 6 Orbi mesh router

Netgear now has a barely inexpensive Wi-Fi 6 Orbi mesh router

Netgear is launching a second mannequin of its Orbi mesh router with assist for Wi-Fi 6, following up on a high-end mannequin launched final fall. This new model, eloquently named the RBK752, is extra of a midrange mannequin, providing barely decreased efficiency at a barely decreased worth. That is nonetheless an Orbi router, although, so it’s nonetheless costly: $450 for a router and satellite tv for pc. The high-end mannequin, the RBK852, presents the identical bundle for $700.

Whereas cheaper, this new mannequin continues to be a reasonably succesful mesh system. The RBK752 is a tri-band system, that means it has a radio devoted to serving as a wi-fi hyperlink between the items, and it presents 4 user-facing streams of connectivity with a theoretical most pace of 4.2Gbps. That’s down from eight streams and 6Gbps on the RBK852.

The Orbi system has persistently obtained excessive marks for its reliability and efficiency. It comes with some downsides, although: the mesh nodes are considerably bigger than these from opponents like Eero and Nest, making them tougher to cover round the home. These explicit fashions are additionally much more costly: you will get a Wi-Fi 5 mesh system for half the worth, although it’d be a much less future-proofed.

Nighthawk RAX50.

Picture: Netgear

Netgear is formally launching the RBK752 right this moment, although it’s been rolling out to shops over the past month or two. Extra satellites shall be out there for $280, and there’ll be a $600 bundle with a router and two satellites. An vital observe for present Orbi homeowners: you possibly can combine and match Wi-Fi 6 Orbi items — so the RBK852 can hook up with the RBK752 — however you possibly can’t hyperlink considered one of these newer Orbi items to the older Wi-Fi 5 Orbi items. That gained’t matter for brand new patrons, nevertheless it means present homeowners gained’t be capable of enhance their system by including in a more moderen unit.

Along with the brand new Orbi mannequin, Netgear additionally not too long ago launched a brand new Nighthawk router designed to take a seat in the course of its lineup. The RAX50 is a six-stream Wi-Fi 6 router with assist for full-width 160MHz streams for increased efficiency. It’s out there now for $299.