Orbi 970

Pros

• Capable of delivering extremely high speeds (up to 2.5Gbps) on WiFi 7 compatible devices.
• Excellent coverage and range, even in large homes with thick walls or multiple floors.
• Includes high-speed 10Gb WAN ports for multi-gigabit internet connections.
• Significant performance jump for users upgrading from older Orbi models like the RB850.

Cons

• Frequent reports of random WiFi drops and network crashes requiring hard restarts.
• Extremely high price point that many users feel is not justified by the current stability.
• Difficulties with satellite connectivity, including nodes failing to sync simultaneously.
• Short technical support window provided by Netgear for a premium product.
• Reports of poor upload speeds when using PPPoE on certain fiber providers.
• Removal of advanced features like the ability to adjust WiFi transmit power.

Caveats

• Stability may require significant manual tweaking, such as using wired backhaul or reserving IP addresses for mobile devices.
• Some users report the router runs hot and may benefit from external cooling fans to prevent hardware failure.
• Firmware updates are a double-edged sword; they fix some issues but have been known to break satellite connections for others.
• IPv6 and DNS settings may need to be manually adjusted to resolve specific device dropout issues.

Best for

• Early adopters with WiFi 7 devices and multi-gigabit internet plans.
• Large properties where maximum wireless coverage is the primary requirement.
• Users comfortable with network troubleshooting and manual configuration.

Avoid if

• You require a 'set and forget' system with guaranteed out-of-the-box stability.
• You are on a budget, as the system is among the most expensive consumer mesh options.
• You rely on PPPoE for symmetric fiber and cannot risk throttled upload speeds.