Best overall Motorola B12 $130.95
Highest overall score (98/100) — the strongest balance of specs, value and recency in this group.
One caveat: Only a single status indicator light.
See on Amazon →Independent · sourced · Updated July 2026
Best Cable Modems (2026)
The best overall cable modem is Motorola B12 ($130.95). The best value cable modem is ARRIS SURFboard S33 ($169.95). The cheapest is Motorola B12 at $130.95. 10 cable modems compared from $130.95 to $299.99 across 4 brands — every figure sourced, updated July 2026.
10 cable modems compared on the specs that matter and US price — ranked cheapest-first. Every spec and price links to its source and the date we captured it.
Our data Across the 6 cable modems we priced, the most expensive lists for 129% more than the best-specced one — Motorola B12 at $131 — so the premium mostly buys the badge, not better hardware. Premium Myth study, as of July 2026.
Which cable modem should you buy?
Three buyer-intent picks from the algorithmic ranking below — no paid placement.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified 2026-07-11; live price may differ.
Key takeaways
- Lowest price: Motorola B12 at $130.95 (Walmart.com product page for the "DOCSIS 3.1 Modem (2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port)" B12 states verbatim "Current price is USD $130.95" (and "$130.95" listed price), sold by third-party seller Deals & Trading, fulfilled by Walmart; accessed 2026-07-11. This is a current US retail price, not a confirmed manufacturer MSRP — the Motorola data sheet lists no price and the manufacturer store page returned HTTP 402.).
- Typical price: from $130.95, median $189.97, up to $299.99 — across 6 priced.
- Tracked: 10 products across 4 brands, current through 2026-07-11.
- Compared on: Docsis version, Max download (Gbps), Max upload (Gbps), Channel bonding, Ofdm channels, Ethernet ports.
Best by the numbers
Objective winners — each is the leader on one measured spec, with the figure. No subjective ranking.
- Lowest price: Motorola B12 ($130.95)
- Highest maxEthernetSpeedGbps: ARRIS SURFboard S33 (2.5 maxEthernetSpeedGbps)
- Lowest weightGrams: Hitron CODA56 (464 weightGrams)
Top 3 by quality
An algorithmic overall ranking from the data on this page — value for money, spec strength, and recency. 100% data-driven, no paid placement.
-
Motorola B12 Quality score 98/100 Best value -
Motorola MB8611 Quality score 95/100 Most powerful -
NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2000 Quality score 95/100 Most powerful
How we rank: Value 45% · Spec strength 35% · Recency 20%. Scores are computed only within this category from published specs and prices — never influenced by commissions or placement. Method & open data →
What to look for
How to read the comparison — what each key spec means and the range across these cable modems.
- Ofdm channels — higher is better.
Comparison
| Compare | # | Cable Modem | Price | Docsis version | Max download (Gbps) | Max upload (Gbps) | Channel bonding | Ofdm channels | Ethernet ports | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorola B12 1 review | $130.95 | 3.1 | 2.5 | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 1 | en-us.support.motorola.com | |
| 2 |  ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 3 reviews | $142.46 | 3.1 | 2 | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 2 | surfboard.com | |
| 3 |  ARRIS SURFboard S33 2 reviews | $169.95 | 3.1 | 2.5 | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 2 | surfboard.com | |
| 4 |  Hitron CODA56 1 review | $209.99 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 1 | 32x8 | 2x2 | 1 | us.hitrontech.com | |
| 5 |  ARRIS SURFboard S34 1 review | $219 | 3.1 | 2.5 | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 2 | surfboard.com | |
| 6 |  NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 1 review | $299.99 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 1 | — | — | 3 | netgear.com | |
| 7 |  Motorola MB8600 1 review | — | 3.1 | 3.8 | 1 | 32x8 | — | 4 | motorola.com | |
| 8 | Motorola MB8611 1 review | — | 3.1 | 2.5 | — | 32x8 | — | 1 | en-us.support.motorola.com | |
| 9 |  NETGEAR Nighthawk CM1200 1 review | — | 3.1 | — | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 4 | netgear.com | |
| 10 | NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2000 | — | 3.1 | 2.5 | — | 32x8 | 2x2 | 1 | netgear.com |
Specs are as published by the manufacturer (or a reputable spec source where the official page was unavailable); prices are US launch MSRP. Full per-product records and all spec columns are in our open dataset.
Popular comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest cable modem?
Motorola B12 is the cheapest at $130.95 (Walmart.com product page for the "DOCSIS 3.1 Modem (2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port)" B12 states verbatim "Current price is USD $130.95" (and "$130.95" listed price), sold by third-party seller Deals & Trading, fulfilled by Walmart; accessed 2026-07-11. This is a current US retail price, not a confirmed manufacturer MSRP — the Motorola data sheet lists no price and the manufacturer store page returned HTTP 402.), as of 2026-07-11.
How much does cable modems cost?
Across the 6 cable modems with a published price, the median is $189.97, ranging from $130.95 to $299.99, as of 2026-07-11.
Which cable modem is best by the numbers?
Lowest price: Motorola B12 ($130.95). Highest maxEthernetSpeedGbps: ARRIS SURFboard S33 (2.5 maxEthernetSpeedGbps). Lowest weightGrams: Hitron CODA56 (464 weightGrams).
How many cable modems are compared here?
10 cable modems across 4 brands, with US price and key specs, current through 2026-07-11.
What is the best overall cable modem?
Motorola B12 ($130.95) — Highest overall score (98/100) — the strongest balance of specs, value and recency in this group.
What is the best value cable modem?
ARRIS SURFboard S33 ($169.95) — Most specification per dollar of any cable modems here at $169.95.
What is the most capable cable modem?
Motorola MB8611 — Leads this group on the measured specs.
More hardware comparisons
How we compiled this
Covers standalone DOCSIS cable modems: retail modems a subscriber buys to replace an ISP-rented unit on a cable (HFC) broadband line, sold at a published US price. Includes modem-only units and modems with built-in Ethernet; excludes modem/router (gateway) combos, cable-line MoCA adapters, and fiber (GPON/XGS-PON) or DSL modems. Price is typical US MSRP or street price, USD, for the modem-only SKU. docsisVersion is the DOCSIS specification the modem supports as a string ('3.0', '3.1', or '4.0'). maxDownloadGbps is the manufacturer's rated maximum downstream throughput in gigabits per second. maxUploadGbps is the rated maximum upstream throughput in Gbps. channelBonding is the bonded SC-QAM channel count as a 'downstream x upstream' string (e.g. '32x8'). ofdmChannels is the OFDM/OFDMA channel count as a 'downstream x upstream' string (e.g. '2x2'). ethernetPorts is the number of RJ-45 LAN ports. maxEthernetSpeedGbps is the fastest single Ethernet port's rated speed in Gbps (e.g. 1, 2.5, 10). linkAggregation is a boolean for teaming two Ethernet ports for higher combined throughput. midSplitSupport is a boolean for DOCSIS mid-split (expanded upstream) capability. activeQueueManagement is a boolean for DOCSIS-AQM / low-latency (bufferbloat) support. weightGrams is the unit weight in grams. Any spec not stated verbatim on a fetched manufacturer or retailer page is left null.
Last verified 2026-07-11. We re-check published specs and prices on a recurring cadence and update this page when they change.
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