# ARRIS SURFboard S33 vs Hitron CODA56: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the ARRIS SURFboard S33 (ARRIS) and Hitron CODA56 (Hitron) among cable modems. ARRIS SURFboard S33 is the cheaper of the two at $169.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | ARRIS SURFboard S33 | Hitron CODA56 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $169.95 | $209.99 |
| Brand | ARRIS | Hitron |
| Docsis version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Max download (Gbps) | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Max upload (Gbps) | — | 1 |
| Channel bonding | 32x8 | 32x8 |
| Ofdm channels | 2x2 | 2x2 |
| Ethernet ports | 2 | 1 |
| Max ethernet speed (Gbps) | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Link aggregation | — | No |
| Mid split support | — | — |
| Active queue management | — | — |
| Weight grams | — | 464 |

## Key differences

- Ethernet ports: ARRIS SURFboard S33 2 vs Hitron CODA56 1

## What reviewers say

**ARRIS SURFboard S33** — Two whitelisted outlets cover the S33. Wirecutter (research-based, not bench-tested) names it their top cable modem pick as of June 2026, while Tom's Guide (hands-on) calls it an excellent former top pick now succeeded by the newer S34. Both praise its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, DOCSIS 3.1 future-proofing, and compact design. Neither published S33-specific benchmark numbers. The two split on price, and Wirecutter alone flags heat. (2 sourced reviews.)

**Hitron CODA56** — Only one whitelisted tester, Tom's Guide, covers the CODA56, naming it best-budget cable modem. Critically, the reviewer openly states they have not hands-on-tested this exact model, so no lab numbers exist; the recommendation rests on the reviewer's long-term reliability with a different (1 Gbps) Hitron modem. Praise centers on value and 2.5GbE futureproofing; flagged for running warm and not being optimized for Xfinity's fastest upload speeds. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- ARRIS SURFboard S33: https://www.surfboard.com/products/cable-modems/s33/ (surfboard.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Hitron CODA56: https://us.hitrontech.com/products/consumers/coda56/ (us.hitrontech.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/arris-surfboard-s33-vs-hitron-coda56/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, ARRIS SURFboard S33 ($169.95) vs Hitron CODA56 ($209.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/arris-surfboard-s33-vs-hitron-coda56/
License: CC BY 4.0.