# NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 vs Motorola B12: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 (NETGEAR) and Motorola B12 (Motorola) among cable modems. Motorola B12 is the cheaper of the two at $130.95.

## Side by side

| Spec | NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 | Motorola B12 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299.99 | $130.95 |
| Brand | NETGEAR | Motorola |
| Docsis version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Max download (Gbps) | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Max upload (Gbps) | 1 | — |
| Channel bonding | — | 32x8 |
| Ofdm channels | — | 2x2 |
| Ethernet ports | 3 | 1 |
| Max ethernet speed (Gbps) | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Link aggregation | Yes | No |
| Mid split support | Yes | Yes |
| Active queue management | — | Yes |
| Weight grams | 495 | — |

## Key differences

- Ethernet ports: NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 3 vs Motorola B12 1
- Link aggregation: NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 Yes vs Motorola B12 No

## What reviewers say

**NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000** — Only one whitelisted tester — Tom's Guide's 2026 cable-modem roundup (updated 17 Feb 2026) — covers the CM3000, as qualitative buying-guide prose with no published benchmarks for this model. It praises the future-proof 2.5 Gbps download ceiling, sleek Wi-Fi 7-ready vertical design, and extra gigabit ports for link aggregation, but flags the $299 price (most expensive in the roundup) and that it only makes sense with a rare, pricey multi-gig internet plan. (1 sourced review.)

**Motorola B12** — Only one whitelisted tester, Tom's Guide, covers the Motorola B12, and only as a design-first roundup pick (Best for simplicity), not a benchmarked review; no lab speed numbers were published for this model. It is praised for a uniquely compact, decor-friendly build, a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, the MotoSync app and a two-year warranty, but flagged for a single status LED and ISP setup friction. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000: https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/modems/cm3000/ (netgear.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Motorola B12: https://en-us.support.motorola.com/ci/fattach/get/83435407/1708540593/redirect/1/filename/Motorola+B12+Data+Sheet.pdf (en-us.support.motorola.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/netgear-nighthawk-cm3000-vs-motorola-b12/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 ($299.99) vs Motorola B12 ($130.95) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/netgear-nighthawk-cm3000-vs-motorola-b12/
License: CC BY 4.0.