ARRIS · Updated July 2026
ARRIS SURFboard S33: price & specs
The ARRIS SURFboard S33 costs $169.95, #3 cheapest of 6 cable modems (median $190). It earns a Silver Deskmark — 85/100 pay-blind standing, #4 of 10 in class.
Verified Jul 11, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Recommended as the best (Wirecutter) or former top (Tom's Guide) cable modem pick; 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port suited to gigabit and multi-gig plans up to 2.5 Gbps.
- Skip if Runs a little hot; overheating remains a concern per owner reports is a dealbreaker.
ARRIS SURFboard S33. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: surfboard.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the ARRIS SURFboard S33 a good buy?
At $170, the ARRIS SURFboard S33 is #3 cheapest of the 6 cable modems we track, where the median is $190. On the spec sheet, its max ethernet speed of 2.5 Gbps is the highest of the 10, its docsis version of 3.1 is at the median of the 10, and its max download of 2.5 Gbps is at the median of the 9.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 2 outlets have it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the 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.
Tested by Wirecutter, Tom's Guide
Consistently praised
- Recommended as the best (Wirecutter) or former top (Tom's Guide) cable modem pick · 2 sources
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port suited to gigabit and multi-gig plans up to 2.5 Gbps · 2 sources
- Future-proof DOCSIS 3.1 expected to stay usable for years · 2 sources
- Compact design that is easy to hide · 2 sources
- Two-year warranty
Commonly flagged
- Runs a little hot; overheating remains a concern per owner reports
- Among the more expensive cable modems
- Mediacom compatibility not officially listed; call to confirm
Where reviewers disagree The two sources frame price oppositely: Wirecutter positions the S33 as less expensive than the competition (versus the pricier Netgear CM3000), while Tom's Guide groups it among 'more expensive cable modems' and has since moved its top pick to the newer S34. Neither published a measured S33 throughput number, so all performance claims rest on spec ratings and hands-on daily use rather than benchmarked speeds.
The sources (2)
we recommend the Arris SURFboard S33 as the best cable modem for use with most internet service providers and internet plans
the Arris SURFboard S33 is the best of the DOCSIS 3.1 modems widely available right now, thanks to its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) port, relatively low price, and two-year warranty
overheating remains a concern
Although the ARRIS SURFboard S33 was my previous top pick for the best cable modem overall
For those who have a different ISP, than the SURFboard S33 is the better choice.
Both the S34 and S33 are more expensive cable modems.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $169.95 Walmart product listing for the exact ARRIS Surfboard S33 states "Current price is USD $169.95" ("Price when purchased online"; listed out of stock). The official surfboard.com manufacturer page lists no price. |
|---|---|
| Brand | ARRIS |
| Released | — |
| Docsis version | 3.1 |
| Max download (Gbps) | 2.5 |
| Max upload (Gbps) | — |
| Channel bonding | 32x8 |
| Ofdm channels | 2x2 |
| Ethernet ports | 2 |
| Max ethernet speed (Gbps) | 2.5 |
| Link aggregation | — |
| Mid split support | — |
| Active queue management | — |
| Weight grams | — |
Source: surfboard.com (verified 2026-07-11) · corroborated by walmart.com. The official ARRIS SURFboard manufacturer page (surfboard.com/products/cable-modems/s33/) confirms this exact S33 model with DOCSIS 3.1, one 2.5 Gbps plus one 1 Gbps Ethernet port, 32 downstream x 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 bonded channels, 2 downstream x 2 upstream OFDM channels, and wired speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, but lists no price. The Walmart listing for the identical "ARRIS Surfboard S33 DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gigabit Cable Modem with 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port" states "Current price is USD $169.95" (out of stock) and corroborates the 2.5 Gbps port, 32x8/2x2 channels, and DOCSIS 3.1; Amazon separately confirmed identity via Mfr Part Number S33, Model Number S33, UPC 612572216804. Upload rate, link aggregation, mid-split support, AQM, and a gram-unit weight were not stated verbatim on the fetched pages (weights across sources conflicted), so those keys are left null.
Is the ARRIS SURFboard S33 worth it vs cheaper cable modems?
ARRIS SURFboard S33 against its closest cheaper and pricier cable modems on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 6 ranked →
| Product | Price | Docsis version | Max download (Gbps) | Channel bonding | Ofdm channels | Ethernet ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARRIS SURFboard S33 this | $169.95 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 32x8 | 2x2 | 2 |
| ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 | $142.46 | 3.1 | 2 | 32x8 | 2x2 | 2 |
| Hitron CODA56 | $209.99 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 32x8 | 2x2 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the 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. Praised: Recommended as the best (Wirecutter) or former top (Tom's Guide) cable modem pick; 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port suited to gigabit and multi-gig plans up to 2.5 Gbps; Future-proof DOCSIS 3.1 expected to stay usable for years; Compact design that is easy to hide; Two-year warranty. Flagged: Runs a little hot; overheating remains a concern per owner reports; Among the more expensive cable modems; Mediacom compatibility not officially listed; call to confirm. (From 2 tester reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
How much does the ARRIS SURFboard S33 cost?
The ARRIS SURFboard S33 has a US price of $169.95 (Walmart product listing for the exact ARRIS Surfboard S33 states "Current price is USD $169.95" ("Price when purchased online"; listed out of stock). The official surfboard.com manufacturer page lists no price.), as of 2026-07-11.
How does the ARRIS SURFboard S33 compare on price?
At $170, the ARRIS SURFboard S33 is #3 cheapest of the 6 cable modems we track, where the median is $190.
What are the ARRIS SURFboard S33's key specs?
ARRIS SURFboard S33 (ARRIS): docsisVersion 3.1, maxDownloadGbps 2.5, channelBonding 32x8, ofdmChannels 2x2, ethernetPorts 2. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-07-11.
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Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper cable modems
- ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 $142.46
- Motorola B12 $130.95
Step up
- Hitron CODA56 $209.99
- ARRIS SURFboard S34 $219
- NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000 $299.99
More from ARRIS
- ARRIS SURFboard S34 $219
- ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 $142.46