Netgear · Updated July 2026
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S): price, specs & release date
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S), released 2023-11. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: netgear.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) is listed at $1999.99 on netgear.com as of 2026-07-26, the most expensive mesh wi-fi systems (median $219.99); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Silver Deskmark — 50/100 pay-blind standing, #7 of 19 in class.
Verified Jul 26, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cheapest mesh wi-fi systems: Amazon eero 6+ (3-pack) — $139.99
- Best for Class-leading Wi-Fi 7 speed; first to break 2 Gbps, near the fastest mesh throughput ever measured; Wide-reaching coverage and range from the three-node mesh, no dead zones in large homes.
- Skip if Extreme price (~$2,299 for the three-pack), hard to justify vs cheaper rivals is a dealbreaker.
Price history
$1999.99Is the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) a good buy?
At $2000, the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) is the most expensive of the 17 mesh wi-fi systems we track, where the median is $399.99. On the spec sheet, its coverage sqft per pack of 10000 is the highest of the 17, its ethernet ports per unit of 5 is the highest of the 18, and its pack size of 3 is the highest of the 19. By release date, it is among the newer of the 14 we date.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 2
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 3
- Outlets on record2 tested · 1 mention-only
- 3
Two independent labs measured this product across 3 physical metrics — speed, range and power. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S)
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) hands-on reviewed this exact Orbi 970 (RBE973S). All rate it among the fastest Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems ever measured, but unanimously flag its ~$2,299 three-pack price as extreme. TechRadar's throughput test was capped at 150Mbps office broadband, so its speed numbers are not device-representative.
Based on 3 reviews · 2 lab-tested · 2024-02-14–2024-12-13
Tested by Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, TechRadar
Consistently praised
- Class-leading Wi-Fi 7 speed; first to break 2 Gbps, near the fastest mesh throughput ever measured · 3 sources
- Wide-reaching coverage and range from the three-node mesh, no dead zones in large homes · 2 sources
- Easy setup and strong wired connectivity (10G plus 2.5G ports on router and satellites) · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Extreme price (~$2,299 for the three-pack), hard to justify vs cheaper rivals · 3 sources
- Limited network configurability: no per-band SSIDs, sparse controls, and no USB port · 2 sources
- Ongoing subscriptions for Armor security and parental controls after the first year · 2 sources
- Performance falls off at long range, weaker than close-up
Where reviewers disagree On long-range performance the sources split: Tom's Guide (testing out to 90 ft) found it 'less effective over long distances,' losing to the cheaper TP-Link Deco BE85 at 50 and 90 ft, whereas Tom's Hardware (testing only to 25 ft) rated it near class-leading and even beating the Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro on 5GHz at 25 ft (723 vs 611 Mbps). TechRadar could not verify the speed claims at all, as its throughput was capped by a 150Mbps office broadband line.
The sources (3)
Throughput near router, iPerf3 (20 simulated users): 4.324 Gbps · Throughput at 15 ft, iPerf3: 3.843 Gbps · Throughput at 15 ft, IxChariot: 2.003 Gbps · Throughput at 50 ft: 495.1 Mbps · Throughput at 75 ft: 174.8 Mbps · Throughput at 90 ft: 25.3 Mbps · Maximum range: 95 feet · Router power draw: 20.2 watts · Satellite power draw (each): 11.1 watts
Netgear's Orbi RBE973 is the fastest mesh kit available anywhere
it is the first to break through the 2 Gbps barrier
shockingly expensive and less effective over long distances
6GHz throughput at 6 ft, iPerf3: 3,340 Mbps · 6GHz throughput at 25 ft, iPerf3: 1,240 Mbps · 5GHz throughput at 6 ft: 1,423 Mbps · 5GHz throughput at 25 ft: 723 Mbps · 2.4GHz throughput at 6 ft: 131 Mbps · 2.4GHz throughput at 25 ft: 52 Mbps · 6GHz throughput at 25 ft, congested: 1,117 Mbps
The Netgear Orbi 970 is an excellent performer across 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands.
the biggest problem for the Orbi 970 is its jaw-dropping price tag.
The Orbi 970 also has limited configurability for its wireless bands for the main network
this is one of the best mesh router systems we've reviewed: incredibly fast connection speeds thanks to the new Wi-Fi 7 standard and wide-reaching range provided by three base stations
The only real problem is the sky-high price tag.
our benchmarks below don't actually demonstrate the true potential of the Orbi 970, as we were constrained in our testing by that 150Mbps limit
Specifications
| Price (US) | $1999.99 — current on record (was $1799.99) |
|---|---|
| Brand | Netgear |
| Released | 2023-11 |
| Wi-Fi standard | wifi_7 |
| Max speed (Gbps) | 27 |
| Bands | quad |
| Coverage sqft per pack | 10000 |
| Ethernet ports per unit | 5 |
| Pack size | 3 |
| Dedicated backhaul | Yes |
Source: netgear.com (verified 2026-06-19) · corroborated by tomshardware.com. Verified from Netgear product page (loads, describes RBE973 family) and Tom's Hardware: BE27000 quad-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4/5GHz-1/5GHz-2/6GHz), up to 27 Gbps, 10,000 sq ft (3-pack), dedicated backhaul (true). ~5 ports/unit averaged (router 6 ports incl. 10G WAN+10G LAN+4x2.5G; satellites 3 ports each). Current price $1,799.99 confirmed (reduced from $1,999.99). Launch November 2023, original MSRP $2,299.99. Source URL uses the netgear.com rbe973sb path (loads and topical).
Is the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) worth it vs cheaper mesh wi-fi systems?
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) against its closest cheaper and pricier mesh wi-fi systems on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 17 ranked
| Product | Price | Wi-Fi standard | Max speed (Gbps) | Bands | Coverage sqft per pack | Ethernet ports per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) this | $1999.99 | wifi_7 | 27 | quad | 10000 | 5 |
| TP-Link Deco BE85 | $1299.99 | wifi_7 | 21.5 | tri | 9600 | 4 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S)?
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) hands-on reviewed this exact Orbi 970 (RBE973S). All rate it among the fastest Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems ever measured, but unanimously flag its ~$2,299 three-pack price as extreme. TechRadar's throughput test was capped at 150Mbps office broadband, so its speed numbers are not device-representative. Praised: Class-leading Wi-Fi 7 speed; first to break 2 Gbps, near the fastest mesh throughput ever measured; Wide-reaching coverage and range from the three-node mesh, no dead zones in large homes; Easy setup and strong wired connectivity (10G plus 2.5G ports on router and satellites). Flagged: Extreme price (~$2,299 for the three-pack), hard to justify vs cheaper rivals; Limited network configurability: no per-band SSIDs, sparse controls, and no USB port; Ongoing subscriptions for Armor security and parental controls after the first year; Performance falls off at long range, weaker than close-up. (From 3 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) cost?
The Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) has a US price of $1999.99, as of 2026-07-26.
How does the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) compare on price?
At $2000, the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) is the most expensive of the 17 mesh wi-fi systems we track, where the median is $399.99.
Has the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S)'s price dropped?
No — since 2026-06-27 the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) has risen 11.1%, from $1799.99 to $1999.99; the lowest we have recorded is $1799.99 (2026-06-27).
What is the lowest price the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) has been?
The lowest we have recorded for the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) is $1799.99 on 2026-06-27.
Is now a good time to buy the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S)?
The Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) is currently $1999.99; the lowest we have recorded is $1799.99 (2026-06-27). Every price is dated, so you can judge it against its own history.
When was the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) released?
The Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) was released 2023-11.
What are the Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S)'s key specs?
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) (Netgear): wifi standard wifi_7, max speed gbps 27, bands quad, coverage sqft per pack 10000, ethernet ports per unit 5. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-19.
Price of record: $1999.99 at netgear.com, 2026-07-26. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973S) on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar mesh wi-fi systems
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Compare with
Cheaper mesh wi-fi systems
- TP-Link Deco BE85 $1299.99
- Netgear Orbi 770 (RBE773) $699.99
- Amazon eero Max 7 $599.99
- TP-Link Deco BE63 $469.99
- Netgear Orbi RBK763S $399.99
- ASUS ZenWiFi BT10 $359.99
More from Netgear
- Netgear Orbi RBK763S $399.99
- Netgear Orbi 770 (RBE773) $699.99
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