Skip to main content

Netgear’s new mesh Wi-Fi router is a 2-in-1 designed to declutter

Netgear’s new mesh Wi-Fi router is a 2-in-1 designed to declutter

/

The system is designed to replace your cable modem and router

Share this story

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Photo: Netgear

Netgear has made a new mesh Wi-Fi router that can also replace your cable modem.

If you’re sick of having extra devices around the house, Netgear’s latest Orbi router is a 2-in-1 device, with a built-in cable modem and a router that offers Wi-Fi coverage of up to 4,000 square feet. If you need bigger coverage for your property, you can also add additional Orbi routers to your setup, which will give you another 2,000 square feet per satellite.

Netgear says the new system’s cable modem supports download speeds of up to 1.4Gbps, while Wi-Fi speeds can reach up to 2.2Gbps for devices that connect to Wi-Fi on your home network. The device can be controlled via the Orbi app or through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

It may be tough for Netgear to sell this new product in the US, where people often don’t buy modems and instead rent them through cable companies. While some cable companies in the US charge a monthly fee to rent your modem, users who buy a modem like this outright can avoid those fees.

The Orbi modem is compatible with all major cable internet service providers, and it works right out of the box with Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, and Cox. The new system will also support parental controls, which Netgear says will be offered soon.

Netgear first introduced the multiunit router called Orbi in 2016 as a combination of a router, range extender, and software that can blanket 4,000 square feet of space with a single Wi-Fi network. Router companies have increasingly added more products and multiunit systems to their range that help with blanketing larger properties with more robust Wi-Fi.

The Orbi router (CBR40) costs $299.99. An Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi System that consists of the Orbi Tri-Band Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router and one Orbi satellite costs $399.99. They’re available now through Netgear and major retailers.