![]() They’re also slightly fatter than the standard Wi-Fi 6 units, measuring 84mm deep versus 71mm. The regular light-mode units are distinguished from previous models by a pale bronze surround, and the fact that, in order to make room for an entire extra radio and antenna assembly, they’re the tallest Orbi units yet, looming 280mm tall. As usual, there’s no display, just a multicoloured LED strip near the base to indicate each station’s status. I’ve commented in the past that the design looks like something out of Star Trek, but the new 6E versions are also available in a black trim that might be more at home on the Death Star. There’s an unmistakable family style to Netgear’s various Orbi models. Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E review: Physical design For the tightest budgets, consider the Xiaomi Mesh System AX3000 it’s only available as a grey import, but it’s a decent two-unit package for just £93 – meaning you could set up a huge 32-node mesh for the price of one Orbi WiFi 6E kit. You could save more by opting for the slightly slower RBK752 variant, yours for a positively affordable £394, while for bargain-hunters the dual-band RBK352 mesh is just £180. Our top-rated mesh is Netgear’s original Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852), which costs £699 for a two-unit pack or £900 for three stations. There are also still plenty of 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 systems to choose from, which remain fast enough for almost any home or business. Asus has just started shipping its ROG GT-AXE11000, a standalone Wi-Fi 6E router with a comparatively palatable launch price of £480, and we’re sure more 6E hardware will appear in the coming months. There’s currently no two-node option, so if you want to be the first kid on the block with a Wi-Fi 6E mesh system, you’ll have to cough up the full whack. Orbi systems are rarely cheap, and the 6E variant takes this to a new level: a triple-pack containing a router and two satellites costs a massive £1,500. READ NEXT: These are the best internet providers right now Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E review: Price and competition Netgear claims the three-node system can theoretically cover a total area of around 830 square metres, and service more than 200 clients at once. To support the extra radio there are now no fewer than 12 antennas inside each unit, supporting 4×4 MU-MIMO connections on every band. The units talk to one another over a separate 5GHz backhaul connection rated at 4.8Gbits/sec, making this the first quad-band mesh system we’ve tested. It delivers 2.4GHz wireless services at speeds up to 1.2Gbits/sec, plus 2.4Gbits/sec on each of the 5GHz and 6GHz bands. Hardware-wise, the new Orbi is very similar to the original Wi-Fi 6 model, aside from the extra radio band. If you’re currently using a combined modem/router, you may be able to switch it into modem-only mode to work with the Orbi, or you can use the mesh in AP mode – although this will disable most of its advanced features. ![]() That means it can deliver huge bandwidth with zero interference from neighbouring networks – something that’s very rarely achievable on the 5GHz band.Īs usual, the Orbi system is designed to replace your existing router. In the UK, the newly licensed 6GHz frequency range is broad enough to support three ultra-wide 160MHz channels with no overlapping frequencies. You can connect to a 6E router from an older device, but you’ll just get a regular 5GHz service.Ĭurrently, there are only a handful of 6E-compatible laptops and smartphones on the market but the standard is rapidly gaining support, as it brings big benefits. If you’re still in the process of migrating to Wi-Fi 6, you may be irked to learn that 6GHz networking once again requires new hardware on both the router and client sides. ![]() Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E review: What you need to know
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |