Netgear Orbi review

Sometimes, no amount of prime router placement can get you decent Wi-Fi coverage throughout your house. Netgear isn’t the first to try and solve this problem, but its new Orbi Wi-Fi system tackles it pretty handily.

Comprised of one Router device and one (or more) Satellite device just like the more popular Google Wifi, the Orbi system broadcasts an unimpeded Wi-Fi signal to every room in the house. It sounds like an empty promise from a 2am infomercial, but we can gladly report that Orbi can do exactly what it says on the tin.

Price and availability

Being more than your traditional router, a Wi-Fi mesh system, try not to suffer too much sticker shock after seeing the Netgear Orbi’s $399 (£399, AU$749) price tag. Available now in the US, UK and Australia, one Orbi box comes with both the “Router” unit and one “Satellite” unit, hence the added cost. 

More Satellites can join the mesh system for an additional $249, £249 or about AU$329 apiece – so, your bill can rack up quickly, depending on your home size. One system is said to cover 4,000 square feet or 370 square meters.

Regardless, the Orbi is still mighty expensive compared to your average router. So, how well does Netgear Orbi justify its price? Pretty damn well, actually.

Design and setup

While it’s referred to as a single product, Netgear Orbi is technically comprised of two parts: the Orbi Router and the Orbi Satellite. Both 1.96-pound (889g) devices are nearly identical, adorable pylons of white matte plastic. 

Their only differences lie in which ports are included in which unit, and the Router sporting a blue top versus the Satellite’s pure white.

On the back, the Router houses a Sync button (more on that in a moment), three Ethernet LAN ports (for connecting other internet devices), one Ethernet WAN port (for your gateway or modem connection), a USB 2.0 port for network-attached storage and a standard DC power port. The Satellite has all of this, but swaps that WAN port for a fourth LAN port.

Even without the Orbi app available for iPhone and Android, setting up what Netgear calls the Orbi’s “Tri-band Mesh” system is surprisingly simple. Netgear has more specific instructions, but setup basically amounts to connecting the Orbi Router to power and your modem or gateway, then positioning the Satellite in a more central location in your abode and connecting it to power.

Then, after pressing the “Sync” button on each, the two devices will begin to communicate, and that’s when the magic happens. Underneath those separated plastic lids are LED rings that illuminate in different colors and pulses to indicate how their connection is doing. 

A solid blue ring indicates a strong, stable connection, an amber ring details a “fair” connection (i.e. move the Satellite a bit closer) and a magenta ring indicates a poor connection (i.e. move it a lot closer).

Finally, you log into the Orbi system’s settings via your browser, to “orbilogin.com” with the information on the bottom of the Router, and set up your SSID. From there, your home should be covered in Wi-Fi that gives off the same speeds from floors or walls away as it does from within five feet of your router.

Being more than your traditional router, a Wi-Fi mesh system, try not to suffer too much sticker shock after seeing the Netgear Orbi’s 99 (£399, AU49) price tag. Available now in the US, UK and Australia, one Orbi box comes with both the “Router” unit and one “Satellite” unit, hence the added cost. 

More Satellites can join the mesh system for an additional 9, £249 or about AU29 apiece – so, your bill can rack up quickly, depending on your home size. One system is said to cover 4,000 square feet or 370 square meters.

Regardless, the Orbi is still mighty expensive compared to your average router. So, how well does Netgear Orbi justify its price? Pretty damn well, actually.

Design and setup

While it’s referred to as a single product, Netgear Orbi is technically comprised of two parts: the Orbi Router and the Orbi Satellite. Both 1.96-pound (889g) devices are nearly identical, adorable pylons of white matte plastic. 

Their only differences lie in which ports are included in which unit, and the Router sporting a blue top versus the Satellite’s pure white.

On the back, the Router houses a Sync button (more on that in a moment), three Ethernet LAN ports (for connecting other internet devices), one Ethernet WAN port (for your gateway or modem connection), a USB 2.0 port for network-attached storage and a standard DC power port. The Satellite has all of this, but swaps that WAN port for a fourth LAN port.

Even without the Orbi app available for iPhone and Android, setting up what Netgear calls the Orbi’s “Tri-band Mesh” system is surprisingly simple. Netgear has more specific instructions, but setup basically amounts to connecting the Orbi Router to power and your modem or gateway, then positioning the Satellite in a more central location in your abode and connecting it to power.

Then, after pressing the “Sync” button on each, the two devices will begin to communicate, and that’s when the magic happens. Underneath those separated plastic lids are LED rings that illuminate in different colors and pulses to indicate how their connection is doing. 

A solid blue ring indicates a strong, stable connection, an amber ring details a “fair” connection (i.e. move the Satellite a bit closer) and a magenta ring indicates a poor connection (i.e. move it a lot closer).

Finally, you log into the Orbi system’s settings via your browser, to “orbilogin.com” with the information on the bottom of the Router, and set up your SSID. From there, your home should be covered in Wi-Fi that gives off the same speeds from floors or walls away as it does from within five feet of your router.

Performance

So, how good is that sphere of glorious Wi-Fi? Pretty remarkable, to be honest. While the house that the Orbi was tested in is a mere 1,100 square feet, the difference between this and our stock gateway courtesy of Verizon is night and day.

Before installing the Orbi system, streaming anything via 1.5GB Steam download 5GHz (peak speed):

Within 5 feet/1.52m: 12.6 MB/s

Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: 12.5 MB/s

1.5GB Steam download 2.4GHz (peak speed):

Within 5 feet/1.52m: 10.23 MB/s

Within 13 feet/3.96m; three plaster walls: 8.8 MB/s