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Orbi vs Nighthawk: Which NETGEAR Solution is Right for You?
Traditional WiFi routers connect to your modem and devices within the router signal range. Mesh systems include a main router and router satellites that communicate with each other in a daisy-chain fashion to rebroadcast the wireless signal upstairs, downstairs, and even outdoors. Every home and household is different, so which NETGEAR solution is right for you? Read on to find out.
Introduction to Orbi and Nighthawk Brands
Both Orbi and Nighthawk routers have legions of fans worldwide. The most progressive Nighthawk routers offer up to 3,500 square feet of superfast WiFi at speeds up to 19Gbps. The top Orbi whole-home mesh system (3-pack) offers up to 10,000 square feet of coverage with maximum WiFi speeds up to 27Gbps. The best Nighthawk mobile hotspot 5GmmWave routers are game changers for people on the go, offering speeds up to 8Gbps, unlocked in 125 countries.
What Do Orbi and Nighthawk Represent?
Overview of Orbi
Orbi systems are the best consumer mesh WiFi systems available from NETGEAR. The Orbi 970 Series with WiFi 7 technology is designed to eliminate dead zones and congestion issues in large homes. Mesh WiFi router performance aims to make the online experience seamless for streaming, gaming, browsing, video calls, virtual reality, and more. For the best experience for cable internet users, we recommend pairing your Orbi system with a powerful multi-gig Nighthawk Modem. For Starlink users wanting more WiFi coverage, There also an excellent mesh router for Starlink.
Overview of Nighthawk
Nighthawk has the bases covered for standalone routers, modems, and mobile hotspots. Nighthawk routers are ideal for smaller homes and apartments where multi-player gaming, HD streaming, and remote work are prioritized. The best Nighthawk mobile hotspots can double as a home or travel router, perfect for renters and people who move often and don’t want to be tied down to a traditional ISP.
Orbi Products and Technology
Orbi 970 Series
Quad-band NETGEAR Orbi 970 Mesh Systems are the most popular Orbi for large homes. They offer 360° mesh WiFi network coverage for up to 200 devices simultaneously, enhanced dedicated backhaul, and speeds up to 27Gbps. The main router includes a 10 Gig internet port, a 10 Gig Ethernet cable port, and four 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports. The mesh router satellites include a 10 Gig Ethernet port and two 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports. Orbi 970 is the best mesh WiFi system for home internet.
Orbi 770 Series
NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh is a budget-friendly alternative. It offers whole-home WiFi coverage that can deliver speeds up to 11Gbps and coverage up to 540 sq. m. The router includes a 2.5 Gig internet port and three 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports. The satellites include two 2.5 Gig Ethernet ports.
Orbi 770
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Nighthawk Products and Technology
Nighthawk RS700S
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S router is a powerful WiFi device. This WiFi 7 router delivers 2.4x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and includes a 10 Gig internet port plus 1x 10Gig and 4x 1Gig LAN ports for blazing-fast wired connections. Considered by many users to be the best standalone WiFi router for gaming.
Nighthawk RS300
The NETGEAR Nighthawk RS300 Router is a great value ‘traditional router’ that offers speeds of 9.3Gbps and up to 230 sq. m. of solid WiFi coverage. Perfect for smaller homes and apartments, the RS300 includes a 2.5 Gig internet port plus two 2.5 Gig and two 1 Gig LAN ports for superfast wired internet connections.
Nighthawk Mobile Hotspots
Nighthawk M6 Pro
NETGEAR Nighthawk Mobile Hotspots let you take secure private WiFi with you for use anywhere and anytime you need it. The Nighthawk M6 Pro 5G mmWave WiFi 6E Mobile Hotspot Router is the best Nighthawk mobile hotspot for travel. M6 Pro delivers gigabit-plus speeds up to 8Gbps, so you can enjoy a reliable WiFi connection and avoid public WiFi.
Nighthawk M6
The Nighthawk M6 Mobile Hotspot offers ultimate versatility at home or on the go with high-performance, secure, 5G with WiFi 6 technology. This handy device can connect up to 32 devices simultaneously. Nighthawk M6 gives mobile coverage up to 90 sq. m., or you can connect with a power adapter to boost WiFi coverage up to 180 sq. m.
WiFi 7 Technology Overview
NETGEAR WiFi 7 Systems have transformed the WiFi landscape since their introduction in 2023. Superfast WiFi 7 is the secret behind Orbi mesh systems where you can create three independent mesh networks: a home network, a guest network, and a smart home Internet of Things (IoT) network. As the need for wireless speed increases, WiFi 7 NETGEAR Orbi and Nighthawk WiFi 7 routers are the solution. Orbi and Nighthawk WiFi 7 technology systems take the user on a quantum leap into the future of next-generation networking.
Introduction to WiFi 7
NETGEAR WiFi 7 delivers patented quad-band WiFi technology, multi-gig wireless speeds, and enhanced antenna design with beamforming for more powerful wireless signals. These systems include NETGEAR Armor WPA3 encrypted security, automatic firmware downloads, and the option for Smart Parental Controls to ensure everyone under one roof is protected from spam, malware, and other malicious intrusions. Advancements over previous WiFi standards include:
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)
Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is a measure for data encoding. The WiFi 6 standard QAM limit is 1024 QAM, whereas WiFi 7 offers four times as much (4096 QAM).
320 MHz Bandwidth
WiFi 7 doubles the bandwidth capability from 160MHz to 320MHz. This increases WiFi speeds and the number of devices you can simultaneously connect. The additional bandwidth accounts for a 2.4x improvement in WiFi 7 speeds.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
Orbi 970 WiFi 7 can switch between the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands to provide the strongest available signal. The satellites work in sync with the main router so you can create a WiFi system that connects indoors and outside in the backyard.
Preamble Puncturing
Preamble puncturing allows you to split a bandwidth channel already in use into usable portions. The split portion of the channel offers unimpeded data transfer and a more stable connection.
Target Wake Time
Target wake time (TWT) allows you to reserve bandwidth for specific devices at predetermined times. TWT is a convenient way to allocate screen time for your kids.
Choosing Between Orbi and Nighthawk
The choice is yours for Orbi and Nighthawk routers and mesh systems that deliver on their promise. Knowing how to choose between Orbi and Nighthawk is the first step toward a better online experience. The extensive NETGEAR range means you can choose the perfect WiFi system for your home.
Orbi for Whole Home Coverage
Orbi is the best option for families and large homes where seamless connectivity is prioritized. Orbi mesh systems relegate WiFi dead zones to a thing of the past so everyone under one roof can have their own space for streaming, gaming, entertainment, and virtual reality for work and play.
Nighthawk for Performance
Nighthawk routers have been developed to provide the best possible experience for gamers, streamers, and tech enthusiasts. Nighthawk is ideal for dedicated device connections requiring uninterrupted wireless without latency, lag, or buffering.
Conclusion
NETGEAR Orbi and Nighthawk systems are designed and built to provide the online experience you deserve at a price you can afford. Our comprehensive range includes the best mesh WiFi systems for home internet, the best routers for gaming, mobile hotspot routers that can connect to the internet almost anywhere on the planet, and modems that sync with our entire router range.
NETGEAR has been the number one name in WiFi networking systems since the 1990s, and we remain committed to creating products and devices that give you a better online experience than ever before.
