ASUS
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700
88
/ 100
From $279
VS
NETGEAR Orbi 970 wins by 3
NETGEAR
NETGEAR Orbi 970
Wi-Fi 7 · BE27000
91
/ 100
From $1,699
Specdex verdict
NETGEAR Orbi 970 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro lands at 88 and NETGEAR Orbi 970 at 91. That puts NETGEAR Orbi 970 ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick ASUS RT-AX86U Pro if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Pick NETGEAR Orbi 970 if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro 88
vs 91 NETGEAR Orbi 970
Score breakdown
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
88 throughput 88
range 86
features 86
value 82
NETGEAR Orbi 970
91 throughput 91
range 86
features 89
value 82
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | ASUS RT-AX86U Pro | NETGEAR Orbi 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Throughput | AX5700 | ▲ BE27000 |
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
Pros
- +Current-gen Wi-Fi
- +App-driven setup
- +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Cons
- −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
- −Range varies
- −Firmware stability improves over time
NETGEAR Orbi 970
Pros
- +Current-gen Wi-Fi
- +App-driven setup
- +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Cons
- −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
- −Range varies
- −Firmware stability improves over time
FAQ: ASUS RT-AX86U Pro vs NETGEAR Orbi 970
Which is better, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Orbi 970? +
NETGEAR Orbi 970 scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is ASUS RT-AX86U Pro worth the price? +
At $279, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Is NETGEAR Orbi 970 worth the price? +
At $1,699, NETGEAR Orbi 970 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in throughput.
Does ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Orbi 970 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.