Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700
ASUS

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700

88
/ 100
From $279
VS
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) wins by 1
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — Wi-Fi 7 quad-band · 27 Gbps · 10G WAN
Netgear

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Wi-Fi 7 quad-band · 27 Gbps · 10G WAN

89
/ 100
From $2,299
Specdex verdict

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro lands at 88 and Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) at 89. That puts Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) ahead by 1 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 (RBE973) if…

  • ✓Three-pack covers up to 9000 sq ft
  • ✓Premium build quality
  • ✓10G WAN + multi-gig LAN
Share this comparison: Share to Reddit X / Twitter

Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Throughput

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the throughput sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on throughput (95 vs 88).

Range

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the range sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on range (96 vs 86).

Features

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the features sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on features (92 vs 86).

Value for money

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro more score per dollar ($279 vs $2,299).

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro 88
vs
89 Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Score breakdown

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
88
throughput 88
range 86
features 86
value 82
ease 0
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
89
throughput 95
range 96
features 92
value 0
ease 86

Specs side-by-side

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro versus Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — full spec comparison
Spec ASUS RT-AX86U Pro Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 7 quad-band
Throughput
AX5700
—
Total bandwidth
—
27000 Mbps
WAN
—
10 GbE
LAN
—
4× 2.5 GbE on router + 1× 10 GbE per satellite
Coverage
—
~9000 sq ft (3-pack)

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 (RBE973)

Pros
  • +Three-pack covers up to 9000 sq ft
  • +Premium build quality
  • +10G WAN + multi-gig LAN
Cons
  • −Most expensive mesh on the market
  • −Armor security subscription separate
  • −App polish trails competitors

FAQ: ASUS RT-AX86U Pro vs Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Which is better, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. 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 (RBE973) worth the price? +

At $2,299, Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.

Does ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) 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.

Which is better for throughput, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — leads on throughput (95 vs 88). Compared on the throughput sub-score.

Which is better for range, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — leads on range (96 vs 86). Compared on the range sub-score.