NETGEAR
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
86
/ 100
From $599
VS
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) wins by 3
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, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 lands at 86 and Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) at 89. That puts Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 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
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 86
vs 89 Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
Score breakdown
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
86 throughput 86
range 86
features 84
value 82
ease 0
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
89 throughput 95
range 96
features 92
value 0
ease 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 | Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 quad-band |
| Throughput | AXE11000 | — |
| 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) |
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
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: NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 vs Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
Which is better, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 worth the price? +
At $599, NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — 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 NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 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.