NETGEAR Orbi 960
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · 10 GbE WAN
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Orbi 960 lands at 88 and NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S at 89. That puts NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick NETGEAR Orbi 960 if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Pick NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S if…
- ✓True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
- ✓10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
- ✓Great range
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testThroughput
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SCompared on the throughput sub-score
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on throughput (92 vs 88).
Range
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SCompared on the range sub-score
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on range (94 vs 86).
Features
TieCompared on the features sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S more score per dollar ($699 vs $1,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Orbi 960 | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000) |
| Throughput | AXE11000 | — |
| Bands | — | Tri-band |
| Ports | — | 1× 10 GbE WAN + 1× 10 GbE LAN + 4× 2.5 GbE |
NETGEAR Orbi 960
- +Current-gen Wi-Fi
- +App-driven setup
- +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
- −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
- −Range varies
- −Firmware stability improves over time
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
- +True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
- +10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
- +Great range
- −Armor subscription for advanced features
- −Bulky
- −Pricey vs ASUS/eero
FAQ: NETGEAR Orbi 960 vs NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Which is better, NETGEAR Orbi 960 or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is NETGEAR Orbi 960 worth the price? +
At $1,499, NETGEAR Orbi 960 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S worth the price? +
At $699, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.
Does NETGEAR Orbi 960 or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S 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, NETGEAR Orbi 960 or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on throughput (92 vs 88). Compared on the throughput sub-score.
Which is better for range, NETGEAR Orbi 960 or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on range (94 vs 86). Compared on the range sub-score.