NETGEAR
NETGEAR Orbi 970
Wi-Fi 7 · BE27000
91
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
ASUS RT-BE96U wins by 2
ASUS
ASUS RT-BE96U
Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · Quad-band · 10 GbE
93
/ 100
From $699
Specdex verdict
ASUS RT-BE96U takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Orbi 970 lands at 91 and ASUS RT-BE96U at 93. That puts ASUS RT-BE96U ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick NETGEAR Orbi 970 if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Pick ASUS RT-BE96U if…
- ✓Dual 10 GbE ports
- ✓AiMesh support
- ✓VPN Fusion
NETGEAR Orbi 970 91
vs 93 ASUS RT-BE96U
Score breakdown
NETGEAR Orbi 970
91 throughput 91
range 86
features 89
value 82
ASUS RT-BE96U
93 throughput 94
range 92
features 96
value 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Orbi 970 | ASUS RT-BE96U |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000) |
| Throughput | BE27000 | — |
| Bands | — | Quad-band |
| Ports | — | 2× 10 GbE + 4× 2.5 GbE |
| Antennas | — | 8 external |
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
ASUS RT-BE96U
Pros
- +Dual 10 GbE ports
- +AiMesh support
- +VPN Fusion
Cons
- −Large
- −Pricey
- −Firmware learning curve
FAQ: NETGEAR Orbi 970 vs ASUS RT-BE96U
Which is better, NETGEAR Orbi 970 or ASUS RT-BE96U? +
ASUS RT-BE96U scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is NETGEAR Orbi 970 worth the price? +
At $1,699, NETGEAR Orbi 970 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in throughput.
Is ASUS RT-BE96U worth the price? +
At $699, ASUS RT-BE96U delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in features.
Does NETGEAR Orbi 970 or ASUS RT-BE96U 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.