Netgear
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
Wi-Fi 7 quad-band · 27 Gbps · 10G WAN
89
/ 100
From $2,299
VS
ASUS RT-BE96U wins by 3
ASUS
ASUS RT-BE96U
Wi-Fi 7 · 19 Gbps tri-band · 10G WAN
92
/ 100
From $599
Specdex verdict
ASUS RT-BE96U takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) lands at 89 and ASUS RT-BE96U at 92. That puts ASUS RT-BE96U ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) if…
- ✓Three-pack covers up to 9000 sq ft
- ✓Premium build quality
- ✓10G WAN + multi-gig LAN
Pick ASUS RT-BE96U if…
- ✓10G WAN + 10G LAN
- ✓Tri-band 4x4 Wi-Fi 7 with 320MHz
- ✓AiMesh + AiProtection Pro included
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) 89
vs 92 ASUS RT-BE96U
Score breakdown
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
89 throughput 95
range 96
features 92
ease 86
ASUS RT-BE96U
92 throughput 96
range 90
features 96
ease 78
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) | ASUS RT-BE96U |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 7 quad-band | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 4x4 tri-band |
| Total bandwidth | ▲ 27000 Mbps | 19000 Mbps |
| WAN | 10 GbE | 10 Gbps |
| LAN | 4× 2.5 GbE on router + 1× 10 GbE per satellite | 1× 10G + 4× 1G |
| Coverage | ~9000 sq ft (3-pack) | ~3500 sq ft |
| USB | — | 2× USB 3.0 |
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
ASUS RT-BE96U
Pros
- +10G WAN + 10G LAN
- +Tri-band 4x4 Wi-Fi 7 with 320MHz
- +AiMesh + AiProtection Pro included
Cons
- −Antennas not removable
- −Pricey vs Wi-Fi 6E
- −Web UI cluttered
FAQ: Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) vs ASUS RT-BE96U
Which is better, Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) or ASUS RT-BE96U? +
ASUS RT-BE96U scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) worth the price? +
At $2,299, Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.
Is ASUS RT-BE96U worth the price? +
At $599, ASUS RT-BE96U delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in throughput.
Does Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) 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.