Eero vs Orbi: Home Wifi Systems Compared

Key Points:

• Orbi devices can cover a wider area than Eero units (up to 5000 sq. ft vs 4500 sq. ft).
• Eero can pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice commands.
• If you are looking to expand your wifi coverage area at your home or office, look at these and similar mesh systems.

Eero vs Orbi: Full Comparison

Whether lounging at home or going through the motions in the workplace, one thing is unquestionable: we all need reliable internet. If you have ever experienced the pain of a spotty Wi-Fi connection or the frustration of slow speeds, then you know firsthand the struggle of having insufficient Wi-Fi equipment. Fortunately, Wi-Fi routers have advanced in the past five years, and new technology makes slow Wi-Fi a thing of the past.

Whether gaming or streaming, having a fast and reliable wireless connection is essential. A spotty or weak connection can get in the way of work or entertainment. Instead of using a Wi-Fi range extender, consider Wi-Fi tech known as “mesh” Wi-Fi to fix your patchy connection. In this article, Eero vs Orbi go head-to-head in the battle of Wi-Fi 6 systems. Our side-by-side comparison of four models of Eero and Orbi devices and the full review will, ultimately, help you figure out the best device.

Eero vs Orbi: Side By Side Comparison

Eero vs Orbi: 10 Must-know Facts

Eero

• Eero has a coverage of 4,500 sq. ft, and enough bandwidth for 75 connected devices.
• Eero can pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice commands.
• You can customize your network settings through the Eero App.
• The Eero has a small, sleek design, and works with all major carriers.
• Eero has built-in Bluetooth for syncing your mobile devices

Orbi

• The Orbi system is made by Netgear, a company well-known for its wireless devices.
• Orbi has a large coverage area, with some of its devices capable of 5,000 sq. ft or more of coverage.
• The Orbi has plenty of ethernet ports for connecting your wired devices.
• With advanced setup and parental control, you can more tightly restrict access to your network.
• Orbi can be set up with a special guest network and has added security features like Netgear Armor.

Eero Vs Orbi: What’s the Difference?

Eero vs Orbi: Price

Both mesh systems offer wireless solutions for under $500, and both systems also offer higher-end options over $1000. But which one provides a better bang for your buck?

We have to go with the Orbi in this department. With their cheapest option coming in at under $100, you can’t go wrong with an Orbi mesh system if you are on a budget. On the other hand, although Eero offers some inexpensive options, their cheapest system is still more expensive without as much performance.

NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK752) – Router with 1 Satellite Extender | Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft., 40 Devices | AX4200 (Up to 4.2Gbps)

$289.85

• Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft. and for up to 40 devices. Extend coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. with each additional satellite (sold separately)
• Fast AX4200 Gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing
• Connects to your existing cable modem, and replaces your WiFi router. Compatible with any internet service provider up to 2Gbps including cable, satellite, fiber, and DSL
• Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and more with 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the router and 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the satellite
• Sets up in minutes with the Orbi App; easily manage WiFi settings, test internet speed, and monitor data usage

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03/03/2023 09:15 am GMT

Say Goodbye to Dead Zones

Amazon eero Pro 6 mesh Wi-Fi 6 system

$399.99

• Premium Wi-Fi 6 performance supports faster Wi-Fi than prior standards and permits 75+ connected devices
• Covers up to 6,000 sq. ft.
• Support for wifi speeds up to a gigabit
• eero app walks you through setup in minutes and allows you to manage your network from anywhere
• Free customer support available 7 days a week
• eero Pro 6 doubles as a Zigbee smart home hub, making it easy to connect and control compatible devices on your network with Alexa

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03/21/2023 06:22 pm GMT

Eero vs Orbi: Design

An attractive design might not be your top priority when selecting a Wi-Fi router. After all, you won’t be spending much time looking at your router. However, the design is a significant deciding factor for some people. 

A new, sleek router naturally leaves a better first impression and speaks to the system’s overall design. The Eero and the Orbi have modern, minimalist designs that will fit in with any decor. 

The Orbi is designed by Netgear, a company that has always been known for making sleek, modern-looking routers. What makes the Orbi special is the simple white design of the units. The Orbi comes with one main router and one satellite unit, which you can place anywhere in your house for good connectivity. The only potential downside to the design of the Orbi is that it is rather tall and easy to knock over.

On the other hand, the Eero is made by Amazon, a company with a shorter history in the realm of wireless technology. Still, Amazon has proven it can produce innovative technology and aesthetically pleasing designs. The Eero is a simple yet elegant design, with a single LED on the top to indicate the status.

Eero vs Orbi: Installation

Whether setting up your Eero or Orbi mesh Wi-Fi system, the ease of setup is crucial. Nobody wants to waste time figuring out how to install a wireless network. If you’re not tech savvy, it can be intimidating. The good news is that the old days of complicated router setup are over.

We had trouble deciding on a winner in this category because Eero and Orbi are extremely simple to set up and configure. Both mesh systems are plug-and-play and require you to plug them into your modem and turn them on. After that, the initial boot process takes a minute, and then they are ready to use. It’s possible to monitor your network when using both systems as they come with convenient mobile apps.

Eero vs Orbi: Features

The Eero and the Orbi come with many features you would expect in a modern Wi-Fi system. Depending on your needs and desires, some of these features could really come in handy, especially if you are using your router for gaming or streaming videos with something like a Roku or Amazon Firestick. Both mesh systems have full support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards. In particular, they use the latest version of the Wi-Fi 6E.

Wi-Fi 6E provides higher bandwidth and a separate 6GHz band on your network. Lower frequency bands such as 2.4GHz and 5GHz can be crowded and slow depending on how many devices you have connected and your network layout. 

Additionally, connecting to the 6GHz band will enable you to experience lower latency and faster speeds when gaming or streaming. Besides that, if you have a smart home ecosystem with a lot of devices using your Wi-Fi, then having an extra band is even more useful. The good news is that the Eero and Orbi systems can run this new “Tri-Band” network.

The Eero system provides some unique technology, the most touted being what they have named a “TrueMesh” system. TrueMesh is similar to Mimo technology, which intelligently routes traffic depending on where you use your devices most. What makes this newer technology superior is how it decides where to prioritize the signal. TrueMesh will use dynamic routing algorithms and real-time data to learn where the ideal path for Wi-Fi traffic fits into your home layout.

Orbi offers a superior answer to solve the problem of spotty connectivity by providing a dedicated wireless backhaul. The idea is similar to TrueMesh in that priority bandwidth is delivered to areas where it is most needed, depending on where devices are concentrated. Backhaul is just a dedicated communication link between each mesh node in your system, which provides a better overall connection and eliminates dead spots in your house.

Eero vs Orbi: Speed

A simple speed test is all it takes to figure out how well a Wi-Fi router works. It doesn’t matter how nicely designed your router is or how many features it has if it doesn’t back it up with fast performance. If you are gaming or streaming, the only thing to care about is how fast your Wi-Fi will be. Getting stuck with a slow router will keep you from enjoying your gaming experience and leave you frustrated and annoyed.

We checked out reports for users across the web, and the consensus is that the Orbi wins the speed race. Most users reported performance slightly higher than the Eero systems as Orbi offers a broader range of more premium products. From a distance of 10 feet, consistent speeds of 500 Mbps were reported. The performance came in lower at 35 feet, at just 200 Mbps. Although performance typically decreases as distance increases, this is above average as far as routers typically go.

On the other hand, the Eero systems were consistently reported on average speed tests around 10% lower. Although this is not a huge problem if you only have a few devices on your network, this issue can compound as you add more devices. Overall, the Orbi is the leader when it comes to speed.

Eero vs Orbi: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

The choice of Eero vs Orbi comes down to your office or home’s technology ecosystem and, of course, needs. If you have a larger area to cover and more devices to connect, Netgear Orbi can be a great choice. It has a wide coverage area and faster speeds, making it the perfect choice for gamers and streamers.  Additionally, the Orbi systems typically include more gigabit ethernet ports than the Eero systems. These can come in handy if you want to connect many wired devices.

If you enjoy having a more robust Amazon integration, go for Eero. It is more integrated into the Amazon ecosystem and provides better Alexa support. For most people, this is not a dealbreaker. Orbi comes out on top as it has many benefits.

Up Next…

Not find what your looking for surrounding wifi and wifi devices? Check out these articles!

• The 5 Best Routers For A Large House (2022) – Reviewed and Ranked. Have a lot of space that needs to be covered? Read this article to see some great options.
• The 5 Best Router and Modem Combos: Reviewed and Ranked. Check out our ranked options for you.
• The 6 Best Mesh Routers Available For Sale Today. We’ve broken down the top 6 mesh options for your home or business.