Are you tired of spotty Wi-Fi coverage in your home? Well, prepare to be amazed by the Netgear Orbi 370 Series Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System! This budget-friendly solution promises to revolutionize your internet experience, but is it worth the hype? Let's dive in and uncover the truth.
Unleash the Power of Wi-Fi 7 on a Budget!
The Netgear Orbi 370 Series is an affordable yet powerful mesh system designed to blanket your entire home with strong Wi-Fi 7 signals. Priced at just $349.99 for a three-pack, it's an attractive option for those seeking an upgrade without breaking the bank. But here's where it gets controversial: while it offers impressive performance, it lacks support for 6GHz data transmissions, which could be a deal-breaker for some.
Coverage for Every Home Size
The Orbi 370 Series comes in various configurations to suit different home sizes. Our three-pack review unit is ideal for large homes, covering up to 6,000 square feet. For smaller spaces, the two-pack provides coverage for 4,000 square feet, while the four-pack extends coverage to a whopping 8,000 square feet. Individual satellite nodes are also available for purchase, covering up to 2,000 square feet each.
Design and Features
The Orbi nodes have a sleek white finish, standing 8 inches tall and measuring 4.7 inches deep and 2.9 inches wide. The router node features two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports (WAN and LAN), while the satellite nodes have a single 2.5GbE LAN port. This system lacks USB ports, but it does offer an intuitive mobile app for easy management.
Performance and Throughput
In our tests, the Orbi 370 Series delivered impressive throughput speeds. The router node scored an impressive 1,990Mbps in close proximity, outperforming competitors like the MSI Roamii BE Lite and the TP-Link Deco BE5000. However, it fell short of the eero Pro 7, which utilizes the 6GHz band and 320MHz channels.
Signal Strength and Coverage
Using Ekahau's Sidekick 2 Wi-Fi diagnostic device and Survey mobile app, we generated heat maps to visualize the Orbi 370's signal strength across all bands. The results showed that the system provided strong signals throughout our test home, with only slight weaknesses in one corner bedroom and the garage.
The Bottom Line
The Netgear Orbi 370 Series Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System offers solid performance and coverage at a reasonable price. However, its lack of 6GHz transmissions and additional costs for parental control and network security software may be deal-breakers for some. If you're looking for a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 7 solution, the Orbi 370 is a solid choice. But if you want to unlock the full potential of 6GHz and advanced features, consider our Editors' Choice pick, the eero Pro 7, which offers superior performance and additional capabilities.
What do you think? Is the Orbi 370 Series worth considering for your home? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
