The Orbi WiFi system from Netgear has one of the best metrics in speed and coverage performance among the WiFi mesh products in the market right now. Together with Linksys Velop, Eero, Google WiFi, amplifi etc, these products are categorized as the new generation of WiFi network systems, also called Mesh WiFi.
Orbi also shines in other areas, in addition to pure speed and coverage, such as vast selection of product options, extensive software features, flexible connectivity options and much more.
Click to See our Recommended Orbi Model
People looking to buy an Orbi system often get confused about the various models available and have a hard time to decide which kit is the most suitable for their home or office.
In this article we’ll describe the different models and compare them so that you can get a better idea of what each one offers.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table
The table below summarizes some important specs of the most popular Orbi models. In this article we are comparing some other models in addition to the ones below so make sure to read the whole article for more comparisons.
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 21:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Models Notation
First lets start with the notation that Netgear uses to name the various models.
Orbi Kit Models
As you might know already, Orbi systems are usually purchased as kits which have a main Router unit and one or more Satellite units which are connected to the main Router either via WiFi Backhaul (dedicated 5 Ghz backhaul link with 1.7 Gbps data speed) or via wired Ethernet cable.
The main Router unit is connected to the ISP modem or router offered by your Internet Service Provider.
Therefore, people usually buy a kit when starting out and for implementing a whole-home WiFi mesh system.
Netgear names the “Kit” models as RBKxx with the letter K showing that this is a Kit system having one Router and one or more Satellites.
The following are the most popular and best selling models:
- RBK30: 1 router + 1 wall-plug satellite (AC2200 wireless max speed of 2200 Mbps)
- RBK40: 1 router + 1 satellite (AC2200 wireless max speed of 2200 Mbps)
- RBK50: 1 router + 1 satellite (AC3000 wireless max speed of 3000 Mbps) (MOST POPULAR MODEL)
- RBK23: 1 router + 2 satellites (AC2200 wireless max speed of 2200 Mbps) (smaller size units)
- CBK40: 1 router + 1 satellite (AC2200) with built-in Cable Modem
Note:
The CBK40 is a special kit system whereby the router unit includes an embedded Cable Modem (DOCSIS 3.0). This means that if your internet connection is via a cable provider, you can replace the ISP cable modem with CBK40.
Here are some more 3-unit kits which have 1 router and 2 satellites (for wider coverage).
- RBK33: 1 router + 2 wall-plug satellites (AC2200 wireless max speed of 2200 Mbps)
- RBK43: 1 router + 2 satellites (AC2200 wireless max speed of 2200 Mbps)
- RBK53: 1 router + 2 satellites (AC3000 wireless max speed of 3000 Mbps)
Orbi Individual Models
In addition to purchasing a kit of Orbi units (i.e Router + Satellites) you can also purchase the Router and Satellite units individually for expansion of an existing network.
The individual standalone Router units are named as RBRxx with the letter R showing that this is a Router unit.
The individual Satellite units are named as RBSxx with the letter S showing that this is a Satellite unit.
The individual wall plug-in Satellite units are named as RBWxx with the letter W showing that this is a wall-plug Satellite unit.
- RBR20: 1 standalone Router (AC2200) up to 2000 sq.ft coverage (1 LAN port)
- RBR50: 1 standalone Router (AC3000) up to 2500 sq.ft coverage (3 LAN ports)
- RBW30: 1 individual Add-on wall-plug Satellite unit (AC2200) for extra 1500 sq.ft coverage
- RBS40: 1 individual Add-on Satellite unit (AC2200) for extra 2000 sq.ft coverage
- RBS50: 1 individual Add-on Satellite unit (AC3000) for extra 2500 sq.ft coverage
- RBS50Y: 1 individual Add-on Satellite unit (AC3000) for Outdoor use for extra 2500 sq.ft coverage
Orbi Kits Comparison
Since most people are interested in purchasing a kit model for whole-home wireless coverage, we will compare the most popular kit models below in terms of area coverage, speed, connectivity options etc.
RBK30 Vs RBK40
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK30 covers homes up to 3500 sq.ft
- The RBK40 covers homes up to 4000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- Both models have max combined WiFi speed of 2200 Mbps (AC2200 wifi models)
Connectivity
- The Satellite of RBK30 is wall-plug and does not include LAN ports.
- The Satellite of RBK40 includes 4xLAN Ethernet ports for wire connections.
- The Router unit of both kit models includes 1xWAN and 3xLAN ports.
RBK30 Vs RBK50
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK30 covers homes up to 3500 sq.ft
- The RBK50 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- The RBK30 has max combined WiFi speed of 2200 Mbps (AC2200)
- The RBK50 has max combined WiFi speed of 3000 Mbps (AC3000)
Connectivity
- The Satellite of RBK30 is wall-plug and does not include LAN ports.
- The Satellite of RBK50 includes 4xLAN Ethernet ports for wire connections.
- The Router unit of both kit models includes 1xWAN and 3xLAN ports.
RBK40 Vs RBK50
- Eliminate WiFi dead zones and buffering - Whole home Mesh Wifi is a new type of connected system for seamless wireless coverage throughout your home
- Replaces your current router, and works with your modem and internet service. Compatible with major internet service providers including Comcast, Time Warner, and Verizon Fios
- Covers up to 4000 square feet with high performance WiFi - WiFi points work together so you can add more if you need additional coverage
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 21:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Ultra-performance Mesh WiFi network blankets every inch of your home in super fast and seamless WiFi connectivity - room to room, wall to wall, floor to floor.
- Up to 161% faster than the leading brands, as certified by an independent study, makes Orbi the highest performance Mesh WiFi system on the market.
- Eliminates WiFi dead zones and buffering - 5,000 square feet of consistent coverage - with speeds up to 30 Gbps.
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 21:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK40 covers homes up to 4000 sq.ft
- The RBK50 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- The RBK40 has max combined WiFi speed of 2200 Mbps (AC2200) and the backhaul band is 866 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
- The RBK50 has max combined WiFi speed of 3000 Mbps (AC3000) and the backhaul band is 1733 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
Connectivity
- The Satellites of both RBK40 and RBK50 include 4xLAN Ethernet ports.
- The Router unit of both kit models includes 1xWAN and 3xLAN ports.
Our Recommendation
- If your Internet connection is lower than 150Mbps and also you don’t have much internal home network traffic (i.e sharing files within your home, streaming video within the home network etc) then go with RBK40 model.
- If your Internet connection is more than 150Mbps and you also have some heavy internal traffic requirements (sharing files, streaming etc) then we suggest you to go with RBK50 model.
RBK23 Vs RBK50
The RBK23 is a newer and more economical model launched by Netgear to cover the needs of medium to large sized houses and with some reductions in hardware to lower the price.
The main hardware differences of the RBK23 compared to RBK50 (which is the best selling kit) are the following:
- Smaller size: (5.6 x 2.4 x 6.6 in) compared to (6.4 x 3.1 x 8.0 in).
- Fewer Internal Antennas: The RBK23 has 4 internal antennas compared to 6 antennas of RBK50.
- Fewer Wired Ethernet Ports: The RBK23 has 2 Ethernet Ports while the RBK50 has 4.
Other than the above hardware differences, the main features of the RBK50 are also supported by RBK23 as well (such as Tri-band WiFi, wireless backhaul, beamforming, excellent speed performance etc).
So if you want to save some money and you don’t care much about the reduced hardware specs, then the RBK23 is an excellent choice.
- Creates a Mesh WiFi network that blankets your home in super fast, seamless WiFi - room to room, wall to wall, floor to floor. Replaces your old router, works with your modem and internet service provider
- Unlike tiny routers and extenders, Orbi's vertical design provides superior speed, WiFi range and minimal interference
- Eliminates WiFi dead zones and buffering - 6,000 square feet of consistent coverage - at speeds up to 2.2 Gbps (gigabytes per second)
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 21:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Let’s see the rest of the main specs comparison below:
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK23 covers homes up to 6000 sq.ft
- The RBK50 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- The RBK23 has max combined WiFi speed of 2200 Mbps (AC2200) and the backhaul band is 866 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
- The RBK50 has max combined WiFi speed of 3000 Mbps (AC3000) and the backhaul band is 1733 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
Connectivity
- The Router and Satellites of RBK23 include 2xLAN Ethernet ports (on Router there is 1WAN and 1LAN).
- The Router and Satellites of RBK50 include 4xLAN Ethernet ports (on Router there is 1WAN and 3LAN).
RBK33 Vs RBK50
The RBK33 kit contains one main Router wifi device and two wall-plug satellite units. All of the devices work with AC2200 wireless speed which means they support a maximum of 2200 Mbps theoretical combined speed on the wifi network.
- Creates a Mesh WiFi network that blankets your home in super fast, seamless WiFi - room to room, wall to wall, floor to floor. Replaces your old router, works with your modem and internet service provider
- Slim profile wall-plug satellites make it super easy to extend your WiFi to any room with a standard electrical outlet, just plug it in and stream with speed
- Up to 123% faster than the leading brands, as certified by an independent study, makes Orbi the highest performance Mesh WiFi system on the market
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 17:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Although the RBK33 has a total of 3 wifi units compared to RBK50 (which has 2 units), the main limitation of the RBK33 is that the satellites are wall-plug units. This has two main disadvantages in my opinion:
- Wall-plug satellite units do not have LAN Ethernet wired ports.
- Wall-plug units don’t offer much flexibility regarding the location to place them in the house since they must be plugged on a power outlet. Usually power outlets are hidden behind furniture and are located lower on the wall. This might limit the area coverage of the system.
On the other hand, the wall-plug satellites of the RBK33 are slim profile and much smaller compared to RBK50. You just plug them on a power outlet for easy expansion of the mesh network.
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK33 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
- The RBK50 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- The RBK33 has max combined WiFi speed of 2200 Mbps (AC2200) and the backhaul band is 866 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
- The RBK50 has max combined WiFi speed of 3000 Mbps (AC3000) and the backhaul band is 1733 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
Connectivity
- The Router of RBK33 includes 3xLAN wired Ethernet ports plus 1WAN Ethernet port for connecting to a cable or DSL modem. The satellite units do not include LAN ports.
- The Router and Satellite of RBK50 include 4xLAN Ethernet ports (on Router there is 1WAN and 3LAN) for a total of 7 wired Gigabit ports for connecting devices.
RBK50 Vs RBK53
RBK53 is currently the biggest Orbi kit you can get. RBK53 is basically the same hardware as RBK50 but it has 1 router + 2 satellites instead of 1 router + 1 satellite of the RBK50.
Therefore, the RBK53 will have the same stellar performance as the RBK50 but with much larger house area coverage. It is designed for very large houses with thick walls (up to 7500 sq ft areas, more than 2 floors etc) but its more expensive than the RBK50 model.
Ofcourse you can buy an RBK50 for now and add an extra satellite later on if you still need to cover bigger area. However, the cost of buying the 50 model and then buying an extra satellite later on will be higher instead of buying the 53 model kit.
- SET OF THREE (3) FOR WIDE COVERAGE AREA: Includes One (1) Orbi WiFi Router and Two (2) Orbi Satellites that deliver unparalleled WiFi coverage up to 7,500 square feet inside and around the outside of home.
- MAXIMUM INTERNET SPEEDS: Innovative Tri-band WiFi delivers fast internet speeds even as more devices connect.
- ORBI APP: Setup and manage your network from your smartphone or tablet, compatible with Apple or Google Play (Android).
Last update on 2019-02-20 at 21:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Area Wireless Coverage
- The RBK53 covers homes up to 7500 sq.ft
- The RBK50 covers homes up to 5000 sq.ft
WiFi Speed
- The RBK53 has max combined WiFi speed of 3000 Mbps (AC3000) and the backhaul band is 1733 Mbps (the link connecting satellites with main router).
- The RBK50 has exactly the same wireless characteristics as the above.
Connectivity
- RBK53 has lots of wired ports (4 LAN ports on each satellite and 3 LAN ports on router) with a total of 11 Gigabit wired ports.
- The Router and Satellite of RBK50 include 4xLAN Ethernet ports (on Router there is 1WAN and 3LAN) for a total of 7 wired Gigabit ports for connecting devices.
AC2200 and AC3000 Description
I have written an article in the past explaining the meaning of the “AC” specification in the new IEEE 802.11ac standard.
As explained in the article above, the number after the AC spec (AC2200 or AC3000) represents the combined maximum speed of all wireless frequency bands of the device.
In summary:
AC2200: This has 3 frequency bands (1 band at 2.4 Ghz and 2 bands at 5Ghz). The max wifi speed supported on the 2.4 Ghz band is 400Mbps and the max wifi speed supported on the 5 Ghz bands is 866Mbps (thus combined data speed is 400+866+866 = around 2200 Mbps).
AC3000: This also has 3 frequency bands (1 band at 2.4 Ghz and 2 bands at 5Ghz). The max wifi speed supported on the 2.4 Ghz band is 400Mbps and the max wifi speed supported on the 5 Ghz bands is 866Mbps and 1733Mbps (thus combined data speed is 400+866+1733 = 3000 Mbps).
This was really useful info, thanks for taking the time to write it
Hi Gareth,
I’m glad you’ve found my article useful. Thanks for commenting and have a great day.
Harris
I couldn’t decide which model is best suited for me until I came across your article. Thank you!
Jason,
I’m glad my article helped you to decide between the various Orbi models.
Thanks for your feedback
Harris
i really found your article useful. I was searching for 1 stop for information on netgear mesh routers. you have consolidated it very nicely. Thank you for your effort.
You are very welcome Jithin. I’m glad I helped with my article.
Harris
How about a comparison between Netgear Orbi RBK40 and RBK23. Which one would you suggest for a single floor house with coverage area of approx 4000 sq ft and considering the fact that both have a same price tag?
Ashish,
Between RBK40 and RBK23 I would select the RBK23 product because it has 3 units instead of 2 (i.e it has 1 router unit to be connected to the ISP modem and 2 satellite units). This makes it more future proof compared to RBK40. For example if you still have any dead spots you will have the flexibility to move one of the satellite units closer to the dead spot and cover that area as well.
Also, if you move to another home in the future (e.g 2 floors) then RBK23 will be a better choice in covering two floors as well.
Hope that helps
Harris
Very insightful! I was lost in the Orbi model jungle and you showed the way out. Much appreciated. Thank you!
I’m glad I have helped Bjorn. I liked the term “Orbi model jungle”…. that’s a good one !!
Which would you recommend of these two on Cyber Monday Deal?
From Costco: Netgear Orbi Mini 2-Pack AC2200 Tri-Band WiFi System
https://www.costco.com/Netgear-Orbi-Mini-2-Pack-AC2200-Tri-Band-WiFi-System.product.100398382.html
or from Amazon:
NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – WiFi router and 2 satellite extenders with speeds up to 2.2 Gbps over 6,000 sq. feet, AC2200 (RBK23)
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Orbi-Whole-Home-System/dp/B07CQDHPFT?ref_=Oct_DLandingS_PC_ec9acec6_NA&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
Thanks in advance.
Thank you for the detail – extremely helpful. I’ve bookmarked to revisit.
I finally understand the AC2200 vs. AC3000 I’ve been seeing all over. I feel the 2200 must be a clear update to the 5+ year old router I’m looking to replace – however, unsure if I should clearly purchase the best that’s out there?
One question I have is on ethernet usage vs. wifi? Because my current system is fairly weak – I have portable / extender kits that run through the AC Current of my home – which are then plugged in with ethernet ports on the back. My kids were always complaining about the lag and dropping from wifi – so we purchased this system. Will the Orbi wifi 2200 or 3000 be strong enough to run several devices on multiple floors of home – or should I make the purchase of model that has multiple ethernet outlets in back of satellite and look to maintain the “hard wire” to these devices?
Thx, Steve
Lynsie I would go with the RBK23 kit from Amazon. This is more future-proof than the RBK22 from Costco. Also, with 2 satellites instead of one you have much more flexibility in covering your whole house.
Steve,
I would recommend the RBK23 kit. From what I understand, you have multiple floors and devices and the RBK23 is ideal for such cases. Having the flexibility to place the 2 satellites in the house wherever you want is very useful in “fine-tuning” the wifi coverage. Also, each unit of the RBK23 has 2 Ethernet ports therefore you can mix-and-match your connectivity options.
Thanks so much for writing this. The range of options is confusing and your article does a great job of clarifying some areas of doubt I had around which option to go for.
Hey Mark thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I’m happy my article has helped you.
Harris
Thank you so much for your effort in sharing your knowledge. It is very helpful for me to understand every model/kit. I have a question: I have a Verizon Fios Gigabit plan internet only, is the CBK40 (modem-router combo) compatible to replace their quantum gateway combo? (which i am renting for a year now).
Thank you.
goodyl
Regarding Orbi CKB40 and Verizon Fios, the answer is NO it will not work. The CBK40 is a cable modem whereas Verizon Fios is fiber optic connection so its not compatible.
Great article on a confusing subject. many thanks.
We have a 2 story wood frame about 4500sqft. It is long and thin and the main modem is about the middle top of the home.
We are an Apple family wanting to update our aging Airport Extreme/Express set up. We have a Drobo disk array and another HD connected to the main Extreme router both running Time machine.
What would you recommend as our best system? RBK23, 50 or 53?
Can we still use some or all of our Airport system with it, say the Express for streaming music via its built in D/A converter?
Mahalo and aloha!
Hi Ray,
I would suggest to get the RBK50 and place the router on the floor with the main modem and satellite on the other floor. You will have plenty of wired ports to connect the disk arrays etc.
I don’t know the exact model of you disk arrays but the best option would be to have a network attached storage (NAS) system for backups etc. This means it should have a wired ethernet port to be connected to one of the Orbi units. That would be the best setup. Also, I’m pretty sure you can still use the existing Airport system e.g by connecting it to one of the LAN ports of the Orbi units.