The Orbi 870 provides tri-band WiFi 7 technology, up to 9,000 square feet of coverage with a 3-pack, and up to 150 devices connected.
On the other hand, Orbi 970 provides quad-band WiFi 7 technology, up to 10,000 square feet of coverage, up to 200 devices, and Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul. Most houses do not require more than the Orbi 870 offers. However, the Orbi 970 is worth buying if your house exceeds the above features.
Both devices are top-of-the-line WiFi 7 mesh systems that will cater to big homes with multiple stories, thick walls, and lots of streaming and gaming going on. Expensive equipment does not necessarily mean that it’s the best option for any home. The right equipment for you depends on your house structure and how you use WiFi.
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Here is how the two systems compare on the specifications that matter most for a large home.
| Feature | Orbi 870 3-pk | Orbi 970 3-pk |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi technology | Tri-band WiFi 7 | Quad-band WiFi 7 |
| WiFi class | BE21000 | BE27000 |
| Maximum combined WiFi rate | Up to 21 Gbps | Up to 27 Gbps |
| 3-Pack coverage | Up to 9,000 sq. ft. | Up to 10,000 sq. ft. |
| 2-Pack coverage | Up to 6,000 sq. ft. | Up to 6,600 sq. ft. |
| Connected devices | Up to 150 | Up to 200 |
| Router WAN port | 1 x 10 Gig | 1 x 10 Gig |
| Router LAN ports | 4 x 2.5 Gig | 1 x 10 Gig + 4 x 2.5 Gig |
| Satellite LAN ports | 4 x 2.5 Gig each | 1 x 10 Gig + 2 x 2.5 Gig each |
| Wireless backhaul | Enhanced Backhaul using shared bands | Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul |
| Wired backhaul | Up to 2.5 Gig | Up to 10 Gig |
| Best for | Highly connected large homes | Largest and most demanding homes |
| Learn More | Discover Orbi 870 Series | Discover Orbi 970 Series |
These WiFi speeds are just the maximum theoretical wireless speeds; these speeds won’t be achieved by any one device. The actual speed and range will depend on your home’s layout, construction, location, and number of connected devices. Would you like to see the full line-up? Compare Orbi mesh systems.
Both systems use WiFi 7, so the real differences come down to wireless capacity, coverage, device support, and how each system moves data between the router and its satellites.
The Orbi 870 is tri-band: it uses 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The Orbi 970 is quad-band: it adds a second 5 GHz band, for 2.4 GHz, two 5 GHz bands, and 6 GHz.
For a household where there are multiple devices, the congestion could result in reduced speeds while downloading, watching videos or playing games. This model (Orbi 970) comes with an additional band, which increases the wireless capacity compared to the Orbi 870. The extent of the improvement will depend on the number of devices and their type.
WiFi throughput in the Orbi 870 goes up to 21 Gbps, whereas that of the Orbi 970 is up to 27 Gbps. Both come with a 10 Gig internet port, so both support multi-gig internet services. In addition, the Orbi 970 comes with 10 Gig LAN ports on both the router and satellite, which means you can connect compatible wired devices like a NAS or workstation.
Just keep in mind that WiFi speed, internet speed, and Ethernet port speed are all separate from each other. A faster speed on the WiFi will not mean that your internet plan is any faster. In terms of many of the multi-gig homes, the Orbi 870 may have enough speed for their needs. The Orbi 970 makes more sense for those who can use it. Learn how WiFi 7 works.
An Orbi 870 3-Pack covers up to 9,000 sq. ft., and a 2-Pack covers up to 6,000 sq. ft. An Orbi 970 3-Pack covers up to 10,000 sq. ft., and a 2-Pack covers up to 6,600 sq. ft.
The square footage measurement is only one piece of the puzzle. Several floors, heavy walls, basement areas, bedrooms that are far away from each other, and even an office in the home are all factors that influence the effectiveness of the WiFi. The placement of each satellite is just as important as the selection of the WiFi system you choose. Select the kit that suits your house.
Both the Orbi 870 and Orbi 970 support 150 and 200 connections, respectively. This additional flexibility is necessary in houses where a number of activities are happening simultaneously, such as:
The capacity of the device is an attribute of a supported device, not a commitment that all devices can attain maximum capacity simultaneously.
Backhaul is the connection that carries data between the main mesh router and its satellites. When satellites connect wirelessly and many devices are active, backhaul capacity can become one of the most important factors in whole-home performance.
Orbi 870: Utilizes Enhanced Backhaul with Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Technology. The 5 GHz and 6 GHz spectrums are used by both backhaul data and compatible devices. There is also an option to connect your satellites to Ethernet for wired backhaul over 2.5 Gig ports.
Orbi 970: Uses Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul, which means that router-to-satellite communications can occur over a separate channel rather than competing with other devices. It also offers optional wired backhaul using 10 Gig Ethernet ports.
In larger houses with multiple wireless satellites that are used intensively at the same time, the backhaul connection on the Orbi 970 is what makes it a high-end product. There are still differences between houses, so it is more a matter of capacity than speed.
The Orbi 870 boasts a fine combination of high-end performance, coverage, and affordability, and can be described as an ideal router for:
Orbi 970 represents the ultimate upgrade package for big houses that have multiple satellites and complex network requirements. Think about this option if:
Don’t want to shell out for the whole Orbi WiFi 7 mesh kit right away, but still want the best possible Orbi WiFi 7 hardware? Then there’s always the Orbi 970 (router only), while the Orbi 870 comes in 2-Packs and 3-Packs.
The Orbi 970 router (RBE971S) covers up to 3,300 sq. ft. on its own and includes the same quad-band WiFi 7, support for up to 200 devices, 10 Gig internet port, 10 Gig LAN port, and four 2.5 Gig LAN ports as the router in every Orbi 970 pack. It is also available in a Black Edition (RBE971SB).
Starting with the router lets you step up to the top of the Orbi lineup at a lower upfront cost than a 2-Pack or 3-Pack. As your needs grow, add Orbi 970 Series satellites one at a time to extend coverage to a new floor, a home office, or a far bedroom. Each satellite adds up to 3,300 sq. ft. of coverage, joins the Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul, and comes in Classic White or Black Edition to match your router.
This option works well for:
The Orbi 870 will meet the requirements of most of the larger houses. However, it may be necessary to go for the Orbi 970 for certain needs which can be met through its separate backhaul, 10 Gig LAN ports and better wireless capabilities.
Choose Orbi 870 if:
Choose Orbi 970 if:
Not all bigger homes require the Orbi 970 system. You should begin by considering the size of your house, the number of devices that you intend to connect, and the method through which you are going to connect your satellites back to the router.
Pick 2-Pack for a large single-story or two-story house with an open floor plan. Pick the 3-Pack for multi-story homes, lengthy floor plans, thick walls, basements, or any separate building like a garage or office. If you have the facility to wire Ethernet between different rooms, it would help achieve optimal performance from your satellites. Both packages offer an option to extend in the future by adding satellites: 3,000 sq. ft. of coverage for each Orbi 870 satellite and up to 3,300 sq. ft. of coverage for each Orbi 970 satellite.
Both options are available in Classic White and Black Editions. The color doesn’t affect the functionality of the unit, so pick the one that matches your room style. The availability of Black Edition depends on the model and seller.
Orbi 970 will be appropriate for more challenging networks where you can utilize the capabilities of quad-band Wi-Fi 7, Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul, and 10 Gig wired networking. Orbi 870 would suit many large homes.
The Orbi 870 uses a tri-band WiFi 7 with Enhanced Backhaul through shared bands. The Orbi 970 uses a quad-band WiFi 7 with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul, along with support for more devices and 10 Gig Wired Connectivity.
Both systems accommodate large houses. An Orbi 870 3-Pack delivers coverage for up to 9,000 sq. ft., while an Orbi 970 3-Pack delivers coverage for up to 10,000 sq. ft. Coverage depends on the architecture of your house.
No. For the Orbi 870, the WiFi 7 Multi-Link Operation technology is employed to maintain connections between the router and satellites in both the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, while all the satellites have 2.5 Gig Ethernet for wired backhaul. On the other hand, the Orbi 970 has a dedicated band for backhaul connection.
Yes. The Orbi 970 provides 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports on both the router and the satellite to enable wired backhaul configurations.
The Orbi 870 supports up to 150 connected devices, while the Orbi 970 supports up to 200.
Yes. The Orbi 970 (RBE971S, RBE971SB in Black Edition) is available individually and supports a 3,300 sq. ft. coverage area. Later on, you may consider using Orbi 970 Series satellites to expand the coverage area.
No. Orbi 970 is compatible even with slower broadband plans. Its benefit comes from the 10 Gbps ports and additional wireless capabilities that become beneficial when there is equipment in your house that can use them.
