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Head-to-head · Best Wifi 7 Routers

Netgear Orbi 870 vs TP-Link Archer BE230

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

TP-Link Archer BE230 comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.9 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about budget-conscious consumers seeking Wi-Fi 7 — read the strengths below before deciding.

Netgear Orbi 870
Ranked #7 in Best Wifi 7 Routers
Netgear Orbi 870
5 sources$999.99as of Aug 1

The Netgear Orbi 870 Series runs tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with MLO support and 2.5Gbps wired backhaul on every unit. PCMag's John R. Delaney reported strong signals. Dong Knows Tech reviewer Dong Ngo called it an excellent buy for anyone needing 2.5Gbps bandwidth, but knocked the absence of true 10Gbps support and a price above the ASUS ZenWiFi BT8. It fits buyers who want high-end Wi-Fi 7 features and don't want to pay what the 970 series costs.

Strengths
  • — Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support with MLO for improved performance
  • — 2.5Gbps wired backhaul throughout the mesh system
  • — Strong signal coverage and reliable mesh networking
Watch-outs
  • — No true 10Gbps support in router unit
  • — Only 2.5Gbps ports on satellites limit upgrade potential
$999.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
TP-Link Archer BE230
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Wifi 7 Routers
TP-Link Archer BE230
5 sources$79.99as of Aug 1

Under $100, the Archer BE230 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router aimed at apartments and single-floor homes. PCMag's John R. Delaney called out the 2.5 Gbps WAN port and EasyMesh support, and TechGearLab measured strong close-range throughput that falls away sharply with distance. The two limits are structural rather than fixable: there is no 6 GHz band, and parental controls and security tools sit behind a HomeShield subscription. Buyers who want Wi-Fi 7 in a small space without flagship prices are the fit.

Strengths
  • — Supports 2.5 Gbps internet connections
  • — EasyMesh enables network extension with devices from other brands
  • — Good performance on the 5 GHz band
Watch-outs
  • — Parental controls and advanced security tools require a paid HomeShield subscription
  • — Lacks a third 6 GHz band
$79.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Netgear Orbi 870

The Netgear Orbi 870 offers strong tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support with MLO and 2.5Gbps backhaul, but it's less expensive than the ASUS RT-BE96U and lacks 10Gbps support. Compared to the TP-Link Archer GE800, it doesn't feature dedicated gaming ports or Game Acceleration, making it less appealing for gamers.

TP-Link Archer BE230

The TP-Link Archer BE230 offers a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 7 experience with 2.5Gbps connectivity and USB 3.0 support, but it's outpaced by the ASUS RT-BE92U in 2.4GHz performance and lacks the tri-band support of the ASUS model. Unlike the TP-Link Archer BE550, it doesn't feature 6GHz band support, limiting its appeal for users wanting full Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.

Specs side-by-side

SpecNetgear Orbi 870TP-Link Archer BE230
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
BandsTri-BandDual-Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Max Speed21 Gbps3600 Mbps
Ethernet Ports1x 10GbE WAN, 4x 2.5GbE LAN (router); 4x 2.5GbE LAN (satellites)1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 3x 1 Gbps LAN
Processor1.5GHz quad-core2.0GHz quad-core CPU
SecurityWPA3, NETGEAR ArmorHomeShield, SPI Firewall, WPA3
MIMOMU-MIMOMU-MIMO
USB PortsNone1 x USB 3.0
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