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ASUS RT-BE86U — Wi-Fi 7 · 9.4 Gbps · Dual 2.5G WAN
ASUS

ASUS RT-BE86U

Wi-Fi 7 · 9.4 Gbps · Dual 2.5G WAN

88
/ 100
From $299
VS
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) wins by 1
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — Wi-Fi 7 quad-band · 27 Gbps · 10G WAN
Netgear

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Wi-Fi 7 quad-band · 27 Gbps · 10G WAN

89
/ 100
From $2,299
Specdex verdict

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS RT-BE86U lands at 88 and Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) at 89. That puts Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick ASUS RT-BE86U if…

  • ✓Sub-$300 Wi-Fi 7 router
  • ✓Dual 2.5 GbE WAN with link aggregation
  • ✓AiMesh + AiProtection Pro

Pick Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) if…

  • ✓Three-pack covers up to 9000 sq ft
  • ✓Premium build quality
  • ✓10G WAN + multi-gig LAN
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Range

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the range sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on range (96 vs 88).

Throughput

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the throughput sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on throughput (95 vs 88).

Features

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Compared on the features sub-score

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) leads on features (92 vs 90).

Value for money

ASUS RT-BE86U

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

ASUS RT-BE86U more score per dollar ($299 vs $2,299).

ASUS RT-BE86U 88
vs
89 Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Score breakdown

ASUS RT-BE86U
88
throughput 88
range 88
features 90
ease 88
Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
89
throughput 95
range 96
features 92
ease 86

Specs side-by-side

ASUS RT-BE86U versus Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — full spec comparison
Spec ASUS RT-BE86U Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)
Standard
Wi-Fi 7 tri-band 4x4
Wi-Fi 7 quad-band
Total bandwidth
9400 Mbps
▲ 27000 Mbps
WAN
2× 2.5 GbE
10 GbE
LAN
4× 1 GbE
4× 2.5 GbE on router + 1× 10 GbE per satellite
USB
1× USB 3.2
—
Coverage
~3000 sq ft
~9000 sq ft (3-pack)

ASUS RT-BE86U

Pros
  • +Sub-$300 Wi-Fi 7 router
  • +Dual 2.5 GbE WAN with link aggregation
  • +AiMesh + AiProtection Pro
Cons
  • −Tri-band only (no 6 GHz dedicated)
  • −No 10G WAN
  • −Plastic chassis

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Pros
  • +Three-pack covers up to 9000 sq ft
  • +Premium build quality
  • +10G WAN + multi-gig LAN
Cons
  • −Most expensive mesh on the market
  • −Armor security subscription separate
  • −App polish trails competitors

FAQ: ASUS RT-BE86U vs Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)

Which is better, ASUS RT-BE86U or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is ASUS RT-BE86U worth the price? +

At $299, ASUS RT-BE86U delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in features.

Is Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) worth the price? +

At $2,299, Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.

Does ASUS RT-BE86U or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for range, ASUS RT-BE86U or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — leads on range (96 vs 88). Compared on the range sub-score.

Which is better for throughput, ASUS RT-BE86U or Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973)? +

Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973) — leads on throughput (95 vs 88). Compared on the throughput sub-score.