NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · 10 GbE WAN
NETGEAR Orbi 960
Wi-Fi 6E · AXE11000
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S lands at 89 and NETGEAR Orbi 960 at 88. That puts NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S if…
- ✓True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
- ✓10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
- ✓Great range
Pick NETGEAR Orbi 960 if…
- ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
- ✓App-driven setup
- ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testThroughput
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SCompared on the throughput sub-score
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on throughput (92 vs 88).
Range
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SCompared on the range sub-score
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on range (94 vs 86).
Features
TieCompared on the features sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700SSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S more score per dollar ($699 vs $1,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S | NETGEAR Orbi 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bands | Tri-band | — |
| Ports | 1× 10 GbE WAN + 1× 10 GbE LAN + 4× 2.5 GbE | — |
| Throughput | — | AXE11000 |
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
- +True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
- +10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
- +Great range
- −Armor subscription for advanced features
- −Bulky
- −Pricey vs ASUS/eero
NETGEAR Orbi 960
- +Current-gen Wi-Fi
- +App-driven setup
- +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
- −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
- −Range varies
- −Firmware stability improves over time
FAQ: NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S vs NETGEAR Orbi 960
Which is better, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S or NETGEAR Orbi 960? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S worth the price? +
At $699, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.
Is NETGEAR Orbi 960 worth the price? +
At $1,499, NETGEAR Orbi 960 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Does NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S or NETGEAR Orbi 960 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 throughput, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S or NETGEAR Orbi 960? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on throughput (92 vs 88). Compared on the throughput sub-score.
Which is better for range, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S or NETGEAR Orbi 960? +
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on range (94 vs 86). Compared on the range sub-score.