Review: Netgear Orbi 770 Series

The sweet sound of silence is rare in my home. The usual audio landscape is guitars and drums or the shrieks and shouts of gaming. My teens see Wi-Fi as a basic human right. I am summoned immediately at the slightest hint of lag or buffer. They grudgingly tolerate me testing routers and mesh systems, which is to say, they moan at me mercilessly whenever the Wi-Fi goes down.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Over a month of testing in two separate blocks, Netgear’s Orbi 770 Series has ushered in a new era of peace, delivering stable, speedy Wi-Fi quietly throughout our home. It hasn’t gone down once; it hasn’t even stuttered. While that should be a low bar, you’d be surprised how many mesh routers don’t clear it.

The Orbi 770’s charms don’t end there, because this tri-band mesh is easy to set up and use and has plenty of Ethernet ports, a very accessible app, and useful extras, albeit for an additional fee. At the cheaper end of Netgear’s Wi-Fi 7 range, the Orbi 770 is one of the best mesh systems I’ve tested and is perfect for busy families.

No Wi-Fi Worries

Netgear’s Orbi range shares the same design language throughout, with a triangular vase look that blends nicely with most decor. These routers are relatively large, at around 10 inches tall and 5 inches across. This form allows for internal antennas that deliver expansive range and a silent, fanless design that keeps it cool. While I prefer mesh systems with identical units, Netgear’s pre-paired main router and satellites proved very easy to set up, and I had this system running within half an hour.

Photograph: Simon Hill

The main router boasts four Ethernet ports: a 2.5 Gbps WAN and three 2.5 Gbps LAN ports. The satellites make do with two 2.5 Gbps LAN ports apiece. Netgear sent me a three-pack, but two units were enough for my 1,600-square-foot home and extended fast Wi-Fi into my garden. Netgear suggests coverage of up to 4,500 square feet for a two-pack, though you’re not likely to get quite that much range unless there are no internal walls in your home.

This tri-band system offers one unified network with all three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) available for devices and as backhaul. Devices connect to different bands based on distance and congestion, and this mesh can support more than 100 separate devices. As a Wi-Fi 7 system, it also boasts MLO (Multi-Link Operation), enabling Wi-Fi 7 devices to connect on multiple bands simultaneously.

The teething troubles I encountered with other Wi-Fi 7 systems were blissfully absent from the Orbi 770. Short-range speeds were nothing short of excellent at up to 2.2 Gbps; the range seemed similar to the much more expensive 970 Series, and this mesh had no issues with four simultaneous movie streams and online gaming sessions. Comfortably finishing in the top half of the table for all my tests, the Orbi 770 Series is easy to recommend for anyone seeking a reliable hands-off mesh.

On the downside, there was occasional lag on the satellite node, only noticeable with multiplayer gaming. The 770 also can’t quite match the throughput of more expensive systems, which means it may take a little longer if you're moving many large files around your network. There’s also no USB port, which is a shame if you want to use network-attached storage (NAS). But these potential issues won’t be a problem for most people.

Subscription Software

Photograph: Simon Hill

The Orbi app is one of the most accessible mesh apps, with tabs to review connected devices, internet speed tests, and a handful of analytical tools. I like that it’s good at correctly identifying gadgets. While you can set up IoT or guest networks, there’s no band-splitting, and the app and web interface lack the wealth of options of an Asus system, but if you’re not in the habit of tweaking settings, you won’t miss them.

Netgear Armor is the baked-in, feature-packed security software capable of scanning devices on your network and proactively blocking threats, including malware and dodgy websites. It also includes Bitdefender Security and VPN service to safeguard your devices outside the home. But you only get 30 days for free; it’s $40 for the first year and $100 a year after.

Basic parental controls are included but limited to profiles for your kids’ devices and an internet pause option. To set limits, track website and app usage, apply age-appropriate filters, and set bedtimes, you have to subscribe to Smart Parental Controls for $8 a month or $70 a year after the 30-day trial.

While you don’t need these subscriptions, they can be handy for families, so it’s disappointing that they are among the most expensive on the market. It may not be as slick or easy to configure, but Asus offers free security software and parental controls, and Eero’s similar Plus subscription is $100 a year all-in.

Sweet Spot

Photograph: Simon Hill

As a premium brand, systems like the Netgear 970 Series (7/10, WIRED Review) and even the 870 Series are expensive. The 770 Series is the sweet spot in Netgear’s Wi-Fi 7 range for most households. With our 1 Gbps internet connection, the 770 was virtually indistinguishable from its more expensive siblings, and I wouldn’t consider a more expensive system unless your internet connection is faster than 2.5 Gbps.

Modest-size homes and needs may be better served by something from WIRED’s Best Routers guide, but if you need a mesh to cover a wider area or eliminate a dead spot, this is a great choice. You could save money by opting for a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E system, but even if you don’t have many Wi-Fi 7 devices today, support is becoming more widespread. Snagging the Orbi 770 will enable you to tick off Wi-Fi worries for the next few years.

Ultimately, if you want a set-and-forget mesh that’s robust, reliable, and rangey, the 770 Series should be on your shortlist.