Netgear Orbi Comparison: RBK30 vs RBK40 vs RBK50 vs RBK23 vs RBK33

If you’re considering a mesh Wi-Fi system for your home, surely you have heard about Netgear Orbi. While pricey, the Orbi is one of the fastest, most powerful routers in its class.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are out of this world. They consist of a main router that connects directly to your modem, and two or more devices (access points), often called satellites, that work together in order to cover your house in Wi-Fi. These satellites capture the signal from your router and rebroadcast it.

The result is incredible.

You get stable, strong, and 100% internet speed through your entire home. The mesh Wi-Fi system is designed to fit in any environment and works with any service provider modem or modem-router. The best part! If you need to expand your Wi-Fi, simply add more satellites.

 

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NETGEAR Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Discontinued by Manufacturer
NETGEAR RBK30-100NAS Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – Discontinued by Manufacturer
Netgear RBK53S-100NAS Orbi AC3000 Whole Home Tri-band WiFi System

NETGEAR ORBI RBK50

NETGEAR ORBI RBK30

NETGEAR ORBI RBK53

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NETGEAR Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50) – Discontinued by Manufacturer

NETGEAR ORBI RBK50

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NETGEAR RBK30-100NAS Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – Discontinued by Manufacturer

NETGEAR ORBI RBK30

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Netgear RBK53S-100NAS Orbi AC3000 Whole Home Tri-band WiFi System

NETGEAR ORBI RBK53

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Netgear Orbi Comparison

While Orbi is one of the best performing mesh systems available, it can be confusing to decide which Orbi kit is right for you. There are already other versions and here is a comparison.

If you´re going to Netgear Orbi system, you get a kit which consists of the main router and one or more satellite. These satellites need to be connected to the main router via Wi-Fi backhaul. Note: Netgear Orbi is not a modem. When you want to use the Orbi kit, the main router has to be connected to your ISP modem.

Netgear has labeled its models as RBKxx, where the letter K stands for the Kit system.

  • Orbi RBK30: 1 router + 1 wall-plug satellite / WiFi speed 2.2Gbps (AC2200) 
  • Orbi RBK40: 1 router + 1 satellite / WiFi speed 2.2Gbps (AC2200)  
  • Orbi RBK50: 1 router + 1 satellite / WiFi speed 3.0Gbps (AC3000) 

 

  • Orbi RBK23: 1 router + 2 satellites / WiFi speed 2.2Gbps (AC2200) 
  • Orbi RBK33: 1 router + 2 wall-plug satelites / WiFi speed 2.2Gbps (AC2200)  
  • Orbi RBK43: 1 router + 2 satellites / WiFi speed 2.2Gbps (AC2200)  
  • Orbi RBK53: 1 router + 2 satellites / WiFi speed 3.0Gbps (AC3000) 

 

Another Orbi Models

Having a mesh network in your home has many advantages and of them is a fact, how easy to expand the Wi-Fi range can be. This also a reason why Netgear is selling routers or satellites of the Orbi family individually.

These series are named as:

  • RBRxx – The letter R stands for a router. You are buying a standalone router.
  • RBSxx – S is for satellite. You are getting an individual satellite.
  • RBWxx – W is for a wall-plug satellite. You are buying a single wall plug-in satellite.

 

Netgear Orbi Kits Comparison

netgear orbi models comparison
Netgear Orbi is one of the best performing mesh systems available / Image credit: Netgear

The models of the Orbi family are slightly different, not only in price.

Here is a simple comparison of these popular Orbi Kits.

 

Netgear Orbi RBK30 vs RBK40 vs RBK50

 

Wi-Fi Coverage:

  • Orbi RBK30: up to 3,500 sq. feet
  • Orbi RBK40: up to 4,000 sq. feet
  • Orbi RBK50: up to 5,000 sq. feet

 

Wi-Fi Speed:

  • Orbi RBK30: 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps) – AC2200
  • Orbi RBK40: 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps) – AC2200
  • Orbi RBK50: 3.0Gbps (1733 + 867 + 400Mbps) – AC3000

 

Connectivity:

  • Orbi RBK30: wall-plug satellite, it doesn’t have LAN ports.
  • Orbi RBK40: satellite, 4x LAN Ethernet ports.
  • Orbi RBK50: satellite, 1x WAN and 3x LAN ports.

 

Main Differences:

As you already see, the main differences between these three models are in Wi-Fi area coverage, forms of satellites and theoretical Wi-Fi speeds.

So, does it mean Obi RBK50 is better then Orbi RBK30?

Not exactly.

While both kits come with tri-band routers and the same quantity of satellites (one), the Netgear Orbi RBK30 is cheaper and its wall-plug satellite is smaller and more discreet than BK50. On the other hand, Orbi RBK50 has more memory in its satellite, more LAN ports, USB, has a faster 5GHz band and covers larger areas.

 

Orbi RBK23 vs RBK33 vs RBK43 vs RBK53

 

Wi-Fi Coverage:

  • Orbi RBK23: up to 6,000 sq. feet
  • Orbi RBK33: up to 5,000 sq. feet
  • Orbi RBK43: up to 6,000 sq. feet
  • Orbi RBK53: up to 7,500 sq. feet

 

WiFi Speed:

  • Orbi RBK23: 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps) – AC2200
  • Orbi RBK33: 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps) – AC2200
  • Orbi RBK43: 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps) – AC2200
  • Orbi RBK53: 3.0Gbps (1733 + 867 + 400Mbps) – AC3000

 

Connectivity:

  • Orbi RBK23: 2 satellites, 1x WAN, 1x LAN Ethernet ports.
  • Orbi RBK33: 2 wall-plug satellites, 1x WAN, 1x LAN Ethernet ports.
  • Orbi RBK43: 2 satellites, 1x WAN and 3x LAN ports.
  • Orbi RBK53: 2 satellites, 1x WAN and 3x LAN ports.

 

What Is The Difference Between AC2200 and AC3000?

While each Netgear Orbi Kit comes with the main router, the real differences are in the strength of satellites, the area they can cover, and mainly… the maximal Wi-Fi speed. This is why you see AC ratings with numbers next to the mesh system name.

But what exactly does the AC mean?

We already have a detailed article here – What Router AC Ratings Mean? –  but if a short explanation is enough for you then… If your router supports the latest 802.11ac networking standard, then it has AC in its name. The number after the AC refers to the sum of all the speeds that can theoretically be delivered by each band.

So, with this knowledge, let´s look at the difference between AC2200 and AC3000.

  • Netgear Orbi AC2200: Tri-band router with Wi-Fi speed up to 2.2Gbps (866 + 866 + 400Mbps)
  • Netgear Orbi AC3000: Tri-band router with Wi-Fi speed up to 3.0Gbps (1733 + 867 + 400Mbps)

In this context, the Orbi mesh system with AC3000 should be better. Each satellite is connected with a 5GHz band and can reach 1733Mbps, so it’s faster more AC2200. There is a catch. For usual home use and daily networking, the AC2200 is good enough, and it´s much cheaper.

In the near future, when your home will be full of various smart devices, the mesh system with an AC3000 rating will be an ideal choice.

 

How to setup your Netgear Orbi

 

 

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Image credit: Netgear

 

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