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Netgear's new Orbi Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System is arriving soon for $700

Netgear's next-gen Wi-Fi mesh network system arrives in October. It's faster with compatible devices and offers four times the capacity of a Wi-Fi 5 network.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

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David Carnoy

Sept. 6, 2019 1:00 a.m. PT

2 min read

orbi-wifi-6 — The Orbi Wi-Fi 6 system includes a router and satellite for $700.
David Carnoy/CNET

Netgear's Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi Mesh System is one of the better Wi-Fi mesh network systems on the market. Now the company is releasing its next-generation Orbi Wi-Fi 6, which offers not only higher wireless speeds but four times the capacity. Alas, there are caveats: You'll need an ultrafast internet connection and Wi-Fi 6-enabled devices to fully take advantage of all that speed -- and not many of you are there right now. It's also expensive: The Orbi Wi-Fi 6 costs $700 for a bundle that includes a router and one satellite. It's due to ship in the next month or so.

orbi-wifi-6-back-ports — The ports on the back of the router.
David Carnoy/CNET

Along with the enhanced network speed and increased capacity, Netgear says Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax (the sixth generation of 802.11) is more energy-efficient and doesn't drain the battery life of your mobile devices nearly as much as Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) does. Right now, only the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10 smartphones lines are Wi-Fi 6-enabled. Google's Pixel 4 phone, rumored to arrive in October, may also be Wi-Fi 6-enabled. But it's unclear if the new iPhones being announced next week will be.

Locating local internet providers

Meet the Wi-Fi 6 routers that support 802.11ax

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Netgear also makes other Wi-Fi 6 routers, including the $600 Nighthawk AX12. We'll have a full review of the new Orbi 6 when it's released in October.