Head-to-head · Best Wifi 7 Routers

Netgear Orbi 870 vs TP-Link Archer BE230

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

TP-Link Archer BE230 comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.9 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about budget-conscious consumers seeking Wi-Fi 7 — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #6 in Best Wifi 7 Routers

Netgear Orbi 870

3.9

$1,300

The Netgear Orbi 870 Series offers tri-band Wi-Fi 7 performance with MLO support and 2.5Gbps wired backhaul across all units. PCMag's John R. Delaney praised its strong signals, while Dong Knows Tech reviewer Dong Ngo noted it's an excellent buy for users needing 2.5Gbps bandwidth but criticized its lack of true 10Gbps support and higher cost compared to ASUS ZenWiFi BT8. The system is best suited for users who want high-end Wi-Fi 7 features without the premium price of the 970 series.

Strengths

— Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support with MLO for improved performance
— 2.5Gbps wired backhaul throughout the mesh system
— Strong signal coverage and reliable mesh networking

Watch-outs

— No true 10Gbps support in router unit
— Only 2.5Gbps ports on satellites limit upgrade potential

$1,300 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Wifi 7 Routers

TP-Link Archer BE230

4.2

$87

The TP-Link Archer BE230 is an affordable Wi-Fi 7 router priced under $100, offering solid performance for single-floor homes and apartments. PCMag's John R. Delaney praised its support for 2.5 Gbps connections and EasyMesh compatibility, while Ciprian Adrian Rusen noted its good 5 GHz performance and fast USB 3.0 port. However, both reviewers pointed out that parental controls and security features require paid subscriptions, and the lack of a third 6 GHz band limits its appeal for power users. This router is best suited for budget-conscious consumers seeking future-proof Wi-Fi 7 connectivity without the complexity of multi-story home networking.

Strengths

— Supports 2.5 Gbps internet connections
— EasyMesh enables network extension with devices from other brands
— Good performance on the 5 GHz band

Watch-outs

— Parental controls and advanced security tools require a paid HomeShield subscription
— Lacks a third 6 GHz band

$87 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Netgear Orbi 870

The Netgear Orbi 870 offers strong tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support with MLO and 2.5Gbps backhaul, but it's less expensive than the ASUS RT-BE96U and lacks 10Gbps support. Compared to the TP-Link Archer GE800, it doesn't feature dedicated gaming ports or Game Acceleration, making it less appealing for gamers.

TP-Link Archer BE230

The TP-Link Archer BE230 offers a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 7 experience with 2.5Gbps connectivity and USB 3.0 support, but it's outpaced by the ASUS RT-BE92U in 2.4GHz performance and lacks the tri-band support of the ASUS model. Unlike the TP-Link Archer BE550, it doesn't feature 6GHz band support, limiting its appeal for users wanting full Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Netgear Orbi 870	TP-Link Archer BE230
Wi-Fi Standard	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bands	Tri-Band	Dual-Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Max Speed	21 Gbps	3600 Mbps
Ethernet Ports	1x 10GbE WAN, 4x 2.5GbE LAN (router); 4x 2.5GbE LAN (satellites)	1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 3x 1 Gbps LAN
Processor	1.5GHz quad-core	2.0GHz quad-core CPU
Security	WPA3, NETGEAR Armor	HomeShield, SPI Firewall, WPA3
MIMO	MU-MIMO	MU-MIMO
USB Ports	—	1 x USB 3.0

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