Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Review: Is it Worth The Hefty Price Tag?

The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 with data speeds upto 10.8 Gbps and wireless coverage upto 9,000 Sq Ft is a very reliable mesh system. However, they're just official claims from Netgear, I tested the device for a few weeks, and here's my in-depth review about the same.

After reading this review, you'll not only know the technical specifications, but you'll also know if this high-end device is worth your money. All the points mentioned below are based on my experience with the device and includes no sponsorship.

Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Specs

This Orbi WiFi 6E comes with high-end specs. But if you're more into practical experience/usage, directly skip to the review part.

Netgear Orbi RBKE963 Review

Following the footsteps of TP-Link and Amazon, Netgear also launches their WiFi 6E compatible mesh system in the form of RBKE963. Charging an exorbitant amount of money, you should expect state-of-the-art features, and its spec sheet does fulfil your expectations.

To give out my honest options, I used the Orbi RBKE963 mesh system for more than 3 weeks paired with my Arris S33 cable modem. And I connected it with Xfinity 2 Gbps plan in different scenarios. Now read through subsequent sections to understand what this WiFi 6E mesh offers and whether it suits your needs well.

1. Wireless Speeds & Suitability

RBKE963 is amongst the first few models featuring a Quad-Band technology, with an additional 6 GHz band alongside two 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz band.

With the support of 160 MHz channels, the 6 GHz band has an overall throughput capacity of 4800 Mbps, and thanks to the backhaul capacity, you get clearer signals.

In my close proximity tests with the Xfinity 2 Gbps plan, speeds clocked at 1.9 Gbps for download, and 1.4 Gbps for upload. Similarly, the scores dropped to 987 Mbps and 645 Mbps on the 40-foot test.

The 5GHz bands, without 160 MHz channel support, have a speed cap of 2.4 Gbps rather than 4.8 Gbps, as with the superior one. So, the same plan had a respective download and upload speed output of 1.2 Gbps and 347 Mbps in close proximity, while speeds fell by almost 50% when placed 80 feet away.

On the other hand, with a maximum throughput capacity of 1200 Mbps, the maximum speeds I could attain were 754 Mbps and 178 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads.

With impressive speeds over the 6 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Netgear RBKE963 might be overkill, but too much is better than enough. Starting from intense gaming on PS5, streaming 4K content on Netflix, attending Zoom calls on multiple devices, or anything else, this Orbi WiFi 6E breeze through it.

2. WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

Mesh routers work a bit differently than traditional routers, where one router acts as the main hub and the other as a node. And the signals from the main hub bounce from one node to another and finally to the devices so you can expect a high coverage from these systems.

Staying up high in expectations, with 12 high-performance internal antennas, the Orbi RBKE963 WiFi range spans out at a maximum of 9,000 Sq Ft. And in any two-story house with an area of around 3,700 Sq Ft, it should be a cakewalk for the mesh system.

Coverage tests were very positive, and there was nowhere in my house that didn’t have signals. The coverage extends well out into the yard.

Now courtesy of MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies, you can connect more smart devices and work and play at the same time. The spec sheet mentions the ability to connect 200 devices at most, in real-life settings with multiple interferences and thick walls, the number hits a maximum of 89-90.

This is more than enough for any corporate office where there’s a need for a fast and consistent throughput across the space. So, considering the extensive range and capability to handle many devices, RBKE963 becomes the best mesh WiFi for large houses.

3. Design & Wired Connectivity

Netgear Orbi 960 series shares a similar design to RBK750 and RBK850, but with dimensions of 11 x 7.5 x 3.3 inches, it’s a bit bulkier. But mostly, it’s good news when it comes to WiFi broadcasting, size matters.

Despite that, its clean design blends in with most homes well. And its vertical build allows you to keep it anywhere without taking up much table space.

On the rear side of the router unit, you’ll find one 10 Gig internet, one 2.5G ethernet, and three Gigabit LAN ports. On the other hand, satellite nodes feature one 2.5 Gbps and three Gigabit ethernet ports. So, multi-gig speeds are possible with the WAN port, or you can combine two IPs through two GigE LAN ports using Link Aggregation.

So to test it out, I plugged in my Xbox 360 with the WAN port of the router unit and checked the speeds while playing graphics-intensive games like Call of duty. The speed score when downloading the game was 2010 Mbps, while uploads worked out at 1701 Mbps. But I could not test the link aggregation feature due to a lack of multiple IPs.

4. Security Features

The 6GHz WiFi router comes with a WPA3 security standard, which is quite futureproofing but you might not have a compatible device in hand now. A VPN server on offer lets you browse anything, keeping yourself anonymous without compromising your data.

Besides, you get advanced security with a Netgear Armor subscription. It integrates advanced features like malware blocking, screening websites, and preventing cyber attacks. The system further includes smart parental controls limiting screen time and ingraining age-appropriate filters. Netgear does provide a 30-day free trial to decide if you should get it.

Learn more: Netgear Armor Review: Is it worth it?

5. Orbi RBKE963 Setup

Mesh systems are easily installable using the feature-laden companion app, and setting up Orbi RBKE963 is no different. Its Orbi app on the phone or a web-based management console comes with detailed instructions to let any technology novice set up the WiFi 6E mesh without breaking a sweat.

Its web console integrates a few advanced controls like managing access control lists, configuring VPN settings, and creating a separate IoT network for your smart devices. On the other hand, its mobile app presents numerous settings and is much easier to use. Just read through the user guide, and get control of the mesh system in your hands.

6. Hardware & Other Features

The RBKE963 Orbi Wi-Fi 6E is loaded with top-shelf hardware that works harmoniously with other technologies to give a powerful performance. Its 2.2 GHz Quad-Core processor is capable of handling any heavy tasks with ease.

Besides, there’s 1GB RAM and 512MB NAND memory that gives ample space to store the firmware and other temporary data.

What I Like & Dislike

Pros

• Quad-Band frequency
• Brings WiFi 6E support
• Supports 10 Gig internet
• Extensive WiFi range
• Excellent throughput
• Easy to setup & manage

Cons

• Advanced security is paid
• Exorbitant price

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Netgear Orbi RBKE963 WiFi 6E mesh system with advanced features arguably goes on top of the list of the most powerful mesh systems out there.

Its quad-band WiFi, powerful hardware, extended range, feature-rich port setup, dedicated 5GHz backhaul band, and WiFi 6E capabilities make for fast and safe internet use. And to top it all, the mesh system is easy to set up and use.

Netgear Orbi RBKE963 (3-Pack)

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