Netgear Orbi 370 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router Assessment

Simply over a yr in the past, I reviewed the superb Netgear Orbi 770, which had glorious WiFi 7 efficiency with spectacular speeds on the mesh-connected satellites. The RRP made it virtually 60% cheaper than the flagship mannequin whereas nonetheless having the ability to obtain multi-gig WiFi connectivity.

Nevertheless, at £900, now £600, it was nonetheless very costly.

Netgear has now launched a way more inexpensive choice for normal consumers who need good WiFi speeds however don’t want the very best efficiency.

Priced at £300, it is likely one of the most cost-effective choices available on the market. You lose out on the 6GHz band, which supplies ultra-fast connectivity at shut vary, largely in the identical room, however the system nonetheless consists of 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, which ought to permit gadgets to attain WiFi speeds in extra of 1 Gbps.

Associated Evaluations

Specification

The primary factor to focus on with this technique is that it’s dual-band. Which means no ultrafast 6GHz, and a shared backhaul. Which is to be anticipated at this value level.

Options

As much as 3.6 Gbps Pace

Obtain speeds of as much as 3.6 Gbps with a mesh system designed to ship quick and steady WiFi efficiency throughout a number of linked gadgets.

Distinctive Complete-House Mesh WiFi

A high-performance mesh system with optimised antennas supplies constant WiFi protection all through your own home, making certain a powerful connection in each room.

Twin-Band Know-how

Twin-band operation with enhanced backhaul improves knowledge distribution throughout the community, sustaining steady and responsive efficiency all through the house.

4K Streaming, Gaming, and Extra

The Orbi system helps simultaneous 4K streaming, gaming, and video calling, permitting all customers to get pleasure from a clean and uninterrupted connection throughout gadgets.

Unleash Multi-Gig Connectivity

Geared up with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, this technique helps high-speed fibre and cable web providers. It allows dependable efficiency for wired connections or can be utilized as a 2.5 Gigabit backhaul hyperlink between nodes.

Safeguard Information and Units with NETGEAR Armor

Gives network-wide safety to your gadgets at dwelling and on the transfer. Contains an prolonged guarantee and precedence help with a 30-day trial interval.

Highly effective Safety Options

NETGEAR routers embrace superior safety mechanisms comparable to computerized firmware updates, vulnerability monitoring, and built-in security options designed to maintain your community safe.

Straightforward Setup and Administration

Appropriate with any web service supplier, the Orbi app allows fast setup, community configuration, and ongoing WiFi administration out of your smartphone.

Unboxing / Design

The Orbi 370 arrives in typical Netgear packaging – a sturdy field with clear product imagery and key specs prominently displayed. Inside, every unit is individually wrapped in protecting plastic with the equipment neatly compartmentalised.

The design follows Netgear’s established Orbi aesthetic – tall, cylindrical items with a matte white end that blends moderately properly with most dwelling decor. At 203.7mm tall and 120mm extensive, they’re noticeably extra compact than the flagship Orbi fashions, which I respect. The smaller footprint makes them simpler to place across the dwelling with out dominating shelf area.

Construct high quality feels stable, although not fairly as premium because the higher-end fashions. The plastic casing has a slight flex when pressed firmly, and the items are significantly lighter at round 350g every in comparison with the hefty 770 collection. That stated, they don’t really feel low cost – simply appropriately constructed for the value level.

The LED standing gentle on prime supplies clear visible suggestions throughout setup and operation. It’s vibrant sufficient to see from throughout a room however not so intense that it turns into distracting at night time. A easy press on prime quickly dims it if wanted.

Air flow seems sufficient with vents alongside the underside and inner airflow channels. Throughout my testing, the items remained merely heat to the contact even beneath heavy load – a marked enchancment over some older Orbi fashions that would get fairly toasty.

One design compromise is the fastened inner antennas. Whereas this retains the clear aesthetic, it does imply you’ll be able to’t optimise antenna positioning to your particular surroundings. In observe, I didn’t discover this to be a major limitation for many dwelling layouts.

Set Up

I began with the cell app setup, which Netgear clearly prefers. After downloading the Orbi app and creating an account (annoyingly necessary), the app instantly detected the router after I powered it on. The step-by-step wizard is well-designed with clear directions and useful animations.

The preliminary firmware replace took about 8 minutes – longer than I’d like however obligatory for safety patches and efficiency optimisations. The app maintained connection all through, displaying progress clearly.

Including the 2 satellites was largely automated. The app prompted me to energy them on one after the other, and so they paired inside about 90 seconds every. The app advised optimum placement places based mostly on my dwelling’s format, which was a pleasant contact, although I ended up adjusting based mostly alone testing.

One frustration emerged when making an attempt to import settings from my earlier router. The backup file from my older Netgear router wasn’t suitable, that means I needed to manually recreate my port forwarding guidelines, DHCP reservations, and gadget names. This took a further quarter-hour of tedious work that would have been prevented with higher backwards compatibility.

The net-based setup choice stays accessible for individuals who desire it. Accessing it requires typing orbilogin.com or the router’s IP tackle (192.168.1.1 by default). The interface is practical however feels dated in comparison with the cell app. Nevertheless, it does present entry to extra superior settings throughout preliminary configuration, which energy customers would possibly respect.

Community title and password customisation was easy, and the system robotically configured each bands with the identical SSID by default – best for seamless roaming. You possibly can separate them if most well-liked, although I’d suggest protecting them mixed for many customers.

Internet UI

The net administration interface seems like a combined bag – practical however displaying its age in comparison with fashionable router interfaces from rivals. Accessing it requires navigating to orbilogin.com or on to the router’s IP tackle.

The dashboard supplies a good overview of your community standing, displaying linked gadgets, web connection standing, and present firmware model. Nevertheless, the knowledge density could possibly be higher. I discovered myself clicking by means of a number of menus to seek out particulars that rivals floor extra readily.

Navigation follows a standard menu construction that might be acquainted to long-time Netgear customers. Settings are logically organised into Primary and Superior sections, although some placement selections appear arbitrary. Why are entry management settings beneath Primary whereas visitor community configuration requires diving into Superior?

Gadget administration exhibits all linked purchasers with their connection sort, sign power, and present bandwidth utilization. You possibly can assign pleasant names and set entry controls per gadget. The true-time bandwidth monitoring is especially helpful, clearly displaying which gadgets are consuming essentially the most bandwidth at any given second.

Superior settings present good granularity for energy customers. You’ll discover choices for port forwarding, VLAN configuration, visitors prioritisation, and detailed WiFi parameters. The QoS implementation is competent, permitting each device-based and application-based prioritisation, although it lacks the sophistication of devoted gaming routers.

One important omission is the shortage of built-in pace testing. Many fashionable routers embrace this function to shortly confirm your web connection pace with out counting on exterior providers. It’s a curious oversight for a product at this value level.

The interface responsiveness varies significantly. Easy modifications apply shortly, however extra complicated operations like making use of new QoS guidelines or updating port forwarding can take 30-60 seconds with your entire community briefly dropping connection. This disruptive behaviour feels outdated in comparison with seamless software of settings on newer platforms.

Orbi Cell App

Obtainable for each iOS and Android, the app supplies most performance common customers want with a way more fashionable presentation.

The house display dashboard instantly exhibits community standing, present web speeds, and the variety of linked gadgets. Tapping any ingredient brings up related particulars and controls. This info hierarchy works properly, surfacing essential knowledge whereas protecting superior choices accessible however not overwhelming.

Gadget administration by means of the app is especially properly applied. Every linked gadget seems with a recognisable icon, customized title, and real-time knowledge utilization. You possibly can pause web entry for particular gadgets with a single faucet – good for managing youngsters’s display time or troubleshooting connectivity points.

The app features a community map view displaying how gadgets connect with particular Orbi items. This visualisation helps optimise gadget placement and determine potential protection gaps. Throughout my testing, it precisely confirmed connection paths and sign strengths, updating in close to real-time as gadgets moved between nodes.

Visitor community administration is streamlined in comparison with the online interface. Making a visitor community takes seconds, and sharing credentials by way of QR code or message is built-in. You possibly can set closing dates for visitor entry and see precisely who’s linked to visitor networks at any time.

Efficiency testing instruments throughout the app are primary however practical. The web pace take a look at measures your WAN connection, whereas a separate WiFi analytics software helps determine channel congestion and interference. These aren’t as complete as devoted community evaluation instruments however suffice for primary troubleshooting.

The app sometimes struggles with reliability. Throughout my testing interval, it failed to connect with the router thrice, requiring an app restart. Push notifications for firmware updates and safety alerts labored persistently, although the safety alerts tended towards the overly cautious, flagging official IoT gadgets as potential threats.

Integration with voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant) works by means of the app, permitting primary instructions like pausing web entry or checking community standing. The implementation is restricted however practical for widespread duties.

Netgear Armor

Netgear Armor, powered by Bitdefender, comes with a 30-day trial that showcases its complete security measures. After the trial, it’s £85 per yr – a major ongoing value to think about.

I’ve coated Netgear Armor in additional element right here.

WiFi 7 Efficiency

Efficiency testing revealed the Orbi 370’s capabilities and limitations as a dual-band WiFi 7 system. I carried out exams throughout dwelling which is a typical British brick constructed 4-bed semi indifferent home.

I lately upgraded my Web to Aquiss 2500/2500 Mbps service by means of CityFibre so I’m able to do actual world multi-gig Web pace exams quite than WLAN throughput.

Units I used for testing:

Router

5GHz

• Shut Vary / Similar Room: 1641Mbps
• Room one ground down: 906Mbps
• Room one ground down and two rooms throughout: 223Mbps

The 5GHz efficiency impressed me, notably at shut vary the place WiFi 7 options like 4K-QAM and improved OFDMA actually shine. The 1392 Mbps throughput is superb for a dual-band system, simply saturating gigabit web connections with overhead to spare.

Mid-range efficiency remained robust at 906 Mbps one ground down, sustaining sufficient bandwidth for a number of 4K streams and huge file transfers. The connection felt steady with minimal jitter throughout prolonged testing classes.

Lengthy-range efficiency dropped considerably to 223 Mbps by means of a number of partitions and flooring. Whereas disappointing in comparison with close-range speeds, this nonetheless exceeds what most UK broadband connections ship, and it’s ample for HD streaming and normal use.

2.4GHz

• Shut Vary / Similar Room: 181Mbps
• Room one ground down: 152Mbps
• Room one ground down and two rooms throughout: 91Mbps

The two.4GHz band performs its conventional position of offering prolonged vary at decrease speeds. The 181 Mbps close-range pace is respectable for two.4GHz, benefiting from WiFi 7’s effectivity enhancements. Extra importantly, the sign maintained usable speeds even on the furthest take a look at factors the place 5GHz struggled to attach.

Satellite tv for pc in Hallway

5GHz

• Room one ground down (from router): 827Mbps
• Room one ground down and two rooms throughout (from router): 521Mbps

Ideally, the primary outcome would have earlier than increased, however what probably occurred right here was that my gadget linked to the satellite tv for pc. The satellite tv for pc had sign loss because of the shared band so the top outcome was decrease than connecting to the router immediately. Nevertheless, the improved protection makes it value it, with considerably higher leads to my different ropoms downstairs.

With all mesh methods, it’s value experimenting with the place you place the satellite tv for pc, however within the case of those inexpensive mesh methods the place you’ve gotten a shared backhaul, I’d say it’s much more essential if you wish to maximise the throughput.

2.4GHz

• Room one ground down (from router): 163Mbps
• Room one ground down and two rooms throughout (from router): 136Mbps

Worth and Different Choices

The Netgear Orbi 370 is on the market for £300 for a 3 pack or £210 for a two pack, you’ll be able to then purchase an add-on satellite tv for pc for £110.

The subsequent mannequin up is the Orbi 770 collection, which is on the market for £600 for a 3 pack or £394 for a two pack.

Competing three-pack methods would come with:

• TP-Hyperlink Deco BE25, which has an RRP of £300 however accessible for £230
• ASUS ZenWiFi BD4, which has an RRP of £260 and is on the market for £250.
• Mercusys Halo H25BE, which has an RRP of £258 and is on the market for £230 – that is restricted by the gigabit Ethernet and WAN ports.

General

The Netgear Orbi 370 mesh system is an effective alternative for anybody wanting the improved efficiency of WiFi 7 with out the excessive costs related to tri-band methods.

On 5GHz, at shut vary, you’ll be able to comfortably exceed 1 Gbps, which positions it properly for the UK market with Openreach, CityFibre and Virgin all providing 1 Gbps merchandise. Openreach and CityFibre do have sooner merchandise, with CF having 2.5Gbps and Sky at the moment having unique entry to 5Gbps, however these are area of interest product that may enchantment to energy customers who usually tend to spend a premium on networking merchandise.

As at all times with Netgear, the Orbi 370 isn’t the most affordable product on supply with this spec, however the pricing isn’t far off, and I’ve at all times discovered Netgear to be fairly dependable.

Whether or not the US claims of TP-Hyperlink routers being compromised are true or not, Netgear will probably profit from this dangerous press. The cheaper ASUS ZenWiFi BD4 has fairly poor critiques on Amazon, whereas the Mercusys Halo H25BE is capped at gigabit speeds.

So, whereas I would love the Netgear Orbi 370 to be 10% to twenty% cheaper, I can nonetheless give it a powerful suggestion.

I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Obsessed with all issues know-how, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cell, wearables, and sensible dwelling gadgets.

As a health fanatic who loves operating and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related know-how, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My various pursuits permit me to carry a singular perspective to tech running a blog, merging way of life, health, and the most recent tech tendencies.

In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Info Methods Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the know-how curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has persistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many prime know-how blogs within the UK. With my dedication to know-how and drive to share my insights, I goal to proceed offering my readers with partaking and informative content material.

Final replace on 2025-11-01 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API