Netgear has officially announced the Orbi 870, a new Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that joins its growing lineup of high-end Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers. Priced at $1,299.99 for a three-pack, the Orbi 870 is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the quad-band Orbi 970, which retails for a whopping $2,299.99.

Despite its lower price point, the Orbi 870 still boasts impressive specifications, including support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. Additionally, the system utilizes Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to enable simultaneous connections to two bands with Wi-Fi 7 devices, promising faster downloads, reduced latency, and a more stable connection.

The Orbi 870 also features 320MHz channel bandwidth, which will be particularly beneficial for users who frequently monitor download progress bars. However, it's essential to note that Wi-Fi 7 devices are required to take full advantage of this feature.

In terms of connectivity, the primary gateway of the Orbi 870 is equipped with a 10Gbps ethernet WAN port, while both the gateway and satellites feature four 2.5Gbps ethernet LAN ports. This represents a significant upgrade over the Orbi 770's satellites, which have only two 2.5Gbps ports. The Orbi 870 also supports wired backhaul and "enhanced" wireless backhaul, leveraging MLO to provide more stability and throughput.

One of the key selling points of the Orbi 870 is its futureproofing, as it is backward-compatible with older Wi-Fi standards and will continue to provide benefits even as users upgrade their devices to Wi-Fi 7. Although the system's high price may be a barrier for many consumers, owners can still reap indirect benefits from the routers' improved communication with each other.

The Orbi 870 is available for purchase now, with a three-pack priced at $1,299.99 and a two-pack available for $999.99. Netgear also offers an add-on satellite for $549.99, although the gateway router is not sold separately.

As Wi-Fi 7 technology continues to gain traction, the Orbi 870 represents a significant step forward in terms of performance and connectivity. While its price may be prohibitive for some, the system's features and futureproofing make it an attractive option for those seeking a high-end Wi-Fi 7 mesh system.

For more information on Wi-Fi 7 and its benefits, be sure to check out our related article, "What is Wi-Fi 7 — and do you even need it?"