Netgear's Orbi Wireless AC system is perfect for geeks looking to tweak their network.

Great coverage throughout the home; The browser-based interface provides tons of settings to tweak; A dedicated 5GHz band for router-to-satellite communication; Internet-based remote network management

The system and its satellites are very expensive; The parental controls feature is a standalone service; The USB 2.0 port can't be used for storage devices

When deployed with a single satellite, the Netgear Orbi is an excellent choice for moderate-sized homes, delivering higher TCP throughput than mesh...

Strong Wi-Fi performance (with a satellite, Three-port gigabit ethernet switch on the router; four-port switch on the satellite, Dedicated 4x4 radio...

Not nearly as fast as the competition when operating solo; Physically larger and more visually obtrusive than the competition; USB port is currently...

Editors' Note: This review has been updated to reflect the addition of guest networking support, which was recently added by Netgear in a firmware update. The feature was not available when we tested the Orbi in October of 2016. Neither the score nor the Editors' Choice designation has changed.

Easy to install; Fast throughput; Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) capable; Highly configurable

Expensive; Bulky; Limited USB functionality

Bought a 3 unit package (main base and 2 satellites) set from Costco for $499. The setup was super easy and the performance is excellent in my view point. The unit came with an older Firmware code (1.2.x) which did not support some advanced features such as the "Guest" network.

Easy to setup; great performance

Unbaked firmware code; has glitches

The Netgear Orbi mesh-router system is out of this world, able to fill a large home with high-speed Wi-Fi. It's a snap to set up and has more range and power than almost any other router.

Phenomenal performance; Dedicated router-to-extension data channel; MU-MIMO technology; Choice of app or browser setup

Relatively large devices; Expensive; Limited functionality on mobile app for now

Note : This review discusses the Orbi's performance in a Mac environment. There's a very similar version of this story that discusses this router's performance in a Windows environment on our sister site TechHive.com. Ignore Netgear's advertising: Its Orbi Wi-Fi router is not a mesh network system.

Strong Wi-Fi performance, Three-port gigabit ethernet switch on the router; four-port switch on the satellite, Dedicated 4x4 radio for backhaul

Physically larger and more visually obtrusive than the competition; USB port is currently dormant

WiFi mesh router solutions like the Netgear Orbi are designed specifically to eliminate wireless connectivity dead spots in your home or small office environment. The solution is intended to serve the requirements of a larger coverage area.

NETGEAR's Orbi kit is one of the strongest wireless systems on the market thanks to its engineering, but with that comes a hefty price tag that will scare some away.

In all, the Orbi is a smart system: we found it delivered rock-solid and stable Wi-Fi to our entire house. If you've struggled with poor Wi-Fi performance in the past, then this router could well be the answer.

I've seen some grousing in the SNBForums Orbi threads about Orbi's $400 price tag and I suppose, rightfully so. You can buy most any AC5300 / AC5400 BHR for less, including NETGEAR's Nighthawk X8 and ASUS' RT-AC5300 . Only NETGEAR's just-announced AD7200 class Nighthawk X10 costs more at $500.