I got tired of using a wifi extender, and didn't want to go through the hassle of (learning to and) reconfiguring an old modem to function as an access point in my house. After looking at the Orbi, Google home, and Eero, I bought the Orbi. Took about 10 minutes to set up.

Awesome product, reliable and great quality.

While pricey, the Netgear Orbi is one of the fastest, most powerful routers we've tested, even without its mesh extension.

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

Home Wi-Fi systems offer a user-friendly alternative to the more complex router/extender solutions used to blanket your home with wireless coverage, and the Netgear Orbi High-Performance AC3000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi System (RBK50) is currently the best of the burgeoning crop.

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

Expensive; Bulky; Limited USB functionality

Consumer router products are generally classified by three major performance characteristics: overall throughput or bandwidth, multi-client performance, and range. Although throughput and multi-client bandwidth has scaled-up nicely over the years, range perhaps hasn't improved quite as robustly and...

High performance AC WiFi; Great performance over distance; Virtually eliminates dead spots; Easy setup and configuration

Just one USB 2 port per unit; Only 3 available Ethernet ports on base

Bought this based on the rating - it is the worst wifi equipment I have ever owned and the least supported. Beware - go online to Orbi support groups to find out about how much maintenance this takes to work properly and that is if the firmware updates are done in the proper order for the...

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.

Very easy to set up; Delivers great performance and coverage

Distinctly pricey; Doesn't currently support YouView streaming

Orbi might be the first mesh-based network to launch over here, but it's got some big competition across the pond. Eero has been out in the US for a while, and Google Wifi will arrive there in November.

Blistering wireless speeds; Great design; Incredibly simple setup

Beaten by much cheaper routers for everyday file transfers; QoS options are basic; Mobile app is horrific

Mesh networking is a bit of a buzzword at the moment, with the modular Eero system getting rave reviews earlier this year, and the recently announced Google Wifi getting in on the act too.

A smart system that boosts Wi-Fi range and speed, Orbi could be the answer for anyone struggling with uneven wireless performance

Very easy to set up; Delivers great performance and coverage;

Distinctly pricey; Doesn't currently support YouView streaming;