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Before this, I’ve published the comparisons between eero Pro 6 and the Linksys Velop MX4200, and then between the latter and the Netgear Orbi AX4200 (model RBK752). Putting two and two together, you can easily find out the outcome of this eero Pro 6 vs. Orbi AX4200 matchup.
But deductive reasoning and math can be a headache. So here goes. To cut to the chase, for my money, the eero can’t hold a candle to the Orbi, despite the fact the Orbi itself isn’t perfect.
eero Pro 6 vs. Orbi AX4200: Similarities
The only thing in common between these two is the fact they share similar Wi-Fi specs. Both are tri-band solutions, including two 5GHz bands (4×4 2.4Gbps + 2×2 1.2Gbps) and one 2.4GHz band (576Mbps).
Neither feature the venerable 160MHz channel width or has a multi-gig port. As a result, chances are Wi-Fi 6 end-clients can only connect at the negotiated speed of 1.2Gbps. There’s no USB port, either, so don’t expect any network storage feature out of these two.
As tri-band, both are designed as full wireless mesh systems, but they support wired backhaul, too, where you can link the hardware using network cables.
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Orbi AX4200: Hardware specifications
| Full Name | Amazon eero Pro 6 Tri-band AX4200 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router | Orbi RBK752 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System |
| Model | eero Pro 6 | RBK752 |
| Wi-Fi Designation | AX4200 | AX4200 |
| Mesh Availability | 3-pack (identical hardware units) | 2 or 3 -pack Router (RBR750) + Satellite(s) (RBS750) |
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 5.3 x 2.1 inch (13.5 x 13.5 x 5.3 cm) | 9.1 x 7.2 x 2.8 in (23.11 x 18.28 x 7.11 cm) |
| Weight | 1.49 lbs (676 g) | 1.9 lbs (862 g) |
| 5GHz-1 Wi-Fi Specs | 4×4 Wi-Fi 6: up to 2404 Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | 2×2 Wi-Fi 6: 1201 Mbps (20/40/80MHz) |
| 5GHz-2 Wi-Fi Specs | 2×2 Wi-Fi 6: 1201Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | 4×4 Wi-Fi 6: up to 2404Mbps (20/40/80MHz) |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 2×2 Wi-Fi 6: 574Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2×2 Wi-Fi 6: 574Mbps (20/40/80MHz) |
| Mesh Backhaul Band | Dynamic | 5GHz-2 |
| Wired Backhaul Support | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU | Router or Satellite Quad-core 1.4 GHz CPU |
| Memory | 1GB RAM, 4GB Flash | Router: 512 MB flash,1 GB RAM Satellite: N/A |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b |
| Wi-Fi Security | WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 Mixed Mode | WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 Mixed Mode |
| Mobile App | Eero | Orbi |
| Web User Interface | None | Yes |
| AP (Bridge) Mode | Yes | Yes |
| USB Port | 1x USB-C (power port) | None |
| Gigabit Port | 2x Auto-Sensing | Router: 1x WAN, 3x LAN Satellite: 2x LAN |
| Link Aggregation | No | WAN only (WAN+LAN1) |
| Multi-Gig Port | None | None |
| Dual-WAN | No | No |
| Suggest Retail Price | $229 (1-pack), $599.99 (3-pack) | $450 (2-pack) |
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Orbi AX4200: Differences
It’s a long list of differences between these two.
First of all, it’s the design. The Orbi is larger and comes with multiple LAN ports (in addition to the WAN). The eero Pro 6 is relatively small, with only two network ports.
The Orbi rigidly includes a router and one (2-pack) or two (3-pack) satellites in a mesh setup. The eero, like the case of the Linksys Velop MX4200, comes in 2- or 3-packs of identical routers. It’s more flexible.
On the inside, the Netgear includes a full web interface with a standard set of network settings and features (QoS, Dynamic DNS, VPN server, and so on.) It also has an optional mobile app.
The Orbi requires a login account with the network but offers additional features, including vendor-assisted remote management and a paid Armor protection feature.
The eero, on the other hand, has no web interface. Instead, it’s a fully app-operated vendor-dependant Wi-Fi solution. As a result, you can’t set it up without an Internet connection, nor can you manage your network without first connecting to eero’s server. It’s a potential privacy nightmare.
On top of that, the eero has a spartan set of features and settings. But similarly, it does have options to add more features via a paid subscription or by linking your network to an Amazon account.
As tri-band solutions, both are designed for a fully wireless setup. The Orbi dedicates its 5GHz-2 (4×4) band as the permanent backhaul band, while the eero uses dynamic backhaul. Generally, this means the Orbi is faster.
In a wired setup, though, chances are the eero will work better since all of its 3 bands will be available for clients to connect to. In this case, the Orbi’s 5GHz-2 band is still being used as a (backup) backhaul.
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Orbi AX4200: Performance and ratings
As standalone routers, eero Pro 6 and an Orbi RBR750 are pretty similar in throughput speeds. However, the Orbi RBS750 did much better than the eero Pro 6 counterpart as wireless mesh systems, likely thanks to the strongly dedicated backhaul.
You can see their numbers on the chart below. What you don’t see, though, is the coverage which the Orbi, as a single route or a mesh system, was much better in my testing. It was consistently delivering some 25 percent better range.
Amazon eero Pro 6's Rating
Pros
Easy to set up and use, especially for iPhone users
GooWi-FiFi speeds
Compact design
Comparatively affordable
Cons
Wi-Fi range could be better
Internet and login account required for setup and ongoing management
Minimum ports, no Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, or Multi-Gig
Online Protection and Parental Control require a monthly subscription
Home automation feature requires Amazon integration
No web interface, spartan Wi-Fi, and network settings
The eero app for Android is a bit buggy
Netgear Orbi RBK750 Series' Rating
Pros
Reliable Wi-Fi with extensive coverage
Relatively affordable
Practical, well-designed mobile app
Support WAN 2Gbps Link Aggregation
Full web interface with all standard settings and features
Cons
No 160MHz channel support, limited Wi-Fi customization
Incompatible with Wi-Fi 5 Orbi hardware
Few LAN ports; No Multi-Gig, Dual-WAN, LAN Link Aggregation, or USB port
The fast 5GHz band only works as backhaul, even in a wired setup
Which is a better choice?
For my money, the Orbi has everything the eero Pro 6 has and then some. The two cost almost the same, by the way.
That said, if you’re looking for a fully wireless mesh system for a large home with a sub-Gigabit Internet connection, the Orbi AX4200 is clearly a much better choice.
If you have wired your home, though, strictly in terms of performance, the eero Pro 6 might be a better idea. But in this case, you should consider the Linksys Velop MX4000, or any dual-band mesh on this list, instead.
Looking to compare other Wi-Fi solutions? Check them all out here.
Orbi Ax4200 say on website that it will connect 40+ devices and eero pro 6 says more than 100+ devices. for me device is deal breaker. which one should i go with! currently i have netgaer signle router R6900p and it has more than 30 + devices connected to it and main problem i have right now is no of devices.
How many device would i able to connect to on both of these router? if you can please answer this, than it would be helpfull. thank you
Those are arbitrary numbers for marketing purposes, Pat. I wrote about that and other aspects of a home router (and mesh system) in this in-depth post on the subject.
Hardware specs table is between the Eero and Linksys Velop, not the Eero 6 and Orbi.
Can you correct the table of specs please?
Thanks
Fixed. Thanks for noticing Andrew.
Great write up!
I have a 5,000 sq ft two story house and the Google mesh system I have drops out at times and I cannot figure out why. I want fast as I have 400 meg coming in, and in a couple rooms I have music streamers with only ethernet ports…no wifi. I’m not techy. I want easy, fast, DEPENDABLE, and an ethernet port. Or two.
Which one?
And if I needed another ethernet port and added another “node” if that’s what they’re called is that a problem having TOO many? Thanks!
What you want there is what EVERYONE wants, Kevin. And it would help if you spent some time to figure it out for your own situation. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution if that’s what you’re looking for. I’d recommend that you start with this post. It’ll be a fun read.
And no, you don’t want to add another node just because you want more network ports. For that, you need a switch. More in this post.
Hello! So happy to have stumbled on your site. Great work and very thorough! I understand your reasons for favoring orbi over eero but I have had bad experiences with netgear in the past so I purchased eero.
My question is: I have Fios and I have my internet and coax going into the Verizon fios g3100 router. This broadcasts its own network. When I add on a mesh there will be two networks broadcast (double nat)
Will my performance suffer?
Two Wi-Fi networks are not necessarily double NAT, Pa, but it’s not good either. Check out this post on your situation.
Greetings Dong, I have previously used your sage advice with success in determining how to modify my home network. The Orbi NBK753 was the originally chosen device. It took effort to set up, although once active it was impressive in terms of speed and coverage. The problem was it disconnected every four days. Today I have no Netgear equipment and I am very happy. I am using an Arris modem with the Eero Pro 6. The system took minutes to set up and has been flawless for weeks. The equipment reset quickly after a brief power outage. The network has suffered a loss in coverage and speed, as your tests portray; however, the network remains more than sufficient for our use of almost one terabyte of data transmission each month. Dealing with Netgear is almost as frustrating as dealing with Comcast. There has been no need to communicate with either Arris or Eero, so no comparison point. Practical usability and stability outweigh the top performers when something is used constantly. By the way, I continue to be a huge fan, and extremely appreciative for your gracious sharing of your knowledge and experience; thank you again.
Glad it worked out, Greg. The eero 6 Pro is not all bad. If you can deal with the issues you mentioned and the privacy risks, it’ll serve you fine.
I too have recently had a bad experience with Orbi RBK50 2 node + extra satellite mesh system. 2200 sq ft house and I’m constantly seeing buffering on devices (15-17 in total on network), losing connection, and having to reboot. I wish I could dictate which devices connect to which nodes. The way the connect today with Orbi RBK50 makes no sense. Upstair devices connect to downstair node and downstairs devices connecting to Upstairs satellite node.
Any system or mesh system you would recommend as an alternative to Orbi or Eero Pro with the same speeds, more control, and reliability?
That happens a lot when you use a canned system, Will. It’s designed for a generic scenario that works for most cases. However, if you want something else a bit different, things start to fall apart. I’d recommend you check out this post first to have an idea about mesh. After that, get an AiMesh set.
Thanks again Dong for your reviews and guidance!! Changed to a pair of Asus RT-AX86U for my 2200 sq ft house with wired backhaul which took some work to run the wire between upstairs and downstairs units but WOW what a difference in the stability, performance, and the capabilities you get with Asus. Thank you for making me an Orbi to Asus convert!
Netgear has been so unreliable, constantly losing connection and having to reboot. Good luck with customer service..they don’t care.
Your title says no-brainer, but the speed analysis in the article shows similar and sometimes better performance for eero. It seems you are biased.
You need to read more than just the performance chart, John. And yes, in this case, I’m biased against the Eero, check out the full review to know why.