Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi: Which One is More Reliable?
Do you dream of a seamless wireless network around your home? Countless Wi-Fi systems are available in the market to turn your home into a smart or advanced premise. It’s extremely significant in terms of internet and relative connectivity.
If you own numerous network-enabled devices, such as PCs, home appliances, TVs, gaming consoles, smartphones, voice assistants, security cameras, and other devices, then a strong Wi-Fi network is a must.
Among all Wi-Fi systems available in the market, Google WiFi and Netgear Orbi are two recommendable choices. If you are about to get a comprehensive solution for Wi-Fi networks, then you might have come across the battle: Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi. If you want to realise your dream of a smart home, then you must have a complete Wi-Fi network system.
Google WiFi and Netgear Orbi deploy a mesh network system and they consist of different nodes. This technology helps in overcoming distance, network weakness, and much more.
Let’s find out which one is the real winner in the controversy of Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi.
Features
We think that features play an important role in deciding the best mesh system for your home. The biggest difference in the tug of war of Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi is the band support. Google WiFi supports dual-band wireless configuration. Netgear Orbi is a product of a tri-band lineup.
Google WiFi allows you to use 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections. But, Netgear offers two different 5GHz connections along with a 2.4GHz connection. Netgear Orbi and Google WiFi both offer industry-leading WiFi speed, excellent coverage, and parental controls.
Both come with a user-friendly interface application where you can set up the mesh network easily. Additionally, you can pair them up with most Internet Service Providers. Setting up special networks for guests is possible with both of them.
However, Google WiFi comes with 4 GB Flash. But, Netgear Orbi comes with 512 MB RAM along with 4 GB Flash. Netgear Orbi has an advantage over Google WiFi when it comes to compatible voice assistants. It supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can pair Google WiFi to Google Home if you want to.
Build & Design
Though both are networking devices, there is a huge difference in the design aspect. Netgear Orbi kit comes with two almost identical units. They are the satellite and the router. Both are tall plastic cases, and you can notice a white matte finish. You can identify them with their colour at the top. The router has a light-blue tint at the top, whereas the satellite is entirely white.
You need to connect the router Orbi to the modem. On the other hand, you can connect the satellite Orbi to interconnecting nodes or the router. Fortunately, the daisy-chaining technology has arrived and saved our back with other nodes. However, Netgear Orbi is the tallest Wi-Fi system currently.
Google believes in Zen methodology, and that’s why it decided to keep Google WiFi’s design minimalist. The components of Google WiFi are like three times shorter than Netgear Orbi. Well, they are cylindrical in shape, and all of them have a white matte finish.
Therefore, you can position Google WiFi system components anywhere in your home. We can’t discover any cut-outs for heat dissipation. So, we guess that Google relies on passive cooling technology.
However, we can see ventilation holes or cut-outs at the bottom of Netgear Orbi components. As a result, Netgear Orbi feels comfortable to touch, whereas Google WiFi feels a bit warm.
Performance
This is one of the show-stealers when it comes to Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi battle. Frankly, Google is a much more familiar name since you have been using the search engine. Additionally, Google WiFi comes compatible with Google Home. Although Google WiFi supports dual-band mesh systems, they are comparatively cheaper.
Compared to its price, Google WiFi delivers a pretty good internet connection. The advanced mesh technology holds up well when it comes to overcoming concrete walls, interference from other appliances, etc.
In fact, the result from multiple speed tests assured that you will get reliable network connectivity from Google WiFi. The 3-pack option from Google WiFi is more than enough to cover up a home of up to 4500 square feet.
Netgear Orbi definitely has a plus point over Google WiFi, and it’s the tri-band technology. It really makes a difference in the speed. Here, Google WiFi has to bow down to Netgear Orbi. In addition to this, the daisy-chain technology used in the Netgear Orbi system introduced the real revolution.
Netgear Orbi covers the floor to ceiling and wall to wall area and the area coverage is up to 5000 square feet. It offers you a stable connection even in the highest traffic hours. Additionally, it supports ethernet backhaul now, and we think it’s much needed.
Internal Hardware
Another common in the context of Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi is the Qualcomm chipset. Netgear Orbi gets powered by a quad-core QCA8075 Gigabit switch chipset. Additionally, it carries 4 GB of Flash and 512 MB of RAM memory. The first 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands use the Qualcomm IPQ4019 chipset. And, the second 5GHz band runs on a Qualcomm QCA9984 chipset.
Google WiFi also uses the Qualcomm QCA8075 Gigabit switch chipset. But, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands use the Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4019 chipset. Google WiFi facilitates a maximum speed of 300 Mbps for the 2.4GHz band. However, the 5GHz band supports a maximum of 867 Mbps.
Netgear Orbi offers a maximum of 1733 Mbps while using the second 5GHz radio band. The first 5GHz and 2.4 GHz band offers a data speed of 867 Mbps and 400 Mbps respectively.
Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi: Who’s the Winner?
If you crave more data speed and coverage, then you should go for Netgear Orbi. After all, it features a tri-band connection. However, if you are looking for affordable prices, then Google WiFi is a better option.
Google WiFi offers promising performance and durability. Both participants in the Google WiFi vs Netgear Orbi are best at their fields and have impressive features.
