The catch
NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
Clients and wireless backhaul have to split dual-band capacity because there is no 6 GHz radio.
Side by side
NETGEAR Orbi 370 vs Deco BE23: After backhaul, Deco still has a device socket and Orbi’s satellite has none to spare
Quick verdict
Deco BE23 is the one if a wired satellite also has to connect a TV, console or PC. Orbi 370 works for wireless devices in the room, but wired backhaul uses up its single satellite socket.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Two competing jobs fall on a single satellite port
That socket on Orbi 370 can serve backhaul or a local Ethernet device, but not both at once.
Where this comes from
0 spare sockets = 1 socket − 1 wired uplink.
The catch
TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
Wi-Fi 7 alone does not make a system tri-band. This one has no 6 GHz band.
NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Why pick it
- Only wireless devices are used in the remote rooms.
- Orbi 370 and the satellite family it supports are what you specifically want.
- The catch
- Clients and wireless backhaul have to split dual-band capacity because there is no 6 GHz radio.
TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- Why pick it
- Next to a wired satellite, a wired device in the room has to connect.
- Identical two-port Deco units that can swap roles appeal to you.
- The catch
- Wi-Fi 7 alone does not make a system tri-band. This one has no 6 GHz band.
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What this page compares
Wiring a TV next to a satellite? Look at Orbi 370 and Deco BE23 first. Both have 2.5G links, yet they differ in satellite socket count.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A wired satellite with a wired TV
After its uplink, the Orbi satellite has no socket left.
- NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Not suitable
- TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- Better fit
Only wireless room devices
When every room device uses Wi-Fi, the spare socket doesn't matter.
- NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Good
- TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- Good
Wiring two satellites from the gateway with no switch
One port is left on each gateway after WAN.
- NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Not suitable
- TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- Not suitable
Shifting a unit into the gateway role down the line
Orbi has distinct router and satellite hardware, whereas the Deco units are interchangeable.
- NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Caution
- TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Two competing jobs fall on a single satellite port
That socket on Orbi 370 can serve backhaul or a local Ethernet device, but not both at once.
How we worked this out
0 spare sockets = 1 socket − 1 wired uplink.
A two-cable room can be completed by a Deco satellite
One socket goes to the uplink and one to a local device.
How we worked this out
1 remaining 2.5G connection = 2 sockets − 1 uplink.
Neither three-pack makes a wired star without a switch
Three gateway sockets are required for two satellite branches plus WAN, yet each main unit has two.
How we worked this out
Available gateway sockets = 2, while 1 WAN + 2 branches = 3 required connections.
Plug in your setup
Can this mesh kit handle your wired layout?
Wiring your mesh nodes together with Ethernet? Count the ports before you buy. This checks direct cables from the main unit to each satellite, with no extra network switch. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
Fails these checksThe gateway does not have enough ports at your chosen speeds for your internet line, 1 direct node link and 1 wired device. A suitable external switch could change that.
TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
Fails these checksThe gateway does not have enough ports at your chosen speeds for your internet line, 1 direct node link and 1 wired device. A suitable external switch could change that.
Port speeds are physical link ratings. They do not measure Wi-Fi throughput. Cable quality, client adapters and network settings still matter. Every node you plan on must come in the linked bundle. This assumes router mode with one internet port and star wiring. PoE units also need a compatible power source, which this port check does not size. A switch, access-point mode or a different layout changes the result. It does not predict wireless coverage.
Option A
NETGEAR, RBE373
Orbi 370 3-pack
Ordinary homes that want a 2.5Gbps gateway are the target for this dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh.
- Best for
- Orbi coverage at the entry level, minus premium tri-band hardware
Facts we checked
- In NETGEAR's description, the three-pack is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 system with a rating of up to 5Gbps aggregate.
- Its rating for the package is up to 6,000 square feet and 70 devices.
- At the gateway, a 2.5Gbps Internet port can handle service faster than gigabit.
Option B
TP-Link, Deco BE23
Deco BE23 3-Pack
For a two-gigabit connection, this is a practical way into Wi-Fi 7, as long as you plan around its two-port design.
- Best for
- Faster internet service, minus the cost of 6 GHz radios
Facts we checked
- Each node has two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports.
- Wi-Fi 7 is dual-band, using 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and 160 MHz channels are supported.
- Three nodes come in the selected package.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack | TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway sockets | 2 × 2.5G | 2 × 2.5G | Once internet is connected, one LAN socket remains on each. |
| Satellite sockets | 1 × 2.5G | 2 × 2.5G | This hardware difference is the decisive one. |
| Local Ethernet after wired backhaul | 0 | 1 × 2.5G | In this layout, a room device can be connected directly only on Deco. |
| Wireless bands | 2.4 and 5 GHz | 2.4 and 5 GHz | Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with no 6 GHz describes both. |
| Selected kit | Router plus 2 satellites | 3 interchangeable units | The hardware for Orbi gateway and satellite roles is not identical. |
| Two direct wired branches after WAN | Needs a switch | Needs a switch | The two spare sockets a three-node star needs are not supplied by either gateway. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
- Once any included trial ends, NETGEAR Armor and Smart Parental Controls require a subscription.
With TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
- The gateway has just one LAN socket once internet is connected, so a three-node wired star needs an Ethernet switch.
Decision guide
How to decide
Check the back of the satellite as well as the router
The two Orbi 370 units are not alike. The main unit has two sockets and the satellite has one. Skimming the gateway specifications can hide the room limitation that matters.
A wired node still helps Wi-Fi devices
Backhaul can take the only socket on an Orbi satellite while it still serves wireless clients. The limit becomes decisive just when a local device also needs Ethernet from that node.
A switch in the room alters the layout
Put a switch in the right spot and the room cable can reach both the node and a wired device. That may work, but it adds hardware, so count it rather than calling the single-port satellite a direct fit.
What this page can’t tell you
- External switches and daisy chains are deliberately left out of the examples.
- Satellites from other Orbi series are not assumed to be compatible.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the mesh Wi-Fi systems we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
24 of the 35 models checked meet every need here: “I can run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My internet plan runs above one gigabit”.
24 models fit, out of 35 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I can run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My internet plan runs above one gigabit”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack |
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| TP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
NETGEAR Orbi 370 3-pack
Only wireless devices are used in the remote rooms.
See price & reviews on AmazonTP-Link Deco BE23 3-Pack
Next to a wired satellite, a wired device in the room has to connect.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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