The new generation of WiFi (802.11ax, marketed as WiFi 6) is already here and traditional networking companies such as Netgear, ASUS, Linksys etc have already launched products supporting the new standard.
At the end of 2018 a few standalone WiFi 6 AX router models hit the market (like the Netgear AX8 and ASUS AX88U models) but the new standard has found its way also in wireless mesh systems as we’ll describe in this article.
The last quarter of 2019 has seen a few WiFi 6 mesh systems being launched, with the two most popular ones that we’ll compare in this article being the Netgear Orbi RBK852 and Linksys MX10 Velop AX models.
As we have explained in the article here, the new 802.11ax (WiFi 6) standard is backwards compatible with the current 802.11ac (WiFi 5) so if you buy one of the new systems listed in this article, all of your current wireless client devices (smartphones, laptops etc) will still work fine.
However, keep in mind that to take full advantage of all the new WiFi 6 features, you will need to have a WiFi 6 capable device (such as Samsung Note 10, Galaxy S10, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, iPhone 11 etc).
The WiFi Mesh model is based on the premise of providing a wireless umbrella for great coverage and minimized dead-spots in an area.
Combining the wireless mesh concept with the new WiFi 6 technology creates a powerful combination for meeting current needs of IoT, high Internet speeds and smart homes.
Let’s first see a quick comparison table of the two mesh systems that we’ll compare in this article.
Quick Comparison Table
(AX5300)
(AX6000)
(1 router + 1 satellite)
Satellite: 4x LAN
(AX5300)
(AX6000)
(1 router + 1 satellite)
Satellite: 4x LAN
Last update on 2023-03-22 at 21:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Netgear Orbi RBK852 Brief Review
- Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft. and for up to 100 devices. Extend coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. with each additional satellite (sold separately). Works with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant
- Ultrafast AX6000 gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing
- Compatible with any internet service provider up to 2.5Gbps including cable, satellite, fiber and DSL
Last update on 2023-03-22 at 21:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The previous Netgear Orbi 802.11ac system models (such as the RBK50, RBK23, RBK53 etc) were (and still are) a big hit in the mesh wifi market.
The newest RBK852 is a WiFi mesh kit product with one router and one satellite unit. Just like all mesh systems, it is a tri-band technology with one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands with combined wifi speed of 6 Gbps (AX6000).
The three bands are dedicated as following:
- One 2.4 GHz (1.2 Gbps) and one 5 GHz band (2.4 Gbps) for client connections.
- One 5 GHz band (2.4 Gbps) as backhaul (more on this below).
One of the major characteristics of the new AX WiFi 6 standard is that they managed to “squeeze” more wireless speed into the same frequency bands by improving wireless efficiency and more streams.
That’s why you see such a big increase in the theoretical maximum wireless speed supported by the new standard.
Just like the previous Orbi models, the RBK852 implements also a high-speed wireless backhaul link connecting the satellite unit with the main router unit.
This backhaul link runs on 5GHz band at 2.4 Gbps (max. theoretical speed). This is much higher than the previous AC3000 mesh systems (the backhaul on that one is 1.7 Gbps).
Another important hardware feature of RBK852 is its WAN link (the one to be connected to the ISP for Internet access).
The speed of this link can reach max. 2.5 Gbps which means you can directly connect the Orbi router to an ISP with speed tiers of above 1 Gbps. Currently there are no ISPs offering more than 1 gigabit links though, so this is just for the future.
Being a very young product, the RBK852 has some notable disadvantages as well. Some of them include the lack of parental controls, no backwards compatibility with older Orbi satellites (such as the RBS50), no additional satellites currently sold as single units etc.
Netgear promised to fix most of the weaknesses of this product with time and with new firmware updates as they usually do with their products until they fully meet customers’ demands.
Check Orbi Price and Reviews at Amazon.com
Linksys MX10 Velop AX Brief Review
- Mesh Wi-Fi router provides next-gen Wi-Fi 6 speeds and whole-home mesh coverage
- Bandwidth for 50plus wireless devices and coverage for homes up to 6000 square feet
- Provides ultra-fast, reliable Wi-Fi coverage for 4K streaming, gaming, and more
Last update on 2023-03-22 at 21:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Just like the Orbi, Linksys Velop has been a very successful mesh product utilizing the 802.11AC standard (WiFi 5). Now with WiFi 6, the tradition continuous with the new Linksys MX10 Velop AX model.
Actually, although this product is very new in the market, Linksys managed to get it right from the beginning.
This is also a tri-band system (AX5300) with a 5 GHz backhaul link running also at 2.4 Gbps (like the Orbi above).
The advertised area coverage is 6000 sq.ft (for the two-unit system) compared to 5000 sq.ft of the Orbi. Keep in mind though that max. area coverage is theoretical and depends on many factors such as environmental conditions, type of house construction material etc.
Hardware-wise, this model is very similar with the Orbi. They have same CPU and RAM (Quad Core CPU with 1 GB RAM) and can accommodate a large number of WiFi client devices (more than 50) which is another characteristic of WiFi 6 technology.
Something that I like about this model is that there is 1x USB 3.0 in addition to the 4x wired gigabit ports on each Velop unit.
This means you can connect a NAS device (Network Attached Storage) or a simple USB hard disk and use it as centralized storage over the WiFi network.
Another great characteristic of the Velop MX10 is that it is backwards compatible with older Velop mesh units, thus if you have an older model you can still use it in the network.
Moreover, the new Linksys Velop is offered as both standalone unit (Velop MX5) or as a kit (with 2 units – Velop MX10). Unlike the Orbi which is sold only as a 2-unit kit, you can buy just one MX5 Velop unit to try it out and then add more units if needed (or buy the MX10 kit from the very beginning).
Check Velop Price and Reviews at Amazon.com
Netgear Orbi RBK852 vs Linksys Velop MX10
Let’s see a quick comparison of the two mesh systems with some pros and cons below:
Linksys Velop MX10 Advantages
- Linksys Velop units can work both as base router units (parent unit) or as satellite (child unit) with a switch setting. There is not a dedicated separate router and satellite like the Orbi.
- Velop has a USB 3.0 port which can be used to connect a USB hard disk to be used for file storage over the wireless network.
- Currently you can buy the Velop product either as a single unit or as a kit (2-units). On the other hand, Orbi RBK852 must be bought only as a kit (router + satellite).
- Older Linksys Velop mesh devices are compatible with the new Velop MX10 WiFi 6 system (unlike Orbi).
- Currently, customers have found the Velop MX10 to be a reliable and solid system although it is fairly new in the market.
Netgear Orbi RBK852 Advantages
- It has an ISP (WAN) port supporting up to 2.5 Gbps so it is future proof regarding support for future upgrades of over gigabit speeds from providers.
- Netgear is a trusted and reliable company which cares about its products with regular upgrades and enhancements.
Final Verdict
Although in previous comparisons I have recommended the Orbi over the Velop (in older mesh models), in the case here I would say that the Velop MX10 is a better option compared to Orbi RBK852.
It seems that Netgear has rushed out to launch a WiFi 6 mesh product in the market which still lags behind the competitors. The history of Netgear however gives me hope that they will enhance and upgrade the RBK852 to bring it up to their high standards that customers are used to.
On the other hand, Linksys has launched a product which – although it is also new and is based on the latest wifi technology – the AX Velop MX10 is a reliable and solid performer with great hardware and software specs.
I was given both by the manufacturer to test the Orbi o received a 3pc kit (1 Router and 2 Says) the MX I received just 1 Router so I could not evaluate the Mesh part of the Linksys system! Why Linksys didn’t send 2 for a proper evaluation ? I don’t know? So as far as the preformce I prefer the Linksys MX over the Netgear Orbi! Even with just the router it looks nicer and is a bit easier to blend into my home! The Orbi does have brass mounts on the bottom but they are still quite large and not very sure footed! They fall over easy!!!! I was using Plume Mesh pods until I receive these put the plume system is much slower doesn’t support Gigabit or wifi 6 the only advantage of plume is the iot and other active protection! I think if Netgear and Linksys were to offer something like plume does they would dominate the market! Yes I know one offers something similar but it’s not very good!
Hi Kenneth, thanks for stopping by and for your feedback. Yeah I know, Netgear and Linksys are more focused on better area coverage and performance instead of other software features like IoT protection.