Unleashing the Power of Netgear Orbi 370: A Comprehensive Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router Review

Just over a year ago, I reviewed the excellent Netgear Orbi 770, which had excellent WiFi 7 performance with impressive speeds on the mesh-connected satellites. The RRP made it almost 60% cheaper than the flagship model while still being able to achieve multi-gig WiFi connectivity.

However, at £900, now £600, it was still very expensive.

Netgear has now launched a much more affordable option for regular buyers who want good WiFi speeds but don’t need the absolute best performance.

Priced at £300, it is one of the cheapest options on the market. You lose out on the 6GHz band, which provides ultra-fast connectivity at close range, mostly in the same room, but the system still includes 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, which should allow devices to achieve WiFi speeds in excess of 1 Gbps.

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Specification

The main thing to highlight with this system is that it is dual-band. That means no ultrafast 6GHz, and a shared backhaul. Which is to be expected at this price point.

Features

Up to 3.6 Gbps Speed

Achieve speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps with a mesh system designed to deliver fast and stable WiFi performance across multiple connected devices.

Exceptional Whole-Home Mesh WiFi

A high-performance mesh system with optimised antennas provides consistent WiFi coverage throughout your home, ensuring a strong connection in every room.

Dual-Band Technology

Dual-band operation with enhanced backhaul improves data distribution across the network, maintaining stable and responsive performance throughout the home.

4K Streaming, Gaming, and More

The Orbi system supports simultaneous 4K streaming, gaming, and video calling, allowing all users to enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted connection across devices.

Unleash Multi-Gig Connectivity

Equipped with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, this system supports high-speed fibre and cable internet services. It enables reliable performance for wired connections or can be used as a 2.5 Gigabit backhaul link between nodes.

Safeguard Data and Devices with NETGEAR Armor

Provides network-wide protection for your devices at home and on the move. Includes an extended warranty and priority support with a 30-day trial period.

Powerful Security Features

NETGEAR routers include advanced protection mechanisms such as automatic firmware updates, vulnerability monitoring, and built-in safety features designed to keep your network secure.

Easy Setup and Management

Compatible with any internet service provider, the Orbi app enables quick setup, network configuration, and ongoing WiFi management from your smartphone.

Unboxing / Design

The Orbi 370 arrives in typical Netgear packaging – a sturdy box with clear product imagery and key specifications prominently displayed. Inside, each unit is individually wrapped in protective plastic with the accessories neatly compartmentalised.

The design follows Netgear’s established Orbi aesthetic – tall, cylindrical units with a matte white finish that blends reasonably well with most home decor. At 203.7mm tall and 120mm wide, they’re noticeably more compact than the flagship Orbi models, which I appreciate. The smaller footprint makes them easier to position around the home without dominating shelf space.

Build quality feels solid, though not quite as premium as the higher-end models. The plastic casing has a slight flex when pressed firmly, and the units are considerably lighter at around 350g each compared to the hefty 770 series. That said, they don’t feel cheap – just appropriately built for the price point.

The LED status light on top provides clear visual feedback during setup and operation. It’s bright enough to see from across a room but not so intense that it becomes distracting at night. A simple press on top temporarily dims During testing, the units remained only warm to the touch even under heavy load, which is a significant improvement over older Orbi models that could become quite hot.

One drawback is the fixed internal antennas, which maintain a clean aesthetic but prevent optimizing antenna positioning for specific environments. However, in most home layouts, I found this limitation to be insignificant.

The setup process began with the mobile app, which Netgear prefers. After downloading the Orbi app and creating an account (required), the app quickly detected the router upon powering it on. The step-by-step wizard provided clear instructions and helpful animations.

The initial firmware update took about 8 minutes, longer than preferred but necessary for security and performance. The app remained connected throughout the process, displaying progress clearly.

Adding the satellites was mostly automated. The app guided me to power them on one by one, and they paired within about 90 seconds each. The app recommended optimal placement locations based on my home’s layout, although I made adjustments based on my own testing.

One frustration occurred when trying to import settings from my previous router. The backup file from my older Netgear router was incompatible, requiring me to manually recreate port forwarding rules, DHCP reservations, and device names. This additional 15 minutes of tedious work could have been avoided with better backwards compatibility.

For those who prefer it, the web-based setup option is still available. Accessing it requires typing orbilogin.com or the router’s default IP address. The interface is functional but feels outdated compared to the mobile app. However, it offers access to more advanced settings during initial configuration, which may be appreciated by power users.

Customizing the network name and password was straightforward, and the system automatically configured both bands with the same SSID by default, allowing for seamless roaming. Transform the following:

Original: The weather is very cold today.

Transformed: Today, the weather is extremely cold. Transform the following sentence:

Original: The cat is sleeping on the couch.

Transformed: On the couch, the cat is sleeping. Transform the following:

Original: She is singing a beautiful song.

Transformed: A beautiful song is being sung by her. The following transformation: Transform the following:

Original: The cat is sleeping on the windowsill.
Transformed: On the windowsill is where the cat is sleeping. Transform the following:

Original sentence: “She was running late for her meeting.”

Transformed sentence: “Running late for her meeting, she hurried to get there on time.” Can you please change the following Transform the following sentence:
Original: She went to the store to buy some groceries.
Transformed: To buy some groceries, she went to the store.