Wi-Fi 7 Showdown: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro vs Netgear Orbi 970 vs TP-Link Archer BE900

The latest generation of Wi-Fi 7 routers has arrived, promising multi-gigabit wireless speeds and cutting-edge features for home networks. Three flagship contenders leading the charge are the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, the Netgear Orbi 970, and the TP-Link Archer BE900. Each represents a top-tier offering from its brand – from Asus’s gamer-focused powerhouse, to Netgear’s ultra-fast mesh system, to TP-Link’s feature-packed router with futuristic design. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dive deep into their technical specs, real-world performance, use cases, design, security features, ease of use, pricing, and more. Which Wi-Fi 7 titan reigns supreme? Let’s find out.

Technical Specifications and Key Features

All three devices are Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) routers bristling with high-end hardware, but they take different approaches:

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro: A quad-band gaming router with one 2.4 GHz, one 5 GHz, and two 6 GHz bands, supporting a combined theoretical throughput of up to ~30 Gbps (BE30000) dongknows.com. Uniquely, it has dual 6 GHz radios (6GHz-1 and 6GHz-2, each up to ~11.5 Gbps) for added capacity. It’s powered by a 2.6 GHz quad-core CPU with 2 GB RAM. This router is loaded with ethernet ports: seven LAN ports in total, including two 10 Gbps ports and four 2.5 Gbps ports (plus one Gigabit). Such an array is almost unheard of – as one reviewer noted, “the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro also should meet all your wired network needs with no less than seven LAN ports, including two 10G ports”. This gives tremendous flexibility for multi-gig internet (10G WAN support) and high-speed LAN networking. The GT-BE98 Pro is AiMesh-ready, meaning it can form a mesh with other Asus routers if needed dongknows.com. It also features dual USB ports (1× USB 3.0 and 1× USB 2.0) for shared storage or printers. On the wireless side, it supports 4×4 MU-MIMO and the full suite of Wi-Fi 7 technologies (4096-QAM, 320 MHz channels, Multi-Link Operation, etc.), plus Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) for more 5 GHz channels. In short, Asus has thrown in everything and the kitchen sink – this is a no-compromise specs sheet geared toward enthusiasts and gamers.
• Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE970 series): Netgear’s first Wi-Fi 7 Orbi is actually a mesh system rather than a single router. A standard Orbi 970 kit includes a main router unit plus satellites (typically sold in 2-pack or 3-pack bundles). It’s a quad-band mesh setup with one 2.4 GHz, two 5 GHz, and one 6 GHz band. Uniquely, Orbi dedicates one of the 5 GHz bands (and part of the 6 GHz) as a permanent backhaul link between router and satellites. This “enhanced dedicated backhaul” means one 5 GHz + 6 GHz (via MLO) is used exclusively for inter-node traffic, leaving the other bands for client devices. The result is an extremely robust whole-home system rated for up to 10,000 sq. ft. of coverage and over 200 devices, with a staggering theoretical throughput up to BE27000 (27 Gbps) across all bands. Each Orbi 970 router unit has a 10 GbE WAN port and four 2.5 GbE LAN ports, while each satellite provides its own 10 GbE + 2× 2.5 GbE LAN for wired backhaul or device connections. Notably absent are USB ports – the Orbi 970 has none for storage/printers. Internally it’s powered by a high-end processor (Netgear doesn’t shout specs, but performance suggests a powerful SoC). Netgear emphasizes simplicity – the system auto-manages bands and doesn’t even allow creating separate SSIDs for 6 GHz; all three bands share one SSID for seamless roaming. Overall, the Orbi 970’s specs prioritize mesh performance and coverage – it’s effectively a tri-unit Wi-Fi 7 super-network in a box, with multi-gig wired connectivity on every unit to support multi-gig fiber internet and wired backhaul.
• TP-Link Archer BE900: TP-Link’s flagship is a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 router, similar in class to the Asus. It runs one 2.4 GHz, two 5 GHz, and one 6 GHz band, for a combined rating around BE24000 (24.4 Gbps). In essence, the BE900 is an upgraded version of TP-Link’s tri-band BE800 – “practically the BE800 plus an extra Gigabit LAN port, a new USB 2.0 port, and an additional 5 GHz band” dongknows.com. It supports 4×4 streams on each band (with 320 MHz on 6 GHz, 160 MHz on 5 GHz) and 4096-QAM. Under the hood is a powerful CPU (TP-Link hasn’t disclosed exact specs publicly) and 1 GB RAM (as the BE800 has). Where the Archer BE900 shines is port versatility: it matches Asus with two 10 Gbps WAN/LAN ports, except one of them is a combo port supporting SFP+ fiber modules in addition to RJ45. This is a unique future-proofing touch for those with fiber optic internet service. It also provides four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports and one Gigabit LAN, giving it a total of seven wired ports (1×10G RJ45, 1×10G SFP+/RJ45, 4×2.5G, 1×1G). Dual USB ports are present (1× USB 3.0 and 1× USB 2.0) for media sharing. Like the others, it supports EasyMesh (TP-Link’s mesh feature), so you can pair it with TP-Link mesh satellites if needed. The BE900’s hardware package is clearly high-end, yet at $699 MSRP it launched notably cheaper than the Asus ($799) tomshardware.com. TP-Link essentially offers nearly all the top specs (save for the Asus’s second 6GHz radio) at a slightly more palatable price point – along with some very innovative extras we’ll discuss later.

In summary, on paper all three are absolute beasts. The Asus GT-BE98 Pro and TP-Link BE900 are stand-alone routers with similar quad-band, multi-gig port bonanzas (Asus edges ahead with dual 6 GHz radios and more 2.5G ports, while TP-Link brings an SFP+ capability). The Netgear Orbi 970 is a mesh kit emphasizing coverage, dedicating radios for backhaul and including multiple units out of the box – but it forgoes certain enthusiast features (no USB, limited per-band control) in favor of plug-and-play simplicity. All support the latest standards like WPA3 encryption and are backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi devices (Wi-Fi 6/5/4). They represent the pinnacle of home networking tech as of 2025, with enough throughput on paper to saturate multi-gig internet connections and then some.

Design and Physical Attributes

The design philosophies of these routers are as different as night and day – or perhaps spaceship, tower, and tech art piece might be more apt analogies:

• ASUS GT-BE98 Pro – Aggressive “Gamer” Aesthetic: Asus’s router looks like it “stepped out of an arachnid convention.” The unit is huge and almost square in footprint (about 14 × 14 inches, and 8.8 inches tall with antennas). It sports eight external antennas arrayed around the perimeter, fully adjustable like spider legs. The design is all sharp angles and black plastic, with no attempt to hide its gamer DNA. A large ROG logo adorns the top, lit by programmable RGB LEDs tomshardware.com. In fact, the top has a transparent window and even a cheeky warning label inside (“Caution: Gaming Area — High levels of junk food and profanity beyond this point”) – purely decorative touches for the gamer vibe tomshardware.com. This router demands attention in a room; it’s not subtle or easily hidden. There are zero mounting options (no wall-mount slots), so it’s meant to sit on a desk or shelf in open air. The upside of this massive chassis is better heat dissipation (it has a large heatsink) and space for those extra ports. But be warned, the GT-BE98 Pro is heavy (~2 kg) and “has a large footprint and aggressive styling, so it may not seamlessly fit into your home’s decor”. It’s intentionally bold and “ROG” to the core – great if you love the gamer look, possibly overkill if you prefer tech that blends in.
• Netgear Orbi 970 – Modern Mesh Towers: In stark contrast, the Orbi 970 units take the form of sleek vertical towers. Each node measures about 11.6 × 5.7 × 5.2 inches (HWD) and weighs ~4 lbs. They have a minimalist curved design, available in either matte white (standard) or black (a Netgear store exclusive). There are no visible antennas – they’re all internal for a cleaner look. Visually, an Orbi node resembles a contemporary smart home appliance or perhaps a hi-fi speaker; it’s meant to disappear into home decor more easily than the Asus. Don’t be fooled by the clean design though – these units are massive for mesh nodes, considerably larger than earlier Orbis or competitors (Tom’s Hardware notes the 970 nodes are much bigger than Asus’s own ZenWiFi mesh nodes). The only external indicators are subtle LED rings that glow to indicate status during setup. The Orbi 970 favors an understated, home-friendly aesthetic – you could place it in a living room without it screaming “router.” The trade-off for that polish is less visual feedback and no flashy extras: there’s no screen or RGB lights here. Netgear opted for a design that just quietly does its job in the background. One minor inconvenience of the tall design: it’s not easily wall-mountable either (Netgear sells separate wall-mount brackets for Orbi, but by default they sit on surfaces). Overall, the Orbi 970’s design goal is to blanket a large home in Wi-Fi without clashing with interior style – a goal it meets, though the units are undeniably large.
• TP-Link Archer BE900 – Futuristic Dual-Display Hub: TP-Link went for a radical new look with its Archer BE-series. The BE900 and its slightly smaller sibling BE800 introduced what TP-Link calls a “V-Fold” design – a kind of vertical slab with a pinched middle, almost like a blocky hourglass shape. It stands about 12 inches tall and 10 inches wide, roughly similar volume to the Orbi, but with a very distinctive geometric chassis. The BE900 has eight internal antennas (no external spires) and a two-tone gray/black color scheme. What truly sets it apart are the dual built-in screens. On the upper front, integrated into the grille, is a 3-inch dot-matrix LED display comprised of white LED “pixels” – this can show animations, text, emojis, weather, time, and status messages in a retro-cool fashion. Below it, the BE900 adds a 2.6-inch color touchscreen panel, angled upward for easy viewing and touch input tomsguide.com. This secondary screen serves as a mini control dashboard: you can swipe through menus to see network statistics (like CPU/RAM usage, connected devices, upload/download speeds) and even perform quick actions like toggling Wi-Fi or setting up a guest network right from the router’s screen tomsguide.com. It will even display a QR code for guests to scan when joining your Wi-Fi – a very nifty touch for a party. These displays are more than gimmicks; reviewers found them genuinely useful. “The Archer BE900 sports two screens… one acts as a dashboard… you can even share your Wi-Fi by showing a QR code… One thing that really impressed us is that you can use it to set up a guest network [directly]”. Importantly, TP-Link’s screens replace the usual blinking LEDs entirely – meaning at a glance you get human-readable info rather than cryptic lights. As Tom’s Guide put it, after living with the BE900, “a router with blinking LEDs… seems so 2015… this Wi-Fi 7 router is not only among the fastest ways to move data around my house, but it has no annoying LEDs”. In terms of home decor, the BE900 looks like a piece of tech art – it might spark conversation with its pixel-art display, but it’s also clean and modern. It must sit vertically (no horizontal option), but it’s stable. If you’re a fan of high-tech gadgets that also look the part, the BE900’s design is a standout – it truly “looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before” in routers.

In summary, Asus’s router is big, brash, and bristling with antennas – a router for those who want to see their high-performance gear. Netgear’s Orbi is discreet and home-oriented, despite its large size – designed to disappear behind the scenes of your smart home. TP-Link attempts a middle ground: it hides the antennas and offers a refined shape, but adds innovative visual displays to communicate with the user. All three are large units, a trend with these high-end Wi-Fi 7 devices due to the many antennas and radios inside. Ventilation is ample on all of them to cool their powerful chipsets. Which design is “best” will depend on your taste – whether you prefer RGB-lit cyberpunk, minimalist modern, or futuristic gadget aesthetics.

Real-World Performance and Benchmark Comparisons

Spec sheets are one thing – but how do these routers actually perform in practice? Wi-Fi 7 promises extremely high throughput and better efficiency, but current client devices that fully utilize Wi-Fi 7 are still scarce. Nonetheless, testing by experts gives us a picture of relative performance:

• Wireless Speed (Throughput): All three routers can deliver multi-gigabit speeds under the right conditions. In testing with a Wi-Fi 7 client, the Asus GT-BE98 Pro achieved about 2.41 Gbps at 6 feet range on the 6 GHz band (using 320 MHz channels), dropping to roughly 2.05 Gbps at 25 feet – an impressively small drop-off, showing the strength of its 6 GHz implementation. By comparison, Netgear’s Orbi 970, which can leverage Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to combine 5 GHz and 6 GHz for a single client, managed an even higher peak of about 3.34 Gbps at close range (6 feet) in 6 GHz tests – essentially tying for the fastest Wi-Fi 7 throughput seen among mesh systems. However, at 25 feet the Orbi’s throughput on 6 GHz fell to around 1.24 Gbps (with a clear line of sight). This is still over a gigabit, but notably lower than some competitors (a similar Asus mesh managed ~1.9 Gbps at that range in the same tests), indicating the Orbi’s range on the 6 GHz band may be a bit more limited or conservative in power. TP-Link’s Archer BE900 has very high theoretical capacity (it can do 4×4 MIMO on 6 GHz and two separate 5 GHz bands). While we don’t have public test figures for the BE900’s quad-band, we do have data on the BE800 tri-band sibling: it hit 1.8 Gbps at ~15 feet on 6 GHz in Tom’s Guide’s tests. The BE900, with an extra 5 GHz band, could potentially use MLO as well to boost client speeds – in practice users have reported over 2 Gbps in ideal conditions on Wi-Fi 7 clients. In short, all three routers easily clear the 1 Gbps mark over Wi-Fi with compatible devices, and can approach 2–3 Gbps under optimal conditions. For context, that’s 2–3× faster than the fastest Wi-Fi 6 routers in similar tests. On the 5 GHz band (Wi-Fi 6/6E clients), these routers also excel but see more typical behavior: for example, the Orbi 970 delivered ~1.4 Gbps at 6 ft on 5 GHz, and ~0.72 Gbps at 25 ft (which actually outpaced the Asus ZenWiFi in that scenario). The Asus GT-BE98 Pro’s 5 GHz performance wasn’t explicitly quoted, but Rtings notes that its 5GHz band slows down at longer distances, meaning older non-6E devices won’t hit the same speeds as Wi-Fi 7 devices at range. All three support the 2.4 GHz band mainly for legacy and IoT devices, with throughput around a few hundred Mbps – the Orbi 970 actually led one 2.4 GHz test with 131 Mbps at 6 ft (these differences are minor in practice).
• Coverage and Range: The Orbi 970 is inherently designed for coverage – with two or three units, it’s meant to fill a very large home. Users report strong signals across 5,000–10,000 sq.ft. homes with the 3-pack. In testing, the Orbi maintained around ~40–50 Mbps even out at 90 feet (through multiple walls), which is impressive and would easily handle basic connectivity at the far end of a property. Asus’s GT-BE98 Pro, being a single router, has excellent range for one device – Rtings rated it 7.6/10 for Range, noting that the 6GHz band can still exceed 1 Gbps at long distances (which is remarkable) but the 5GHz band drops off more at range. In a multi-level house, they scored it 7.9/10, meaning it’s very capable in covering a standard two-story layout. That said, one router can only go so far – this is where Asus’s AiMesh capability could come into play if you add a second unit as a satellite. The TP-Link BE900 likewise is a single router solution; it showed it could reach ~115 feet in range tests (in a straight line) before dropping, similar to other high-power routers. Notably, at 50 feet the TP-Link still held ~33 Mbps on 6 GHz – not amazing, but enough for basic tasks, and on 5 GHz it would do better at that range. In general, Wi-Fi 7’s 6 GHz band has shorter range than 5 GHz, so routers mitigate that with either extra bands or features like Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) to boost 6 GHz power outdoors (Asus has announced AFC support to extend 6 GHz range beyond low-power indoor mode) tomshardware.com. Orbi’s solution is to use 6 GHz mostly for backhaul between units (which can be placed optimally), then serve clients on 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz for better penetration – a smart design for real homes with walls. Meanwhile, Asus and TP-Link let you use the juicy 6 GHz directly, which is fantastic for same-room or line-of-sight performance (multi-gig wireless links), but will fall back to 5 GHz for devices further away or blocked by walls.
• Latency and Gaming Performance: For latency-critical applications (gaming, VR, etc.), all three routers aim to minimize lag. In tests, the Asus GT-BE98 Pro showed consistently low ping times (sub-15 ms in all scenarios tested). It also has adaptive QoS and “Game Boost” features to prioritize gaming traffic, as we’ll cover. Netgear’s Orbi, being mesh, can introduce a bit more latency when data hops through a satellite – but the dedicated backhaul helps keep the latency low and consistent. Even under congested network load (multiple 4K streams, downloads, etc.), the Orbi 970 and Asus both performed admirably, only losing ~20% throughput in heavy congestion tests. This means these routers handle multitasking and many devices well, thanks to their high-end CPUs and OFDMA/MU-MIMO abilities. None of these should be a bottleneck for online gaming given a solid internet connection. That said, serious competitive gamers might lean to Asus, which has specific game-centric optimizations (like a dedicated LAN port that prioritizes that device, and built-in WTFast gamer VPN support). On the Orbi side, some enthusiasts have noted a lack of granular control (no way to tweak advanced Wi-Fi settings like beacon rates or band steering); this could indirectly affect how the router handles certain latency-sensitive scenarios if you can’t adjust it – but generally it’s optimized out-of-the-box for typical use.
• Multi-Gig WAN/LAN Throughput: One big reason to buy any of these routers is to take advantage of multi-gig internet and local networking. All three deliver on that front. They each have 10G WAN capability, and in testing they can route full 10 GbE speeds between WAN–LAN in wired scenarios. For instance, users have successfully fed 5 Gbps fiber connections into the Asus and seen the full bandwidth available over Wi-Fi 7 (when using multiple clients or MLO) – though a single Wi-Fi client won’t hit 5 Gbps yet, multiple can. The Orbi 970 uniquely can create a 10 Gbps wireless backhaul link between units (by bonding 5 + 6 GHz); Netgear advertises up to “10 Gig speeds with pure WiFi 7 performance” on the backhaul. In practice, the backhaul between Orbi 970 nodes has been measured around 5–6 Gbps real throughput in ideal conditions – still extremely high, and it means even devices connected to a satellite can potentially get multi-gig internet (the satellite’s 10G LAN port is effectively fed by that backhaul). With Asus or TP-Link single routers, you don’t have a wireless backhaul scenario (unless you add mesh nodes), but you do have the option of using the 10G ports for link aggregation or LAN duties (Asus supports dual-WAN or link aggregation on its ports for flexible config). The TP-Link’s dual 10G (RJ45 + SFP+) is great for those wanting, say, to connect a 10G fiber ONT and also hook up a 10G NAS. In essence, all three can forward multi-gigabit traffic with ease – no CPU bottlenecks were observed up to several gigabits of routing. For local file transfers, Asus and TP-Link’s 10G LAN ports allow a NAS or server to deliver content at multi-gig speeds to Wi-Fi 7 laptops (which can now exceed 1 Gbps Wi-Fi). This is a boon for those doing media editing over NAS or high-speed local backups. The Orbi’s satellites having 2.5G ports also mean you could, for example, plug a PC or media center in another room into a satellite and effectively have a 2.5 Gbps link back to the router (assuming the backhaul is strong enough). In summary, wired or wireless, these routers are ready for the multi-gig era – they’re overkill if you still have a 300 Mbps ISP plan, but they’re excellent for gigabit and beyond internet, and for heavy intra-network data usage.

To sum up the performance section, it’s clear all three are top performers in the Wi-Fi realm. The Asus GT-BE98 Pro is a “performance monster” on the new 6 GHz band, delivering very consistent high throughput and excelling when Wi-Fi 7 clients are in play. The Netgear Orbi 970 offers “wireless performance among the best in the Wi-Fi 7 mesh category”, as one review noted – it can claim the absolute peak speeds at short range thanks to multi-link, and provides robust whole-home coverage, though it’s hampered by an “exorbitant price” and some range trade-offs on 6 GHz. The TP-Link Archer BE900, while not tested by all outlets yet, has shown itself comparable in speed to these others; it may not quite hit Orbi’s short-range record, but it’s in the same ballpark as the Asus for single-unit throughput and even won praise for maintaining great speeds at typical home distances. As Wi-Fi 7 matures (and more clients with features like MLO become common), these routers are well-positioned to push insane wireless speeds. All can easily exceed 1 Gbps over Wi-Fi, bringing truly fiber-like experiences wirelessly – something unthinkable just a couple years ago.

(One important note: Real-world speeds always depend on client devices and environment. Today, many devices are Wi-Fi 6/6E, which max out around 1–1.5 Gbps in the best case. So the full potential of these Wi-Fi 7 routers will be unlocked as more Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) clients – with 320 MHz, MLO, etc. – come to market in late 2024 and 2025. Early adopters are somewhat “future-proofing” by getting these routers now, but even with existing gadgets you’ll see incremental benefits like improved capacity and reduced latency.)

Features and Use Case Suitability

Beyond raw speeds, it’s important to consider what features each router offers and what kind of user or environment it’s best suited for. Here we compare their special capabilities and ideal use cases:

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro – Built for Hardcore Gaming and Enthusiasts: As part of Asus’s Republic of Gamers line, the GT-BE98 Pro comes loaded with gaming-focused features. The router’s firmware includes Game Acceleration tools: for instance, a “Gaming Port” (one of the 2.5G LAN ports) that automatically prioritizes any device plugged into it, Adaptive QoS profiles that prioritize gaming traffic (Game Boost), and integration with the WTFast Gamers VPN to optimize routing to game servers. There’s also a built-in VPN Fusion feature (from Asus’s standard feature set) that lets you run a VPN for certain devices while others use the direct connection – useful for gamers who want a VPN on a console but not on their PC, for example. The Asus’s interface (via web or app) exposes a wealth of settings – from simple Aura RGB lighting controls to advanced networking (you can adjust transmit power, band steering, set up multiple SSIDs, static routes, VLANs, etc.). This level of customization is something enthusiasts love: “a wide range of customization features and settings that help it stand out from other routers”. It also supports AiMesh, meaning it can pair with any other AiMesh-capable Asus router to form a mesh network – great for users who might add a cheaper Asus node later for more coverage. Use-case wise, the GT-BE98 Pro is perfect for a tech-savvy, power user with a ton of devices or specific needs. Got a multi-gig gaming PC, a VR setup, and maybe a home lab with 10G switches? This router is equipped for it. It’s also ideal if you have many wired devices (the 7 LAN ports mean you might not even need a separate switch). For a large home that you eventually want full mesh coverage in, Asus’s route could be to start with this beast as the main router and maybe add a second unit or a lower-cost Asus mesh unit later. The GT-BE98 Pro’s dual 6 GHz bands also mean one 6 GHz could be dedicated as a backhaul in an AiMesh setup while still having another 6 GHz for clients – a unique advantage for an expansible gaming mesh setup. One caveat: if your household has mostly older Wi-Fi 5/6 devices and you don’t plan to upgrade clients soon, this router’s biggest strengths (Wi-Fi 7 speeds) won’t be fully utilized – in that case, a cheaper tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router might provide similar real-world results for now. But if you want the absolute cutting edge and are preparing for new Wi-Fi 7 gadgets (or already have a Wi-Fi 7 laptop/adapter), the Asus is an excellent, albeit expensive, choice. It truly caters to gamers, streamers, and LAN party hosts who demand top performance and control. As one review summarized: “While expensive, the GT-BE98 Pro has the performance and features to appeal to hardcore gamers”.
• Netgear Orbi 970 – Whole-Home Mesh for Power Users (with Deep Pockets): The Orbi 970 series is tailor-made for the scenario of a large home or estate that needs seamless Wi-Fi in every corner. If your priority is blanket coverage across multiple floors (and even outdoor areas) with minimal effort, the Orbi excels. The kit comes pre-paired – setup is as easy as placing the satellites around and following the Orbi app’s prompts. Within minutes, you’ll have one unified network covering everything from the basement to the backyard. This makes it ideal for families with many IoT devices, smart home setups, or home offices that are spread out. The dedicated backhaul design ensures that even when you’re connected to a satellite, you still get high speeds (since the router and satellite communicate over their own private high-speed link). It’s also great for multi-gig internet in large homes – e.g., if you have a 2 Gbps fiber drop in one end of the house, the Orbi can distribute that gigabit-plus speed wirelessly to a satellite on the other end, effectively giving whole-house access to the full internet bandwidth (something that would be impossible with a single router). Another use case is for users who have wired endpoints in different rooms: with Orbi 970, each satellite’s 10G LAN port can serve, say, a high-end gaming PC or 8K TV in that room at full speed, without running new Ethernet lines, because the wireless backhaul links them at multi-gig rates. This is a mesh alternative to wiring your home. However, the Orbi 970’s Achilles’ heel is its cost and fewer “pro” features. Netgear pitches Orbi to mainstream users who want simplicity – as such, the Orbi app intentionally hides or omits many advanced settings. For example, unlike Asus/TP-Link, Orbi doesn’t let you separate bands or tweak Wi-Fi parameters (a Reddit user lamented, “You can’t even set up an SSID for your WiFi 6E/7 devices… WiFi customization is basically null” reddit.com). It also pushes subscription services (more on that in the security section) and requires a Netgear account login for full functionality. Enthusiasts may find this limiting – indeed some Orbi 970 buyers (especially those upgrading from the previous Orbi 960) were disappointed by the “significant downgrade on customization and reliability” at launch reddit.com. Netgear has released firmware updates addressing some early bugs (like Apple device dropouts) reddit.com, and the system is stabilizing, but it’s clear that this product is best for those who value effortless performance over fine-tuned control. In essence, the Orbi 970 is the go-to for giant homes, multi-unit deployments, or non-technical users who simply want the fastest mesh Wi-Fi available and are willing to pay a premium for it. It’s also attractive for small businesses or luxury installations (imagine a boutique hotel or large office floor – an Orbi 970 pack could handle dozens of clients in a big area). Just be prepared for the price tag: at ~$2,300 for a 3-pack, it’s a significant investment. As one blunt review put it, the Orbi 970 is “a punishment for those who want the greatest and latest at all costs”, delivering outstanding speeds but at a laughably high price that’s tough to justify given cheaper alternatives dongknows.com. If money is no object and you absolutely need the range and multi-hop mesh capabilities, the Orbi 970 won’t disappoint in performance – but for most consumers, it’s likely overkill.
• TP-Link Archer BE900 – Cutting-Edge Home Router for Tech Enthusiasts and Smart Homes: The Archer BE900 strikes a balance between the other two. It’s not a multi-unit system like Orbi (though it can mesh if needed), and it’s not explicitly a gaming router like the Asus (though it’s plenty fast for gaming). Instead, TP-Link loaded it with innovative features and broad appeal. This router is great for a modern smart home where you might appreciate having a status display on the router itself, or for someone who entertains and wants the cool factor of showing guests the Wi-Fi password via QR code on a touchscreen. It’s also well-suited for users who have a mix of high-end requirements: e.g., you have a multi-gig internet connection (the BE900 can handle dual WAN or failover with its two WAN/LAN ports), you might have or plan to get a fiber GPON module (it can take SFP+ modules, unique at this price), and you want to connect several wired devices at >1Gbps speeds (with four 2.5G ports, you can directly hook up devices like a Wi-Fi 6E access point, an office desktop, and a NAS all at 2.5G each). The BE900 also comes with TP-Link’s HomeShield software suite, which includes network security scanning, QoS, and parental controls – some of which are free, and some requiring a subscription for “Pro” level (more details shortly). Families might like features such as detailed parental control profiles, weekly usage reports, etc., which TP-Link provides through its app. In terms of raw performance, the BE900 is more than enough for any single-home scenario – it can easily handle dozens of devices streaming 4K or doing video calls simultaneously, thanks to its high capacity and quad-band concurrency. If you live in an apartment or medium house, the BE900 will likely cover it and then some (though the second 5 GHz band is a bit underutilized in smaller spaces unless you have many devices or use MLO). For a tech enthusiast, the BE900 is fun – its screens give a new way to interact with your network, and it’s fully configurable via the web interface too (unlike some Netgear products, TP-Link still provides a local web GUI with extensive settings). It might not have as many niche settings as Asus (for example, Asus Merlin custom firmware is not an option on TP-Link), but it has all the essentials. One might consider the BE900 the “prosumer” choice: it’s slightly less costly than Asus, yet offering nearly the same high-end experience, and it’s a big step up in features from typical ISP routers or older Wi-Fi 6 models. It’s a jack-of-all-trades – you can game on it (its latency is low, though it doesn’t have dedicated gaming QoS like ROG), you can work from home on it (robust VPN server/client support is included), you can automate your home on it (it supports Alexa and IFTTT for some integrations), and it looks stylish doing it. If you also want to avoid getting locked into subscriptions (as we’ll see, TP-Link at least provides basic security features without paywalls), the BE900 might appeal more than Netgear’s approach. The ideal BE900 buyer is someone who wants top-tier Wi-Fi and wired performance but doesn’t need a multi-node system (at least not initially), and who appreciates a bit of futurism and value-add in their router.

In summary: Gamers and LAN enthusiasts will gravitate toward the Asus ROG GT-BE98 Pro for its specialized features and port density. Those needing maximum coverage and a hassle-free mesh for a mansion or multi-story property might choose the Netgear Orbi 970, accepting its high cost for the benefit of whole-home multi-gig Wi-Fi. And tech-savvy home users or small-office owners who want the latest tech and a versatile all-in-one router would do well with the TP-Link Archer BE900, which packs nearly all of Wi-Fi 7’s benefits into a single unit with some unique touches.

Software, Security and Firmware Capabilities

The user experience of these routers is heavily influenced by their software – both the user interface for management and the built-in features like security suites. Here’s how they compare:

• Management Interface and Ease of Setup: All three companies provide mobile apps that make initial setup easy. Netgear Orbi 970 is managed via the Orbi app, which guides you through plugging in the router and satellites, creating a network name, etc. Users and reviewers report that it’s “easy to set up” – in fact, one of Orbi’s pros in a review was simply “Easy setup”. Once set up, the Orbi app shows connected devices, basic settings, and prompts to subscribe to extras. Notably, Netgear increasingly pushes cloud-dependent management – to use all features of the Orbi app (and to enable remote management), you must create a Netgear account and log in. Advanced users can still access a web interface, but Netgear’s web UI on Orbi is somewhat stripped down compared to their Nighthawk routers, and it may nag you toward using the app. By contrast, ASUS offers both the Asus Router app and one of the best web GUIs in the industry. You can fully set up the GT-BE98 Pro from the app in a few minutes (it will detect your internet, let you configure Wi-Fi, etc.), or you can do it old-school via a browser. The Asus web interface is very comprehensive – it exposes all the router’s features with a logical tabbed UI. Importantly, Asus does not require any cloud account to use the app or interface; you can run everything locally (creating an optional Asus Cloud account only if you want remote management). This aligns with privacy-conscious users’ preferences dongknows.com. TP-Link’s Tether app is used for the Archer BE900. Setup via Tether is straightforward and similar – you can get online in minutes. TP-Link does encourage creating a TP-Link ID (cloud account) for remote access and to unlock some Tether app features, but you can opt out and manage the router solely on the local network if desired. The Archer BE900 also has a full web management UI, which is relatively user-friendly, though slightly less granular than Asus’s. All three routers support basic and advanced configurations like guest networks, port forwarding, DNS settings, etc. The difference is in the depth of tweakability: Asus wins for power-users (with settings like static routing, custom DDNS, Dual-WAN, VPN server/client, and even scripting via Asuswrt), TP-Link is a close second (it offers VPN, some form of OneMesh/EasyMesh control, and decent advanced settings), and Netgear Orbi is more locked-down (fewer advanced LAN settings and some features only via app). For daily use, however, each app allows easy monitoring of devices and network status.
• Security Features: Each router comes with its own security package to protect your home network, though the approach and cost differ:
  • Asus AiProtection Pro: The GT-BE98 Pro includes Asus’s AiProtection Pro suite for free for the lifetime of the product. This is powered by Trend Micro and provides malware site blocking, two-way intrusion prevention (to stop infected devices from phoning out), and robust parental controls (website filters, time schedules per device/user). It’s essentially enterprise-grade security at no additional cost. Asus also does not require any subscription for these features – it’s an included value dongknows.com. This is a strong selling point for Asus; you get peace of mind without recurring fees. AiProtection is easily managed via the app or web UI (you can see weekly security reports, quarantine alerts, etc.).
  • Netgear Armor (Bitdefender) and Subscriptions: Netgear takes a different route – their security solution, Netgear Armor, is a partnership with Bitdefender and requires a paid subscription after a trial period. Armor provides active threat scans, vulnerability assessment, and optional Bitdefender Total Security licenses for your devices. The Orbi 970 comes with a short free trial of Armor (usually 30 days or 1 year depending on promotion), after which it costs around $99/year to continue using dongknows.com. Likewise, advanced parental controls on Orbi (the “Smart Parental Controls” feature) are a separate subscription (~$70/year) dongknows.com. Without paying, the Orbi will still do basic firewall/NAT and you can set up simple internet blocking schedules, but you lose the automated threat protection. Netgear also has been known to send occasional reminder notifications in the app about subscribing, which some find annoying. This approach is somewhat controversial – you pay top dollar for the hardware and have to pay continuously for security features that others include free. It’s worth noting that Orbi does at least include guest network isolation and standard WPA3 encryption support out of the box, so baseline security is fine – but the extra layer of malware blocking or family controls will cost you.
  • TP-Link HomeShield: TP-Link offers a tiered model. Their HomeShield Basic is free on the Archer BE900, providing features like network scanning, QoS (quality of service) priorities, basic parental controls (profile-based content filtering, time limits), and monthly reports. Then there’s HomeShield Pro which unlocks more advanced functionality (e.g., more granular content filters, detailed usage statistics, extra security scanning) for a subscription (~$5.99/month or ~$54/year). The crucial point is that even without a subscription, you do get some level of protection and control – and unlike Netgear, TP-Link’s app doesn’t nag as much about upgrading. However, using HomeShield (even Basic) typically requires logging in with a TP-Link ID, since some data is cloud-processed. Reviewers have pointed out that “HomeShield Pro costs extra and requires a login account” – seen as a con by some dongknows.com. If one chooses not to subscribe, the BE900 still functions with standard firewall and basic features intact; HomeShield Pro is optional for those who want deeper insights.
• Firmware Updates and Reliability: Being bleeding-edge devices, firmware updates have been critical for all three. Asus has a reputation for frequent updates and an active user community. Early buyers of the GT-BE98 Pro reported a generally stable experience, but Asus did push several firmware fixes (e.g., resolving a bug with device list and some UI quirks). Asus also allows custom firmware – the Asuswrt-Merlin project often supports ROG routers (though at the time of writing it may or may not support the BE98 Pro specifically, since it’s very new). Custom firmware can further enhance features for advanced users. Netgear Orbi 970 had a rocky start – “the hardware was still quite buggy, even months after launch, with multiple firmware updates” needed. Users on forums complained of devices (especially iPhones) disconnecting, satellites dropping off, and the lack of band control causing issues. Netgear has released updates that, according to some, “fixed [the] iOS devices dropping connection” reddit.com and improved stability. As of mid-2025, many initial bugs have been ironed out, but prospective buyers should ensure they update to the latest firmware during setup. Netgear tends to support Orbi systems with updates for a few years, though not quite at the pace Asus does. TP-Link rushed to be first to market with Wi-Fi 7 – indeed Dong Knows Tech noted TP-Link released its Wi-Fi 7 routers “somewhat-unfinished… to be the first,” expecting to make them whole via firmware over time. The Archer BE900 received updates enabling features that were missing at launch (like EasyMesh interoperability, and fine-tuning MLO settings). Some early TP-Link BE-series users (especially of the BE800) reported Wi-Fi instability or reboots, which a subsequent firmware patch addressed. By mid-2025, TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 7 routers are on much more mature firmware. One unique aspect: the Archer BE900’s touchscreen can also indicate issues (like an exclamation mark if the network is down), and firmware updates can be triggered from the screen menus – a neat usability bonus. Automatic firmware updates are optional on all three brands (you can schedule or manual-update; Netgear’s app might auto-update by default unless turned off).
• Unique Software Features: Each router has some special sauce:
  • The Asus GT-BE98 Pro supports Traffic Analyzer (real-time and historical traffic statistics per device), comprehensive VPN capabilities (it can run a VPN server for remote access or a VPN client to pipe certain devices through an external VPN provider), Dual-WAN or failover (useful if you have two ISPs), and even features like AiCloud (to access USB drive files remotely). Asus also supports OneMesh/AiMesh which we discussed, giving it flexibility to mix-and-match nodes. Another cool feature for smart homes: Asus routers can integrate with Alexa and IFTTT (you can ask Alexa to turn on the guest Wi-Fi, etc.).
  • The Netgear Orbi 970 keeps things simpler – it focuses on mesh functionality. A noteworthy feature is wired backhaul support: if you have Ethernet in your walls, Orbi lets you use that to connect satellites, which can maximize performance (though the wireless backhaul is so fast it’s often unnecessary). Orbi also has a Dedicated IoT Network feature (recent firmware) which allows you to segregate IoT devices on a separate network for security (some Orbi models got this update, need to verify on 970). But beyond that, Netgear intentionally doesn’t overload Orbi with extras – it doesn’t have built-in VPN server, for example (their philosophy is that mesh users aren’t power users – arguably a miscalculation for a $2k system). The upside is a somewhat cleaner interface for novices. Netgear’s Nighthawk app (for their standalone routers) is different from the Orbi app; in the 970, you’re limited to the Orbi app environment.
  • The TP-Link Archer BE900 packs in a lot: it supports VPN server/client (as of firmware updates), has a HomeCare/HomeShield antivirus and QoS, and interestingly, TP-Link has been part of the push for Matter/Thread in smart homes – the BE900 doesn’t have a built-in Thread border router or anything (unlike some newer Eero or Nest routers), but it is fully capable of handling a crowded smart home network with many IoT devices, and you can prioritize those via QoS profiles. The BE900’s touchscreen adds a novel way to control some features (as described). TP-Link’s Tether app also allows integration with their other products – for example, if you have TP-Link Kasa smart plugs or Tapo cameras, sometimes the app links things together for easier management (not a core router function, but part of TP-Link’s ecosystem approach).

In terms of privacy, Asus and TP-Link let you opt out of cloud features, whereas Netgear pretty much funnels you through their cloud (especially for app usage). Some users prefer the local-only approach for security reasons. Enterprise or advanced features like VLAN tagging, static routes, SNMP, etc., are mostly absent on Orbi, partially present on TP-Link, and largely present on Asus (Asuswrt is quite close to business router firmware in some respects).

Firmware longevity is worth noting: Asus is known to support routers for many years with updates (and even when official support ends, Merlin or third-party firmware might extend life). TP-Link historically provides updates for a few years on flagship models. Netgear often discontinues updates after a couple of years, though security patches may come longer. Since Wi-Fi 7 is new, we can expect at least 2-3 years of solid firmware development on these as issues are refined and new features (like full Wi-Fi 7 certification features) are added.

Pricing, Availability and Value

When it comes to price, these routers span a wide range – from expensive to extremely expensive:

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro launched at an MSRP of $799 USD tomshardware.com. As of mid-August 2025, its price has hovered around that point; sometimes on sale for ~$749, but generally still in the $700–800 range given it’s a top-end model. In other regions, Asus sells a very similar model (GT-BE98 non-Pro) with tri-band (only one 6 GHz) – for example, in Europe and Asia the GT-BE98 might be available instead of the Pro, typically at a slightly lower price (equivalent of $600–700). The Pro model (quad-band) is predominantly in North America, while other markets got the tri-band version first, possibly due to regulatory and market considerations. In any case, expect to pay around £700 in the UK or €800 in Europe for this class of router if available. It’s a steep price for a single router. That said, compared to the Netgear, it almost looks “reasonable.” For what you get – essentially the most feature-rich standalone router on the market – many enthusiasts find the price acceptable (it’s in line with prior flagship routers like the GT-AX11000, etc., when they launched). Asus routers are sold via major retailers and e-tailers; availability is generally good, though early in 2024 it was in short supply due to demand. By 2025, you can find it at big electronics stores or online easily.
• Netgear Orbi 970 is the priciest of the lot by a large margin. The 3-pack (router + 2 sats) has an MSRP of $2,299.99. The 2-pack (router + 1 sat) goes for $1,699.99. Individual satellites (to expand coverage) cost about $899 a piece. These are eye-watering numbers. Netgear positions the 970 series as the ultra-premium mesh, and it has pretty much had that segment to itself (few other companies have a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh yet at this level). As a result, discounts have been rare; one might find the 3-pack on sale for $1,999 at times or a bundle with Armor included for a year. Still, you’re looking at spending 4-5× the price of a high-end single router. In terms of value, most reviewers have panned the cost – Tom’s Hardware flatly stated the Orbi’s “$2,000+ price as-tested is laughable”, and Dong Knows Tech called it “stupidly overpriced”. It’s a niche product for those who demand the best and are willing to pay for it. Interestingly, Netgear has since released lower-tier Wi-Fi 7 meshes (the Orbi 770 series tri-band, Orbi 870, etc.) which cost less, but the 970 remains the crown jewel. If you are considering Orbi 970, you should also consider that for the same money you could get, for example, two Asus ZenWiFi Pro mesh units (Asus’s mesh Wi-Fi 7 kit, model BQ16, which costs around $999 for a 2-pack) or TP-Link’s Deco BE95 mesh 2-pack ($1,200) – either of those might cover a large home nearly as well. Netgear is essentially charging a huge premium for being an early adopter with maximum specs. Availability: Orbi 970 is available through Netgear’s site, Amazon, Best Buy, etc., but it’s a more specialty item. In some countries, Netgear sells them via authorized installers or high-end AV retailers (targeting the luxury custom install market). In Europe, expect the 3-pack to retail around £2,099 or €2,299. The high price also means fewer user reviews out there (compared to Asus or TP-Link with more accessible prices).
• TP-Link Archer BE900 launched at $699.99 USD. This undercut Asus by $100 while offering a similar top-tier router, which immediately made it a kind of “value flagship.” As of August 2025, its price has dipped further at times – it’s not uncommon to find it on sale for $599 or even $549 during big sale events. TP-Link also sells the tri-band BE800 at ~$499 street price, so the BE900 is the premium one but still generally under $700. Given it doubles as a tech gadget with its displays, some consumers found the price justified for what you get. In terms of value, one could argue the BE900 offers 90% of the Asus’s capabilities at ~85% of the price – plus some unique extras. If you don’t specifically need Asus’s dual 6GHz or gamer tweaks, the BE900 is a slightly better bang for buck among single-unit Wi-Fi 7 routers. TP-Link also tends to allow more aggressive discounting through retailers, so it’s the most “affordable” of this bunch (though calling a $600+ router affordable is relative!). Availability: TP-Link had a global launch for BE900 relatively early (it was hitting stores by summer 2023 in some regions). It’s widely available online (Amazon, Newegg, etc.) and in electronics stores. In Europe, its price is roughly £599 or €650 (varies by country). TP-Link also has a gaming variant Archer GE800 and mesh variant Deco BE95, but those are separate product lines – the BE900 itself currently has no direct successor or variant above it, making it the top mainstream TP-Link router.

Regional differences: We mentioned Asus’s model naming (Pro vs non-Pro) by region. Netgear’s Orbi is the same globally, but note that Wi-Fi 7’s 6 GHz band availability varies – in the EU, the 6 GHz spectrum (called Wi-Fi 6E when used under 6 GHz) might have power restrictions, and AFC (to increase power for 6 GHz outdoors) is not yet approved in many countries. So performance of these routers can be region-limited on 6 GHz until regulations allow higher power or AFC usage. For example, in the US the Asus and TP-Link can use the entire 6 GHz band (1200 MHz) with standard power indoors; in EU, currently only 500 MHz of it is unlicensed indoors, limiting some channel options. These nuances mean the “up to X Gbps” marketing numbers might be slightly lower in practice in some regions due to fewer channels. The routers themselves adjust based on region firmware.

When considering value for money, it’s useful to weigh the investment against longevity. These are all Wi-Fi 7 routers expected to be relevant for many years. If you buy one now, it’s unlikely Wi-Fi 8 will be a thing until around 2029 or beyond. So you’re essentially future-proofing your network for the next 4-5 years at least. In that sense, the Asus and TP-Link, while pricey, might be justified for early adopters who want to ride the cutting edge over that time. The Netgear, however, is such a high cost that one might question if a combination of other products could achieve the same result for less. Even reviewers who loved its performance balked at recommending it purely due to cost: “we can’t recommend dropping $1,400 to $2,000… given cheaper competition with similar performance”. On the other hand, if you truly need a turnkey 3-unit Wi-Fi 7 mesh, the Orbi 970 currently has few direct competitors – so Netgear is milking that advantage.

From a consumer standpoint, the TP-Link BE900 likely offers the best value here (highest performance per dollar), the Asus offers the best “no compromises” solution if you specifically want its features (at a moderate premium), and the Netgear offers an unparalleled mesh experience at a massive premium. Each buyer will have to decide what fits their budget and needs. It’s worth noting that mid-range Wi-Fi 7 routers are emerging (e.g., TP-Link BE550, Asus RT-BE96U around $300-500 range, tri-band systems like Deco BE85 for ~$1000 2-pack). So, one could achieve a lot of the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 at lower cost if willing to drop some of the extravagances. The three devices in this comparison, however, represent the ultra-high-end segment – they’re the Ferraris of routers in 2025.

Expert Reviews and User Feedback

All three routers have been put through their paces by tech reviewers and early adopters. The reception has been generally positive regarding performance, with caveats mostly about price and the nascent Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem. Here are some telling quotes and feedback from credible sources:

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro: “The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is an outstanding quad-band Wi-Fi 7 router that delivers blazing speeds across long distances. It offers numerous multi-gigabit network ports and a wide range of customization features and settings that help it stand out from other Wi-Fi 7 routers… [It] has an additional 6GHz band for increased capacity… If you don’t intend on setting up a mesh network, the RT-BE96U offers better value. Otherwise, this model is very big and leans heavily into a gamer aesthetic with aggressive styling, so it may not seamlessly fit into everyone’s home decor.” (RTINGS.com). This encapsulates the Asus: class-leading performance and features, albeit in a huge gamer-centric package. Many reviewers gave it high marks for speed. Tom’s Hardware awarded it an Editor’s Choice, praising the “fast and consistent performance on the 6GHz band” and its “plethora of LAN ports”. They concluded “if you want top-notch wireless performance with plenty of capacity for wired expansion, it’s hard to ignore the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro”. User feedback has likewise been positive about its performance – e.g., on forums, one owner wrote that it’s “lightning fast and has much better range than expected”. The main criticisms are its size and price, and the fact that at this early stage few client devices can fully utilize Wi-Fi 7 (one reviewer noted “Wi-Fi 7 clients aren’t readily available… [so] the $799 asking price is a lot to ask”). But as a future-proof investment, hardcore users are generally “over the moon” with what the GT-BE98 Pro can do.
• Netgear Orbi 970: This system impressed in performance tests but almost every expert questioned its value. Tom’s Hardware’s verdict was sharp: “It takes more than good looks and excellent performance to win over customers, so the Orbi 970’s $2,000 as-tested price puts it at a significant disadvantage.”. They listed Pros like “Wireless performance among the best… Easy setup… 2.5 and 10G ports on the router and satellites”, but the Cons as “- Exorbitant price; – Limited network and Wi-Fi controls compared to the competition; – No USB ports”. Dong Knows Tech was even more blunt, titling his review “Good but Stupidly Overpriced”. He wrote, “the Orbi 970 series is the fastest Orbi to date. But this mesh system has far less to offer than the enormous expectation created by its sticker-shock price… there will be many other significantly less expensive options that can deliver the same performance and much more in features.”. Perhaps the most scathing line: “In a way, this new Orbi mesh set is a punishment for those who want the greatest and latest at all costs and are gullible enough to believe it fits the bill.” dongknows.com. On the user side, early adopters on Netgear’s forum and Reddit have reported mixed experiences. Some love the speeds (“I didn’t know WiFi could be THIS GOOD,” one YouTube reviewer exclaimed), while others ran into issues: “The 970s is a significant downgrade on customization and reliability… can’t even change transmission power… iPhone disconnects… It’s ridiculous. I’ve lost all trust,” said one frustrated Reddit user reddit.com. Another user wrote “I love my Orbi 970 – runs super smooth and great speeds… so far so good”, indicating not everyone had problems. It seems Netgear has been actively issuing fixes, and many Orbi owners are hopeful that over time it will justify itself. But even among those happy with it, almost all agree the price is very high. The consensus: excellent mesh performance, but poor value for most, and power-users might be annoyed by the locked-down settings.
• TP-Link Archer BE900: The BE900 earned a reputation as a forward-thinking router that’s fun to use. Tom’s Guide’s hands-on review (Brian Nadel) was titled “surprisingly great” and highlighted the displays: “After I lived with the TP-Link Archer BE900 router for two weeks… the Wi-Fi 7 router is not only among the fastest ways to move wireless data around my house, but it has no annoying LEDs. What it does have is two screens that show me what’s going on inside the router… It’s so hard not to look at, it’s a bit habit-forming.”. This speaks to the user-friendliness angle TP-Link took. Another Tom’s Guide piece noted that at $699, it’s priced in line with competitors, and “paying $100 more for the Archer BE900 gets you a few additional ports, a faster max Wi-Fi speed and of course, a touchscreen display” over the BE800. That suggests the BE900 is seen as a worthwhile step-up for those who want the best TP-Link can offer. Dong Knows Tech gave a more measured take, essentially advising mainstream users that “You’d better wait” on Wi-Fi 7 in general, hinting that the BE900, while top-notch, might not deliver much extra in real-world usage to justify its cost of $100 more [than BE800]… and might not even work well in some cases until Wi-Fi 7 is certified. That was early advice when Wi-Fi 7 clients were non-existent – by mid-2025, with certification complete and more clients emerging, the BE900 is easier to recommend. User feedback for BE900 has been largely positive on retailer sites: many cite its ease of setup (“the Tether app is intuitive and user-friendly”) and strong performance (“great range and speed… I love the look of it”). The most common complaint has been some firmware instability at launch, which appears to have been resolved in later updates. Compared to the other two, the BE900 doesn’t attract as much extreme opinion – it’s not as flashy (in terms of brand) as ROG, nor as controversial as Orbi. It quietly delivers a premium router experience and most users seem satisfied that they got what they paid for. Those who wanted a mesh might opt for Deco BE95 instead, but for a single router, BE900 is generally seen as high-performing and feature-rich, with a dash of cool innovation.

In summary, tech experts laud all three for pushing the envelope of Wi-Fi performance. The Asus is praised for its combination of speed and features (earning Editor’s Choice in some reviews). The Netgear is acknowledged as top-tier in performance but heavily criticized for its cost-benefit ratio. The TP-Link is appreciated for marrying high performance with a novel design and slightly better value, though some caution that the real-world difference from cheaper models isn’t huge until Wi-Fi 7 matures. User feedback mirrors these: Asus owners brag about insane speeds and having “no regrets” splurging for the latest tech, Orbi owners love the Wi-Fi coverage but some regret the purchase due to bugs or costs, and TP-Link owners are pleasantly surprised by how fun and fast their router is, with fewer complaints overall.

News, Updates and Future Outlook

As of mid-August 2025, these routers represent the state-of-the-art, but the tech world never stands still. Here’s the latest news on firmware, any known issues, and a peek at what might be coming next:

• Wi-Fi 7 Certification and Firmware Updates: The Wi-Fi Alliance officially certified the Wi-Fi 7 standard in early 2024. All three of these routers were released before or around that time, using draft-standard chipsets. Since certification, manufacturers have been issuing firmware updates to ensure full compliance. This includes support for features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) in a standardized way, 320 MHz channel usage where allowed, and upcoming features like Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) for 6 GHz. Asus, for example, announced adding AFC support in firmware to boost 6 GHz range where regulatory approved tomshardware.com. Netgear and TP-Link are likely to follow suit once AFC databases come online (particularly in the US). If you buy any of these routers, it’s wise to update to the latest firmware to benefit from these enhancements. There were also some early bugs: Orbi’s were most publicized (as discussed, firmware updates have addressed many issues like device drops, though some users still await improvements in things like band steering). TP-Link’s early units lacked some advertised functions (the BE900’s second screen features were partially enabled later, and EasyMesh was added). Asus’s GT-BE98 Pro had relatively minor issues, but one known bug was a “manual assignment bug” with DHCP that users on forums discussed – presumably patched by now. Overall, ongoing support from all three vendors is expected. In fact, Asus recently updated its firmware Merlin (unofficial) support for some Wi-Fi 7 models, which advanced users track closely.
• Successor Models or Rumors: Right now, these routers are the flagships, but we’re already seeing the product lines expand:
  • Asus in May 2025 unveiled new ROG routers at Computex – notably the ROG Strix GS-BE18000 and the ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI tomshardware.com tomshardware.com. The GS-BE18000 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router (up to 18 Gbps combined) that sports an insane nine 2.5G LAN ports – clearly aiming at wired gamers (LAN party ready, as Asus jokes). It’s like a scaled-down Wi-Fi (one 6 GHz band) but scaled-up LAN version of the GT-BE98. The GT-BE19000AI, on the other hand, appears to be a variant with an AI NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to power security and maybe AI-driven network optimizations, in a sleek white chassis tomshardware.com. These are not exactly “successors” to the GT-BE98 Pro, but rather adjacent models targeting slightly different niches (the Strix is a new series, and the GT-BE19000AI might slot just below the GT-BE98 Pro in specs). The fact Asus hasn’t announced a GT-BE99 or such suggests the GT-BE98 Pro will remain the top dog through 2025. We might see an iteration or refresh when Broadcom (the chipset maker) releases a second-gen Wi-Fi 7 chipset – possibly an updated Pro model in late 2025 or 2026, but nothing concrete yet. For now, Asus is expanding the lineup horizontally (different models for different needs) rather than replacing the GT-BE98 Pro.
  • Netgear has introduced lower models in Wi-Fi 7 Orbi: the Orbi 870 (tri-band) and even a budget dual-band Orbi 370 were mentioned in Netgear’s materials. These fill out the portfolio at lower price points (though still expensive, just not as crazy as the 970). As for a successor to the 970, none is rumored yet. Given Netgear’s past cadence, they might hold the 970 as flagship for at least 2 years. Perhaps a mid-cycle hardware revision could come (e.g., an Orbi 975 with tweaks) if new tech like the Qualcomm NFC (Next-Gen Forwarding) platform becomes available – but nothing as of mid-2025. One thing to watch: Netgear’s competition. If, say, Asus or TP-Link release a quad-band mesh at a much lower price, Netgear might respond with something new sooner. But currently, Netgear’s Orbi 970 stands alone, and they likely are focusing on selling it without replacing it soon. Expect support through firmware for a while – for example, Netgear might add features like VLAN support or additional SSID options if they feel pressure (a lot of Orbi 970 owners have requested an option to separate the 6 GHz SSID – it’s unclear if Netgear will budge on that).
  • TP-Link has been active in launching Wi-Fi 7 products. Aside from the Archer BE series, they launched the gaming-focused Archer GE800 (a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with a flashy design and gaming features) and multiple Deco mesh systems (BE85, BE95, BE65, etc.). The Archer BE900 remains the flagship traditional router. There aren’t strong rumors of a BE10000 or anything yet – likely, TP-Link will hold the BE900 as top model through 2025. They did show concept devices of next-gen at CES 2024 but those were mostly the ones already released. Perhaps in 2026, we might see a BE950 or a new revision once more robust Wi-Fi 7 client adoption allows them to refine. One interesting angle: TP-Link could potentially release a mesh add-on satellite for the BE900 (similar to how Asus can use AiMesh, TP-Link could leverage EasyMesh to sell a dedicated satellite unit to pair with BE900 for those who want to extend it without buying a whole Deco system – currently not in market, but EasyMesh means a Deco BE-series unit could actually be linked with an Archer BE900 theoretically).
• Current Issues or Notable Updates: As of August 2025, one can say:
  • The Asus GT-BE98 Pro is running stable for most, no major complaints in recent months. It did what it promised, and Asus has provided a few feature updates (like supporting the latest Asus app functions, etc.). If anything, the question is how much benefit that second 6GHz band provides in real life – some testing, like Dong Knows, suggests that splitting bands has diminishing returns due to channel constraints. But at least Asus gives the option.
  • The Netgear Orbi 970 has improved but still might not satisfy network tweakers. The consensus on forums is that it’s great when it works, but if something goes wrong (e.g., tricky client compatibility), you have fewer tools to troubleshoot due to limited settings. Netgear support has been actively engaging with some users for beta firmware. A known current limitation: the Orbi 970 cannot split SSIDs (all bands in one), which some advanced users dislike; also it doesn’t have per-device traffic monitoring or other advanced interface stats that you might expect at this price. Netgear might address some via updates, but not guaranteed.
  • The TP-Link Archer BE900 recently got a firmware that enabled EasyMesh officially, meaning it can now mix with other EasyMesh devices. Also, TP-Link has been updating its Tether app to better support the dual screens (like customizing the dot-matrix animations). An issue some BE900 users noted was the LED screen brightness – TP-Link added a setting to dim or turn off the screens if needed (since a constantly bright screen might bother some at night). No showstopper bugs are noted in recent months; it’s generally considered stable now. A tech trend to watch: TP-Link and others might add Matter support into routers (to act as smart home hubs) – no mention of that for these models yet, but given the BE900’s IoT friendliness, maybe an update could allow it to facilitate Matter device onboarding (just speculation).
• Upcoming Wi-Fi 7 Client Devices: Not exactly router news, but relevant: by mid-2025 we’re seeing laptops with Intel/Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 cards, new smartphones with Wi-Fi 7 (e.g., flagship Android phones in late 2024/2025 started including Wi-Fi 7 chipsets). This will finally allow owners of these routers to flex their full capabilities. For instance, a laptop with Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Wi-Fi 7 was used in Tom’s tests. As these clients proliferate, expect more real-world reports of people hitting multi-gig Wi-Fi speeds with these routers. It also means any initial interoperability quirks (router from one brand, client from another) will get ironed out.
• Competition and Successors: By late 2025 or 2026, other players like Eero (Amazon) and Google Nest will likely launch Wi-Fi 7 systems. Eero Max 7 was announced (a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh) – for now, Eero’s approach is different (more ease-of-use, less extreme specs). Google’s Nest Wifi 7 perhaps on horizon. When those come, they could push prices down or offer alternatives (though likely none will have the crazy spec of Orbi 970’s quad-band, at least initially). This context suggests that the next year or so might see incremental upgrades but nothing that makes these three obsolete. They will remain among the elite options, and only a significant technology leap (like Wi-Fi 7 Wave 2 or Wi-Fi 8 preview) would shake that status.

In essence, buying any of these now, you can be confident they’ll be top-tier for a few years. If you’re cautious, the advice from some experts to “wait a bit” was mainly to let firmware mature and Wi-Fi 7 clients appear. That has largely happened over the past year. We’re now at the point where these products are delivering on their promises and the ecosystem is catching up.

Conclusion

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, Netgear Orbi 970, and TP-Link Archer BE900 are all formidable in their own right – each one a flag-bearer for Wi-Fi 7 technology, yet each targeting a slightly different niche:

• The GT-BE98 Pro is the enthusiast’s dream: blistering fast, loaded with ports and features, and geared towards gamers and power-users who demand control. It turns your network into a high-performance playground, albeit in the shape of a gigantic RGB-lit spider. It’s expensive, but it earns that price by delivering class-leading specs and no recurring fees for its full feature set dongknows.com. If you want the ultimate standalone router and don’t mind the size (or aesthetic), the Asus is hard to beat.
• The Orbi 970 is the whole-home conqueror: unrivaled in coverage and multi-node performance, and simple enough that it “just works” once set up, blanketing mansions in speedy Wi-Fi. However, that convenience and capacity come at an astronomical cost, both financially and in terms of flexibility. It’s the right choice if your Wi-Fi needs span a huge area and you value a turnkey mesh with proven performance – perhaps for a busy household or small business – and you’re willing to invest heavily. For many tech-savvy users, though, the Orbi 970 may be a tough sell when more customizable (and cheaper) solutions exist. As one expert quipped, “the Orbi 970 offers excellent performance with a price tag that’s tough to swallow.”
• The Archer BE900 is the forward-thinking innovator: it blends high performance with unique usability features, and does so at a price that, while high, undercuts the others. It’s an excellent choice for a cutting-edge home network where you want top speeds, robust wired options, and some futuristic flair (hello, dual screens) without venturing into four-figure budgets. It’s also a bit friendlier to set up for an average user than the Asus, and doesn’t push subscriptions like Netgear. Think of it as the best all-rounder – it may not outright win in any single spec vs. Asus (except having that cool touchscreen), but it has a little of everything and presents a very polished, modern user experience.

In the end, choosing the right router comes down to your priorities:

• If you’re a gamer or network enthusiast with a super high-speed internet pipe and a need for lots of wired connectivity, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro will feel like it was made for you. It’s an investment that will pay off in performance, and it’s already earned accolades as one of “2025’s best Wi-Fi routers” for those reasons.
• If you have a large property or simply refuse to compromise on Wi-Fi in any corner of your home – and you don’t mind paying a premium – the Netgear Orbi 970 is basically the Ferrari of mesh systems. It’s overkill for many, but for the use case it’s designed for, it delivers unparalleled results. Just go in with eyes open about the cost and the fact you’re an early adopter. It might be wise to monitor Netgear’s updates or even consider professional installation to optimize placement for this system, given the investment.
• If you want cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 with a balance of performance and practicality (and perhaps a bit of fun), the TP-Link Archer BE900 is a compelling pick. It exemplifies how far router design has come – turning an object that used to be hidden under a desk into a centerpiece you might actually show off. It will serve well for heavy internet users, streamers, families with many gadgets, and anyone who appreciates its mix of tech and convenience.

All three of these devices are highly capable, and importantly, they are all ready for the next generation of devices and internet speeds. Buying one means you won’t need to think about upgrading your router for a long while. As one reviewer aptly put it, “Wi-Fi 7 is the biggest upgrade for your home network in years”, and these routers are the ones ushering that upgrade into homes. The choice ultimately hinges on whether you prioritize the absolute best mesh coverage, the richest feature set, or the best balance of features to price.

One thing is certain: Wi-Fi 7 has arrived with a bang. The ASUS GT-BE98 Pro, Netgear Orbi 970, and TP-Link BE900 show just how far router technology has leaped – from multi-gigabit wireless throughput to app-powered controls and integrated security. Whichever you choose, you’ll be at the cutting edge of home networking. Just a few years ago, who would’ve thought we’d be discussing 10 Gbps ports and 3 Gbps Wi-Fi speeds in consumer routers? The future is here, and it’s streaming, gaming, and connecting faster than ever.

Sources:

• Brandon Hill, Tom’s Hardware – Review of Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, May 15, 2024.
• RTINGS.com – Asus GT-BE98 Pro Evaluation, updated Feb 2025.
• Dong Ngo, Dong Knows Tech – Asus GT-BE98 Pro Review, Jan 2024.
• Brandon Hill, Tom’s Hardware – Review of Netgear Orbi 970 (RBE973), Dec 13, 2024.
• Dong Ngo, Dong Knows Tech – Netgear Orbi 970 Series Review, Jan 18, 2024 dongknows.com.
• Reddit – user feedback on Orbi 970 (r/orbi forum, 7 months ago) reddit.com.
• Tom’s Guide – Best Wi-Fi 7 Routers 2025 (analysis by Andrew Hayward/Brian Nadel).
• Anthony Spadafora, Tom’s Guide – TP-Link Archer BE800 vs BE900 Face-off, Dec 3, 2023.
• Brian Nadel, Tom’s Guide – Hands-on with Archer BE900, Nov 6, 2023 tomsguide.com.
• TP-Link Press – Archer BE900 Launch info (TP-Link democratizes Wi-Fi 7), Jan 2023 dongknows.com.
• Kunal Khullar, Tom’s Hardware – Computex 2025 Asus ROG routers news, May 23, 2025 tomshardware.com.
• Netgear Press – Orbi 970 product page and spec sheets.
• Best Buy customer reviews – summary for Archer BE900.
• Dong Ngo, Dong Knows Tech – “Best Wi-Fi 7 Routers 2025” list, 2025.
• Various expert commentary and user reports compiled from the above sources.