Netgear Orbi AX4200 vs. AX6000 RBK752 vs. RBK852
The Netgear Orbi is one of the best brands that can bring the power of WiFi 6 into your home. Netgear offers a variety of models but today, let’s compare Orbi AX4200 (RBK752) vs. Orbi AX6000 (RBK852).
We gathered the most intricate information to help you choose which one is best for you. From wifi speeds to processor, antenna, port, design, and cost, we got you covered!
Generally, Orbi AX4200/RBK752 and AX6000/RBK852 are part of the market’s most powerful mesh systems. While Orbi RBK752 includes many optimization options, the Orbi RBK852 provides a stronger signal and an added layer of security.
Let’s get into the details and see which is best for you.
Note
In this article, we would refer to the:
→ AX4200 as the RBK752
→ AX600 as the RBK852
The AX4200 comes in three models a 2, 3, and 4 pack, and the AX6000 comes in 2 and 3 packs. Each item comes with 1 router, and the rest are satellite add-ons. These satellites could be bought separately too. Every unit covers 2,500 Square feet which means the standard 2 pack covers 5,000 Sp. Ft.
See the Table Below
Table of Contents
Compared In a Nutshell
Netgear Orbi RBK752 is a tri-band mesh system with 1 router and 1 satellite. It covers 5,000 sq. ft. with fast and reliable internet speeds that can go up to 4.2Gbps. Aside from that, it can support up to 40 devices, so it’s ideal for a mid-sized home.
Orbi RBK752 comes with a pair of delivery bands: one to communicate with the satellite and one to communicate with the router. Once set up and configured, it has different customization features such as:
- Wireless Setup
- Access Control
- Schedule
Netgear Orbi RBK852 is a tad more expensive but is far superior to its competitors. It is the best tri-band WiFi mesh system with 1 router and 1 satellite. It also covers 5,000 sq. ft.
In fact, it’s even included in our mesh Wi-Fi systems that are best overall.
→ The RBK852 has incredibly fast wifi speeds that go up to 6.0 Gbps.
It can support 100+ devices, which is ideal for large smart homes and offices. In addition, the high-powered system comes with a mix of impressive throughput, backhaul channels, and additional online security.
Both routers are powered by Netgear Armor Cybersecurity, which protects your devices from malware, viruses, and dangerous sites. Parents can also have full control of what their children can see online through Netgear Smart Parental Controls.
The Orbi RBK852 is definitely a better router, but is the right one for you? Let’s get into more details below.
Performance
Both Orbi RBK752 and RBK852 are competent and top-of-the-line routers. But in terms of performance, which is best?
We’ll be looking at:
- Wifi speeds
- Processors
- Memory
WiFi Speeds
The Orbi RBK752 and Orbi RBK852 are both tri-band wifi mesh systems, which means they have one 2.4GHz channel and two 5GHz channels.
| Band # | Orbi RBK752 | Orbi RBK852 |
| 1 | 2.4GHz band: 600 Mbps | 2.4GHz band: 1200 Mbps |
| 2 | 5GHz bands: 1200 Mbps | 5GHz band: 2400 Mbps |
| 3 | 5GHz band: 2400 Mbps | 5GHz band: 2400 Mbps |
Looking at the table, Orbi RBK752 seems to offer slower speeds. But it’s not really the case. With one of the 5GHz bands at 1200 Mbps, the RBK752 uses the higher 5GHz band to backhaul connection to the router.
In this sense, it’s not drastically slower. So it’s ideal for mid-sized homes or offices with fewer demanding users.
RBK852 is at a larger advantage because it offers double the speeds of RBK752. Aside from that, it doesn’t strain the internet speed of any of the users. Everybody can easily enjoy the fast speeds of WiFi 6 and stream 4k videos or play games without interference.
Winner: Orbi RBK852
Processor and memory
Your Orbi’s processor and memory play an essential role in speeding up your internet.
Basically, the higher the processor and memory, the more your Orbi could “breathe.” Then it could handle more devices, storage, and firmware.
| Orbi RBK752 | Orbi RBK852 | |
| Processor: | 1.4 GHz Quad-core | 2.2GHz Quad-core |
| Memory Flash: | 512MB | 512MB |
| Memory RAM: | 1GB RAM | 1GB RAM |
The table shows that Orbi RBK852 has a higher processor and memory. With the 1GB of RAM and 512MB of storage, it has a great capacity to store up firmware and settings.
Essentially, Orbi RBK752 is still a high-end router. But in this case, RBK852 is far superior to RBK752 and other models in general.
Winner: Orbi RBK852
Features and Design
Choosing the design is often a no-brainer. But Orbi RBK752 and RBK852 both look modern and sleek.
So let’s look at some differences that make each router unique. We’ll compare the physical design, port, security, and customization features.
Design and Features
| Design and Features | Orbi RBK752 | Orbi RBK852 |
| LED Light | ✔ | ✔ |
| Size | Smaller | Bigger |
| Built-in wall mounting | ✖ | ✖ |
| Passive cooling system | ✔ | ✔ |
The RBK752 has the signature oval tower look with a LED light at the bottom. It measures about 9.4 x 6.5 x 2.0 inches, which is much smaller than other Netgear models. It fits most places that other models can’t, and it has soft rubber feet.
The RBK852 also has the signature oval tower look and LED light. But it is bigger than RBK752, measuring up to 10.0 x 7.5 x 2.8 inches.
Even though these models have plenty of differences in specifications, they have a lot of similarities design-wise.
RBK752 and RBK852 have no built-in wall mounting bracket, but you could now get one! Both have an LED light band near the bottom that indicates the device’s status.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about your devices overheating. The RBK752 and RBK852 use a passive cooling system wherein air comes in from the bottom and goes out the top. This way, the devices never go beyond 35 degrees Celsius.
Winner: OrbiRBK752
Ports and Antennas
| Features | Orbi RBK752 | Orbi RBK852 |
| Ethernet Ports | 5 Total | 8 Total |
| Antennas | 6 | 8 |
| MU-MIMO Technology | ✔ | ✔ |
The RBK752 units have 6 high-performing antennas. This reflects the use of Qualcomm’s Networking Pro 800 Wi-Fi chip. It can support fast data streams, but not as much as the RBK852.
Through MU-MIMO and beamforming, the router can sort out signals so it can provide optimum speeds to all connected devices. The only downside is, it doesn’t support ultra-wide 160MHz data channels.
Lastly, RBK752 has a 1 Gbps WAN port and 3 LAN ports.
As for the RBK852 units, they have 8 high-performing antennas. Powered by its Qualcomm Networking Pro 1200 chip, it can support 4X4 data streams.
With MU-MIMO and beamforming, it can sort out signals so it can provide lightning speeds to all connected devices. Theoretically, it can move up to 6gbps of data — back and forth.
Lastly, RBK852 has a 2.5 Gbps WAN port and 4 LAN ports.
Winner: Orbi RBK852
Cost
Orbi RBK752 costs around $400, while the Orbi RBK852 costs around $700. Of course, the cost for each device varies depending on what pack you want to get.
When you purchase an Orbi, it normally comes in a 2-pack set: 1 router and 1 satellite. Of course, the price would get higher if you get additional satellites.
Orbi RBK752 is cheaper compared to RBK852. This is a great alternative if you want to power up your smart home.
Winner: OrbiRBK752
Our Verdict
Orbi RBK752 and Orbi RBK852 are both great and high-performing routers in the market. But in comparing these two, Orbi RBK852 is definitely superior.
With coverage of 5000 sq. ft. and 100 devices, the Orbi RBK852 is an excellent choice. It brings out the best performance in all of your smart devices and delivers the promise of WiFi 6 smoothly.
If you need more info comparing Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6, you can read all about it in our related article.
