Netgear Orbi Voice (2018)

Excellent combination of Wi-Fi and smart speaker ; Great Wi-Fi performance ; High-quality audio

Alexa has limitations on this system

A clever, well-implemented device – the Netgear Orbi Voice gives you everything you need, but suffers from a few limitations out of its control.

Solid Wi-Fi performance ; Decent Amazon Alexa integration ; Fast, simple setup

No Bluetooth/AirPlay

Stronger and more robust Wi-Fi signal ; Superb Alexa integration ; Rich sounding Harman Kardon speaker ; Snazzy design that fits nicely in the home

An expensive Mesh system for the added features ; Occasional device disconnects and some rebooting required ; Will only work with designated Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi router

While it's certainly a nice upgrade for fans of Alexa voice control, the Voice satellite does come with a hefty price tag . There's no denying having whole home Wi-Fi coverage is great, though, as is the quality of the sound from the built-in Harman...

However, nothing else out there does the twin jobs of boosting your Wi-Fi and adding a decent-sounding smart speaker to your home. Remember, you’re getting not only a smart speaker but also a pair of fully-fledged tri-band routers into the bargain,...

Amazon Alexa and mesh WiFi in one package.

802.11ac performance not as fast as standalone NETGEAR Orbi.

Easy to install. Solid throughput performance in testing. Satellite contains Alexa voice technology. Powerful speaker.

Expensive. High-profile components. No malware protection. Limited QoS settings.

Bottom Line: The Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System With Orbi Voice Smart Speaker (RBK50V) pairs Netgear's tri-band router with a unique satellite node that doubles as a powerful Alexa-enabled speaker.

Very good Wi-Fi performance, whether purchased as a bundle with an Orbi router or added to an existing Orbi network ; Extends the range of your Orbi network while adding an Alexa-powered smart speaker to the mix ; Attractive industrial design and audio...

Compatible only with Orbi-series routers ; Slightly inferior to the Sonos One in terms of musical fidelity ; Limited list of compatible music-streaming apps (and no Chromecast audio support)

And that last observation sums up my opinion of the Orbi Voice quite well. In the end, it’s a better home networking device than it is a speaker—smart or not. I wouldn’t recommend it for critical listening sessions, but I wouldn’t recommend the Sonos...

Excellent performance ; Alexa voice assistant built-in ; Dedicated backhaul router-to-extension channel ; Built-in speakers and microphones ; Configure with app or browser

Muddy audio ; Large devices ; 90-day support ; Long setup

At $430, the RBK50V kit is an integrated alternative to a separate data network and wireless speakers. It excels at performance and is more than adequate at listening for Alexa commands and playing music. This kit is unique in the world of home...