Should you buy a new or refurbished Netgear Orbi RBK50?
You're still protected with your purchase
Amazon has a "Certified Refurbished" option when buying certain products on its websites. These are products that, for whatever reason, were sent back to Amazon from their original owner. Amazon then takes the product, refurbishes it, and then puts it back on the market for resale. It's like going to the thrift store for technology, except you never have to guess whether it's going to work or not because professionals have ensured it will.
On that note, if your product is faulty there is a 90-day guarantee. This means if you come across any issues, that wasn't due to any accidents on your end, you can return it to receive a replacement or refund. It doesn't stop there. Amazon offers the same protection plans for their normal products even on the refurbished ones. This way, even if the accident is your own, you can make sure you're covered for up to four years for less than $10.
Why the Orbi RBK50 package anyway?
Well, if you're looking for more coverage and a better connection, the Orbi is definitely the way to go. The RBK50 extends your Wi-Fi up to 5,000 square feet with three built-in radios with 802.11b/g/n - 2.4GHz - 256QAM. With its tri-band technology, Orbi is able to use a backhaul connection of 4x4 (1.7Gbps) to ensure you don't lose connection with the more devices you add. Setup is super easy and there's even an ability to set up a simple Guest Network for secure connections. The satellite is another force to be reckoned with as well. It works as a Wi-Fi extender to give you even more coverage. The Orbi RBK50 also has beamforming (2.4 and 5GHz bands) to help maintain a steady connection to your devices that won't vary the further you get away from the router or satellite.
Other than that there are several expansion options for you to add onto your Orbi experience. There is an indoor or outdoor expansion to add an extra 2,500 square feet of coverage, as well as a nifty device known as the Orbi Voice. That's a speaker for the Orbi system that also doubles as a speaker for your favorite music. It's compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, meaning you can also give the device voice commands to control your home and other smart products.
You can get this package refurbished for almost $100 less than it's usual price and that's one heck of a deal.
Save money and upgrade
With this router, you get 5,000 square feet of coverage and up to 3.0Gbps on your internet speed. There are eight total Ethernet ports between the router and satellites, and even the ability to take it a step further with the indoor and outdoor expansions. There's a 90-day guarantee, just in case you come across problems, and 4-year protection plans are under $10.
