Buy the Best Cable Modems in the Market | Electronics

Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Daniel Osakwe

List of the Best Cable Modems

Products	Features	Where to Buy
Motorola MB7420	Reliable performance Compatible with most internet providers	Get it on Amazon
Netgear CM500	Solid performance Good compatibility	Get it on Amazon
Netgear CM600	Reliable performance Compatible with many ISPs	Get it on Amazon
Arris Surfboard SB6183	Compatible with most internet providers Visible status lights	Get it on Amazon
TP-Link TC-7620	Works reliably Portable	Get it on Amazon
Linksys CM3008	Reliable performance Compact design	Get it on Amazon
Netgear Nighthawk CM1200	DOCSIS 3.1 Support Four Gigabit Ethernet Ports 802.3ad Link Aggregation	Get it on Amazon
Arris Surfboard SB6190	Impressive speeds Perfect for HD movies and gaming Convenient LED indicator lights	Get it on Amazon

Looking for the best cable modems to buy isn’t an easy task nowadays especially when there’re serval cable modems products in the market. However, to make it easier for you while shopping for the best cable modems, we’ve highlighted and reviewed the best cable modems available in the market today.

The best cable modems we’ve reviewed range from mainstream models to the very fastest cable modems design today that support the latest DOCSIS 3.1 internet protocol, capable of handling network speeds of up to 10Gbps. Additionally, the cable modems we’ve listed here have little or no compatibility issues, they are well designed and safe to use.

So, without further ado, why not check out the best cable modems we’ve discovered for you and stop paying those monthly rental fees.

Table of Contents

Buyers Guide: Things to Consider Before Buying Cable Modems

Channel bonding on modems: More modem channels mean quicker internet speed. Consider their paths on a thruway. More paths mean you can move more vehicles through a zone simultaneously. Channels are paths for data to go into and out of your home. The naming shows records download channels first, at that point transfer. For example, 16×4 methods you have sixteen channels committed to downloading and four to transferring. With that arrangement, you can undoubtedly reach a download speed of 300 Mbps.

Compatibility: Confirm with your ISP that the modem you’re looking for will work with the service you paid for. Most DOCSIS 3.0-affirmed modems should work with DOCSIS-based network access, however, it generally serves to confirm. Comcast lets you check online to check whether a modem is viable with its administration, as do Cox and Spectrum.

Security: When looking for cable modems, check to ensure that the model you’re thinking about isn’t defenseless against the Cable Hunt programming imperfection found in the Broadcom chipsets that power numerous mainstream modems. If your modem is powerless, ensure a product fix is accessible from your ISP. Note that the modems we’ve investigated simply give a web network. If you additionally get your telephone administration packaged with your web, that requires an eMTA or communication modem — an altogether extraordinary kind of gadget.

Design: There’s very little to separate the highlights on cable modems, which by and large spot a similar arrangement of pointer lights. You’ll need one with simple to-spot lights, however, if they’re excessively bright, they can truly illuminate a room around evening time. Additionally, think about the size of a modem, since a smaller plan mixes in more effectively with your other systems administration equipment.

Best Netgear Cable Modems

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 2Gbps/158Mbps | Channels: 16 down, 4 up | Size: 6.9 x 4.1 x 2 inches | Warranty: 1 years

In case you’re searching for an elite cable modem that will stay aware of the entirety of the most recent web principles, at that point Netgear’s CM1200 has you secured. The two upstream and two downstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels will give you download speeds effectively arriving at 2Gbps, so you’ll be prepared for your ISP’s multi-gigabit web plans.

Obviously, it’s additionally viable with the significantly more typical DOCSIS 3.0 norm, and with 32 downstream and 8 upstream stations, it’s as quick as a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem gets, which means you’ll actually get exceptional download speeds while you trust that your cable supplier will turn out DOCSIS 3.1 in your area.

The four Gigabit Ethernet ports around the back likewise enable you to interface different gadgets, and it even backings allotting numerous IP addresses—one to each port—so you can uphold up to four separate home networks, or you can connect up to two of the ports utilizing 802.3ad connection accumulation to a viable switch (like Netgear’s RAX80) to exploit a 2Gbps DOCSIS 3.1 cable design.

Pros	Cons
Four Gigabit Ethernet Ports	No voice features
802.3ad Link Aggregation	Pricey

Netgear CM500

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 686/132 Mbps | Channels: 16 down, 4 up | Size: 7.3 x 4.9 x 2.4 inches | Warranty: 1 year

The Netgear CM500 stays a standout amongst other cable modems accessible because it’s anything but difficult to track down all things considered retailers; you can likewise discover it for somewhat less than the Motorola MB7420 more often than not, making it a decent worth. (Modem costs can change so keep an eye stripped for the best tech bargains when looking for a cable modem.)

The Netgear CM500 works with the greatest cable suppliers and supports rates of up to 300 Mbps, which ought to be sufficient for by far most of the Internet clients out there. (If you have a rapid arrangement, search for a quicker modem.)

There’s in reality next to no presentation contrast among the best cable modems in our testing, so it’s apparently slight qualifications that separate these gadgets. Choose Netgear’s CM500, and you’ll get a modem that is similarly as skilled as the Motorola MB7420 or the Arris SB6183. Notwithstanding, Netgear just offers a one-year guarantee, contrasted and two years for those opponent modems.

Netgear’s 16 x 4 modem appreciates wide similarity with web access suppliers, and its plan makes arrangements a breeze. At 7.3 inches, the CM500 is somewhat taller than the SB6183, and I discovered its marker lights are hard to see, even though around evening time, you may welcome the absence of a light show.

Read the full review: Netgear CM500

Pros	Cons
Solid performance	Indicator lights are hard to see
Affordable	One-year warrant shorter than rivals

Netgear CM600

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 960/240 Mbps | Channels: 24 down, 8 up | Size: 8.7 x 5.3 x 2.4 inches | Warranty: 1 year

While most homes choose web designs that guarantee paces of around 100 to 300 Mbps, a few people incline toward higher-speed administration. If your arrangement guarantees download speeds that best 300 Mbps, you’ll need a cable modem that can exploit that more prominent presentation. Netgear’s CM600 is the best cable modem for those higher paces.

Netgear’s modem doesn’t utilize a similar Intel Puma 6 chipset that has been accused of inactivity issues with some other fast modems, for example, the Arris Surfboard SB6190. (There’s a firmware update that settles this issue, however, ISPs turn out such reports on their own timetable.) Because of that, you can expect dependable execution from the Netgear CM600 without the slacks announced by clients with Puma-6-controlled modems.

The CM600 is a little on the tall side, however, it has an astounding cutting edge look. Like other Netgear modems, it has a one-year guarantee.

Read the full review: Netgear CM600

Pros	Cons
Compatible with many ISPs	Tall footprint
Affordable	One-year warranty

Best Arris Cable Modems

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 750/123 Mbps | Channels: 16 down, 4 up | Size: 5 x 5 x 2.1 inches | Warranty: 2 years

Arris makes the absolute most dependable cable modems accessible, and the SB6190 is no special case; it’s a ground-breaking little workhorse that will more than address the issues of anyone who needn’t bother with bursting quick gigabit web speeds and needs something that can be concealed inconspicuously. At 5 x 5 x 2.1 inches, it’s little enough to fit on a rack close to your cable box or router.

A replacement to Arris’ incredibly mainstream SB6183, the SB6190 is very much upheld by the entirety of the significant cable suppliers, so you won’t have any issue getting it set up with your ISP, and the 32×8 channel holding can convey download paces of up to 1.4Gbps and transfer speeds arriving at 260Mbps. There’s just a single Gigabit Ethernet port on the back, yet Arris expects that most clients will include their own Wi-Fi switch in with the general mish-mash in any case.

The coaxial cable association is a piece clumsily positioned near the power connector, yet once it’s connected that is not something you’ll have to manage, and the portability of the SB6190 makes it worth the tradeoff.

Read the full review: Arris Surfboard SB6190

Pr-os	Cons
Convenient LED indicator lights	Coaxial connection placement isn’t ideal
Impressive speeds

Arris Surfboard SB6183

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 686/131 Mbps | Channels: 16 down, 4 up | Size: 5.2 x 5 x 2.1 inches | Warranty: 2 years

The Arris Surfboard SB6183 was previously our pick for the best cable modem because of its strong performance that will fulfill most home web clients who don’t pay for fast help, however, this more established modem is more diligently to discover nowadays. (What’s more, we wouldn’t suggest that you purchase a revamped version.) If you can find the SB6183 at a serious value, its two-year guarantee additionally is a major addition.

At 5.2 x 5 x 2.1 inches, the all-white SB6183 can be tucked subtly close to a router, cable box, and whatever other equipment you have available. The coaxial-cable connector is excessively near the power connector for my taste, yet you’re probably going to need to manage that solitary when setting up the modem. The SB6183 favors a basic line of vertical pointer lights that are sufficiently simple to spot, however, the yellow lighting can be somewhat difficult to check whether your modem’s in direct daylight.

In any case, it’s really simple to look at the SB6183 to check whether there’s an issue with your web availability.

Pros	Cons
Two-year warranty	Awkward placement of coaxial cable
Reliable

Best Cable Modem Routers

Motorola MB7420

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 686/123 Mbps | Channels: 16 down, 4 up | Size: 6.9 x 4.1 x 2 inches | Warranty: 2 years

The Motorola MB7420 is the best cable modem for most homes, equipped for supporting rates accessible to a larger part of home web plans. The MB7420 is ideal for web designs that top out at 300 Mbps, which covers a wide area of our family unit. In testing the MB7420 at my home, I delighted inconsistent availability, and that is with different individuals stuck inside, all attempting to hit the web on the double. The MB7420 isn’t as tall as the Netgear CM500, however, a few people may incline toward the more minimal size of the Arris Surfboard modems.

In any event, the MB7420 looks up-to-date, with adjusted corners and vented sides. Its dim tone should mix in well with other systems administration gear. The blue and green lights on the MB7420 are sufficiently bright to read away off without transforming a dull room into a laser light show around evening time. I likewise found the modem simple to set up with a coaxial connector standing out of the modem’s posterior at an agreeable good way from its solitary Ethernet port.

There’s hardly any isolating the Motorola MB7420 from the Netgear CM500 as both performed reliably when we tried every modem. Yet, the edge goes to Motorola because it offers a two-year guarantee to Netgear’s one-year of inclusion. That implies better assurance for your speculation.

Read the full review: Motorola MB7420

Pros	Cons
Compatible with most internet providers	Not as compact as some modems
Two-year warranty

TP-Link TC-7620

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 343/143 Mbps | Channels: 8 down, 4 up | Size: 8.5 x 7.7 x 2.6 inches | Warranty: 2 years

Only one out of every odd home web client needs to pay for a more costly modem. If your service plan covers its paces at 100 Mbps, TP-Link’s TC-7610 modem can serve you capably without marking your budget, however, this more established modem can be precarious to discover nowadays. A more current adaptation — the TP-Link TC-7650 — can deal with quicker web access, however, we haven’t tried that model.

All things considered, TP-Link’s home systems administration equipment will in general be genuinely dependable, and most client surveys of this modem express fulfillment with how the TC-7650 performs. The TP-Link TC-7610 is a 8 x 4 cable modem with a satisfying oval shape and a two-year guarantee. We discovered its marker lights hard to spot, however. It’s viable with the most significant internet services, including Comcast, Cox, and Spectrum, so TP-Link’s modem will probably work well for you if you can locate a model that costs around $50 or less.

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Not compatible with high-speed service plans
Two-year warranty	Indicator lights are hard to spot

Linksys CM3008

Top Cable Providers Supported: Comcast, Spectrum, Cox | Listed Download/Upload Speeds: 343/120 Mbps | Channels: 8 down, 4 up | Size: 3.9 x 2.8 x 1 inches | Warranty: 1 year

The Linksys CM3008 additionally works best in homes where network access never beat download paces of 100 Mbps, however, it won’t win any excellence challenges. As well as can be expected state about its plain look is that the CM3008 doesn’t take that much space. The conservative structure doesn’t make it any simpler to distinguish its status lights.

The CM3008 was one of the more costly choices out there when we initially surveyed it, however, its cost may have dropped to be more following what you’d pay for a 8 x 4 cable modem. Like different modems intended for low-speed designs, the CM3008 is entirely difficult to find nowadays, however, it merits snatching on the off chance that you can locate another model for barely anything — state, $50 or less — and you needn’t bother with home systems service gear cable of quicker execution.

Pros	Cons
Easy to set up	Not compatible with higher-speed internet service
Simple design

Test Process

During our testing, we relied on the opinion of experts and feedback of clients based on these major factors: Arris cable modems, Netgear cable modems, and the best cable modems routers.

More analysis of these cable modems was uncovered from further research and online reviews. From the result and feedbacks (both positive and negative), we were able to categories each product according to our standards.

If you take a critical look at our review, you’ll discover how each cable modem has been categorized. Also, take note that after our testing, the cable modems that weren’t up to standard were excluded from our list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you upgrade your modem?

We recommend you upgrade your equipment at regular intervals (2 years). This applies to either an Ethernet or a wireless modem. This is because, with time, your machine may get old with the joining of new advances.

Which is a better modem router combo or separate?

Modem/Router combo can be Easier to set up. A single combo box takes less room, requires just one electrical plug, and requires fewer wires and cables, particularly on the off chance that you get a wireless modem switch combo. You have 1 less line and 1 less gadget to investigate when setting up or diagnosing your web.

Does upgrading your modem increase Internet speed?

Purchasing a new modem can offer quicker, more solid Wi-Fi. It can also be the answer in case you’re encountering continuous drop-outs. Be that as it may, it likely won’t speed up your physical internet association. Slow internet may be brought about by different issues as well, like the NBN speed tier you’re right now running.

Conclusion

Picking the best cable modems is something that ought to be considered important and without missing words, we believe that this review must have helped you in selecting the right type of cable modems you need. Be that as it may, ensure you check all the necessary details of your preferred choice before purchasing.