Experts recommend Netgear CM1000 more than Motorola MB8600
As of 3 Jan 2025, experts prefer Netgear CM1000 over Motorola MB8600, but both Modems have solid expert endorsements.
As per this month's meta ranking, Netgear CM1000 received 3 recommendations: from PC Guide (1 Feb 2024), BestReviews (1 Jul 2024) and The Strategist (18 Feb 2021). By contrast, Motorola MB8600 received only 2 recommendations from Networks Hardware (2 Jul 2022) and HighSpeedInternet (15 Jul 2024).
| Rank | Change | Price | Modem | PC Guide  | Lifewire  | Wirecutter  | Tom's Guide  | Networks Hardware  | BestReviews  | HighSpeedInternet  | homeowner.com  | Popular Mechanics  | The Strategist  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | - | $177 |  Netgear CM1000 The Netgear CM1000 modem is a high-performance device that supports fast and reliable internet connectivity for multiple users and is compatible with major cable internet providers. | 3 | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | 1 |
| 6 | - | $250 |
 Motorola MB8600 The Motorola MB8600 modem is a reliable and efficient device that supports high-speed internet up to 1 Gbps, but lacks built-in Wi-Fi and has poor customer support. | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Modems ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 2 Jul 2022 Networks Hardware ranked Motorola MB8600 as #1
Rank Modem Comment #1 out of 9 Motorola MB8600 Best Overall... ... ... Source: networkshardware.com - On 15 Jul 2024 HighSpeedInternet ranked Motorola MB8600 as #1
Rank Modem Comment #1 out of 5 Motorola MB8600 Best overall... ... ... Source: www.highspeedinternet.com - On 1 Feb 2024 PC Guide ranked Netgear CM1000 as #3
Rank Modem Comment ... ... ... #3 out of 5 Netgear CM1000 Best Mid-Range Cable Modem... ... ... Source: www.pcguide.com - On 1 Jul 2024 BestReviews ranked Netgear CM1000 as #4
Rank Modem Comment ... ... ... #4 out of 5 Netgear CM1000 Wide Compatible... ... ... Source: bestreviews.com - On 18 Feb 2021 The Strategist ranked Netgear CM1000 as #1
Rank Modem Comment #1 out of 9 Netgear CM1000 Best-rated cable modem... ... ... Source: nymag.com
After counting and adding up the 59 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Netgear CM1000 outranks Motorola MB8600. This is not to say that Motorola MB8600 is a bad option. Like Netgear CM1000, it is recommended by experts, but less.
As can be seen below, Netgear CM1000 outranks Motorola MB8600 by 1 position. This indicates that, as of 3 Jan 2025, Netgear CM1000 is more critically acclaimed than Motorola MB8600.
| Rank | Change | Price | Modem | PC Guide | Lifewire | Wirecutter | Tom's Guide | Networks Hardware | BestReviews | HighSpeedInternet | homeowner.com | Popular Mechanics | The Strategist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | $189 |  Arris Surfboard S33 The Arris Surfboard S33 is a high-speed cable modem with combined download speeds up to 3.5 Gbps, 32 downstream x 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 bonded channels, and two Ethernet ports, making it ideal for users who require fast and reliable internet connectivity for gaming, streaming, and other data-intensive activities. | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | - |
| 2 | - | $220 |  Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 The Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 is a high-speed cable modem that is compatible with all major cable internet providers, featuring DOCSIS 3.1 technology, 32x8 channel bonding, a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core Broadcom BCM3390 processor, and a 2.5 Gbps ethernet port, making it ideal for online gaming, streaming, and other high-bandwidth activities. | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 3 | - | 6 | - |
| 3 | - | $45 |  Netgear CM500 The Netgear CM500 modem offers high-speed internet access, easy setup and management, parental controls, and compatibility with major cable internet service providers, but its reliability has received mixed reviews and users should consider purchasing an extended warranty. | 5 | 3 | - | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 6 |
| 4 | - | $168 |  Arris SURFboard SB8200 The Arris SURFboard SB8200 is a high-performance cable modem that delivers fast and stable internet speeds of up to 2 Gbps, making it ideal for activities such as online gaming, streaming 4K video, or downloading large files, but requires a separate wireless router for Wi-Fi capability. | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | - | 9 |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [9]
Total expert reviews: 9
- with a score: 4
- without a score: 5
| Highest score by Don't Waste Your Money | 88 |
| Average score based on 9 reviews | 84 |
| Lowest score by approvedmodems.org | 76 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
85
The Motorola MB8600 is a high-performance cable modem that offers the best and fastest internet speed available from your service provider. It is future-proofed for higher-than-Gigabit speeds and is worth the investment even before Gigabit+ speeds become available.
+ pros
- Up to 32 SCQAM or two OFDM bonded channels for the best and fastest internet speed available from your service provider.
- Four Gigabit Ethernet ports and Active Queue Management to keep latency low.
- New design with a robust elliptic-cylindrical plastic case and soft rounded corners.
- Compatible with Comcast XFinity, Cox, and Grande Communications, and will be added to the list of approved modems for W.O.W. and Charter soon.
- Future-proofed for higher-than-Gigabit speeds and can handle a Gigabit data plan without problems.
- cons
- Requires a separate switch or wireless router to connect clients.
- High price tag of newer DOCSIS 3.1 modems should be considered before purchasing.
Show all 9 reviews
Expert reviews [8]
Total expert reviews: 8
- with a score: 1
- without a score: 7
| Highest score by dongknows.com | 88 |
| Average score based on 8 reviews | 88 |
| Lowest score by dongknows.com | 88 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
The Netgear CM1000 is a high-speed cable modem that supports the latest DOCSIS 3.1 protocol, providing faster internet speeds and improved signal quality. It is a must-have for those looking to upgrade to Comcast's 1Gbps internet service or for those with 50Mbps+ service who want to reduce crowding and tap into a new, high-end stream.
+ pros
- The Netgear CM1000 is marketed as the fastest cable modem on the market, providing noticeable performance gains for users with high-speed internet connections.
- The modem supports the full range of 32 possible channels, reducing crowding and potentially improving connection quality.
- Purchasing the modem outright can save money in the long run compared to renting from the internet service provider.
- cons
- The benefits of DOCSIS 3.1 are mainly for the carrier, so users may not see a 120x increase in internet speed as advertised.
- The modem's power is limited by the availability of DOCSIS 3.1 in the user's area, so those in rural communities with slower internet speeds may not see any improvement.
- Upgrading to a high-bandwidth modem without upgrading the router or computer may not result in the expected performance increase.
Show all 8 reviews
From Seller:
- Top Internet Speeds for all Multi-gigabit Speed Tiers - Wirecutter recommends this model as the best cable modem for people using Gigabit Internet plans. Built-in DOCSIS 3.1 and DOCSIS 3.0 32x8 capabilities give top Internet speeds for all cable Internet services.
- Read more
From Seller:
- Compatible with all major cable internet providers with internet speed up to 1Gbps. Currently certified with Spectrum and Cox (up to 1Gbps), Xfinity (up to 800Mbps). Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, DISH and any bundled voice service.
- Read more
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