2020’s Best Modems for Gigabit Internet

The Motorola MB8600 certainly has some impressive numbers behind it. Four gigabit Ethernet ports? Maximum 3.8 Gbps download speeds? Way cool.

There’s something you should know though. Most internet providers can barely break the 1 Gbps (or 1,000 Mbps) mark at this point, so claims of 3.8 Gbps download capacity are more aspirational than anything—it’ll take some time before a cable internet provider will be capable of breaking such Wi-Fi speed records.

As for the four Gigabit Ethernet ports, well, to be honest, they’re not really necessary for most users. You can’t use them to connect multiple client devices, for example—you’ll still need a router for that.

But what you can do is pretty cool. The ports are specifically designed for users to set up a link aggregation group—or LAG—in which you use multiple Ethernet connections between a modem and router to boost an internet signal past 1 Gbps speeds.

The ports can also be used to support multiple IP addresses on one network, which comes in handy if you have a home office where you’re hosting a website or running an FTP server.

It’s these extras that make us consider Motorola’s MB8600 one of the best gigabit modems around. Gamers who livestream can use it to ramp up speeds along with their high-performance routers. Average users can use it to prep for the days of faster Wi-Fi. And since this modem costs roughly the same as other DOCSIS 3.1 modems with fewer gigabit Ethernet ports, having four ports instead of just one or two is the icing on the cake.

• Four gigabit Ethernet ports
• Excellent Broadcom chipset

• Bulky design
• Limited compatibility with providers

ARRIS was the subject of a class-action lawsuit in 2017 over complaints about the bug-laden Puma 6 chipset in its modems.

Judging from online forums and reviews, people are still shaking their heads over the Puma 6 debacle, which also affected other modem makers and compelled ARRIS to install Broadcom’s superior BCM3390 silicon components into the SB8200.

The SB8200 is the latest in ARRIS’s respected SURFboard series. It boasts a utilitarian look, with its boxy shape and straightforward color schemes (you can order it online in either white or black). Behind the blinking LED lights and ventilated chassis, there are 3 GB of RAM, 128 MB/16 MB of flash memory, and 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels.

All in all, it’s a formidable 1,000 Mbps modem that can reach even greater speeds in a DOCSIS 3.1 system. And it will still deliver silky-smooth video streams in 4K video quality when working under DOCSIS 3.0. As a bonus, ARRIS’s SURFboard Manager app lets you monitor and manage your Wi-Fi network from afar with your smartphone or tablet.

• No more Puma 6 chipset
• Multiple color options

• Fewer Ethernet ports
• Limited compatibility with cable providers

Just as the awe-inspiring name suggests, the Nighthawk C7800 is a formidable beast built for serious gamers and ’net users. This gigabit modem router combo comes out of NETGEAR’s famed Nighthawk hardware series, acclaimed for delivering not just fast gaming speeds but also firewall protection against hackers.

The C78800 delivers dual-band Wi-Fi and works for both DOCSIS 3.1 and DOCSIS 3.0. The four trusty gigabit Ethernet ports will let you set up link aggregation to push past 1,000 Mbps speeds, so long as your cable company has the capacity for higher-speed gigabit plans.

The Nighthawk also provides double firewall protection and 128-bit encryption, protecting your home network against DDoS attacks and other cybercrime shenanigans. You can even set up a guest network to provide Wi-Fi for friends, loved ones, and party crashers while keeping your own system safe from the malware that could be lurking on their phones or laptops.

The Nighthawk does come at a significantly heftier price tag than the other options, but in most cases you’ll still save anywhere from $50 to $100 if you bought this instead of a DOCSIS 3.1 modem and an upper-tier router separately. If you need excellent performance at a decent price, this isn’t a bad way to go.

• Built-in Wi-Fi router
• Secure network to prevent hacking

• Expensive
• Incompatible with some cable providers

The CM1200 is basically a newer, slightly more deluxe version of NETGEAR’s CM1000, one of the most popular gigabit internet modems around.

Where the two differ is in how the CM1000 had only one gigabit Ethernet port, while the CM1200 has four—putting it in league with the Motorola MB8600 (albeit at a higher price).

Either the CM1000 or its big brother will work well, as both are solid pieces of hardware geared for DOCSIS 3.1 standards. They’re also both backward compatible for DOCSIS 3.0. But the CM1200 gives you those extra three ports—an advanced feature if you need it.

The CM1200 has a one-year warranty, putting it behind competitors from other brands. However, it’s easily the best-looking modem of the bunch. Well-ventilated and unobtrusive, it weighs in at just .84 lb. The elegant, diamond-angled edges evoke images of obsidian treasures and interstellar spaceships.

It’s rare to meet someone who still uses a landline phone these days, but NETGEAR has you covered if you do need a modem that can work with bundled phone services (i.e., an internet package that also provides support for phone lines). NETGEAR’s slightly more expensive Nighthawk CM1150V is basically the CM1200 but with voice/phone support included.

• Slick, unobtrusive appearance
• Easy setup
• Lots of Ethernet ports

• Costs more for average features

The ARRIS SURFboard SBG8300 is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem with a dual-band Wi-Fi router attached. In that respect, it’s pretty much just like NETGEAR’s Nighthawk C7800, only without the Nighthawk’s red, wavy stripe, cool antennas, or added security features.

The big bonus here is that you can save on space in your home and maybe a little money by opting for a gigabit modem router rather than having to shop for both a modem and a router.

If having enough room is an issue for you—for example, maybe your 86-inch 4K TV set takes up the lion’s share of space in your 200-square-foot studio—then go for the SBG8300.

This modem/router is approved to work with Xfinity and Cox internet plans. But it won’t work with Verizon, AT&T, or CenturyLink internet plans. ARRIS is waiting on approval from Spectrum and other cable companies, so make sure to check with your ISP if this will be compatible before spending your hard-earned cash.

• Offers convenient network management
• Saves on space

• High cost
• Limited compatibility with ISPs
• Fewer security options