Motorola MG7550 vs NETGEAR C7000 (2022): Which Cable Modem Router Should You Get?

While it can be argued that getting a separate modem and router is better because it offers better flexibility and upgradeability, there are also advantages to getting a modem router combo instead. For one, you can save some money by doing so, and you will have an easier time setting it up. The Motorola MG7550 and the NETGEAR C7000 are two modem router combos capable of providing fast internet speeds to your home. Today, we’ll be comparing the two to find out which one is better.

Motorola MG7550 vs NETGEAR C7000 Comparison Chart

Design

The difference in size between the two is negligible.

Measured at 10.9 x 10.2 x 2.8 inches and weighing 2.65 lbs, the Motorola MG7550 is a bit larger and heavier than the NETGEAR C7000, which has dimensions of 9.6 x 8.3 x 1.7 inches and weighs 1.6 lbs. They both have an upright style so they won’t take up too much space.

Both modem router combos come in black, and just like most modems or routers in the market, they have perforated panels to ensure proper ventilation while in use. On the front of both the Motorola MG7550 and NETGEAR C7000 are LED indicators that tell you which ports are in use, if the WiFi is on, etc. The LED lights on the MG7550 are easier to see since it has a flatter panel as opposed to the angled front profile of the NETGEAR C7000.

Both modem routers come with 3×3 internal antennas that support three downstream and upstream channel activities. Also, having internal antennas allow them to have a more streamlined aesthetic that’s nice to look at.

Ports

The Motorola MG7550 does not have a USB port but it does have buttons for WLAN and WPS.

At the back of the Motorola MG7550 are four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for your wired devices and the coax jack. It also has a WPS and WLAN button in addition to its power button, as well as a hidden reset button so that you won’t press it on accident.

Likewise, there are four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and a coax jack at the back of the NETGEAR C7000. However, not available are the WPS and WLAN buttons that can be found on the Motorola MG7550. It does have a USB 2.0 port for firmware upgrades or if you want to share a storage device on your network.

Performance

The maximum download speed for the Motorola MG7550 is up to 686 Mbps while the NETGEAR C7000 is capable of up to 960Mbps.

Since they are both AC1900 devices, they are capable of reaching 1900 Mbps total bandwidth, with 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. In this area, they perform pretty much the same. Both are highly capable of providing lag-free and and consistent connection to your devices.

However, when it comes to channel bonding, they have different capabilities. The Motorola MG7550 has a 16×4 channel bonding while the NETGEAR C7000 has a channel bonding of 24×8. This means that the NETGEAR C700 is capable of handling higher maximum download speeds, 960 Mbps, to be exact, to the 686 Mbps max of the Motorola. This is especially helpful during peak hours as you’ll be able to enjoy optimal speeds without experiencing any slowdowns.

Both modem router combos can provide fast and stable wireless internet connection speed to average to large homes. With their beamforming technologies, both the Motorola MG7550 and the NETGEAR C7000 can send focused signals directly to your device so that the connection is fast and reliable.

Setup

The NETGEAR C700 is easier to set-up.

When it comes to setting up your modem/router combo, both the NETGEAR C7000 and Motorola MG7550 have easy to use UIs. They both have clean and easy to navigate UIs with basic options such as Status, Basic & Advanced Router Settings, Parental Control, WiFi and so on. However, the interface of the NETGEAR C7000 is a bit more user friendly since it employs color coding status for some of its options. For instance, an option that is currently operational will have green fonts while those that are currently turned off have a red font.

In addition to having a more user friendly UI, the NETGEAR C7000 also comes with a mobile app where you can control various settings such as parental control, device management, Wi-Fi setup and more. The Motorola MG7550, unfortunately, does not have a mobile companion app. Overall, NETGEAR offers its users an easier time setting up their modem/router combo.

Verdict

The NETGEAR C7000 comes with more useful features that make it the better choice between the two.

While both modem router combos are capable of delivering fast and consistent internet speed, the user friendliness and the convenience of its Nighthawk App gives the NETGEAR C7000 the edge over the Motorola MG7550. The NETGEAR C7000 is easier to manage and with its 24×8 channel bonding, it is, in theory, more capable than the Motorola MG7550.

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