ARRIS Surfboard SB 8200 DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Cable Modem vs ARRIS SURFboard S34

Buy the S34 if your cable plan is faster than 1 Gbps or you expect to move to a multi-gig tier. Its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port is the difference that matters; the SB8200 tops out at 1 Gbps on both ports. Otherwise the SB8200 is the safer, better-known pick: it has a long track record, a 4-out-of-5 rating across 592 owner reviews, and the same two-year warranty. Both are DOCSIS 3.1 modems with 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels, no phone port and no built-in Wi-Fi, so the choice comes down to port speed and how proven the model is.

• Choose the SB8200 if your plan is 1 Gbps or slower and you want the model with the longer track record and the larger body of owner reviews.
• Choose the S34 if you are on or moving to a multi-gig cable tier and need the 2.5 Gigabit port to actually reach it.