ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 vs ARRIS SURFboard S33 Cable Modem

Both are ARRIS DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems with no Wi-Fi, so the choice comes down to ports and headroom. The S33 has a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port plus a second 1 Gbps port, which suits multi-gig cable plans and a second wired network; the SB8200 has two 1 Gbps ports and tops out at 1 Gbps per port. Owners of both report easy activation and stable connections; S33 buyers note some trouble pairing a separate router. Buy the S33 for a multi-gig plan or a wired 2.5G router, the SB8200 for a 1 Gbps plan on a tighter budget.

• Choose the ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 if your cable plan is 1 Gbps or less and you want a proven modem with two gigabit ports for a router and a wired device.
• Choose the ARRIS SURFboard S33 if you have or plan a multi-gig cable tier and want a 2.5 Gbps port to feed a matching router without bottlenecking.