NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2500 Cable Modem vs ARRIS SURFboard S33 Cable Modem

Both are standalone DOCSIS 3.1 modems with no Wi-Fi, so the router you already own decides your wireless. The S33 is the better pick for most people: its 2.5 Gbps port plus a second 1 Gbps port, 32x8 DOCSIS 3.0 channels and small footprint make it the more flexible and future-proof box, and owners report stable, set-and-forget performance. The CM2500 adds two phone ports and a 2 Gbps link-aggregation setup, but its 2 Gbps download ceiling and reports of difficult Xfinity activation and TV interference make it the narrower choice. Buy the CM2500 only if you need voice ports or link aggregation; otherwise the S33 is the stronger modem.

• Choose the NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2500 if you need dedicated telephone ports for a cable voice line or want link aggregation across two Ethernet ports to a compatible router.
• Choose the ARRIS SURFboard S33 if you want the fastest single-port connection, a compact modem that works with any router, and the simplest activation.