NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2500 Cable Modem vs ARRIS SURFboard SB8200

Both are DOCSIS 3.1 modems with two Ethernet ports and no Wi-Fi, so the choice comes down to upload headroom and app support. The Nighthawk CM2500 is a mid/high-split modem rated for 2 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up, with link aggregation and a phone app for status and firmware. The SB8200 is the older, widely deployed design: 32x8 channels, two Gigabit ports, no app, and a long track record with Xfinity and Cox. Owners of both report fast speeds once activated, but activation trouble with Xfinity comes up often for the CM2500. Buy the CM2500 if your provider sells plans above 1 Gbps upload or you want app-based management; buy the SB8200 for a proven, simple modem on a standard plan.

• Choose the NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2500 if your cable provider offers mid-split or high-split upload speeds and you want link aggregation plus app-based status and firmware updates.
• Choose the ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 if you want a proven, no-frills DOCSIS 3.1 modem for a standard download-heavy plan and do not need an app or upload speeds above 1 Gbps.