ARRIS SURFboard G36 Adds a 2.5 GbE Port to the DOCSIS 3.1 Wi-Fi 6 Combo at $249

What it is

The ARRIS SURFboard G36 is a middle-tier DOCSIS 3.1 modem-and-router combo that sits between the G34 (gig only) and the G54 (multi-gig Wi-Fi 7). It has DOCSIS 3.1 for cable ISPs, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, four 1-Gigabit ports, and AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 wireless across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Coverage is rated for roughly 2,500 square feet.

MSRP is $249. Amazon and Best Buy routinely discount to $199 during seasonal sales.

What's interesting

The 2.5 Gigabit WAN-or-LAN port is the story here. For cable customers on Xfinity Gigabit plans pushing 1.2 Gbps or Cox at 1.2 Gbps, the G34's single gig port becomes the bottleneck. The G36 breaks that cap via the 2.5 GbE port, which can serve either as the faster LAN output to a downstream switch or as a secondary ISP input for multi-WAN setups.

At $249 MSRP and $199 on sale, the G36 is the sweet spot for cable customers on 1.2 to 2 Gbps plans who do not yet need Wi-Fi 7. Most households in 2026 still do not have Wi-Fi 7 clients in meaningful numbers; AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 is the same standard powering most phones and laptops shipped in the past three years.

The modem side is DOCSIS 3.1 with 32 downstream and 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 channels, plus 2 downstream and 2 upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels. Homeowner.com confirmed full speed handshake on Xfinity Gigabit and Cox Gigablast test plans.

SURFboard Central app setup is the same polished experience as the G54. Best Buy reviewers repeatedly called out how easy the cable provisioning step is compared to older modem configurations that required calling the ISP.

Coverage of 2,500 sq ft is realistic for a single-floor home or a smaller multi-floor townhouse. For larger homes, adding a Wi-Fi 6 mesh satellite (Eero Pro 6E, ASUS XT12) is the right upgrade path rather than buying a bigger combo.

What's missing or unverified

No 6 GHz band. Buyers who have Wi-Fi 6E-capable clients (iPhone 15 Pro and later, Samsung Galaxy S23 and later, current-gen MacBook Pro) will see reduced benefit compared to a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router that includes the 6 GHz band.

Advanced routing features match the G34's limitations: basic parental controls, no VPN server, no enterprise-grade QoS. Power users will bridge the router and run a separate gaming router downstream.

WPA3 is supported but not enabled by default for backwards compatibility. Users should verify the Wi-Fi security mode in the app after setup.

Firmware updates from ARRIS have historically been quarterly at best. Security patches for consumer networking equipment from the major carrier OEMs typically lag standalone router brands.

Two antennas are internal, which limits beamforming sophistication compared to standalone Wi-Fi 6 routers with four or six external antennas.

Who it's for

Cable-internet households on 1.2 to 2 Gbps plans where the G34's gig port would cap speeds. Renters and small-office buyers who want to retire their ISP rental fee without paying for Wi-Fi 7 they cannot use. Upgrades from older Wi-Fi 5 combos (G10, G12) where the performance delta is immediately visible.

Not for: households with Wi-Fi 7 clients already (the G54 is the right upgrade), fiber-internet homes (no DOCSIS modem needed; a standalone router works), or buyers whose cable plan is 500 Mbps or slower (the G34 is cheaper).

Verdict

The G36 is the right default for most cable-internet households in 2026. At $199 on sale, it replaces ISP rental fees inside a year, supports multi-gig plans, and provides modern Wi-Fi 6 coverage for typical single-floor or small multi-floor homes. Against the ARRIS G34, the G36 wins on the 2.5 GbE port and is the correct pick for anyone above 1 Gbps. Against the ARRIS G54, the G36 saves $350 for buyers without Wi-Fi 7 clients. For the middle of the cable-internet market, the G36 is the answer.