Key Takeaways
- As of September 2026, no DOCSIS 4.0 modem is sold at retail. Every DOCSIS 4.0 device in a home today is ISP-issued, such as Comcast's XB10 gateway and XD4 modem.
- Consumer DOCSIS 4.0 modems from Hitron, ARRIS, NETGEAR, and Motorola are still expected, but no launch date has been announced. Late 2026 into 2027 is the realistic window, with early pricing likely in the $150 to $250 range.
- Anything sold on Amazon as "DOCSIS 4.0 ready" is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem with mid-split or high-split upload support. It is not a DOCSIS 4.0 modem.
- For nearly everyone, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem with a 2.5 GbE port is the right purchase in 2026. It works on every current cable plan and keeps working when DOCSIS 4.0 reaches your area.
Last verified September 3, 2026.
Can You Buy a DOCSIS 4.0 Modem in 2026?
No. As of September 2026, there are zero DOCSIS 4.0 cable modems available on Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, or any other retailer for direct consumer purchase. Every DOCSIS 4.0 modem in active use is rented or supplied by an internet provider, not bought from a store. Manufacturers announced retail models for 2026, but none has shipped and none has a confirmed release date.
If you need a modem now and want multi-gig speeds, buy a high-end DOCSIS 3.1 modem with a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. It runs on today's networks and remains fully supported when DOCSIS 4.0 reaches your neighborhood. The recommendations are further down this page.
Why Retail DOCSIS 4.0 Modems Are Not Here Yet
DOCSIS 4.0 is the biggest change to cable internet in over a decade. It supports up to 10 Gbps download and 6 Gbps upload, the first time cable can offer symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds. The catch is that the upgrade happens on the provider's side first. Nodes, amplifiers, and taps across the network have to be replaced before a DOCSIS 4.0 modem can do anything a DOCSIS 3.1 modem cannot.
Three things have held back the retail launch:
- Two competing flavors. Full Duplex DOCSIS (FDX, favored by Comcast) and Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD, favored by Charter and most others) needed separate chipsets. Broadcom's unified silicon that handles both only reached volume production in 2025.
- Certification is slow. Modems, nodes, and headend equipment from different vendors all have to pass CableLabs interoperability testing together.
- Not enough customers can use one yet. Comcast is the only major provider with DOCSIS 4.0 service at scale. Retail manufacturers do not launch a $200 modem until a critical mass of buyers can plug it into a network that supports it.
For the full background on FDX, ESD, and the rollout, see What Is DOCSIS 4.0? To check where your own provider stands, see our DOCSIS 4.0 rollout tracker by ISP.
DOCSIS 4.0 Modems in Use Right Now (ISP-Issued Only)
These are the only DOCSIS 4.0 devices you can get in 2026, and only by subscribing to the right plan with the right provider.
Comcast XB10 (Xfinity X-Class Gateway)
The XB10 is Comcast's flagship DOCSIS 4.0 gateway and the first device to combine DOCSIS 4.0 with WiFi 7. It supports both FDX and ESD, is built by Sercomm on Broadcom silicon, includes four Ethernet ports, and is rated for up to 10 Gbps throughput. Comcast has also referenced an XB10u variant built on Broadcom's unified FDX/ESD chipset. The XB10 is issued only to Xfinity customers on X-Class symmetrical plans in DOCSIS 4.0 markets. You cannot buy one.
Comcast XD4 Standalone Modem
The XD4 is a plain DOCSIS 4.0 cable modem with no built-in WiFi. It has two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports and is typically paired with an XB8 gateway running in Ethernet WAN mode, or with a customer-owned router. Like the XB10, it goes only to X-Class subscribers. If you are searching for a "Xfinity DOCSIS 4.0 modem" you can buy, the XD4 is what Comcast uses, and it is not for sale.
Mediacom DOCSIS 4.0 Gateways
Mediacom launched commercial DOCSIS 4.0 service in select markets starting September 2025. Customers on its top tiers receive a Mediacom-issued gateway. The hardware varies by market and is not sold separately.
Hitron CODA60 and CODA60V (Operator-Only)
The Hitron CODA60 is a true DOCSIS 4.0 modem with a 10 GbE port and support for downstream spectrum up to 1.8 GHz. Hitron sells it to cable operators, not consumers, as an upgrade path from the CODA and CODA56 platforms. Some regional providers, including Astound, already list it as supplied equipment. A retail version is the most likely first consumer DOCSIS 4.0 modem, but Hitron has not announced one.
What "DOCSIS 4.0 Ready" Means on Amazon
You will see modems marketed as "DOCSIS 4.0 ready," "DOCSIS 3.1+," or "next-gen upload ready." None of these is a DOCSIS 4.0 modem. They are DOCSIS 3.1 modems with two upgrades that matter today:
- Mid-split or high-split upstream support. This is what unlocks the faster upload tiers Xfinity and Spectrum are rolling out on their existing DOCSIS 3.1 networks (200 Mbps and up, compared with 35 to 50 Mbps on older hardware).
- Extra OFDM channels. CableLabs certified DOCSIS 3.1+ modems with four or more downstream OFDM channels in 2025, which lets operators push higher download speeds without a full DOCSIS 4.0 plant upgrade.
Those are worthwhile features. Just do not pay a premium believing you are buying DOCSIS 4.0. The spec on the box will still say DOCSIS 3.1.
When Will DOCSIS 4.0 Modems Be Available at Retail?
The honest answer as of September 2026: nobody has announced a date. Industry expectations pointed at the second half of 2026, and that window is now open with no product on shelves. Late 2026 into 2027 is the realistic range. Here is who to watch:
- Hitron: A consumer version of the CODA60 is the most likely first mover.
- ARRIS / CommScope: A SURFboard successor to the S33 and S34. CommScope and Vantiva demonstrated DOCSIS 4.0 modems handling seven downstream OFDM channels in late 2025.
- NETGEAR: A DOCSIS 4.0 follow-up to the CM2000 and CM3000 line.
- Motorola: An MB-series DOCSIS 4.0 modem to round out the lineup.
Early retail pricing should land between $150 and $250. Expect it to fall over the following year as production scales and more ISPs certify the hardware, the same pattern DOCSIS 3.1 followed after its launch.
What to Buy Right Now: Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modems for 2026
Until retail DOCSIS 4.0 modems exist and your ISP supports them, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem with a 2.5 GbE port is the right purchase. These models cover every cable plan up to 2.5 Gbps and are certified by Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, and most other major providers. There is added urgency in 2026: Xfinity removed all DOCSIS 3.0 modems from its device list in April and July, and Spectrum retires DOCSIS 3.0 entirely on October 28, 2026.
| Modem | Standard | Max Speed | Ethernet Port | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARRIS S33 | DOCSIS 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 x 2.5 GbE | Most reliable all-around pick on standard plans |
| ARRIS S34 | DOCSIS 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 x 2.5 GbE | Xfinity Next Gen upload tiers |
| Motorola MB8611 | DOCSIS 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 x 2.5 GbE | Strong value, low latency |
| NETGEAR CM2000 | DOCSIS 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 x 2.5 GbE | Multi-gig download plans |
| Hitron CODA56 | DOCSIS 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 x 2.5 GbE | Best value with mid-split support |
One caveat for Xfinity customers: the S33 is not on Comcast's Next Gen enhanced upload list. If you are on an Xfinity plan with 200 Mbps or faster uploads, choose the S34 instead. On a standard gigabit or slower plan, the S33 or CODA56 costs less and works just as well. For picks by provider and speed tier, see our full guide to the best DOCSIS 3.1 modems.
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Should You Wait for DOCSIS 4.0?
Wait only if all three of these are true: your ISP already offers DOCSIS 4.0 service at your address, you would use symmetrical multi-gig speeds, and your current modem is not failing. For everyone else, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is the better decision. It is widely available, fully certified, refurbished units cost a fraction of what a first-run DOCSIS 4.0 modem will, and it keeps working on a DOCSIS 4.0 network (without the higher upload ceiling). For the side-by-side breakdown, see DOCSIS 3.1 vs DOCSIS 4.0: Should You Upgrade?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a DOCSIS 4.0 modem I can buy?
Not as of September 2026. Every DOCSIS 4.0 modem and gateway in service is issued by a provider, such as Comcast's XB10 and XD4 or Hitron's operator-only CODA60. No manufacturer has put a consumer DOCSIS 4.0 modem on sale or announced a firm release date.
What is the Xfinity DOCSIS 4.0 modem?
Xfinity uses two DOCSIS 4.0 devices: the XB10 gateway (modem plus WiFi 7 router) and the XD4 standalone modem, which pairs with an XB8 in Ethernet WAN mode or your own router. Both are supplied only to X-Class Internet subscribers in DOCSIS 4.0 markets. Comcast does not sell either, and no customer-owned DOCSIS 4.0 modem is on its approved list yet.
Which ISPs offer DOCSIS 4.0 service in 2026?
Comcast (Xfinity) is far ahead, with X-Class service reaching millions of homes across its footprint. Mediacom has offered it in select markets since September 2025. Charter (Spectrum) is mid-upgrade and, since acquiring Cox in August 2026, now controls the DOCSIS 4.0 timeline for Cox markets as well. Midco, Sparklight, and Cogeco are expected to follow. Optimum is skipping DOCSIS 4.0 in favor of DOCSIS 3.1 upgrades and fiber.
What speeds will DOCSIS 4.0 deliver?
The specification supports up to 10 Gbps download and 6 Gbps upload. Real plans are lower. Comcast's X-Class tiers currently top out at 2 Gbps symmetrical, with 3 Gbps and 5 Gbps symmetrical on its roadmap.
Is DOCSIS 4.0 backwards compatible with DOCSIS 3.1?
Yes, in both directions. A DOCSIS 3.1 modem keeps working on a DOCSIS 4.0 network, and a DOCSIS 4.0 modem works on a DOCSIS 3.1 network. What you lose on a 3.1 modem is the faster upload and lower latency that only DOCSIS 4.0 hardware can use.
How much will retail DOCSIS 4.0 modems cost?
Early models are expected in the $150 to $250 range, falling over the following year as production scales and more ISPs certify them. DOCSIS 3.1 modems followed the same curve.
Is there a DOCSIS 4.0 router?
Not as a separate product. Routers do not use DOCSIS at all; the standard only covers the modem's connection to the cable line. If you mean a DOCSIS 4.0 modem/router combo, the only one that exists today is the ISP-issued XB10. Any router with a 2.5 GbE or 10 GbE WAN port and WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 will pair with a DOCSIS 4.0 modem when one reaches retail.
Is DOCSIS 4.0 as good as fiber?
Close, for most homes. DOCSIS 4.0 matches consumer fiber on symmetrical multi-gig speeds, though fiber still holds an edge in latency consistency and top-end upload (up to 10 Gbps symmetrical). The practical advantage of DOCSIS 4.0 is that it runs over the coax already in your walls, so cable companies can offer fiber-class speeds without new wiring.
