Xfinity offers varying equipment you can add to your plan. Explore this guide and learn what hardware you should add to your plan. You’ll find what each device does, its price, and who it’s best for.
As a former Xfinity subscriber, I learned quite a bit about the equipment they offer. I want to help you determine whether it’s worth adding additional hardware to your plan.
To help you make this decision, I’ll cover what each device does, its price, how to get it, and who it’s best for.
We have a lot to cover. So let’s get moving.
Comcast Xfinity Equipment List
Here’s an enormous list of all the equipment you can rent or buy with Xfinity Comcast:
| Xfinity Equipment | Purpose | *Price |
| Xfinity X1 | Cable TV & DVR | $7.50–$8.50 (per mo.) |
| xFi Gateway | Modem/router combination | xFi Gateway: $14 (per mo.) xFi Gateway Complete: $25 (per mo.) |
| xFi Pod | Wi-Fi extender | $0: when getting the xFi Gateway Complete $119 for 1 (one-time) $199 for 2 |
| Xfinity Flex | Media streaming device | $5 (per mo.) |
| Flex Remote | Voice remote | $0 |
| Zen Thermostat | Smart home | $120 |
| Indoor/Outdoor Camera | Home security | $120 (or $5/mo. for 24 months) |
| Video Doorbell | Home security | $120 (or $5/mo. for 24 months) |
| Outlet controller | Smart home | $50 |
| Window & Door Sensors | Home security | $20 |
| Wireless Keypad | Home security | $40 |
| Smoke Detector | Smart home | $70 |
This table lists various equipment you can get with Xfinity Comcast.
* One-time fee (unless specified otherwise). These costs don’t include taxes or shipping. Taxes will vary by city and state.
When signing up for Xfinity Comcast’s services, they’ll offer these devices to you. If you’re eligible. Otherwise, you can order them separately.
I’ll cover what each device does, how to order it, and whether it’s worth getting throughout this section.
Xfinity X1 TV Box
The X1 is Comcast’s streaming and cable box. It includes a voice remote (something I’ll cover later). And you’ll pay between $7.50 and $8.50 per month to use it.
Again, what you’ll pay depends on where you live.
There are three X1 TV box models:
- ARRIS XG1v4
- Pace XG1v1
- ARRIS and Pace XG1v3
The hardware you get depends on what region you’re in. It appears each device has the same ports and primary features. But you don’t get a front-panel clock with the XG1v4.
And you don’t get 4K support with the other two models. But with the XG1v4 you will.
If you decide to get an X1 box, I recommend asking a customer service representative what boxes they offer in your area. Otherwise, you may not have the ability to watch 4K television on your hard-earned 4K TV.
If you want to store your X1 DVR footage on the cloud, you’ll need to pay an additional $30 per month for 20–300 hours of storage. Alternatively, you can skip paying for the box and just pay for the cloud storage.
To access your footage, you can use the Xfinity Stream app. But you can only access it in standard definition (720p).
Xfinity xFi Gateway: 2-In-1 Modem and Router
Comcast’s xFi Gateway is a modem/router combination device you can add to your internet or voice plans.
When getting Xfinity’s gateway, you’ll pay $14 per month for the regular gateway. And $25 per month for the xFi Complete. The latter bypasses Xfinity’s data cap and comes with a free xFi Pod.
The only way you can waive the rental fee for the xFi gateway is to get Comcast Xfinity’s Internet Essentials (or Internet Essentials Pro) plans. These plans have a somewhat strict criteria to qualify. Follow this link to learn more.
Fortunately Xfinity makes it simple to install their gateways. You can download the Xfinity app and scan the QR code at the bottom of your device. Or you can manually add the 12-digit Cable Modem Media Access Control (CM MAC) address.
I’m going to cover the differences between each gateway in this next section.
xFi Advanced Gateway (XB8): Xfinity Fiber Gateway
You’ll get the xFi Advanced Gateway XB8 if you get Xfinity Comcast’s Gigabit and Gigabit Pro plans. It’s the only device Xfinity offers that can handle the 6,000 Mbps speeds their enterprise-grade plan provides.
If for some reason your home has hundreds of devices, this gateway can support them all with 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E). And the new Wi-Fi standard uses 6 GHz frequencies and an additional seven 160 MHz channels.
What does this mean for you?
You’d have an overpowered Wi-Fi gateway. And speeds you’ll likely never utilize. Unless you need to continually download and upload massive files.
xFi Advanced Gateway (XB7)
When using one of Comcast Xfinity’s lesser plans (600 Mbps and below), you’ll get an XB7. It’s a dual-band DOCSIS 3.1 gateway that supports 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E). It also has a max throughput of 2.5 Gbps.
DOCSIS 3.1 means that it can support 10 times more download speeds than DOCSIS 3.0.
It’s a huge upgrade from the previous XB6, which only provided max speeds of 1 Gbps.
Xfinity xFi Pod
The xFi Pod acts as Xfinity’s Wi-Fi extender to help extend wireless connectivity to homes with over three bedrooms. It does this by weaving with your gateway and creating a mesh Wi-Fi network.
Comcast gives you one free xFi Pod if you pay the monthly fee for their xFi Gateway Complete.
You’ll pay $119 for a single Pod. Or $199 for two.
You’d need one xFi Pod if you’re in a 1–2 story home with 3–4 rooms. And two for homes with over five rooms. To connect one of these, you’ll need a plug outlet.
It has a couple of Ethernet ports, which gives you an opportunity to further enhance your network’s speeds.
Here’s how:
You can transmit an Ethernet signal from your xFi Gateway Complete to the Pod by using one of two devices. A Powerline- or MOCA adapter.
Powerline adapters use your home’s electrical wiring to send Ethernet signals through your home. Meanwhile, MOCA adapters use coaxial signals.
The former works best for home’s with excellent electrical wiring and those who are on budgets. And the latter can support more network throughput.
Xfinity Flex Box
The Xfinity Flex 4K streaming TV Box is a device that makes it so you can run a bunch of streaming apps on your TV. Think of it like a Roku or Chromecast.
Every Flex you want will cost you $5 per month. Here’s an example. If you want four Flex devices for several rooms in your home, you’ll need to pay $20 per month.
I recommend getting the Flex if you use a lot of Comcast Xfinity services. And if you need a single streaming box for a family room.
I mentioned the former because you can use the Flex TV Box and the Voice Remote to manage your xFi Gateway, home security devices, and more.
Follow this link, log into your Xfinity account, and select ‘Get Flex on Us.’
Xfinity Flex Box vs. Roku
You get one Flex box for $5/month. That means you’ll get more value using Xfinity’s TV streaming box when only needing a streaming box for a family room.
It also has an Ethernet port. Whereas most Roku devices (except the Ultra) don’t.
That’s where Comcast’s TV Box wins. But in most other categories, the Roku dominates.
Roku serves as a better option when requiring streaming boxes for multiple rooms. Since they’re a one-time purchase. Even if you need 4K for numerous rooms, the Roku Ultra would still dominate.
Because it has 4K upscaling and Dolby Vision.
Xfinity’s 4K streaming TV box does offer better integration with Comcast Xfinity products. So whatever device you go with depends on what smart home ecosystem you use.
Xfinity Flex Remote (Voice Remote)
The Flex remote is a voice-controlled remote that comes with the Xfinity Flex or X1 TV Boxes. You can also program it to recognize A/V receivers or any TV.
I’ll dive more into programming it in a second.
Before 2020, Xfinity Comcast shipped their Flex devices with the XR15 remote. This remote was bulky, had a number pad, and too many buttons. However, they improved their design with the XR16.
It has a rubbery grip and few buttons. A bit large, but that’s fine for people with larger hands. Xfinity expects you to mostly use the remote’s voice control.
So they placed the button to turn on the microphone in the middle of the device. Once you press it, an LED will flash on your remote to indicate that your remote’s waiting for a voice command.
You can use voice commands like, “Find a cute cat video on YouTube,” or “Watch Parks & Recreation on Peacock Premium.
Xfinity Voice Remote Codes
Are you wondering how to connect a Comcast remote with your TV? Here’s a list of codes to help you get started:
| TV Brand | Xfinity Remote Codes |
| Haier | 11009, 11265, 11034, 10178, 10768 |
| Hitachi | 11960, 11904, 12243, 11145, 10145, 12143, 11345 |
| LG | 11265, 10178 |
| Panasonic | 10250, 10051 |
| Philips | 11483, 10037, 11454, 10054, 10690 |
| Samsung | 10060, 10812 |
| Sansui | 11911, 11409, 11904, 11935, 10463 |
| Sanyo | 10159, 10154 |
| Sharp | 10165, 10093 |
| Sony | 11100, 10000 |
| Toshiba | 10156, 11156 |
| Vizio | 11756, 10156 |
This table displays a list of remote codes to program your Xfinity Comcast remote with popular TV brands.
Xfinity Home Security Equipment
If you use Xfinity Comcast’s home security system, you can buy (or make monthly payments) for equipment like:
| Equipment | Cost | Equipment Type |
| Wireless Keypad | $40 | Controller |
| Door and Window Sensor | $20 | Sensor |
| Smoke Detector | $70 | Smoke alarm |
| Zen Thermostat | $120 | Thermostat |
| Outdoor/Indoor Cameras or Video Doorbell | *$120 or $5 per month (24 months) | Camera |
| Outlet Controller | $50 | Automation |
This table displays equipment you can get for an Xfinity home security system.
Xfinity’s Home Security plan offers three tiers: Self Protection, Pro Protection, and Pro Protection Plus. The plans these prices provide only cover the monitoring aspect. Not the equipment.
You can buy the equipment separately or get them as these packages:
- Base Home System: $360 (one-time) or $15 a month for 24 months
- Complete Home System: $480 (one-time) or $20 a month for 24 months
- Ultimate Home System: $600 (one-time) or $25 a month for 24 months
The Basic will give you:
- Three door/window sensors
- One touchscreen controller
- One motion sensor
Complete gives you everything the basic offers in addition to two more sensors, a security camera, and a wireless keypad.
Ultimate gives you everything Complete has in addition to an extra security camera and 10 sensors.
Comcast Xfinity offers a limited 30-day warranty on equipment tied to your current Home Security plan. Then they offer a Self Protection warranty that lasts a year from when you receive your equipment.
Using Your Own Equipment for Xfinity Internet
You can use your own gateway, modem, or router with Xfinity internet plans and/or Voice (except Gigabit Pro). While you can use any router, you’ll need a modem or gateway that’s approved to use with Xfinity.
We’ve created a guide on helping you choose the best Xfinity Comcast modem. If you already have a device in mind that you want to use with a Comcast Xfinity plan, you’ll need to check their website.
When activating your third-party modem, you’ll need to enter your device’s MAC or CMAC number on the Xfinity app or activation process. It’s a 12-digit number you can find on the bottom of your device.
FAQ: Comcast Xfinity Equipment
Keep reading to find frequently asked questions regarding Xfinity Comcast’s equipment.
How to Return Xfinity Equipment
To return Xfinity equipment, visit their Equipment Return page and log in to your online Xfinity account. From there, you’ll follow various prompts. Once you finish, you’ll need to print a UPS Prepaid shipping label.
You can visit a local UPS store and drop off the equipment you want to ship. Or you can call 800-742-5877 to schedule someone to pick up your package.
Conclusion
Xfinity offers a lot of equipment that offers varying features. Whether you need these features depends on your household’s needs. And whether you want to further bind your home to Comcast’s web.
Review each device’s features and compare the costs to identical devices competitors offer. Once you make up your mind, reach out to Xfinity and tell them you want to order new devices.
There’s a lot to cover regarding Xfinity. If you want to learn more about Xfinity Comcast’s services, we have a piece that covers EVERYTHING you would need to know.
