Wi-Fi mesh routers have become quite popular over the past year. With the booming popularity of mesh routers comes a lot of hype. This is something that you should take at face value. Because of how popular mesh networking has become, there are now a ton of different mesh routers on the market.
If you’re a parent, you will know that there is nothing worse than trying to keep a bunch of smartphones and tablets connected to Wi-Fi. That is why these mesh routers are so popular. They are a godsend for parents who want to offer their children a fast, stable Wi-Fi connection when they are out and about. Even better than that is the price. Not only are they super affordable, but they are also actually very cheap when it comes to quality functionality.
If you are new to mesh networking or wondering if you should get a mesh router, let’s take a deeper look at what you get, the pros and cons, and whether this is the right mesh router for you.
TP-Link’s Deco W7200 Mesh Router
With a coverage range of up to 5500 square feet, a maximum throughput of 800Mbps and simultaneous multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) the Deco W7200 allows you to roam the house without stressing about missing Wi-Fi.
It is the first mesh router to support the new 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 standard, which promises to deliver speeds up to 10 times faster than 802.11ac, able to extend your wireless network and provide a more secure connection to your devices. It’s also one of the first routers I’ve seen that supports both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands simultaneously on all three radios (5GHz on radio 1, 2.4GHz on radio 2, and 5GHz on radio 3).
That means you can have three different devices connected at once, let’s say, a laptop connected via 5GHz on radio 1, a smartphone connected via 2.4GHz on radio 2 and an Xbox One X connected via 5GHz on radio 3, without any interference or slowdown from other devices in your home network.
That’s by far the most impressive mesh router I’ve ever seen, and it works like a charm, too, with fast, stable speeds, decent range, and a simple setup process that includes satellite extenders that join the mesh as soon as you plug them in. With all of this, the Deco W7200 is a great value, and the first mesh router I would recommend to people if they asked for one.
Eero 6 Plus Mesh Router
Aside from being a WiFi 6 router, the Eero 6 Plus has access to the 160 Mhz channel on the 5GHz band. So how does that benefit the average user? You will notice the speed is fast, a lot faster.
The Eero 6 Plus is a big improvement over the original Eero. In fact, it’s one of the most significant improvements I’ve seen in a product update in quite some time. While the original Eero was a very good start for mesh Wi-Fi systems — and one of my favorite products — it wasn’t quite strong enough to earn our recommendation.
The performance was just too inconsistent, and the setup process can be a bumpy ride for me to recommend it over other options on the market. The biggest change to the new design comes in the form of an updated radio design for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands: The 2.4GHz radio now supports 3×3 MIMO (up from 2×2) with 80MHz bandwidth (up from 40MHz), while the 5GHz radio now offers 3×3 MIMO with 160MHz bandwidth (up from 80MHz).
This should allow your router to support more devices simultaneously without slowing down any of them — something that’s especially important when you’re connecting things like high-end game consoles or 4K streaming boxes. The Eero 6 Plus also supports a new feature called “Airtime Fairness” which is designed to help devices that have trouble connecting to your router. This can be especially important for IoT devices like smart home hubs or smart light bulbs, which often have problems connecting to Wi-Fi networks.
Nest Wifi Mesh Router
Nest is a brand name owned by Google that is known for making some of the most intuitive home automation devices on the market. Its latest venture is the Nest WiFi mesh router. Nest’s WiFi mesh router is an extension of the Nest smart home family, which includes the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Protect smoke detector. The WiFi mesh router offers an alternative to existing router solutions and provides a smart way to connect devices in your home.
It is lightweight, but sturdy weighing only about 5.4 pounds, is one of the most lightweight mesh routers available. Can connect to five different 2.4GHz networks and one 5GHz network. It is also compatible with both Z-wave and ZigBee devices. This means that you can control your devices with the Nest app. It has a coverage range of up to 5800 square feet.
The range will depend greatly on the number of walls and other objects that are in between your devices and the router. It will also depend on the strength of your existing WiFi network. If you have an old and weak network, the Nest router can help you improve its range. The router has six antennas to provide better WiFi coverage and faster speeds.
You can add one or two of the smaller radios to get 2.4GHz and 5GHz networking capabilities. The Nest WiFi mesh router has a 802.11ac 2×2 Wave 2 MIMO 2×2 radio support. It means that it supports two 2.4GHz networks and two 5GHz networks.
The device supports up to 300Mbps for each 2.4GHz network and up to 1867Mbps for each 5GHz network. The mesh design and the fact that you can add more units to your network via Google’s Google Wifi app makes it a good fit for many users, as well as a great choice for those who have a smaller home. If you’re looking for a more basic Wi-Fi mesh system, the Google Wifi is the way to go. It’s also a simple and straightforward solution, offering a great wireless mesh setup at a very reasonable price.
Conclusion
As the world becomes more connected, it’s important that we have the best possible internet experience. With so many devices and devices being used simultaneously, you don’t have time to waste hunting for the right router.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the three best mesh routers. If you’re looking for a router that’ll give you the flexibility to move around your home without having to plug in each and every device, the TP-Link Deco W7200 is a great option.
If you’re after a more powerful router that can handle multiple devices at once, the Eero 6 Plus should be at the top of your list. Lastly, if you’re after a mesh router that’s easy to set up and can be shared by multiple people, the Nest Wifi Mesh Router should definitely be on your radar!
Thanks for reading, and we hope you found this blog helpful in making a decision about which mesh router is best for you!
