Having a good mesh router system can completely change your Wi-Fi experience. But depending on which one you choose, you can end up with wildly different Wi-Fi speeds in this video. We break down the top three mesh router kits on the market this year based on performance and situation. They’ll be used in, so whether you’re looking for the best overall mesh router kit, something that is perfect for gamers, or anything in between, we’ll have an option for you.
First up is the Google Nest Wi-Fi, our pick for the best smart mesh router. Google’s Nest Wi-Fi mesh networking kit is an excellent mesh router system that provides impressive speeds, stable band steering, doubles as an interactive extension speaker, and is perfect to integrate into your smart home. The Nest Wi-Fi mesh devices fit almost anywhere; place them on a coffee table or on a shelf. Or if you’d rather keep them out of sight, the router and point extension are both under 4 inches in height and are small and easy to hide. Setup and installation are easy and logical, using simple, illustrated step-by-step instructions that guide you through the process on your phone or tablet and should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Unlike the tri-band Wi-Fi 6 architecture of Netgear’s Orbi system that we’ll see later in the video, the Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh System uses a dual-band approach with band steering that directs the data to the least congested channel and the preferred extension and receiver and can connect with up to 100 clients per device, which is impressive, but it lacks the more current Wi-Fi 6 protocol. The extension has a mic, an internal amp, and a speaker that radiates the sound 360 degrees and can be used for music or grouped together digitally for a home-wide sound system on the cheap. With the base router and extension, you should be able to cover a home of up to 3,500 square feet. If any dead spots develop, they can easily be remedied by adding an additional extension. With its much smaller size, higher overall performance, and a setup that’s simple and straightforward, the Google Nest WiFi system takes a big step ahead of the more expensive Netgear Orbi and is a very good choice as a home mesh network. It also has a Google Home smart speaker built in, giving it a leg up on the Orbi, which requires buying the Orbi voice to add similar Alexa capability to your home mesh system.
Next up is the Asus ZenWi-Fi AX, our pick for the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh router for the money. With its tri-band design and Wi-Fi 6 performance, the Asus ZenWi-Fi AX comes through with the ability to fill a moderate-sized home with wireless data and offers you the most for your money with blazing fast speeds and plenty of flexibility in its setup. The ZenWi-Fi AX creates a tri-band mesh network that moves data on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and reserves the second 5 GHz band for the backhaul duties of moving data from the satellites to the host that reduce congestion and data packet collisions. The system consists of two devices that are rated to cover a 5,500 square foot area, and when compared to the more expensive Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6, we’ll mention later, it’s a clear bargain and covers 10% more area. You can also get additional nodes to increase the Wi-Fi range if you need more than 5,500 square feet. Both of the ZenWi-Fi AX devices are exactly the same. Pick one to be the router and the other to be the satellite. There’s a single LED that shows the system’s status that glows white when everything is connected, but if it turns yellow, the two devices are too far apart, giving you a clear indication of status. Setting up the ZenWi-Fi AX starts with getting the Android or iOS Asus Router app. Once your network is up and running, you’ll be protected by software from Trend Micro. It not only shows an assessment of the dangers faced by the network but also the number of attempts to undermine it that were blocked. Its actions are entirely contained in the router and don’t require loading any software on your computers. It’s also free for life. The ZenWiFi AX may not be the fastest LAN on the block, but it does offer unwavering Wi-Fi 6 coverage that can fill a moderate-sized home, making it one of the best overall mesh router systems you can get right now and a solid choice. You’ll also sleep better knowing that your network is protected against intrusions at no additional cost.
Last, but not least, is the NETGEAR Orbi Wi-Fi 6, our pick for the best overall mesh router system. The NETGEAR Orbi RBK852 is available in anywhere from 1 to 5 routers and is a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that delivers strong performance and solid connectivity and is especially great for those looking for the fastest possible Wi-Fi speeds. The nodes use mesh technology to communicate with each other over a dedicated 5 GHz radio and provide up to 5,000 square feet of wireless coverage with a 2-pack or up to 15,000 square feet with a 5-pack. This kit is a 12-stream tri-band system that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies and supports 4×4 MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming and signal beamforming. Installation is quick and easy using the Companion app. Just create an account and initiate the install. From there, you’ll be guided through the remaining steps that cover connecting nodes and any firmware updates. Once installed, the home screen of the companion app displays the Orbi status and number of connected satellites. Below are tabs for device manager, internet speed, network map, Wi-Fi settings, guest Wi-Fi, and traffic meter, along with administration options to enable or pause network access for any client. The Orbi Wi-Fi 6 offers faster throughput than its Wi-Fi 5 rivals and offers the latest WPA3 encryption and OFDMA architecture. While the Orbi Wi-Fi 6’s performance is pretty much in line with other Wi-Fi 6 routers, it’s missing a few key features for a system with a high price point. These shortcomings include client- and application-specific QoS settings, age-appropriate parental controls, and anti-malware protection like we saw with the Asus ZenWi-Fi AX. The Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6 is faster than any Wi-Fi 5 extender system, and its mesh design enables it to project a strong signal into places that a standalone router might struggle to reach, and that makes it a perfect choice for those looking for the best of the best regardless of price. The catch, though, is that it’s a lot more expensive while providing very similar coverage to the Asus Zen WiFi AX at almost half the cost, so it’s not going to be perfect for everyone, and you may be better off saving the money.
