![]() ![]() And while we expect to see the first WiFi 7 products sometime this year, we don’t think you should delay buying a new router today just because a new spec is on the horizon, especially since we don’t know yet how well its on-paper benefits will translate to the real world. Range extenders and mesh networking systems often sound very similar, but the differences between the two options are. There’s also WiFi 6E, which can be thought of as an advanced (and more expensive) variant of WiFi 6 that’s particularly useful for people in dense environments. Here are the best Wi-Fi 6 routers of 2021. ![]() WiFi 6 is the latest wireless standard and offers faster speeds, but WiFi 5 is still plenty fast-and WiFi 5 routers are frequently less expensive. You might notice that we include both WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 models. The models featured here, from Eero, Google Nest, Netgear, and TP Link, are among the best mesh routers based on CR’s latest testing, listed in order of Overall Score. You can connect most devices via ethernet. We measure how well they perform on a range of criteria, including how fast they transmit data at a variety of distances (also known as their throughput), how easy they are to set up, and how well they protect your privacy and security. Reasons you may not need a mesh network Most of your devices are in one or two rooms close to the modem/router. Pretty handy.Įvery year, Consumer Reports tests dozens of wireless routers. So if you bought a couple of Echo Dots over the holidays to help do things like set kitchen timers or control the smart lights in your bedroom, these can be turned into mesh router satellites with just a tap of the Eero app. If, for example, you’re fully enmeshed in the Amazon Alexa smart home automation ecosystem, you might be surprised to learn that devices like the Echo Dot can now also function as satellite units for the company’s Eero line of mesh routers. These might not have all the bells and whistles of their more expensive counterparts, but they provide a real value for many people.Īnother way to cut down the price of a mesh network? By utilizing devices you already own as satellite units. In fact, nearly half of the 54 mesh routers in our ratings cost $250 or less. Each device in a mesh network connects to the other. ![]() While the best mesh routers used to routinely cost around $500, today you can buy reliable models for less than half that. Mesh networks enable multiple routers to work in unison to deliver hyper-fast, super-stable WiFi. You might, for example, place the base station in the main living room and then strategically place additional satellite units in a home office, bedroom, or dedicated home theater-anywhere a reliable WiFi connection is critical. ![]()
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