A robust home Wi-Fi signal that doesn’t drop out is essential for a smooth and productive existence. Whether you work from home, stream your favorite shows, or have a tiny army of smart home devices, a stable internet connection is required to keep everything functioning. Traditional routers can fail to reach every area of your home, especially if you have thick walls or numerous stories. Mesh Wi-Fi routers come to the rescue, providing a reliable option for extending Wi-Fi coverage throughout your entire home.

Mesh Wi-Fi routers function by connecting several nodes strategically across your home to form a coherent and extended home network. These systems are designed to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal in every room, minimizing dead zones and ensuring consistent performance. We assessed a variety of mesh systems for connection reliability, coverage, ease of setup, and additional features like as parental controls.

To help you pick and make the process easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top mesh Wi-Fi systems on the market today. If you want to improve your existing Wi-Fi network without investing in a new Wi-Fi system, have a look at our top selections for the finest Wi-Fi extenders.

Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System (Deco XE75)

Wireless band count: 3 | Wireless speed rating: Up to 2,402 Mbps (6GHz band) | Ethernet ports: 3 | USB ports: 0 | Coverage area: Up to 7,200 sq. ft.

There is no single dazzling feature that distinguishes TP-Link’s Deco XE75 from its competitors. Instead, it skillfully combines raw power and usability. If you’re searching for a simple way to update your existing wireless network to better speeds, this could be the solution.

If the $300 two-pack can cover your home and provide a reliable Wi-Fi signal, it’s a more cost-effective option than some of its competitors.

Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E

Wireless band count: 3 | Wireless speed rating: Up to 2,402 Mbps (6GHz band) | Ethernet ports: 2 | USB ports: 0 | Coverage area: Up to 6,600 sq. ft.

The Nest WIFi Pro provides a straightforward experience for those who want to set up their network once and then forget about it. It isn’t as powerful or customized as some of its competitors, but it should be adequate for streaming movies and general online browsing. And it’s not too expensive, so while I’m skeptical about its long-term potential, it’s a nice deal in the short term.

If you’re already familiar with Google’s smart home ecosystem, the multiple integrations Assistant already provides, as well as support for Matter and Thread, will be a plus. That, paired with Google’s guarantee of frequent upgrades and maintenance, should allow you to pick this up and forget about your WiFi for several years.

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 WiFi 6E Mesh System (ET12)

Wireless band count: 3 | Wireless speed rating: Up to 4,804 Mbps (6GHz band) | Ethernet ports: 2 | USB ports: 0 | Coverage area: Up to 3,000 sq. ft.

The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is an excellent choice for those looking for something that warrants the Pro suffix. Each node has the capability to cover your home in Wi-Fi, and the additional gigabit and 2.5 Gbps ethernet ports allow you to add fast backhaul or a fast NAS. We believe that both professional users and gamers who prefer faster speeds will find plenty to enjoy in this package.

Read Also: What Does a Mesh Wifi Router do?

And that’s before you consider ASUS’ AiMesh’s unique expandability, which allows you to add more ZenWiFi nodes or, more crucially, compatible standalone ASUS routers. That will allow you to evolve your network in a cost-effective manner as your and your family’s needs change over time. Power users will be better prepared to deal with some of the more unusual control options, and they are more likely to take use of the 160MHz band support. The initial cost is obviously high, and it is not suitable for common users, but it is a very appealing tri-band package for someone looking for quicker speeds and a robust Wi-Fi signal.

Amazon Eero 6E

On the one hand, the Eero Pro 6E is a “easy” device that you could give to a complete beginner and expect them to thrive with. There’s relatively little brain work required to get things set up, and the software offers a simple UI with plenty of guidance. But—and this is a major but—the fact that so many standard management tools aren’t available to me here because they’re paywalled irritates me.

Amazon and Eero are in the same slightly shallow seas as Google and Nest, developing a “good enough” mesh product for “everyone;” people who want to set up the gear and then forget about it for several years at a time, knowing that everything is in place. But, despite my criticisms of Google’s approach, the Nest WiFi Pro wins in a direct match since it provides more functions for free than Eero’s package does.

Netgear Orbi 960

The Orbi 96T0 (RBKE963) is Netgear’s flagship mesh WiFi product, which the firm describes as the “world’s most powerful WiFi 6E system.” It’s also one of the most costly consumer kits on the market, costing $1,499.99 for a three-pack. It’s an excellent piece of equipment, but it’s worth noting that the number of individuals who could, would, or should purchase it is significantly lower than you might assume. Ultimately, we believe that if you pay premium pricing, you should get luxury products. During testing, we frequently looked for a feature that was only available through the web client or was hidden behind a barrier.

While much of your money will be spent on excellent technology, the idea that you must pay extra for some table-stakes features is demeaning. If you’re searching for a new Wi-Fi system but don’t want to spend nearly $1,500, explore our other top selections for the finest Wi-Fi routers and mesh networks.

What to look for in a Mesh Router

It’s a wonderful moment to buy a mesh Wi-Fi system because Wi-Fi 6E marks a substantial advancement in technology. According to Matt MacPherson, Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer for Wireless, Wi-Fi 6E represents a significant “inflection point” that may utilize a substantially larger portion of the wireless spectrum than its predecessors. “If you’re using that spectrum with a Wi-Fi 6 [device],” said the engineer, “you’re going to get significant gains [in speed.]”

According to MacPherson, Wi-Fi 6E is likely to “carry you for a long time,” as its “top throughputs now typically exceed what people can actually connect their home to.” In short, with a maximum theoretical per-stream speed of 1.2 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E outperforms all but the fastest internet connections. (You may also find mention of Wi-Fi 7 devices, some of which have already been released before the standard is officially launched next year. Given that it will take a generation for all of your home’s gadgets to be Wi-Fi 7 compatible, it is not worth considering this for several years.

Range and speed

All mesh routers boast a theoretical broadcast range in square feet, as well as its theoretical top speed. Given there are so many factors outside of the manufacturer’s control, these numbers don’t really mean much in the real world. Your internet provider’s real speed, the construction materials and layout of your home, amongst other things, will all affect your Wi-Fi coverage. Simply investing in a wireless router or mesh Wi-Fi system isn’t going to offer faster speeds on its own.

It’s worth saying that raw speed isn’t everything, and that for most normal users, you probably need a lot less than you’re paying for. Netflix recommends a minimum speed of just 15 Mbps to stream a 4K video to a single device. Naturally, that’s just for one connection, so you’ll need some more capacity if you’ve got other connected devices all running at the same time. As cool as it is to say you’ve got 100, 200 or 500 Mbps download speed, factors like latency and reliability are way more crucial.

Backhaul

Mesh Wi-Fi systems work by connecting every hardware node to a single wireless network, letting them all communicate with each other. Imagine four people in a busy, noisy restaurant all trying to order their dinner from a weary staff member, all at once. Now imagine, while this is going on, that four more people at that same table are also trying to tell a funny anecdote. It’s no surprise that it might take a long while for the right information to reach its intended destination.

To combat this, higher-end mesh routers offer dedicated wireless backhaul; a slice of the spectrum for node-to-node communication. So rather than everyone talking at once in the same space, the conversations are essentially separated, reducing the invisible clutter in the air. Because there’s less confusing cross-chatter, everything moves faster, offering a significant performance boost to those systems.

Connectivity

These days, even your washing machine has a wireless connection, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the joys of wired internet. No matter how fast WiFi is, a hard line will always be faster, and some gear, like Philips’ Hue bridge, still needs an ethernet connection. Plenty of routers can also use these hard connections as backhaul, eliminating further wireless clutter. It’s convenient for spread-out systems and power users, but it will mean running more wires through your home.

The most common standard is Cat 5e, or gigabit ethernet which, unsurprisingly, has a top speed of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). Since Ethernet cables are backward compatible, you should be able to easily find one that works with your system. However, to make the most out of your mesh routers, it’s worth investing in an Ethernet cable that meets the standard your router uses — if it’s Cat5e, use a Cat5e cable.

Flexibility and scalability

Mesh routers enable you to add (or subtract) modules from your home network to suit your needs. D-Link’s Alan Jones said users should “check how scalable the prospective product is” before you buy. This sense of scale doesn’t just apply to the number of nodes on the network, but how many simultaneous connections it can handle.

Placement

Mesh networks use multiple access points in order to create a bigger network, resulting in better indoor Wi-Fi coverage. Modern mesh routers offer one, two or three (or more) pieces of equipment that are commonly the same hardware inside and out. It normally doesn’t matter which module you make the primary one to connect to your modem, usually over ethernet. You’ll then set up the other, secondary nodes around your home, which is often just a case of adding them to the existing mesh network.

When installing your hardware, remember that every physical obstacle between nodes may hurt your performance. The ideal spot is, at the very least, at waist height on a piece of furniture without too many obstructions. Tables, sideboards, free-standing cupboards, and bookcases make for a good home. The rule of thumb is to place each node no more than two rooms away from the last one.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is governed by the International Standard IEEE 802.11, which evolves every few years. Until 2018, routers were sold with their IEEE designation, providing consumers with a confusing array of equipment labeled 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac, etc. Fortunately, wiser heads decided to rename the standards with numbers: Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6. We are currently in between two Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, which correspond to the frequencies used by the standard. Wi-Fi 6 supports routers that operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with the latter additionally supporting the 6GHz frequency.

Each Wi-Fi band includes trade-offs, since slower radio frequencies provide a longer range but less speed. 2.4GHz signals travel a large distance in your home but are slow, whereas 6GHz signals are extremely fast but can be defeated by a solid brick wall. Many Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smart home gadgets, only use 2.4GHz because it has a longer range and is less expensive. However, it means that the band is packed and slow.

You may also see mesh Wi-Fi systems marketed as dual-band or tri-band routers. Dual-band routers often support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E tri-band routers, on the other hand, support 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands—or, in the case of Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 routers, 2.4GHz and two 5GHz bands.

Once you’ve grasped the notion of dual-band and tri-band, you should know that the width of each band is measured in MHz. The larger the band, the more MHz it can accommodate, usually 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz. The broader the channel, the more bandwidth it provides.