The Best Mesh Wi Fi Routers Tested in 2024
Eero, an Amazon company and its routers are Alexa-compatible, is a part of the Amazon family. You can use the Eero skills to pause internet access with your Echo device. This is useful when your child refuses to leave the computer for dinner. The Eero 6 router supports Matter and Thread and can pull double duty as a ZigBee smart-home hub in the same way Echo devices can, allowing you to directly connect some smart lighting, smart locks, and other ZigBee devices.
There are two other tricks that make Eero 6 systems attractive. You can use an Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, or Echo Dot 4th Gen smart speaker as a Wi Fi extender. It will provide an additional 1,000 square feet coverage and speeds of up to 100 Mbps to up to 10 devices. Eero offers an Internet Backup feature, which allows you to add multiple backup networks, such as Wi-Fi or hot spots, to stay online in the event that your main wired connection goes down. There are no Quality of Service options for prioritizing your activities and you cannot separate bands. One final con with the basic Eero system I tested was comparatively slow transfer speeds, though this was not an issue for the higher-end systems.
Currently, there are four Eero systems on the market worth considering, offering a broadly similar experience. The first two systems are dual-band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz). The regular Eero 6 is suitable for those with connections of up to 500 Mbps. The Eero 6+ is for those with a faster internet connection up to 1 Gbps and whose home is less than 4,500 square foot. The Eero Pro 6E is a triband system with support for the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands. It’s a good option for people who have larger homes or higher demands (many devices and users simultaneously accessing the internet). The Eero Pro 6 has been discontinued.
The Eero Max 7 ($1,700) (7/10, WIRED Review) is its top-of-the-line, Wi-Fi 7 option, boasting four Ethernet ports, two rated at 10 Gbps and two at 2.5 Gbps, but it will be overkill for most folks right now. Our Eero purchasing guide will help you understand the differences. Keep an eye on frequent discounts, whichever model you select. All Eero systems are compatible with each other, which makes it easy to expand your network.
Best Value
Affordable and compact, the ZenWiFi XD5 is a solid alternative to our top pick for more limited needs or budgets. This mesh network can be set up without creating an account. The three units each have two gigabit Ethernet port and can be mounted on the wall. Basic security (AiProtection Classic) and parental controls come at no extra cost, and there is support for AiMesh, so you can mix and match other Asus routers.
Performance was smooth and reliable during my testing, with some impressively fast results for the price. The performance was smooth and reliable during my testing, with some impressively fast results for the price. This dual-band system supports 160-MHz channels in the 5-GHz band. Asus claims that a 3-pack of routers can cover up 5,000 square feet. However, speeds decrease as you move further away from the router. Connect the main router with Ethernet to the nodes for the best performance.
