We take a look at a lot of routers at CNET HQ — mesh and in any other case — so we’re consistently updating our rundowns of the highest programs in the marketplace. I will word any new mesh programs we take a look at right here as we go, together with a fast abstract of my takeaways. Please word that this checklist contains a number of programs that have been examined at my residence as an alternative of our newest take a look at setup.
Arris Surfboard Max AX6600: A high-powered Wi-Fi 6 system with an upright, cylindrical design, the Surfboard Max was in a position to ship quick speeds to different Wi-Fi 6 gadgets in my checks, however the efficiency was inconsistent with earlier-gen Wi-Fi 5 gadgets. I additionally did not just like the Ethernet jacks on the underside of the system, which pressure you to bend your cables to the acute so as to plug the router in.
Asus ZenWifi XD6: The center baby from the Asus household of Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, the ZenWifi XD6 is a dual-band mesh system. It will not provide the tri-band construct of the ZenWifi XT8, nor will you get that system’s multi-gig Ethernet jack. Nonetheless, the system carried out in addition to any dual-band mesh router I had ever examined once I first reviewed it, so it is not a nasty choose by any stretch. Out there for round $140, it is a cheap worth for a high-performance system.
Asus ZenWifi XT8: Probably the most highly effective ZenWifi programs, the tri-band XT8 carried out nicely in our velocity checks and was among the many first mesh routers to incorporate multi-gig Ethernet WAN ports on every system. Out there in a two-pack for $330, the previous CNET Innovation Award winner is an inexpensive different, but it surely is not fairly nearly as good a price because the Netgear Orbi 870 or Eero 7.
Eero 6: Amazon’s first Wi-Fi 6 mesh router, the Eero 6 hit the market again in 2020, but it surely did not blow us away throughout our checks. Eero programs that adopted it did quite a bit higher in my velocity checks they usually provide the identical good residence perks, corresponding to built-in radios for Zigbee and Thread.
The Eero Professional 6E is a good choose for gigabit networks, however most properties can be higher off upgrading to the Eero 7.
Eero Pro 6E: The Eero Professional 6E did a superb job in our velocity checks, ending towards the highest in nearly each class whereas additionally delivering a noticeable velocity bump to Wi-Fi 6E gadgets that may join over the 6GHz band. The Eero 7 is the higher worth for many households, however when you’re a Wi-Fi 6E energy consumer with gigabit speeds at residence, then upgrading to the Eero Professional 6E deserves robust consideration.
Eero Max 7: It is Amazon’s latest, largest and priciest Eero mesh system, and it provides in help for Wi-Fi 7, the brand new Wi-Fi commonplace that guarantees to construct upon Wi-Fi 6E’s foray into the 6GHz band. In our velocity checks, the Max 7 was able to hitting blazing-fast speeds, however at greater than $1,000 for a two-pack, you are higher off spending much less for the Orbi 870.
Linksys Velop MX2000: Out there in a two-pack for $150, the Linksys Velop MX2000, often known as the Velop Atlas 6, is first rate sufficient as baseline Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers go, however you will discover higher worth and quicker speeds when you store round.
Nest Wifi Pro: The Nest Wifi Professional mesh router reworks the original Nest Wifi pitch by ditching the built-in Google Assistant good audio system and including in entry to the 6GHz band through Wi-Fi 6E help. With a built-in Thread radio and sturdy good residence controls through the Google Residence app, it is a first rate choose for good residence fanatics, and it was as steady a performer as I’ve seen in my velocity checks. Nonetheless, these speeds have been a bit lackluster, and the system additionally lacked backward compatibility with earlier Nest Wifi and Google Wifi {hardware}. At $400 for a three-pack, it’s kind of costly for such middle-of-the-road efficiency.
Netgear Orbi AX6000: Initially launched because the Netgear Orbi 850 collection, and just lately up to date to the 860 Collection, each generations of Netgear’s flagship AX6000 mesh router provide robust efficiency, however I wasn’t as impressed with the system’s speeds on a gigabit community, the place a number of programs that price much less have managed to outperform it in my checks. Even so, this is without doubt one of the most constant mesh routers I’ve examined, with dependable speeds from take a look at to check. If that sort of regular efficiency is what you are after, then it belongs excessive in your checklist.
TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro: The Deco X4300 Professional is a powerful system that options a number of the greatest Wi-Fi 6 speeds we have seen, plus multi-gig Ethernet jacks on every system. The Deco W7200 nonetheless looks like the higher worth for many properties, however when you’re on the lookout for a step up from that system, put the X4300 Professional in your radar.
TP-Link Deco X55 Pro: The X55 Professional earned CNET’s lab award for the quickest Wi-Fi 6 router, and it is value contemplating as a mesh system, too. It shares quite a lot of similarities with the Eero 6 Plus — help for Wi-Fi 6, far-reaching vary, gigabit Ethernet jacks — and at $170, the X55 Professional is a stable worth for a three-piece mesh system.
TP-Link XE75: TP-Hyperlink’s first Wi-Fi 6E mesh router, the XE75 did an honest job in our preliminary checks, although the system’s common add speeds have been decrease than I would anticipated. It is a clear worth choose and presently accessible in a two-pack for $150, so give it a glance when you’re interested in Wi-Fi 6E however fearful about overspending. I will replace this web page as soon as we have retested it in our lab, so keep tuned for that.
TP-Link Deco X90: With a multi-gig WAN port and a quicker velocity ranking, the Deco X90 is a midrange improve choose over the Deco W7200, and it prices $259 for a two-pack. It carried out nicely in my checks, however not sufficient that I would advocate it over the Eero 7
