The previous few years have demonstrated the importance of having a reliable Wi-Fi network at home, especially whether you’re working or learning from home, gaming online with pals, or video chatting with loved ones on a daily basis. And, if you’ve developed such networking habits during the epidemic, you may have noticed that your router’s signal isn’t as strong as you’d want it to be in some areas of your home.
Wireless signals can only travel so far on their own before slowing down, especially if your home’s architecture and structure create impediments that the signals must overcome. Mesh routers can help with this. A solid mesh router is more like a team of routers that can relay your wireless signal back to the modem better than a stand-alone classic router, especially when you’re connected at the range, especially if you have several devices dispersed across your home.
1. TP-Link Deco W7200
TP-Link is now doing even better in 2021, with the Deco W7200 mesh router, a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system that costs only $229 for a two-pack. That’s maybe the finest mesh router deal ever seen — and the best thing is that it works like a champ, with fast, steady speeds, excellent range, and a setup procedure that’s about as simple as it gets because you can easily set up through the default gateway address i.e 192.168.1.1.
Along with all of this, you also get satellite extenders that immediately join the mesh as soon as they’re plugged in. All of this adds up to the Deco W7200 being an excellent value and the first mesh router.
2. Eero Pro 6
Eero Pro 6, which comes in a three-pack for $599, maybe had for less if you wait for a deal (it’s now on sale for $449 ahead of Black Friday). The Eero Pro 6 system works like a charm, distributing fast, stable speeds across the entire home, unlike the ordinary Eero 6, which disappointed the testing due to poor band-steering. It also has a tri-band design with two 5GHz channels, which is important for mesh performance.
Eero Pro 6 is also a perfect choice for Alexa fans, owing to a built-in Zigbee radio that allows you to link smart locks and lights with your voice assistant without the need for additional hub gear. That’s fantastic if you have a huge house and need your Wi-Fi network to cover a large territory; the mesh Wi-Fi network extender will make a major difference in your speeds while you’re connected at range.
3. Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 (2-Pack)
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 takes the top rank here because of its fast performance, long-range, and several added features. Each router has three gigabit Ethernet connections, a 2.5G LAN port, and a USB 3.1 port, which is rather ample. It’s great to see Trend Micro’s Ai Protection Pro included, which adds anti-malware and parental controls.
You may create and reuse profiles, set bedtimes, filter by age group, and keep track of your activities. You may prioritize activities like working from home, gaming, or streaming, and you can limit bandwidth for certain devices using the Quality of Service (QoS) option. The router is also easy to set up and you can set up your router using the Asus Router app or through the default gateway address like 192.168.1.254.
4. Netgear Orbi AX4200 RBK753 (3-Pack)
The tested AX4200 RBK753 mesh system is in the center of the range and has proven to be enough for a large residence. Setup was shockingly difficult, requiring more than an hour and multiple restarts due to the app’s inability to get past the loading page. The router as well as the nodes are rather massive.
When everything is working, the LED light shuts off, and other colors are displayed to indicate problems; every router should work this way. The main router has three gigabit Ethernet ports, and each node has two. Individual units had certain problems at longer distances, therefore speeds were a hair behind the Asus XT8.
5. Vilo Mesh Router (3-Pack)
Vilo Mesh Router is a Wi-Fi 5 system with dual bands. For the ordinary home, three Vilo routers give adequate coverage. This is not the system for you if you have a 500 Mbps connection and use it frequently. However, if your connection is 100 Mbps or slower and you’re upgrading from an older router or moving from the terrible router your ISP provides, the Vilo might be a great way to get your feet soaked in the mesh world. Each Vilo box has three gigabit Ethernet connections and functions as a router. The smartphone app makes setup quick and simple.
