Google Nest Wifi Pro Review: Wi-Fi 6E at a Reasonable Price Leave a comment

The Nest Wifi Pro is the newest mesh router from Google. In line with the corporate’s penchant for simplicity, this mesh system is a breeze to arrange and simple to handle. But the “Pro” moniker appears ill-fitting contemplating the shortage of superior options and settings—it actually simply refers to Google’s adoption of Wi-Fi 6E. The newly opened 6-GHz band gives an expanse of untapped bandwidth, and you do not have to be a professional to take benefit.

After a month with the Nest Wifi Pro, I’m concurrently impressed and underwhelmed. People trying to improve to Wi-Fi 6E will probably be sorely tempted by the pricing: Nest Wifi Pro prices $199 for a single router, $299 for 2, or $399 for 3. That’s comparatively reasonably priced for a tri-band mesh with 6-GHz help. The Nest Wifi Pro can be easy, simple, and dependable, nevertheless it feels barebones in comparison with different mesh systems, and speeds are distinctly common.

Keep It Simple, Silly

The shiny, minimalist capsule design appears a lot like a big Pixel Buds case (the corporate’s wi-fi earbuds), and the routers are available in 4 colours: Snow, Fog, Linen, or Lemongrass. They are small and unobtrusive sufficient to take a seat on cabinets and window sills and may match with any decor. I examined the three-pack in white (er, Snow).

All three models are equivalent, with two Gigabit Ethernet ports apiece. Each can cowl as much as 2,200 sq. toes and join as much as 100 units. My three-pack got here with a single 6.5-foot Ethernet cable, and establishing was so simple as plugging it into my modem and scanning the QR code on the underside of every unit. When you add routers (Google calls them factors), you get a sign of the suitability of your chosen spot. I added one to the lounge at the again of the home and one other upstairs. I needed to transfer the latter barely earlier than it turned inexperienced and advised me, “Great connection.”

The Nest Wifi Pro is Google’s first Wi-Fi 6E router, and it’s a tri-band system, so the acquainted 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands are joined by the 6-GHz band. As we go up by means of the bands, the potential pace will increase, however the vary drops, so 6 GHz gives the quickest speeds however the shortest vary. (Our How to Buy a Router information goes into extra element.)

The Nest Wifi Pro makes use of the 6-GHz band for backhaul, which is how the routers and factors ship visitors backwards and forwards. As I’ve famous with different Wi-Fi 6E programs, the 6-GHz band is short-range and doesn’t penetrate by means of partitions and different obstacles very effectively, so your routers will work finest with a line of sight or by means of a single wall or ceiling. To get pleasure from these probably excessive 6-GHz speeds, you want units that help Wi-Fi 6E, and there aren’t many at the second. However, shifting the backhaul onto the 6-GHz band leaves the 5-GHz and a pair of.4-GHz bands free to your units. A wired backhaul, when you can run Ethernet cables across the residence, will present the very best efficiency. 

Performance and protection have been rock stable in my testing. My house is round 1,600 sq. toes, and the Nest Wifi Pro offers a robust Wi-Fi sign in all places, together with my yard. Our household of 4 is often gaming, video calling, and streaming, with everybody on-line concurrently, and now we have but to expertise any lag, buffering, or glitches in a couple of weeks of testing. Downloading a 30-GB sport took quarter-hour.