The start of the pandemic saw a massive surge in home internet usage, with millions of Americans transitioning to remote working and learning, not to mention the uptick in traffic used for streaming shows and movies, gaming online with friends and video chatting. Now, more than two years later, it doesn't look like these new habits will be going away anytime soon -- and that means it's more important than ever to have a strong and reliable internet connection at home.One of the best moves most households can make is to upgrade from a traditional router to a mesh Wi-Fi system. With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a mesh router is like a team of routers that can relay your wireless traffic back to the modem better than a traditional router, especially when you're connecting at range. And there are lots of new, next-gen options on the market, so it's a prime time to make the switch.
Eero, which popularized mesh networking before being bought by Amazon in 2019
, as well as the latest setups from TP-Link Deco, Asus ZenWiFi, Netgear Orbi and Google Nest
. Mesh systems regularly sold for as much as $500 a few years ago, but now these manufacturers offer multipoint mesh router systems -- including the main router and the additional satellite extenders -- that cost less than $300, or even below $200. Though we'd recommend aiming a bit higher, you can even find basic, entry-level mesh systems for as little as $20 per device
.We've still got lots of routers and mesh systems we'd like to try out -- including a growing number
that use Wi-Fi 6 technology, promising better performance and faster speeds. More mesh routers that support Wi-Fi 6E
, which means they can access a newly unlocked mass of fresh bandwidth in the 6GHz band, should continue to arrive throughout 2022, but it's probably too early to invest in a system like that (and in most cases, they won't come cheap).Expect regular updates to this post as new Wi-Fi mesh routers like those make it to market. For now, here are our picks for the top-tested systems you should be considering first if you're buying now.
For a mesh router upgrade that really feels like an upgrade, you'll want to look for these things: Wi-Fi 6 support, and a tri-band design with the usual 2.4 and 5GHz bands, plus a second 5GHz band that the system can use as a dedicated backhaul connection for wireless transmissions between the main router and the satellites. The problem is that tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers like that are typically pretty expensive. Not too long ago, I was commending Asus and Eero for bringing the cost of a two-piece system like that down to around $400 or so.Now, TP-Link is doing even better and selling the Deco W7200 mesh router, a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system that only costs $233 for a two-pack. That might be the best mesh router value I've ever seen -- and the even better part is that it performs like a champ, with fast, stable speeds, decent range and a setup process that's about as easy as it gets, with satellite extenders that automatically join the mesh as soon as you plug them in. In fact, the only mesh system that beat the Deco W7200 outright in my at-home speed tests, the Netgear Orbi AX6000, costs more than three times as much at $700 for a two-pack.All of that makes the Deco W7200 an outstanding value and the first mesh router I'd point people to if they asked for a recommendation. Just know that it's been in and out of stock this year on Walmart's website, so it might not be immediately available in your area. If it isn't, you could also consider stepping up to the TP-Link Deco XE75, a similar system that adds Wi-Fi 6E support at $300 for a two-pack. There's also the TP-Link Deco X90, a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that outperformed the W7200 in my tests and adds in a multigig Ethernet jack for high-speed internet plans. It typically sells for close to $450 for a two-pack, but we've occasionally seen it dip below $400.
At a retail price of $699 for a two-pack, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is too expensive to recommend outright -- but if you just want one of the fastest mesh routers money can buy, look no further.With full support for Wi-Fi 6 and a second 5GHz band that serves as a dedicated backhaul connection for the router and its satellites, the powerful system was downright impressive in our tests, with top speeds of nearly 900Mbps at close range in our lab. That's one of the fastest numbers we've ever seen from a mesh router in that test, and it only fell to 666Mbps at a distance of 75 feet -- which is still faster than we saw from the Nest Wifi up close, just 5 feet away.Things got even more impressive when we took the Orbi AX6000 home to test its performance in a real-world setting. With an incoming internet connection of 300Mbps serving as a speed limit, the system returned average speeds throughout the whole home of 289Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 devices and 367Mbps to Wi-Fi 6 devices, including speeds at the farthest point from the router that were 95% as fast as when connecting up close. That's an outstanding result, and it's held up as I've continued my controlled mesh router speed tests. In the two years that have passed since I first tested the Orbi AX6000 at my home, no other system I've tested has been able to take its top spot on the leaderboard, not even the newer Orbi AXE11000 system that adds in support for Wi-Fi 6E (yes, really).Again, the problem is the price: $699 is simply too expensive for most folks, especially given that you'll need a connection of at least 500Mbps in order to notice much of a difference between this system and others we like that cost less than half as much. The good news? As of writing this in late August, you can snag the Orbi AX6000 for more than $100 off on Amazon.There's also the less expensive AX4200 version of the Orbi mesh system that costs $450. It's still a tri-band Wi-Fi router that supports Wi-Fi 6, but you don't get the multigig WAN port that comes with the AX6000 model here. We'll keep an eye on that one and update this space once we've tested it out.
Eero was an early pioneer of the mesh networking approach, and in 2019, it got scooped up by Amazon. Then, in 2020, we got two new versions of the Eero mesh router: the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6, both of which add in support for -- you guessed it -- Wi-Fi 6.I liked the Eero Pro 6 as an upgrade pick, but the standard Eero 6 wasn't quite strong enough for me to recommend it. Flash forward to 2022, and the release of the Eero 6 Plus. With a list price of $299 for a three-pack, it offers the same strong pitch as the Eero 6 -- a relatively affordable and easy-to-use three-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh setup, complete with a built-in Zigbee radio for connecting things like lights and locks with your network. Best of all, with a faster AX3000 design (up from AX1800 with the Eero 6) and support for full-width, 160MHz channels (up from 80MHz), the performance is significantly improved.In my at-home tests, the Eero 6 Plus returned average download speeds that were in the top 10 of the 30 or so mesh routers I've reviewed here -- and none of the systems that outperformed it offer as good a value. Its upload speeds were strong as well, and it works great with previous-gen, Wi-Fi 5 client devices, too -- that's important, because gadgets like those still comprise the majority of Wi-Fi devices in our homes. With three mesh devices for $299 and range of up to 4,500 square feet, it's an excellent pick for large homes, where that additional extender will really come in handy. Now's a decent time to pick it up, too -- Amazon has it on sale for $239, saving you $60.
Several years ago, Google Wifi became a breakout hit thanks to its easy setup and its ability to spread a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection throughout your home for all of your connected devices. Now, there's the Nest Wifi, a second-gen follow-up that adds in faster internet speeds and a better-looking design, plus Google Assistant smart speakers built into each satellite extender. The price is a little lower this time around, too -- $269 for the two-piece setup above, with roughly the same area of Wi-Fi coverage as a three-piece, $300 Google Wifi setup from years back. That's less of a good deal now than it was when the system first launched, but there's still plenty of reason to consider the Nest Wifi if you catch it on sale.On average, the Nest Wifi notched the fastest top speeds that I saw in my tests from any Wi-Fi 5 mesh router (and faster speeds than some of the Wi-Fi 6 systems I've tested, too). Plus, the two-piece setup offered enough signal strength to provide sufficient coverage at the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home. It also aced our mesh tests, never once dropping my connection as I moved about my home running speed tests, and I never caught it routing my connection through the extender when connecting directly to the router was faster, either.The lack of Wi-Fi 6 support might seem like a missed opportunity -- and there are signs that a new version of the system is in the works -- but the original Nest Wifi does include support for modern features like WPA3 security, device grouping and prioritization, and 4x4 MU-MIMO connections that offer faster aggregate speeds for devices like the MacBook Pro that can use multiple Wi-Fi antennas at once. It's also fully backward-compatible with previous-gen Google Wifi setups, which is a smart touch. All of it is easy to set up, easy to use and easy to rely on. Among dual-band mesh routers, I'd much rather have a top-of-the-line Wi-Fi 5 system than an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 system, and even among new competition, the Nest Wifi mesh router fits that bill.
ISSN: 0004-7163(print)
Best Mesh Wi-Fi Router Systems of 2022
Bart Begg (2022-09-15)
id="article-body" class="row" section="article-body" data-component="trackCWV">The start of the pandemic saw a massive surge in home internet usage, with millions of Americans transitioning to remote working and learning, not to mention the uptick in traffic used for streaming shows and movies, gaming online with friends and video chatting. Now, more than two years later, it doesn't look like these new habits will be going away anytime soon -- and that means it's more important than ever to have a strong and reliable internet connection at home.One of the best moves most households can make is to upgrade from a traditional router to a mesh Wi-Fi system. With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a mesh router is like a team of routers that can relay your wireless traffic back to the modem better than a traditional router, especially when you're connecting at range. And there are lots of new, next-gen options on the market, so it's a prime time to make the switch.
Eero, which popularized mesh networking before being bought by Amazon in 2019
, as well as the latest setups from TP-Link Deco, Asus ZenWiFi, Netgear Orbi and Google Nest
. Mesh systems regularly sold for as much as $500 a few years ago, but now these manufacturers offer multipoint mesh router systems -- including the main router and the additional satellite extenders -- that cost less than $300, or even below $200. Though we'd recommend aiming a bit higher, you can even find basic, entry-level mesh systems for as little as $20 per device
.We've still got lots of routers and mesh systems we'd like to try out -- including a growing number
that use Wi-Fi 6 technology, promising better performance and faster speeds. More mesh routers that support Wi-Fi 6E
, which means they can access a newly unlocked mass of fresh bandwidth in the 6GHz band, should continue to arrive throughout 2022, but it's probably too early to invest in a system like that (and in most cases, they won't come cheap).Expect regular updates to this post as new Wi-Fi mesh routers like those make it to market. For now, here are our picks for the top-tested systems you should be considering first if you're buying now.
Ry Crist/CNET
TP-Link Deco W7200
Best overall
For a mesh router upgrade that really feels like an upgrade, you'll want to look for these things: Wi-Fi 6 support, and a tri-band design with the usual 2.4 and 5GHz bands, plus a second 5GHz band that the system can use as a dedicated backhaul connection for wireless transmissions between the main router and the satellites. The problem is that tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers like that are typically pretty expensive. Not too long ago, I was commending Asus and Eero for bringing the cost of a two-piece system like that down to around $400 or so.Now, TP-Link is doing even better and selling the Deco W7200 mesh router, a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system that only costs $233 for a two-pack. That might be the best mesh router value I've ever seen -- and the even better part is that it performs like a champ, with fast, stable speeds, decent range and a setup process that's about as easy as it gets, with satellite extenders that automatically join the mesh as soon as you plug them in. In fact, the only mesh system that beat the Deco W7200 outright in my at-home speed tests, the Netgear Orbi AX6000, costs more than three times as much at $700 for a two-pack.All of that makes the Deco W7200 an outstanding value and the first mesh router I'd point people to if they asked for a recommendation. Just know that it's been in and out of stock this year on Walmart's website, so it might not be immediately available in your area. If it isn't, you could also consider stepping up to the TP-Link Deco XE75, a similar system that adds Wi-Fi 6E support at $300 for a two-pack. There's also the TP-Link Deco X90, a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that outperformed the W7200 in my tests and adds in a multigig Ethernet jack for high-speed internet plans. It typically sells for close to $450 for a two-pack, but we've occasionally seen it dip below $400.
Read our TP-Link Deco W7200 review.
$233 at Walmart
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Ry Crist/CNET
Netgear Orbi AX6000
Best performance
At a retail price of $699 for a two-pack, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is too expensive to recommend outright -- but if you just want one of the fastest mesh routers money can buy, look no further.With full support for Wi-Fi 6 and a second 5GHz band that serves as a dedicated backhaul connection for the router and its satellites, the powerful system was downright impressive in our tests, with top speeds of nearly 900Mbps at close range in our lab. That's one of the fastest numbers we've ever seen from a mesh router in that test, and it only fell to 666Mbps at a distance of 75 feet -- which is still faster than we saw from the Nest Wifi up close, just 5 feet away.Things got even more impressive when we took the Orbi AX6000 home to test its performance in a real-world setting. With an incoming internet connection of 300Mbps serving as a speed limit, the system returned average speeds throughout the whole home of 289Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 devices and 367Mbps to Wi-Fi 6 devices, including speeds at the farthest point from the router that were 95% as fast as when connecting up close. That's an outstanding result, and it's held up as I've continued my controlled mesh router speed tests. In the two years that have passed since I first tested the Orbi AX6000 at my home, no other system I've tested has been able to take its top spot on the leaderboard, not even the newer Orbi AXE11000 system that adds in support for Wi-Fi 6E (yes, really).Again, the problem is the price: $699 is simply too expensive for most folks, especially given that you'll need a connection of at least 500Mbps in order to notice much of a difference between this system and others we like that cost less than half as much. The good news? As of writing this in late August, you can snag the Orbi AX6000 for more than $100 off on Amazon.There's also the less expensive AX4200 version of the Orbi mesh system that costs $450. It's still a tri-band Wi-Fi router that supports Wi-Fi 6, but you don't get the multigig WAN port that comes with the AX6000 model here. We'll keep an eye on that one and update this space once we've tested it out.
Read our Netgear Orbi AX6000 review.
$700 at Netgear$639 at AmazonGet Price Alerts$700 at CrutchfieldYou're receiving price alerts for Netgear Orbi AX6000 WiFi 6 System
Amazon
Eero 6 Plus
A great three-piece setup for large homes
Eero was an early pioneer of the mesh networking approach, and in 2019, it got scooped up by Amazon. Then, in 2020, we got two new versions of the Eero mesh router: the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6, both of which add in support for -- you guessed it -- Wi-Fi 6.I liked the Eero Pro 6 as an upgrade pick, but the standard Eero 6 wasn't quite strong enough for me to recommend it. Flash forward to 2022, and the release of the Eero 6 Plus. With a list price of $299 for a three-pack, it offers the same strong pitch as the Eero 6 -- a relatively affordable and easy-to-use three-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh setup, complete with a built-in Zigbee radio for connecting things like lights and locks with your network. Best of all, with a faster AX3000 design (up from AX1800 with the Eero 6) and support for full-width, 160MHz channels (up from 80MHz), the performance is significantly improved.In my at-home tests, the Eero 6 Plus returned average download speeds that were in the top 10 of the 30 or so mesh routers I've reviewed here -- and none of the systems that outperformed it offer as good a value. Its upload speeds were strong as well, and it works great with previous-gen, Wi-Fi 5 client devices, too -- that's important, because gadgets like those still comprise the majority of Wi-Fi devices in our homes. With three mesh devices for $299 and range of up to 4,500 square feet, it's an excellent pick for large homes, where that additional extender will really come in handy. Now's a decent time to pick it up, too -- Amazon has it on sale for $239, saving you $60.
Read our Eero 6 Plus review.
$239 at Amazon
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CNET
Nest Wifi
A solid Wi-Fi 5 system (but don't spend more than $200)
Nov 2019
Several years ago, Google Wifi became a breakout hit thanks to its easy setup and its ability to spread a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection throughout your home for all of your connected devices. Now, there's the Nest Wifi, a second-gen follow-up that adds in faster internet speeds and a better-looking design, plus Google Assistant smart speakers built into each satellite extender. The price is a little lower this time around, too -- $269 for the two-piece setup above, with roughly the same area of Wi-Fi coverage as a three-piece, $300 Google Wifi setup from years back. That's less of a good deal now than it was when the system first launched, but there's still plenty of reason to consider the Nest Wifi if you catch it on sale.On average, the Nest Wifi notched the fastest top speeds that I saw in my tests from any Wi-Fi 5 mesh router (and faster speeds than some of the Wi-Fi 6 systems I've tested, too). Plus, the two-piece setup offered enough signal strength to provide sufficient coverage at the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home. It also aced our mesh tests, never once dropping my connection as I moved about my home running speed tests, and I never caught it routing my connection through the extender when connecting directly to the router was faster, either.The lack of Wi-Fi 6 support might seem like a missed opportunity -- and there are signs that a new version of the system is in the works -- but the original Nest Wifi does include support for modern features like WPA3 security, device grouping and prioritization, and 4x4 MU-MIMO connections that offer faster aggregate speeds for devices like the MacBook Pro that can use multiple Wi-Fi antennas at once. It's also fully backward-compatible with previous-gen Google Wifi setups, which is a smart touch. All of it is easy to set up, easy to use and easy to rely on. Among dual-band mesh routers, I'd much rather have a top-of-the-line Wi-Fi 5 system than an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 system, and even among new competition, the Nest Wifi mesh router fits that bill.
Read our Nest Wifi review.
$169 at Google Store$87 at AmazonGet Price Alerts$169 at Best BuyYou're receiving price alerts for Nest Wifi
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)
Best for multigig home internet plans