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 presents 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 seeking to improve to Wi-Fi 6E will likely 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 inexpensive for a tri-band mesh with 6-GHz help. The Nest Wifi Pro can also be easy, straightforward, and dependable, but it surely feels barebones in comparison with different mesh techniques, and speeds are distinctly common.
Keep It Simple, Silly
Photograph: Google
The shiny, minimalist capsule design appears quite a bit like an enormous 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 organising 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 in the back of the home and one other upstairs. I needed to transfer the latter barely earlier than it turned inexperienced and informed 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 presents 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 techniques, the 6-GHz band is short-range and doesn’t penetrate by means of partitions and different obstacles very properly, 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 in the intervening time. However, shifting the backhaul onto the 6-GHz band leaves the 5-GHz and a pair of.4-GHz bands free on your units. A wired backhaul, for those who can run Ethernet cables across the dwelling, will present the perfect efficiency.
Performance and protection have been rock strong in my testing. My house is round 1,600 sq. toes, and the Nest Wifi Pro supplies a robust Wi-Fi sign in every single place, together with my yard. Our household of 4 is incessantly gaming, video calling, and streaming, with everybody on-line concurrently, and we’ve but to expertise any lag, buffering, or glitches in a few weeks of testing. Downloading a 30-GB sport took quarter-hour.
