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 seeking to improve to Wi-Fi 6E shall 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 assist. The Nest Wifi Pro can also be easy, straightforward, 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 to be like loads like a large Pixel Buds case (the corporate’s wi-fi earbuds), and the routers are available 4 colours: Snow, Fog, Linen, or Lemongrass. They are small and unobtrusive sufficient to sit down on cabinets and window sills and may match with any decor. I examined the three-pack in white (er, Snow).

All three items are similar, with two Gigabit Ethernet ports apiece. Each can cowl as much as 2,200 sq. ft 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 behind the home and one other upstairs. I needed to transfer the latter barely earlier than it turned inexperienced and instructed 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 way 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 forwards and backwards. As I’ve famous with different Wi-Fi 6E methods, the 6-GHz band is short-range and doesn’t penetrate by way of partitions and different obstacles very properly, so your routers will work finest with a line of sight or by way of a single wall or ceiling. To get pleasure from these doubtlessly excessive 6-GHz speeds, you want units that assist Wi-Fi 6E, and there aren’t many for the time being. 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, when you can run Ethernet cables across the dwelling, will present the most effective efficiency. 

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