Verdict
On newspaper publisher , the Google Nest Wifi Pro seems like a steal : Wi - Fi 6E for a fraction of the cost of its contender . While the tech specs are unspoilt , the overall system falls behind its competitor in terms of speed and features . Simply put , there are good option .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It always seems to take Google an age to update its voguish home and networking mathematical product . The Google Nest Wifi Pro is a caseful in power point : it was 2019 when we last image a mesh scheme from the company .
Even back then , the deficiency of Wi - Fi 6 on theGoogle Nest Wifimade this product feel a touch out of day of the month ; it felt unusual that I ’ve had to wait three age to get a more up - to - date mesh product .
Still , with the Nest Wifi Pro I do have an update mesh system , with accompaniment forWi - Fi 6Eand its 6Ghz super - fast networking . A comparatively low price and simple port are in this system ’s party favour , but the want of advanced controls , canonical performance and the fact that I could n’t get 6GHz networking to oeuvre enumeration against it .
Design and features
The Nest Wifi Pro is sold in packs of one ( £ 189.99 ) or three ( £ 379.99 ) . For start out , the three - mob works out well , as it ’s only double the cost to get three orbiter . It ’s quite astonishing value , really , as even theEero Pro 6Ethree - pack come in at £ 799 .
All satellite are identical , enclosed in a gloss white charge card boxful . As far as networking kit goes , these unity are nice to face at .
The Nest Wifi Pro is a completely new organisation , and it ’s not back compatible with aged Nest Wifi mesh organisation . That ’s a pity , as previously Google has keep backward compatibility . Eero has managed rearward compatibility with itsPro 6E , although there are some small-scale limitation on available features .
Each Nest Wifi Pro equipment is identical . One must be used as the independent router , using its Gigabit Ethernet WAN port to connect to the cyberspace , leaving a spare Gigabit Ethernet port for wired devices . As I ’ve receive a lot of wired twist , I had to hook the surplus port wine up to a meshing replacement .
It ’s a shame that there are n’t faster ports available . While Gigabit Ethernet is still fast , I ’d have like at least one 2.5 Gbit Ethernet port wine , with a choice of using it for a very fast internet link or to boost the internal web fastness .
Both the Eero Pro 6E andNetgear Orbi RBKE963systems have 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet , and the Orbi even has a 10 Gigabit Ethernet wide area connection port for full time to come - proofing .
restraint of the Google Nest Wifi Pro is via the Google Home app . It ’s straightforward to connect the system and get the satellites connected , either wirelessly or using Ethernet ( a pumped-up backhaul ) . The latter is utile if you need to place a satellite at great range : I set one up in my garden office , for good example .
Once in the app , there are very few selection available in the app . A node connection can be toggled , there are controls for DHCP and speech reservations , embrasure furtherance and the like , but very little ascendancy over the connection : there ’s no choice to set which channels you need the connection to scat on , and all three net stripe ( 2.4GHz , 5GHz and 6GHz ) are automatically bundled under one connection name , and ca n’t be split aside .
Devices can be group into profiles , which gives some additional control . Each profile can be paused manually , set to filter harmful websites , and set up with a schedule that pause the cyberspace at set times . All useful tools for managing tiddler , but there ’s no graininess in the website blocking : it ’s either on or off , and websites are n’t filtered by the age of your children .
A canonic amphetamine test is construct in , so you’re able to see how tight your web is , but there ’s not much useful that you’re able to do with that information .
Threadis built in , and the Google Nest Wifi Pro can move as a border router . As the organization is compatible with theMattersmart home standard , that will be more authoritative in the coming class , as more Matter- and Thread - enabled devices become available .
Performance
Wi - Fi 6E is great in theory , but the 6GHz band can be a nightmare to get sour properly , peculiarly in devices that importune on bundling this band with the regular 5GHz and 2.4GHz ones . Here , nothing I did would get my PC to link to the 6GHz circle . I seek align the driver preferences in Windows to opt the 6GHz dance orchestra . I tried resume the system . I adjudicate enabling WPA3 , but my microcomputer would still only plug in via 5GHz .
I had similar problems with the Eero Pro 6E , although unremarkably a restart of the internet and , if necessitate , forgetting and reconnecting to the meshing would get me on the 6GHz stripe . I much prefer theOrbi RBKE963 , which rent me make a disjoined 6GHz web .
Internally , the Wi - Fi spec are quite basic , and there are difference between the UK and US versions of the router . Here in the UK , I could n’t see a 160MHz choice in the app , and the interlock system is a tri - and AXE4200 one : 2×2 2.4GHz ( 574Mbps ) , 2×2 5GHz ( 1201Mbps ) and 2×2 6GHz ( 2401Mbps ) . Note that 6GHz runs at 160MHz channel width .
In the US , there is a 160MHz fashion in the app for the 5GHz channel , and the system is listed as AXE5200 : 2×2 2.4GHz ( 574Mbps ) , 2×2 5GHz ( 2402Mbps ) and 2×2 6GHz ( 2402Mbps ) .
In reality , 160MHz duct are hard to get working in the UK , as neighbouring networks tend to create interference that ping 5GHz back to 80MHz channels . With 6GHz net , 160MHz is easier , as there are more transmission channel that support this width and less interference .
Google says that all bands can be used for inter - satellite communication , so the 6GHz band can facilitate make fast hurrying between interlocking equipment , even if it ’s surd to use for clients . That ’s the theory .
net throughput just are n’t that tight , specially not for a mesh system that uses the later version of Wi - Fi . At tightlipped range on the 5GHz band , the Google Nest Wifi Pro manage throughput speed of 468.42Mbps , which is a clod behind the competition .
Moving to the second story , I get a line swiftness drop to 223.87Mbps , and then down to 140.94Mbps on the second floor . These speeding are far behind the competition , and even Wi - Fi 5 devices have done better .
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Should you buy it?
If you want a cheap(ish ) meshing system and like everything under the Google umbrella , this could be for you .
If you need a faster , more characteristic - range mesh system , then there are plenty of alternatives out there .
Final Thoughts
I certainly ca n’t argue about the toll of this engagement system , nor the ease of setup . The bigger takings is that this mesh system just is n’t that tight , and I could n’t get the 6GHz connection to work on at all . Simply put there are good , riotous mesh system , both Wi - Fi 5 and Wi - Fi 6 out there , available in our guide to thebest routers .
Trusted Score
How we test
Unlike other internet site , we try out every wireless router we go over thoroughly over an extended period of time . We practice manufacture standard tests to liken features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we chance . We never , ever , accept money to review a Cartesian product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy .
FAQs
No , this new organization is not back compatible with old Nest Wi - Fi system .
It does in the US , but in the UK , 160MHz canal are only endure on the 6GHz band .
