In this post, we will review the top affordable Mesh Wi-Fi systems and their features.
What is a Mesh Wi-Fi system, and why is it needed?
A Mesh Wi-Fi system consists of the main router and two or more Wi-Fi nodes (also called units). The router connects to a modem to access the internet, and Wi-Fi nodes are placed across the home or office to cover the entire area for a flawless internet connection. The Wi-Fi nodes deliver Wi-Fi signals by forming a daisy chain with other nodes in the system. Due to the daisy chain, the farthest node from the router can still provide a strong Wi-Fi signal to devices in its vicinity.
The daisy chain mechanism ensures that nodes communicate with each other to determine the fastest bandwidth for your device and route traffic in the event of a Wi-Fi node (unit) failure. In Mesh Wi-Fi setup, the single internet connection can be extended to a broad range of areas by creating a mesh of high-speed connectivity. It has been observed time and again that you may not be able to access the internet or have a slow connection in some regions of the house, and such areas are known as dead zones. The Wi-Fi mesh network implementation overcomes dead zones and offers uninterrupted Wi-Fi connectivity in your home.
The Major Benefits of Mesh Wi-Fi system
There are several types of Mesh Wi-Fi systems to cover medium to large homes, including two-story and duplex homes. The main purpose of a mesh setup is to cover different areas with single internet connections to connect Wi-Fi devices such as smartphones, computers, smart TVs, etc., at high speed. A few major benefits include:
All family members can easily connect with multiple smart devices, simultaneously maintaining strong internet access. A single internet connection can be extended to a full house without slowing down Wi-Fi bandwidth. Multiple nodes guarantee a stable connection, regardless of your location, such as dead zones, basement, stairs, etc. Easy to maintain and setup without any additional cost Remote access or management of your home devices with the app.
Current and future market size of Wi-Fi mesh
The growing trend towards the Internet of Things, work-at-home culture, and technological advances across all industries are increasing the use of the wireless mesh market. According to one report, the global Wireless Mesh Networking market was valued at USD 4.98 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $9.66 billion by 2026, with a complex annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% over the forecast period 2021-2026.
TP-Link Mesh Wi-Fi
Deco S4
TP-Link mesh Wi-Fi system has one of the fastest routing technologies that select the quickest path for each Wi-Fi-enabled device. Its Deco Mesh technology ensures that all nodes work in sync and automatically switch between them to provide interruption-free internet access anywhere in the house, e.g., basement, garage, kitchen, and hall.
The app will help you install and use a network system in minutes, and it supports both Android and iOS devices. Deco Mesh ensures that all Wi-Fi devices throughout the home receive a stable and reliable Wi-Fi signal, eliminating bad network zones. This particular model, the TP-Link Deco S4, offers Wi-Fi coverage from small to duplex homes regardless of size or shape and supports up to 5,500 square feet. It comes with 3 units and creates a strong Wi-Fi Mesh, chooses the fastest wireless route, and offers Wi-Fi speeds for up to 100 devices. It has 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports and is compatible with all major ISPs, including AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, and more. All models of TP-Link are equipped with robust parental controls that allow you to create an account for each user. You can manage internet usage in terms of limiting internet access time, restricting access to inappropriate websites, etc. so that every member can use the internet safely and responsibly. Its advanced features, such as auto-switching when the device is offline and self-tuning, allow it to choose the best wireless way to reach Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The TP-Link Mesh WI-FI system supports Alexa voice commands to control Wi-Fi devices and connections. The TP-Link Deco Mesh has other models (Deco M3, Deco P9, Deco X20), but the basic functionality remains the same as described above for the Deco S4.
Deco M5
The TP-Link Deco M5 is recognized by the Wi-Fi router manufacturer as having the highest level of customer satisfaction, according to the JD Power Report. It comes with free lifetime security software called HomeCare. It offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.3 Gbit/s and covers an area of up to 5,500 square feet. Its connectivity capacity can accommodate 100 Wi-Fi devices. It also comes with HomeCare Secure software. TP-Link Deco M5 provides not only high-speed Wi-Fi connection but also end-to-end security and protection for Internet users, including threat protection for all connected devices, Internet control management for all family members, content filtering by age group, internet access time limit setting, internet access control according to higher priority and speed.
Deco M3
In addition to all the usual TP-Link Deco Mesh features, it offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps and covers a wireless area of up to 4,500 square feet. It provides a Wi-Fi signal for up to 50 Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
Deco P9
This TP-Link Deco P9 has twice won the award for highest customer satisfaction. It offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps + AV1000 and covers a wireless area of up to 6,000 square feet. Supports up to 100 Wi-Fi-enabled devices and 6 Gigabit ports. Like a Tri-band router, it adds a third lane to ensure the Wi-Fi signal passes through thick walls or ceilings to reach Wi-Fi-enabled devices to provide a stable internet connection.
Deco X20
At 1.8 Gbps, this Deco X20 offers the highest Wi-Fi speeds of any TP-Link model. The 1.8 Gbps connection speed is good enough for 8K/4K buffer-free streaming and gaming on all devices. Smart home automation, smartphones, and other electronic devices can also have a high-speed Internet connection without delay. It uses the next generation of Wi-Fi 6 and provides a Wi-Fi signal for up to 150 devices. Like the Deco M5, it also comes with TP-Link’s HomeCare security software which increases security and controls internet usage and connectivity. This Wi-Fi mesh system is equipped with 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Google Nest Mesh
Node – AC2200
Google Nest is a secure, flexible, and reliable Mesh Wi-Fi system for your home, covering a broad range of areas.
The Nest system automatically updates its software to keep the device and users safe and secure. The system can be easily installed and managed through an app and is compatible with most ISP (internet service providers). This 2-unit Nest Wi-Fi Mesh system comes with one Wi-Fi router and one additional unit that can be placed at any location in the home. The system provides wireless coverage up to 4400 square feet. The system is scalable enough to provide a Wi-Fi signal for up to 200 Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The speed is sufficient for 4k video streaming and ensures a lag-free connection when roaming at home. The Google Nest Mesh Wi-Fi system has another model, which is just an extension of this model by one more router, the details of which are given below.
Node – AC2200
All the features and functions of the Google Nest Mesh system listed above apply to this model, except for some of the features below. It covers Wi-Fi signal for a large 6,600-square-ft home and is one of the largest mesh system coverage areas in this category. For connecting wired devices such as laptops, gaming devices, etc., it comes with 6 Ethernet ports for faster access. Other factors such as ease of setup, parental controls, security, and Wi-Fi speed remain the same as for the 2-unit model as described above.
6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system
As it is built on Wi-Fi 6 technology, it offers increased capacity and efficiency for your internet connectivity across all Wi-Fi devices.
It offers connection speeds of up to 500 Mbps, virtually eliminates buffering when watching movies or playing online games, and its mesh technology ensures Wi-Fi signal reaches every place overcoming dead zones. It is easy to set up and manage through the eero app that makes it highly adaptable. With Zigbee’s built-in intelligent software, Alexa manages all home automation, including lighting controls, locks, security cameras, and more. The eero system security guarantees family members’ access to the internet in a secure area by scanning for threats, warnings of malicious content, etc. If you are looking for additional security protections like VPN, password management, virus protection, and cybersecurity, you should consider the paid eero Secure plan. Features: Its Wi-Fi signal covers an area of 5,000 Square. Feet at the connection speed up to 350 Mbit/s. It adopts dual-band and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standards and is equipped with 6 Ethernet ports to directly connect wired devices to the router.
Pro 6 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system
It is built on Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standards, and it uses three bands (one 2.5 GHz and two 5 GHz) to transfer Wi-Fi signals. It offers 6,000 square feet of coverage, enough to cover large houses. Its Gigabit Wi-Fi speed makes easy streaming of 4K content, playing online gaming, and much more.
NETGEAR Orbi
The NETGEAR Orbi Mesh system is equipped with the latest WiFi6 technology to cover more space and provide faster connection speeds with greater capacity. The network connectivity in each room is sufficient to run high-bandwidth applications such as multiple 4K/8K UHD video streaming, online gaming, security devices, and other home automation devices.
The system is powered by a 30-day trial version of NETGEAR Armor software, which provides advanced cybersecurity for all devices. The entire system is easy to set up and can be monitored via the Orbi app. There are three models of the NETGEAR Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi 6 system: Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System RBK752, RBK852 and RBK853. The NETGEAR Mesh Wi-Fi functions described above apply to all models. Below we will discuss the main features of each of the three models:
Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (RBK752)
This is a Tri-Band Wi-Fi Mesh System. Tri-band system broadcasts Wi-Fi signal on 3 separate bands – one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands. One of the biggest advantages of tri-band network technology is that it uses a third dedicated Wi-Fi connection between the router and the device to provide maximum speed to reach places where other Wi-Fi signals are difficult to reach. Its best features include: The system covers an area of 5,000 square feet with a speed of 4.2 Gbit/s and supports up to 40 Wi-Fi devices.
Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (RBK852)
This model of NETGEAR comes with two units (main router + 2 satellites) to cover 5000 square feet of area. It provides speed up to 6 Gbps and supports 100 Wi-Fi devices. It comes with 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports in all.
Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK853)
This NETGEAR model has three units (1 router + 2 satellites) to cover 7,500 square feet. It offers speeds of up to 6 Gbps and supports 100 Wi-Fi devices. It has 12 Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices directly to the router.
ASUS Zen Mesh Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (XT8 2PK)
ASUS AiMesh is one of the best Wi-Fi mesh solutions that lets you connect and use the internet without latency and, most importantly, on a secure wireless network.
Its innovative design allows you to scale your Wi-Fi network by simply adding any router model to your ASUS without the need to replace the router. It is one of the fastest speed providers in the Mesh Wi-Fi category. Its unique antenna layout offers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 6.6 Gbit/s to reach every corner of the house and overcome dead zones. Integrating the latest technologies such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO ensures a constant connection speed when multiple Wi-Fi devices are operating simultaneously. Features
Using ZenWiFi AX increases speed by 2.2 times compared to tri-band Flexible naming convention (SSID) for all three bands Trend Micro Protection is free to detect infections, block malicious websites, protect against attacks, and more.
If you are looking for the most secure mesh Wi-Fi system for your home, you can go for this ASUS model as it comes with commercial security for your network, which is free for life. It is equipped with two units, capable enough to cover 5500 square feet of area.
Points to consider when choosing the best Wi-Fi Mesh system for your home
The current market is flooded with many Mesh WIFI systems with different models. The real challenge is how to select the best model so that the Wi-Fi system can cover every corner of your home and every family member can use it lag-free and importantly maintain safety and security across all home devices. Before selecting a system, users should ask the following 5 questions:
How big is your house: If you know the size of your home, you can choose a Wi-Fi mesh network based on the coverage area. How many devices will be connected to use the internet: Every Mesh Wi-Fi system indicates the number of devices it supports. Most systems support at least 40 devices. If you have additional requirements, you can choose the appropriate system. What type of internet usage occurs: Based on internet use like from browsing to high bandwidth extensive usage like 4k/8k streaming, online gaming, etc., you can choose the system based on Wi-Fi speed specifications. Type of security required: Most systems provide secure connectivity like Parental control, content filtering, access restriction, virus, data theft, etc. If you are looking for any specific security parameters, you opt for a system offering advanced security measures. How many wired devices will connect to the router: Wired devices will connect directly to the router to provide direct internet access for faster speeds. Most Wi-Fi routers offer Ethernet ports from 2 to 16 ports with speeds from 100 Mbps to Gigabit.
Many users prefer to connect wired devices like computers, game machines, etc., directly to the router for faster Internet access. If you can find the correct answers to the 5 questions above, you are sure to buy the best mesh Wi-Fi system for your home.
Conclusion
Indeed, choosing a mesh Wi-Fi system for your home from various companies and models can be a challenge. To simplify the buying process, you can only look for three things: Wi-Fi coverage area, Wi-Fi speed, and the number of supported devices. These three factors will help you find the best Wi-Fi network system for your home. Additional factors like the number of Ethernet ports, extended security, scalability, etc., can be evaluated if necessary. I hope this post will assist you in purchasing the best Mesh WIFI system for your home to enjoy seamless internet around the clock. You may also be interested in these work-from-home essentials and some of the best Wi-Fi Routers. Check out 6 best wi-fi analyzer tools for small and medium businesses.
