Mesh Wifi Router Roundup: Finding the Best System for Your Home

The year 2020 forced many to confront the limitations of their home internet. As the pandemic reshaped daily life, demands on home networks exploded. Streaming, video conferencing, online learning, and a growing number of smart devices strained existing setups, often leading to frustratingly slow speeds and dead zones. Like many, I found myself complaining incessantly about my internet, despite investing in gigabit speeds. My existing wifi infrastructure simply couldn’t handle the load, leaving me with a pervasive sense of digital disconnection.

Mesh wifi systems emerged as a popular solution to these problems. By utilizing multiple nodes to create a distributed network, mesh systems promised to eliminate dead zones and provide consistent coverage throughout the home. With the rise of Wi-Fi 6 and increasingly accessible faster internet plans, a new generation of mesh routers aimed to address the growing bandwidth demands of modern households.

To find the best solution for my own internet woes and future-proof my home for the influx of Wi-Fi 6 devices, I tested several Wi-Fi 6 mesh router systems. While many devices still rely on older 802.11ac connectivity, I prioritized Wi-Fi 6 to ensure longevity and optimal performance with newer devices.

The systems I tested included:

• Amazon Eero 6
• TP-Link Deco X20
• Linksys Velop AX M10

Each router company offers its own unique selling points, such as integrated smart home antennas, security features, and management tools. These features influence the pricing of each system, making it essential to evaluate performance and features alongside cost.

To determine the best mesh wifi router for my home, I conducted various tests, using Ookla’s Speedtest to measure wireless download and upload speeds in several locations: the office, entryway, dining room, bedroom, backyard, and garage. I also evaluated real-world performance by downloading large audio files from Dropbox and conducting ping tests in Elder Scrolls Online.

My evaluation focused on four key criteria:

• Design: Aesthetics are important, especially when the router is constantly visible.
• User Friendliness: Managing a home network should be straightforward and intuitive.
• Performance: The system should provide ample and consistent internet speeds throughout the property.
• Extra Features: Smart home integration and security features can enhance the overall value.

Design

Mesh routers vary significantly in size, from the compact Eero 6 to the larger Linksys Velop AX M10. Generally, larger devices offer more functionality and ports.

The Eero 6 is designed for broad appeal. Its unobtrusive design blends seamlessly into various home environments. However, its lack of ethernet ports is a significant drawback, limiting connectivity options for devices requiring a wired connection.

The TP-Link Deco X20 strikes a balance between size and functionality. Its compact design allows for flexible placement, and the inclusion of two ethernet ports on each node provides wired connectivity options.

The Asus ZenWifi AX (XT8) and Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 are larger, tri-band routers. While their size makes them more noticeable, they offer a wealth of ports, including 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports on the ZenWifi and multiple gigabit Ethernet ports on the Orbi.

The Linksys Velop AX M10 is the largest of the systems tested. Its size is matched by an abundance of ports, including four gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port on each unit. However, its angular design is decidedly router-like.

Winner: TP-Link Deco X20

User Friendliness

Mesh wifi systems are generally user-friendly, thanks to companion apps that simplify network management.

All routers tested offered a quick and easy setup, except for the Linksys Velop AX M10, which initially had DNS routing issues. The Asus ZenWiFi also required keeping the satellite node close during initial configuration.

Each companion app provides easy access to connected devices, displaying IP addresses, MAC addresses, and traffic usage. Guest network modes are available across the board. The Orbi, Deco, and Eero apps allow for pausing internet access for specific devices. All apps offer per-device prioritization for optimizing bandwidth allocation.

Each mesh router also includes Quality of Service (QoS) features for optimizing network traffic. Eero, TP-Link, and Asus offer presets for various scenarios, such as video streaming or gaming. The Netgear Orbi offers dynamic QoS, requiring manual specification of maximum bandwidth per device.

For those who prefer web browser access to router settings, the Eero is not an option. The Deco X20 offers a similarly simplified app experience but also includes browser access.

Parental controls are a popular add-on. The Asus ZenWiFi, TP-Link Deco X20, and Linksys Velop AX M10 offer free parental controls. The Eero 6 requires a $3/month subscription for Eero Secure, while the Netgear Orbi directs users to the Circle app, which offers limited free features and a $50/year subscription for advanced controls.

The Linksys app stands out for its comprehensive feature set and easy navigation. The Orbi app is also feature-rich, but its lack of built-in parental controls is a significant drawback.

Winner: Linksys Velop AX M10

Performance

Mesh wifi should provide consistent internet coverage throughout the house. Tri-band routers, with a dedicated 5GHz backhaul for data transfer between nodes, were expected to outperform dual-band routers. However, the TP-Link Deco X20, a dual-band router, emerged as the most consistent performer.

While not the fastest, the Deco X20 provided stable speeds throughout most of the house, including the garage. It showed limitations at longer ranges, but still delivered sufficient bandwidth for streaming and video calls. It also performed best in the Elder Scrolls Online ping test.

The Netgear Orbi and Asus ZenWiFi offered faster speeds but were less consistent. The Orbi excelled within range, while the ZenWiFi maintained speeds at longer distances.

The Linksys Velop AX M10 delivered the fastest speeds at the farthest range. However, its performance in the backyard was comparable to the ZenWiFi.

The Eero 6 performed the worst, with throughput limited to 500 Mbps. The Eero 6 Pro may offer better performance for gigabit internet.

Winner: TP-Link Deco X20

Extra Features

Mesh wifi manufacturers often bundle extra features to enhance the value of their systems.

The Eero 6 offers a subscription service called Eero Secure Plus, which includes 1Password, Encrypt.Me’s VPN service, and anti-virus through MalwareBytes. The Eero Secure tier enables parental controls, ad-blocking, and threat detection scans. The Eero 6 also includes a ZigBee radio for smart home device integration and Alexa support.

TP-Link and Asus include many of these features for free, including Alexa support. The Deco X20 comes with a lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare, which includes parental controls, anti-virus, and WPA3 encryption. Asus’ AIProtection provides similar security features but requires users to consent to data scanning by Trend Micro.

The Netgear Orbi offers Google Assistant support but requires a $100/year subscription to Netgear Armor for anti-virus and data theft protection through BitDefender.

The Linksys Velop M10 lacks extra security features, despite its high price tag. It does offer Alexa integration.

Winner: TP-Link Deco X20

Conclusion

Choosing a mesh wifi router is a subjective decision. Factors such as house size, construction materials, and internet speed requirements all play a role.

All routers tested, except for the Eero 6, performed reasonably well and could exceed 500 Mbps throughput. However, unless you have gigabit internet, you may not need to spend hundreds of dollars on a mesh wifi system.

For large properties requiring consistent coverage, the TP-Link Deco X20 is the best value. It offers a great deal for its price and includes features that often require subscriptions with other mesh routers.

If you need more ethernet ports, the ZenWiFi AX6600 (XT8) is a good alternative.

The Linksys Velop AX M10 and Netgear Orbi WiFi 6 are only worth considering if you want to maximize your chances of achieving gigabit wireless speeds and are willing to pay a premium.