Google Nest Wifi
Mesh networking without the complexity
$269 (router and point) From Google, store.google.com Features 802.11ac radio, AC2200 2x2 antennas, dual–band 2.4/5GHz
Google Wi–Fi was a hit: a simple, inconspicuous mesh router that did the job. Google being Google, they’ve replaced that with a new product that does the same thing. But does its Nest Wi–Fi match up?
It’s lost a few features. Where Google Wi– Fi’s nodes each included a pair of Ethernet ports, Nest Wi–Fi offers only one useable port on the router module and none on the mesh points. No wired backhaul (or dedicated wireless backhaul channel) here. The Google Home app, used to set it up, currently lacks a few more advanced control features, meaning you’ll also need the updated Google Wi–Fi app to see, for example, which devices are connected to which mesh node. Very odd.
But let’s look at what you do get. You get coverage which, in our tests of the two–node pack, arguably reaches just as deeply into the dark corners of your home as the three–node
Google Wi–Fi. You get comparable speeds — likely not what your modem is capable of maxing out at, but perfectly strong for 802.11ac wireless, particularly if you’re attached to the router node.
You get a simple setup process that, like Google’s other smart devices, might take a couple of tries to stick but is rock solid once it has. You get Google Assistant functionality, with each mesh point (but not the router) acting in the same way as a Nest Mini. And you get hardware with smoothed–out looks, at a package price far below that of some competitors. There’s not enough here to warrant throwing away your existing Google Wi–Fi, but if you’re starting out with mesh networking this is a good choice.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A solid, cheap and easy mesh networking setup, though one that perhaps lacks enough power for advanced users.