San Francisco Chronicle

These are best mesh WiFi systems

- The following Cnet staff members contribute­d to this report: Ry Crist and Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.

Nest Wifi

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: Nest is an excellent mesh router system with impressive top speeds, strong performanc­e at range, easytouse features and stable band steering. The rangeexten­ding Nest Wifi Points come in your choice of three colors and double as Google Assistant smart speakers.

The bad: Similar systems with comparable coverage can be had for less than half as much. Unlike the range extenders, the router only comes in white, and only includes a single spare Ethernet jack.

The cost: $269

The bottom line: If you already make regular use of Google’s products and services, then the Nest is a worthy splurge for a seamless and speedy connected home.

Netgear Orbi 6

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: Fastest mesh router in our realworld speed tests. Simple, appbased setup and network management. Multigig WAN port. Support for Alexa and the Google Assistant lets you activate a guest network or pause the WiFi to a misbehavin­g kid’s device with a quick voice command.

The bad: You’ll need an internet plan of at least 500 Mbps to notice much of a difference. Lacks advanced features or unique functions.

The cost: $700 to $904

The bottom line: Netgear’s fastest mesh router sets the bar for the category, but it’s overkill for almost everyone.

Netgear Orbi

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: Outstandin­g value. Surprising­ly strong signal strength from the router. Supports Google Assistant and Alexa voice controls.

The bad: No dedicated WiFi backhaul band to pass data between router and extender. No Ethernet ports on the extenders, and no USB ports anywhere. A less reliable mesh connection than Nest or Eero.

The cost: $200

The bottom line: It’s nothing fancy, but the newest Orbi is a fine mesh router system at a terrific price.

Eero

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: Excellent value for a threepiece mesh system. Easy, appbased setup with automatic security updates. Stable mesh performanc­e with no drops in any of our tests.

The bad: Limited top speeds and range from each individual device. No WiFi 6 or WPA3 security support. No special integratio­ns with Alexa.

The cost: $250

The bottom line: If you’re looking for dependable wholehome WiFi that you don’t need to think about too much, take a good look at Eero.

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