Securifi Almond 3

Nuts about Wi-Fi? This could be for you

$149 Manufacturer Securifi, securifi.com Requirements Broadband internet connection; iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS 7 or later

Almond 3 is marketed as an easier way to set up and manage home networks. Smaller than competitors at just 5.3x4.6x1.9 inches, and available in black or white, Almond 3 is a router that checks off the requirements of a modern wireless network, with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, two gigabit LAN ports, parental controls, and “presence” notifications.

What makes it unique is the 2.25x1.75-inch color touchscreen on the front, which enables users to configure an entire network without a Mac or PC. You can also control Almond 3 from an iOS or Android device, although the app isn’t as comprehensive. Setting up one unit was easy enough, but adding two more to cover a singlestory, 3,600 square-foot home was a mixed bag.

Installing multiple Almond 3 units creates a “Home Wi-Fi Network,” which meshes the signal from three units into a single access point that bathes the entire house in wireless connectivity. We connected the first unit to our cable router using the included Ethernet cable, then strategically positioned units around the house to wirelessly distribute that connection. At the opposite end of the house, the maximum available speed only dipped by about 20% – better than our current AirPort Extreme setup.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg: Almond 3 also acts as a smart home hub, automating hundreds of compatible devices including the company’s programmable Click button, smart plugs, and motion sensors. Sadly HomeKit is not supported, however.

the bottom line. Almond 3 isn’t as simple as the marketing would have you believe, but it’s more robust than Apple’s AirPort. J.R. Bookwalter