Google brings Wi-Fi 6E to its routers with the Nest Wifi Pro

Google’s beefing up its mesh networking choices. On Tuesday, it introduced the Nest Wifi Pro, a router that helps tri-band Wi-Fi 6E for sooner potential speeds and that may join 100 gadgets per router for a most of 300 gadgets. In phrases of velocity, it’s a giant improve in comparison with the common Google Nest Wifi, which was launched in 2019 and is supplied with dual-band 802.11ac capabilities (these days referred to as Wi-Fi 5).

If you do have a type of earlier techniques, although, it is best to know that you just gained’t simply be capable to add a Wifi Pro node or two to it. In a briefing, Google Nest options lead Ben Brown known as the brand new gadgets “a self-contained system” that “doesn’t have that hybrid backwards compatibility with Nest Wifi, and Google Wifi generations.” That’s disappointing, although maybe not essentially a shock; the common system has a barely completely different structure, the place it’s one router linked to “points” that stretch the community. With the Pro, Google says all of the models are the identical, with every able to being a router, though just one will likely be — the opposite two will nonetheless act as factors.

The Wifi Pro can even act as a Thread border router for connecting to sensible residence gadgets and can work as a Matter hub “shortly after” that protocol launches (hopefully) in fall 2022. Like Google’s different mesh Wi-Fi techniques, you arrange and handle the Wifi Pro utilizing the corporate’s Home app, which helps you to do issues like arrange the household administration system that may block content material out of your children’ gadgets and even flip off their entry to Wi-Fi fully.

The system additionally has some sensible capabilities. Google says the Nest Wifi Pro will mechanically prioritize high-bandwidth visitors like streaming and video calls and that it’ll optimize which bands it’s utilizing primarily based on how congested the airwaves round it are. According to the corporate, the system will even be capable to “adjust the network performance to minimize disruptions” that may happen when your ISP drops the ball and slows down your web connection.

For those that don’t need to depend on a wi-fi backhaul, you should utilize a wire to attach the routers collectively; every has two 1Gbps ethernet ports. For the community fans on the market, it’s price noting that it has a 2×2 antenna array reasonably than a 4×4 one, and it’s specified as much as AX5400, in keeping with Brown.

Google says every router can cowl a 2,200-square-foot space or as much as 6,600 sq. ft with a three-pack. At $199 for a single router, it’s additionally priced competitively; Eero’s Pro 6E retails for $299, although you possibly can at present decide up a single unit on sale for $179. The Nest Wifi Pro two-pack, which prices $299.99, matches the retail value for TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 6E-equipped Deco XE75 system, which is barely accessible in a two- or three-pack — although once more, that router can be currently on sale for round $30 off. Buying a Nest Wifi Pro three-pack will set you again round $399.99.

The routers will likely be accessible on October twenty seventh, however you’ll be capable to preorder them beginning October 4th.