In addition to being a mesh Wi-Fi system that supports Wi-Fi 5, each Nest Wifi unit also functions as a Google Home smart speaker. We like that the unit is small and unobtrusive, and the setup process is easy, making this mesh router system a great choice for networking beginners.
for
- easy setup
- good results
- small and inconspicuous
- smart speaker function
against
- short distance
- Speaker volume is not that loud
- Minimal configuration options
Nest Wifi Pro comes with Wi-Fi 6E support and Matter for controlling smart home devices. While the new design is very eye-catching, each device still only has two Ethernet ports, and in our tests, performance fell short of the competition.
for
- excellent throughput
- matter support
- reasonable price
- small and easy to hide
against
- Only 2 Ethernet ports
- Minimal optimization adjustments
- Cannot be configured from PC or Mac
If you want to upgrade to either The best mesh Wi-Fi system, a great place to start is by comparing Google’s Nest Wifi to the new Nest Wifi Pro. Unlike other mesh routers, the search giant’s router is small and blends well with your home decor.
Google not only has a huge influence on the internet and how we use it, but it also plays a huge role in how people get online in the first place. Back in 2016, when mesh routers were relatively new, Google introduced its first mesh Wi-Fi system in the form of Google Wifi.
nevertheless Google Wi-Fi was one of our favorite mesh routers at the time, and the company released a new mesh Wi-Fi system in 2019 under the Nest brand name. In addition to being easy to set up and configure, Nest Wi-Fi It features an all-new design, adds Wi-Fi 5 support, and the router and its two satellites all double as smart speakers. The company then updated its original Google Wifi in 2020 with some small technical changes and a lower starting price.
Back in October of last year, Google released the new Nest Wifi Pro. Wi-Fi 6E Any of the three units can act as a router. With Nest Wifi, one unit was designated as his router and the other was designated as his Wi-Fi point or satellite.
The Nest Wifi Pro is Google’s latest mesh Wi-Fi system, but both the Google Wifi router and the Nest Wifi router are sold online. But can the old Nest Wifi handle your networking needs, or is the new Nest Wifi Pro better? Here’s a complete breakdown of both of Google’s mesh Wi-Fi systems. You can decide which one is suitable for you.
(However, before purchasing, One problem with mesh routers Must read).
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro: Specs
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Google Wi-Fi | Nest Wi-Fi | Nest Wifi Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| price | $99 (single), $199 (3 units) | $169 (single), $269 (with 1 access point), $349 (2 access points) | $169 (single), $299 (with 1 access point), $399 (3 access points) |
| release date | 2016 | 2019 | 2022 |
| Wi-Fi specifications | 802.11ac/dual band | 802.11ac/dual band | 802.11ax/tri-band (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| 802.11ac type | AC1200 MU-MIMO | AC2200 (router) | AXE5400 |
| Number of antennas/removable | 4/No | 4/No | 6/No |
| port | 2x 1Gbps LAN, USB-C for power | (Router) 2x 1Gbps LAN, power. (extension) none | (router and points) 2x 1Gbps LAN, power |
| processor | Quad core 710MHz | Quad core 1.4GHz | Dual core 1GHz |
| memory/storage | 512MB/4GB | (Router) 1GB/4GB; (Extension) 768MB/512MB | 1GB/8GB |
| Wi-Fi chip | Qualcomm IPQ4019 | Qualcomm QCS 400 | Qualcomm IPQ5018 |
| size | 4.1 x 4.1 x 2.7 inches | (Router) 4.3 x 4.3 x 3.6 inches. (When extended) 4.0 x 4.0 x 3.4 inches | 5.2 x 4.7 x 1.4 inches |
| color options | snow | fog, sand, snow | snow, fog, linen, lemongrass |
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi: Pricing and availability
If you visit the Google Store, Google Wifi is on sale at a very affordable price of $99 for a single unit and $199 for a 3-pack of interchangeable units. Meanwhile, a single Nest Wifi router costs $169, a router and one point costs $269, and a router and two points costs $349. These are list prices for all devices, but since Google’s main focus is currently on the Nest Wifi Pro, it may go on sale or be permanently discounted in the future.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Google Wifi (2020 model) | Nest Wi-Fi | Nest Wifi Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| single router | $99 | $169 | $169 |
| 2 packs | Not applicable | $269 (1 router + 1 point) | $299 (1 router + 1 point) |
| 3 pack | $199 | $349 (1 router + 2 points) | $399 (1 router + 2 points) |
| additional unit | $99 | $149 (1 point) | $169 |
Nest Wifi Pro is priced at $199 for one, $299 for a two-pack, and $399 for a three-pack. Unlike Nest Wifi, all units are identical and can function as a router or satellite during setup. Another big difference between Nest Wifi Pro and Nest Wifi is the fact that Nest Wifi is also compatible with Google Wifi. This means that a user upgrading from the company’s first mesh Wi-Fi system can use his older unit to expand his Wi-Fi coverage. Nest Wifi Pro uses Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 5, so it’s not compatible with Google’s previous mesh Wi-Fi systems.
Google recommends adding no more than 5 points to a network for a total of 6 units (1 router + 5 points). The company says this is because “adding more can negatively impact Wi-Fi performance.” Most other mesh Wi-Fi systems only allow you to use two satellites in parallel with your router.
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro: Design
The physical design of Google Wifi and Nest Wifi is an obvious change. Google’s original mesh Wi-Fi system was cylindrical, smaller and more puck-shaped. However, with the Nest Wifi Pro, the company has stuck to a similar design to the Nest Wifi, but with a few changes.
Nest Wifi has a softer, matte finish. The router and points are still cylindrical, but they’re significantly larger than Google Wifi. Google decided to change both the size and shape of each unit with the Nest Wifi Pro.
Unlike either best wifi router, To improve Wi-Fi coverage, you need to distribute satellites throughout your home, so you can’t hide a mesh router in a corner. That’s why Nest Wi-Fi Pro has a glossy finish and comes in more colors. Nest Wifi only comes in Mist (light blue), Sand (light pink), and Snow (white), but Nest Wifi Pro comes in Snow (white), Fog (light blue), Linen (beige), and Lemongrass (light). You can choose. yellow).
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro are both beautiful devices. However, the Nest Wifi blends in a little easier thanks to its matte finish, while the glossy finish on the Nest Wifi Pro makes the satellites stand out more.
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro: Features
The original Google Wifi was created using the Google Wifi app (currently google home app). Google’s first mesh Wi-Fi system also introduced the idea of scanning a QR code on the base of each unit to add it to the network.
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro continue to use the Google Home app to set up and change your network, as well as QR codes to pair new devices. However, each Nest Wifi unit best google home speakers You can also give voice commands to your router or use the points as an intercom system between rooms.
Nowadays, most people want to have one (or more) of these. best smart speakers Google removed this feature from the Nest Wifi Pro because it’s already happening at home.
Both Nest Wifi Pro and Nest Wifi aim to become an important part of your smart home with Matter and Thread, two relatively new smart home standards that have the potential to make using smart home devices easier. I am.
If you have one of the best smart displays, like the Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max, you can also ask Google Assistant to run a speed test and you’ll see your current download and upload speeds on the screen.
If your home is wired for internet and each room has an Ethernet port, you can connect each Nest Wifi Pro point to a unit that acts as a router, since they all have two Gigabit Ethernet ports. This will help improve network performance, as the new 6GHz band will not be used for backhaul. The Nest Wifi, on the other hand, only has two Gigabit Ethernet ports on the router and no ports at all on the point.
Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro: Performance
The biggest differences between Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro are performance and range. Nest Wifi uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, while Nest Wifi Pro uses the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard. Nest Wifi Pro has a maximum speed of up to 5.4 Gbps, while Nest Wifi’s router tops out at 2.2 Gbps and point speeds reach 1.2 Gbps.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Google Wi-Fi | Nest Wi-Fi | Nest Wifi Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| single router | up to 1500 square feet | up to 2200 square feet | up to 2200 square feet |
| 2 packs | up to 3000 square feet | up to 3800 square feet | up to 4400 square feet |
| 3 pack | up to 4500 square feet | up to 5400 square feet | up to 6600 square feet |
Google decided to make all Nest Wifi Pro units identical, so each unit can cover up to 2,200 square feet, and a three-pack can fill a 6,600 square foot home with a strong Wi-Fi signal. Nest Wifi routers can cover up to 2,200 square feet, but each point can only cover 1,600 square feet.
Nest Wifi vs. Nest Wifi Pro: Which is best?
If you are trying to Free from ISP If you buy your own networking equipment or upgrade from a traditional router and choose Nest Wifi or Nest Wifi Pro, you’ll see significant improvements over your existing hardware. But ultimately, which one you choose will depend on the features and speed you need.
Both devices are limited to Gigabit Ethernet, so if you have a multi-gig plan, you may want to consider mesh Wi-Fi systems from Netgear, TP-Link, and other device manufacturers instead. . Because many of these mesh routers have 2.5 or 2.5. It also supports 5 Gbps Ethernet ports. If not, either Nest Wifi or Nest Wifi Pro will work fine with a gigabit internet plan.
Based on Google’s past update history, Nest Wifi Pro won’t be updated until 2025, so longevity is also something to consider. however, Wi-Fi7 Now that it’s available, we could see another variant from the search giant, or even an entirely new mesh Wi-Fi system. If you want to save a few bucks, you can also upgrade to Nest Wifi now and wait to see what Google’s plans are for the future.
At the same time, if you’re building a smart home from scratch, it might make sense to use Nest Wifi since you don’t need to buy a Nest Mini or other Google Home-compatible smart speakers. On the other hand, if you have a new device such as pixel 7, galaxy s22 or iPad Proyou’ll be able to take advantage of the faster speeds provided by Wi-Fi 6E.
Nest Wifi Pro may be Google’s latest and greatest mesh Wi-Fi system, but there are still plenty of reasons to buy Nest Wifi. If you’re still on the fence, here are 5 reasons to buy the Nest Wifi Pro and 5 reasons to skip it.
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