Google Home Mesh Network Router Setup and Review
Our Verdict
Google Wifi is the easiest and near convenient router that we've had the pleasance of setting up, hands down. It may not exist the nigh formidable or offering specific controls, only information technology more than than makes upwardly for whatsoever lack of depth in its unparalleled simplicity.
For
- Super-simple setup
- Cracking value
- First-class blueprint
Against
- Limited hardware control
- Lower Ac rating
TechRadar Verdict
Google Wifi is the easiest and most convenient router that we've had the pleasure of setting up, hands down. It may non be the most formidable or offer specific controls, but it more than makes upwards for any lack of depth in its unparalleled simplicity.
Pros
- +
Super-unproblematic setup
- +
Bang-up value
- +
Fantabulous blueprint
Cons
- -
Limited hardware control
- -
Lower Air conditioning rating
Other mesh Wi-Fi systems may have beaten Google Wifi to the punch, but no other mesh router is as responsible for bringing mesh routers to the masses quite the style this entry from Google has.
In essence, Google Wifi has set the standard of what a mesh Wi-Fi router should be, even if Samsung Connect Home or Netgear Orbi have been around longer. That's because the Google mesh router combines a stripped-down blueprint, straightforward installation, and full feature set with a very reasonable price tag. Information technology likewise blends in well wherever you install it, and provides a robust, continuous connection no thing where you lot are in your area of coverage. Expressionless spots will be a thing of the past.
No matter if you're dealing with a weak and intermittent internet betoken or are fix to move on from a typical router setup, Google Wifi is an platonic solution thanks to its performance, features, and, of course, price.
Google Wifi price and availability
With what it has to offer accessibility- and features-wise, Google isn't asking for much, particularly for what the Google Wifi tin do. The first generation Wifi cost $259 (near £204, AU$399) for a set of three units, comprised of one main "Wi-Fi betoken" (the one you connect to the modem or gateway) and two secondary Wi-Fi points. Google promises that three Wi-Fi Points tin comprehend up to 4,500 square feet (418 square meters) in a location.
The new generation of Google Wifi devices takes a full $threescore off the price of the three-pack-system, on auction now in the US and UK for $199 / £189 (about AU$499). A single Google Wifi unit tin can be bought for merely $99 / £89 (about AU$199), which is the same as the concluding-gen price. If you are working with a modest apartment infinite, it's more than than plenty coverage and remains an unbeatable deal.
If you're in the Britain, you'll too have the selection of the Google Wifi in both a 2-pack and a 3-pack, which will price yous £229 and £329, respectively. Google Wifi has disappeared from Google'southward Commonwealth of australia product page, and then at that place'southward no option to buy either the first-gen or the newly refreshed Google Wifi mesh router. This strongly suggests that while the Australian rollout is a bit further behind the US and UK'due south, information technology is likely imminent and volition almost certainly see a similar price cutting on the three-pack of networking points.
The Google Wifi is a astounding value – it provides more units for less cash than any of its rivals, like the Netgear Orbi, with other wireless mesh routers coming in at $400 (about £320, AU$520), at to the lowest degree, for the same number of mesh nodes.
Spec Canvas
Wireless Connectivity: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/air-conditioning, AC1200 2x2 Wave 2 Wi-Fi (expandable mesh; dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz, TX beamforming); Bluetooth Smart fix
Processor: Quad-core ARM CPU (each core up to 710MHz)
Memory: 512MB RAM
Storage: 4GB eMMC flash
Beamforming: Implicit and Explicit for 2.4 & 5GHz bands
Ports: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports per Wifi point (ane WAN and 1 LAN port each)
Dimensions: 4.ane 10 2.7 inches (106.one x 68.7mm; D x H) each
Weight: 12oz (340g) each
Google Wifi pattern and setup
Google not merely has an edge in pricing on its easily, but it also has the sleekest designed Wi-Fi units and perchance the easiest setup of whatever offering. Each Google Wifi unit, a elementary, fiddling cylinder with a white LED band in its center, delivers the aforementioned capability.
This means that any Google Wifi unit tin act every bit the cadre 'router' of the system, while the others tin can extend the wired signal, sent to the unit wirelessly, with their included Ethernet ports too equally wireless internet. All three units are powered through USB-C.
Setup is also completely shine, just similar the Google Wifi'south hardware design – using a gratis iOS or Android app to facilitate the whole process. We're not going to dig into the nitty gritty of the process, only the Google Wifi App will permit you to configure your network by first scanning the QR codes on the Wi-Fi bespeak connected to your modem or gateway.
The app will then inquire you to give your new network a name and set up a password, then pair any supplementary Wi-Fi points you have, by scanning their QR codes – you'll then be able to name individual nodes in the app. Again, it merely takes a brusk fourth dimension for the first Google Wifi node to recognize additional nodes and for them to beginning working.
You are not going to become the same depth of admission as even Netgear Orbi offers, and so band switching isn't a choice. All the same, Google Wifi does handle this behind the scenes automatically.
The Google Wifi app does provide more useful settings, like continuous monitoring of your network, also every bit the points and devices connected to it. The app has an included cyberspace speed examination as well, like Ookla's mesh test that measures the wellness of your Points' connections, alongside a Wi-Fi examination that measures your connection strength from inside the network.
This is the most consummate and sophisticated suite of controls we've always seen on a Wi-Fi mesh system to date, in spite of its lack of dropdown boxes and toggles.
Additionally, yous tin can prioritize bandwidth to one device for a fourth dimension, control smart domicile devices and pause net admission to sure devices in a family unit setting – all from the confines of this app.
And, now Google has expanded Google Wifi's Network Check feature to test multiple devices, so that you're able to spot potential bottlenecks in your network, likewise as rearrange your Google Wifi admission points when you're trying to optimize network performance.
Benchmarks
Hither is how the Google Wifi fared in our brief suite of tests (conducted on a 100Mbps service):
Ookla Speed Test 5GHz (Download | Upload):
Within 5 feet/ane.52 meters; no obstructions: 101.41 | 117.83 Mbps
Inside 13 feet/three.96 meters; three plaster walls: 97.05 | 118.67 Mbps
Ookla Speed Test ii.4GHz (Download | Upload):
Within five feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 47.53 | 96.72 Mbps
Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: fifty.95 | 82.98 Mbps
ane.5GB Steam download 5GHz (peak speed):
Within 5 feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 12.vi MB/s
Inside 13 anxiety/iii.96 meters; three plaster walls: 12.2 MB/s
1.5GB Steam download 2.4GHz (meridian speed):
Inside five feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 7.ii MB/s
Inside thirteen feet/3.96 meters; iii plaster walls: 8.8 MB/due south
Google Wifi functioning
The Google Wifi is able to match, if not surpass, Netgear Orbi's performance. Drawing the absolute most out of our 100Mbps Wi-Fi service, nosotros have surely not seen any router exist able to deliver the same service. Simply, the core divergence hither is that Google Wifi is able to bring this high performance to every room of our, admitting small-scale, house.
Nosotros're able to stream 4K video through Netflix to our Roku Premiere in the basement, too equally play Overwatch in the part where the modem is situated without whatsoever issues. Wi-Fi mesh systems similar the Google Wifi aren't focused as much on throughput as they are on coverage. Nevertheless, this product certainly delivers.
The traffic prioritization characteristic makes sure that your gaming session is receiving more of that critical bandwidth than the other devices in your business firm that are used about oft for Facebooking and streaming HD videos. Additionally, the network tin automatically repair itself should one or more of the Wi-Fi Points accidentally lose power.
Even though we know that Google Wifi operates its mesh system over existing Wi-Fi bands (two.4GHz and 5GHz) over the 802.11s mesh protocol instead of Netgear Orbi's tri-band system that communicates over a second 5GHz Wi-Fi band, nosotros haven't seen a considerable difference between either'due south performance. We do see marginally faster download speeds in MB/s on the 2.4GHz band from the Orbi over the Google Wifi. However, that could as well be a possible anomaly.
Where the Google Wifi really excels over similar routers is in its striking toll to coverage ratio. Y'all tin can go similar coverage from rivaling systems with fewer units, sure, merely the flexibility you get from having more units – only in terms of minimizing dead spots – is massive.
Google Wifi terminal verdict
The Google Wifi is the simplest and most effortless router we've ever prepare upward, bar none. And, that'due south considering the 2 extra devices required to terminate the procedure. For a reasonably affordable price point, there are more units on offer than well-nigh of Google's rivals, as well as the best setup and management app and then far.
Despite the finer hardware controls it lacks, and the lack of AC3000 or AC2200 throughput, Google deliberated every toggle and test information technology could present in an hands understandable way through its app. At that place's even bandwidth priority control. Pair that with a clean, uncluttered hardware design that's better to showcase in plain view than any other routers we've seen yet, and what you lot have is ane of the best Wi-Fi systems that coin can buy in 2019.
Images Credit: TechRadar
First reviewed April 2017
- What is Google Wifi? Everything you need to know
You lot might as well want to check out the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) review
Source: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/google-wifi
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