Is eero mesh worth upgrading? One of the most well-known and highly regarded mesh Wi-Fi networks is called Eero. The eero 6, eero Pro 6, and eero 6 Extender are the three Wi-Fi 6 variants that eero currently offers. Only as an add-on mesh node that connects wirelessly to a wired eero gateway can the eero 6 Extender be used. The eero 6 Extender cannot serve as the primary gateway because it lacks Ethernet connections. It does nothing more than extend the signal from another eero by acting as a wireless relay. Which is best eero to buy? Get details in Eero Comparison chart.
For those looking to dabble in WiFi 6 and Thread radio and live in a home under 4,000 square feet, Eero 6 and Eero 6+ offer the best value. For individuals seeking the highest level of performance from their Eero system in 2023, the Eero Pro 6 is an excellent option. However, the Eero Pro 6E is the first device to use the 6GHz frequency. Details in Eero Comparison chart.
Eero Specs comparison
Eero 6 Plus
- Individual price: $139
- Design: Dualband (2.4 and 5GHz)
- Speed rating: AX3000
- Hardware: 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of Flash storage
- Ports: Two 1Gbps Ethernet jacks, USB-C power jack
- Extras: Built-in Zigbee smart home radio, Matter support via Thread
- Range: 4,500 sq. ft. (three-pack)
Eero Pro 6E
- Individual price: $299
- Range: 6,000 sq. ft. (three-pack)
- Speed rating: AX5400
- Design: Triband (2.4, 5, and 6GHz)
- Hardware: 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of flash storage
- Ports: Two Ethernet jacks (2.5Gbps and 1Gbps), USB-C power jack
- Extras: Built-in Zigbee smart home radio, Matter support via Thread
- Three-pack price: $699
Price
If you wish to cover a limited area, you can purchase them separately, but for most people, the $199 set that includes an eero 6 and an eero 6 Extender is the best value. A three-pack of the Eero 6 Plus costs $299, while a three-pack of the Eero Pro 6E costs $699.
Eero Comparison chart
| Eero Pro 6 | Eero Pro 6E | |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless Standard | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Aggregated Speed | AX4200 (4200 Mbps) | AX5400 (5400 Mbps) |
| Band Frequency | Tri-band | Tri-band |
| WiFi Range | Up to 3,500 Sq Ft | Up to 4,000 Sq Ft |
| Maximum Devices Capacity | Up to 75 | Up to 100 |
| Port Setup | 2 x GigE ports + 1 x USB-C port | 1 x 2.5 Gig WAN + 1 x Gigabit LAN |
| Suitable Internet Plan | 1 Gig | 1 Gig |
| App Support | Yes | Yes |
| QoS Prioritization | Yes | Yes |
| MU-MIMO | Yes | Yes |
| Security Standard | WPA3, WPA2 | WPA3, WPA2 |
| Processor | 1.6 GHz quad-core | 1 GHz dual-core |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| NAND Storage | 4GB | 4GB |
| Dimensions | 5.6 x 5.4 x 1.9 inches | 5.6 x 5.4 x 2.0 inches |
| Weight | 1.49 lbs | 1.41 pounds |
| Release Date | November 2, 2020, | March 23, 2022, |
Difference between eero models
Number of device connection
Comparable to the Eero 6 set is the three-piece Eero 6+ set. It works well for anyone with a home under 4,000 square feet, 75 connected devices, and 500Mbps or less in price.
eero Coverage comparison
eero 6 with extender
Our eero 6 + eero 6 Extender combo would be a perfect fit because we advise using 1-2 eeros each floor. One eero 6 to replace your current router and connect straight to your modem is included in this bundle, along with an eero 6 Extender to be installed somewhere else in your house to help cover more ground with dependable, quick Wi-Fi.
eero 6 kit
The 3-piece eero 6 kit would probably provide the finest results if your house has two levels or more. Once more, the eero 6 will take the place of your current router and establish a direct connection with your modem. The two more eero 6 devices can be positioned throughout your house to provide the optimal internet experience.
eero 6 Pro for wired home
The eero Pro 6 Kit is the ideal option if your house is Ethernet wired. Three powerful eero 6 Pros with two Ethernet connections and a tri-band radio are included in this set. If you’re looking for the best possible overall network performance, the eero Pro Kit is also a fantastic choice.
Band
Since Eero 6 and Eero 6+ are dual-band systems (2.4GHz and 5GHz), some of your available 5GHz bandwidth will be used for backhaul connection.
Tri-band systems are Eero Pro 6 and Eero Pro 6E. The Pro 6E includes a 6GHz band plus a 5GHz band in place of the two 5GHz bands seen on the Pro 6. When 6GHz capable devices are connected to the 6GHz band, which is a component of the new WiFi 6E standard, better speeds should be possible due to the broader channels and reduced congestion.
Performance
The eero 6 typically achieves mesh throughput of about 300 Mbps when using wireless backhaul. If you have a lot of Wi-Fi 6 devices and internet speeds of 400 Mbps or more, the eero Pro 6 is the best option. You get an extra 5 GHz radio when you upgrade to the Pro model. When in the same room as my eero Pro 6, you can witness performance up to 850 Mbps, although 500–600 Mbps is more normal. The theoretical maximum speed for WiFi 6E devices is 2000Mbps.
Temperature
There was a little temperature differential between the two models: the Pro 6 had a maximum temperature of approximately 124 degrees Fahrenheit, while the 6E only managed to reach 104 degrees. Perhaps the sole explanation is that the former’s CPU clock is lower.
eero Similarity comparison
Design
From an aesthetic perspective, the eero 6 and eero 6E models are packaged in the well-known white wedge-shaped boxes. The dimensions of 5.6 x 5.4 x 2.0 inches and their approximate weight of 1.45 pounds make them somewhat larger than their predecessors, but still smaller than Orbi devices.
Ports
You have two choices for your gateway, or main base station: the eero 6 and the eero Pro 6. All of your other eero nodes connect to this unit, which is connected to your Internet connection. Two Ethernet ports are included on the eero 6 and eero Pro 6 for connecting to a modem, router, or other end device. One of these would be used in a standard eero setup to connect to or swap out your current home router. By establishing a wireless connection with the gateway node, the eero 6 and eero Pro 6 units can also be utilized as mesh nodes.
Smart home
Each of the new Eero systems promises to establish a faster, more dependable connection from room to room even with several devices dispersed across your home. Both systems have integrated Zigbee radios that let you to link lights, locks, and other smart home devices to your network without the need for an additional hub, and they fully support the newest Wi-Fi 6 speeds.
Power
The USB-C input is used by the eero Pro 6E, eero 6+, eero Pro 6, eero 6, eero Pro, eero, and eero 6 extender. A cord-to-adapter that connects into an outlet is included.
Storage
The Eero 6 and 6E models have 4GB of flash memory for their software and settings in addition to 1GB of RAM. Thus, your router will never become slower, no matter how many modifications you make or firmware updates you install.
Apps
Because Eero allows for the management and monitoring of device internet usage, it’s also an excellent option for parents of younger children. You can build a “Family Profile,” which enables you to define planned access and rest periods for a set of devices, and group devices by each person on the network using the Eero app. Additionally, the software now allows several household members to have admin access.
Subscription
Features like content screening, scheduled pausing, manual website blocking, and bedtime are included in the $2.99/month or $30/year Secure subscription.
Eero mesh models alternate
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 takes first place thanks to its fast performance, great range, and abundance of optional functions. (Even though it’s a mouthful.) I tested the 2-pack, and it was quite easy to set up using the mobile app—it just takes a few minutes, however you have to move the node after keeping it close by.
With one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands (one allocated for wireless backhaul), this is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system. These units, which come in black or white, are somewhat huge. However, they are discrete, have a sophisticated appearance, and have side vents to help release heat. Very generously, each router has three gigabit Ethernet ports in addition to a USB 3.1 port and a 2.5 gigabit WAN port.
The XT8 was consistently among the fastest systems I tested, whether at short, medium, or long range, and speeds never decreased. It’s great to have Trend Micro’s AiProtection Pro included, as it offers parental controls and anti-malware protection. Unlike most of its rivals, it doesn’t require a subscription. The parental controls are useful, too. You may plan bedtimes, create and reuse profiles, filter content by age group, and keep track of activity. You may set bandwidth limits for individual devices and give priority to tasks like gaming, streaming, and remote work with the Quality of Service (QoS) option.
The web interface is significantly more detailed, while the mobile app offers an abundance of options. Splitting up a band or establishing a guest network is simple. Additionally, I discovered that most devices were appropriately recognized by the app (occasionally, it can be challenging to identify devices based only on the hardware names that router programs provide). Moreover, AiMesh is supported, so expanding your Wi-Fi network with other Asus routers is simple. You can be sure that even from the node you placed close to the backyard, you will be able to access your internet at full speed thanks to the blazingly fast dedicated backhaul channel.
The bad news is that it took me a few tries to get my XT8 node to accept updates to the firmware. My Sonos speakers also stopped working, but I was able to fix it by doing a factory reset. All in all, my experience with the XT8 has been seamless. Although almost anyone can handle it with ease, power users will be satisfied with the breadth of possibilities.
