Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points) review

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What is good in Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points)? With so many helpful functions and a sleek and appealing design, the Google Nest Wifi is quick and simple to set up. Unfortunately, it’s also somewhat pricey. So, is it worthwhile to get the Nest Wifi? Check it out by reading our review of the Google Nest Wifi.

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Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points) YouTube video

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple to assemble and operate
  • No payments for subscriptions
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Matter, and Thread
  • Gorgeous style
  • Points double when speakers of Google Assistant

Cons

  • 1Gbps maximum speed for Ethernet ports
  • restricted parental controls
  • The router has just two Ethernet ports.
  • Incompatible with Wi-Fi 6 for upcoming proofing

Google Nest WiFi 3 pack Specs

  • Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/dual-band mesh kit with speaker extension
  • Number of Antennas/Removable: 4/No
  • Ports: Router — Two Gbps Ethernet, power; Extension — None
  • Processor: Quad-core 1.4GHz
  • Memory/Storage: Router —1GB/4GB; Extension — 768MB/512MB
  • Wi-Fi Chip: Qualcomm QCS 400 family
  • Size: Router — 4.3-inch (diameter) x 3.6-inch height; Extension — 4.0-inch (diameter) x 3.4-inch height

Compare Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points)

Nest WiFi

Speed rating: AC2200
Build: Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz)
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
Range: 2,200 square feet (router); 1,600 square feet (extender)
Processor: Quad-core 64-bit ARM CPU 1.4GHz
Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB flash (router); 768MB RAM, 512MB flash (extender)
Encryption: WPA3
Ethernet jacks: Two (router); zero (extender)
Ethernet/WAN speed: 1Gbps
Dimensions (WHD): 4.33 x 3.56 x 4.33 inches (router); 4.02 x 3.43 x 4.02 inches (extender)
Built-in Thread radio: Yes
Built-in smart speakers: No (router); yes (extenders)
Colors: Snow (router); snow, mist, sand (extender)
CNET review score: 8.3
Price: $169 (router), $269 (router and one extender), $349 (router and two extenders)

Nest WiFi Pro

Speed rating: AXE5400
Build: Tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz)
Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E)
Range: 2,200 square feet
Processor: Dual-core 64-bit ARM CPU
Memory: 1GB RAM, 4GB flash
Encryption: WPA3
Ethernet jacks: Two
Ethernet/WAN speed: 1Gbps
Dimensions (WHD): 4.61 x 5.12 x 3.35 inches
Built-in Thread radio: Yes
Built-in smart speakers: No
Colors: Snow, fog, linen, lemongrass
Price: $200 (1-pack), $300 (2-pack), $400 (3-pack)

Google Nest WiFi 3 pack Price

According to Google, the router can cover 2,200 square feet and costs $169 when purchased alone.

The $269 router and two-pack of extensions is sufficient to cover 3,800 square feet. In contrast, three of the previous Google WiFi disks were required to occupy about the same amount of space.

For $349, you can expand the coverage to 5,400 square feet with the Nest WiFi three-pack. Subsequent extensions cost $149 apiece, which is $50 less than the Netgear Orbi Voice speaker extension.

Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points) review

Design

The routers are available in four colors: Snow, Fog, Linen, or Lemongrass. The sleek, simple capsule design resembles a large Pixel Buds cover (the brand’s wireless earbuds). They should go with any design because they are modest and discreet enough to rest on window sills and shelves.The router is 3.6 inches tall and has a diameter of 4.3 inches. In comparison, the Point extensions have a diameter of 4.0 inches and a height of 3.4 inches, making them slightly smaller.

Ports

The router features two Ethernet ports, a power outlet, and a well-thought-out cutout for cable routing, making it a device with minimal connections. The extensions cannot be utilized as cabled access points in the same manner that Netgear Orbi devices may because the router does not include a power switch or a USB connector.

Coverage

A single unit may supply internet connectivity for a 2,200 square foot building. The total area will be increased to 3,800 square feet with a router and one point. Although most people would probably find that to be sufficient coverage, Google also offers a kit that includes one router and two Points, or you may purchase the Points separately.

How to connect Google Nest mesh router with 2 points?

8The router, which is physically connected to your internet service via an Ethernet wire, is the brains of the whole thing. There is an Ethernet port on the back for connecting to your modem directly, and there is also a secondary port in case you wish to physically connect another device (like a desktop PC or Philips Hue Hub).

Band and transfer speed

The four internal antennae of every Nest WiFi device combine with the electronics to form an 802.11ac network that is capable of self-healing. The router has a maximum throughput of 2,200 Mbps for its 2.4GHz band and a 4×4 configuration for its 5GHz broadcasts. The 2×2 extensions, however, have a maximum speed of 1,200Mbps.

Storage

The 1.4GHz quad-core processor and two Digital Signal Processors (DSP) power the Nest WiFi router and extensions, which are based on a customized variant of Qualcomm’s QCS400 family of chips. The extensions also have far-field voice-pickup technology. The extensions have 512MB of storage and 768MB of RAM, while the router has 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage for firmware and settings.

Set up Google Nest WiFi

To set up your Wi-Fi network, find the model of your WiFi device and then follow these steps:

Set up your Nest Wifi Pro, Nest Wifi, or Google Wifi network
  1. Choose a location for your Wifi device.
    • A functional modem that is linked to the internet must be attached to your router.
    • Place your WiFi gadget in plain sight, at eye level, such as on a shelf or TV stand, for the greatest signal.
    • Find out more about the best locations for your WiFi equipment.
  2. Connect the Ethernet cable to your Nest Wifi Pro router’s WAN port . Then, connect the other end of the cable to your modem.
  3. Plug your Wifi router into a wall outlet.
  4. Watch for a slow pulsation of either white (Nest Wifi) or blue (Nest Wifi Pro or Google Wifi). This means that the Home app may now be used to set up your WiFi device.For Nest Wifi Pro and Nest Wifi, this can take approximately 60 seconds; for the Google Wifi router, it can take 90 seconds.Try a factory reset on your WiFi device if it doesn’t have a slow, pulsating blue or white light.
  1. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Devices  Add   Google Nest or partner device Google Nest or partner device.
  3. The software will either identify the WiFi device that needs to be set up or present you with a choice of devices that you can choose from. See the Google Home app’s guide on “can’t find WiFi devices” if your device isn’t mentioned.
  4. Assign a strong password and name to your Wi-Fi network. We advise utilizing the same network name (SSID) and password as your previous router in order to maintain connectivity for all of your household devices.
  5. Continue through the Home app  to complete setup. Your network will be created. This might take a few minutes.
  6. You can either return to this post and follow the instructions to add mesh points to your network at a later time, or you can touch Yes in the app to add another WiFi device to your network.

With the exception of the Nest logo, all controls are accessible through the Google Home app, which necessitates a Google account. The app does an excellent job of guiding you through an easy-to-use setup procedure. It is clear and straightforward. All you have to do is plug everything in, allow the app to establish a connection with the router, and use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code on the bottom of each Point. Your mesh network will be operational in a few minutes.

Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points) performance review

In my testing, coverage and performance have been excellent. The Nest Wifi Pro offers a robust Wi-Fi connection across my 1,600 square foot home, including my garden. After a few weeks of testing, none of the four members of our family—who are always online at the same time—have encountered any latency, buffering, or malfunctions whether gaming, video calling, or streaming. A 30-GB game took fifteen minutes to download.

At 15 and 50 feet, the Nest WiFi’s performance fell to 612.0 and 455.1 Mbps, respectively, which is between 11 and 15 percent faster than the Orbi RBK50 mesh system. At 50 feet, the Orbi overtook the Nest with 478.3Mbps, while the Nest only managed 455.1Mbps. The Nest reclaimed the lead at 100 feet, with 394.0 Mbps accessible as opposed to 315.5 Mbps for the Orbi RBK50 system.

Google Nest WiFi 3 pack (AC2200 mesh router with 2 points) alternative

TP-Link Archer AX21

A router that complies with Wi-Fi 6 specifications can use OFDMA and 1024-QAM, among other characteristics, to provide busy networks with a large number of connected devices with faster speeds and lower latency. This is still the case for the inexpensive value options, of which the TP-Link Archer AX21 is the top performer.

In my at-home speed testing, the Archer AX21 performed incredibly well. After several days of testing in five different locations throughout my home, the Archer AX21’s average download performance on a 300Mbps fiber network was almost flawless at 299Mbps.

In the very back of my house, which is a notorious dead zone where many of the routers I test struggle to stay connected at all, that includes triple-digit download speeds. After upgrading my home network to gigabit speeds in 2022, I retested the AX21. Although it isn’t strong enough to max out a connection like that, it still provides fast, reliable rates; my downloads averaged 441Mbps.

The Archer AX21’s performance was good enough to outperform comparable models from D-Link, Asus, and Netgear, and it even kept up with more expensive, fancier routers. The Tether app from TP-Link for iOS and Android makes it extremely easy to set up and provides fast access to basic network settings without inundating you with advertisements as some other router applications do.

Because of all of that, the Archer AX21 is among the best value options available that supports Wi-Fi 6 and is a very respectable choice for small- to medium-sized households.

Editor’s recommendations

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