If you’ve struggled with dead zones and spotty Wi-Fi coverage in your home, it may be time to consider upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system.

Mesh routers use multiple access points working together to blanket your whole house with fast, reliable Wi-Fi. This guide will explain what exactly mesh Wi-Fi is and why it gives you key benefits over a single router. We’ll also provide quick and easy recommendations for the best mesh Wi-Fi routers to buy in 2023.

What is Mesh Wi-Fi and How Does It Work?

A mesh Wi-Fi system consists of a main router connected to your modem and satellite units placed around your house. The satellites sync with the main router to provide a unified network with the same SSID and password throughout your home. This eliminates the frustration of being disconnected as you move from room to room.

The nodes communicate with each other to hand off connections optimally and backhaul data. This distributes the network load, reducing congestion and boosting Wi-Fi speeds compared to overloading a single router.

Mesh nodes use advanced wireless protocols like Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E to blanket up to 6,000 square feet or more with fast, reliable signals. They have amplified antennas to penetrate walls and push Wi-Fi into every corner.

Many Wi-Fi 6E mesh systems will dedicate the unique 6GHz frequency only to backhaul. Backhaul is the direct communication between nodes of the system. That dedicated backhaul can help keep your signal fast by keeping other devices off that frequency. Since many other devices are not yet equipped for Wi-Fi 6E, it makes sense to designate the 6 GHz frequency to backhaul.

Key Benefits of Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

Expanded Coverage, No Dead Zones

Mesh routers overcome the limited range of a single router, filling your whole home with strong Wi-Fi even if the layout is challenging. No more dead zones or spotty connections.

Faster Speeds Throughout Home

Mesh nodes work together to provide faster speeds by balancing network loads. You’ll get more consistent speeds in every room, even for bandwidth-hungry 4K streaming and gaming. Just remember that your mesh Wi-Fi can only be as fast as your internet connection.

Simple Setup and Maintenance

Mesh systems are easy for anyone to install in less than 30 minutes without running ethernet cables. Manage your whole home network from a single intuitive app.

Flexible Expandability

Easily add more mesh nodes whenever you need expanded coverage. Start with a 2-pack for apartments and add satellite units as your family and coverage needs grow.

Top Mesh Wi-Fi Routers Recommendation for 2023

After extensive testing of the latest mesh routers, these systems consistently provided the best performance, features, and value.

Overall Best: TP-Link Deco XE75

The TP-Link Deco XE75 is our top overall pick for fast and reliable whole home Wi-Fi coverage. This affordable Wi-Fi 6E system has excellent signal strength and gigabit speeds to handle 4K streaming and online gaming throughout your home.

The Deco XE75 is easy to set up in under 30 minutes using the Deco app on your phone or tablet. No computer required! Manage parental controls, guest networks, and more from the app. Each satellite has three gigabit LAN ports. An excellent value 2-pack covers homes up to 5500 square feet while a 3-pack blankets up to 6600 square feet. Just be aware that the system doesn’t have a multi-gig Ethernet LAN jack, so you should not opt for this system if you have a multi-gigabit internet plan. One gigabit plans will be just fine on the XE75, though.

The 6GHz port that is unique to Wi-Fi 6E is set up for ethernet backhaul, which is ideal to optimize your speed.

Best for Smart Homes: Eero Pro 6E

The Eero Pro 6E is the perfect choice if you want a mesh system that integrates with smart home devices and voice assistants. Eero nodes have built-in support for Zigbee and Thread smart home protocols. The system also works with Alexa for voice controls.

Despite the small size, the Eero Pro 6E delivers fast Wi-Fi 6E to homes up to 6,000 square feet. The main router has a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for multi-gig fiber internet. Subscription services provide advanced security, ad blocking, and Internet backup. For simple whole home Wi-Fi that plays nice with your smart home gear, Eero Pro 6E is ideal. The 6E power will make it more expensive, but at around $250, it’s still a good mid-priced mesh router.

Best Budget Pick: TP-Link Deco X20

The TP-Link Deco X20 provides great Wi-Fi 6 mesh performance at an affordable price point. A 3-pack kit covers homes up to 5800 square feet for under $150. Speeds up to 1200 Mbps are fast enough for 4K streaming and gaming. Because the system is dual-band rather than tri-band, you won’t have the dedicated third channel for backhaul. But you’ll also save on your purchase price.

Setup only takes a few minutes with the intuitive Deco app for iOS or Android. Built-in TP-Link HomeCare provides an extra layer of network security and parental controls. With great range and speeds at this low price, the Deco X20 is the top value mesh system.

Fastest Wi-Fi 6: Netgear Orbi RBK863

For super-fast Wi-Fi 6 coverage across large homes, the Netgear Orbi RBK863 is a top choice. This mesh system uses dedicated tri-band backhaul to deliver speeds beyond gigabit with minimal congestion even when multiple devices are active.

The main Orbi router has a 10 Gbps WAN port for lightning-fast multi-gig fiber connections. Four downstream gigabit LAN ports allow wired backhaul to satellites or hardwired devices. Place the router and satellite in ideal locations up to 2,500 feet apart to cover homes up to 5,000 square feet with the strongest Wi-Fi signal possible.

How to Choose the Right Mesh System

Picking the ideal mesh Wi-Fi system for your home depends on several factors:

Internet Speeds

Consider your internet plan speeds when choosing a mesh system. You don’t need an expensive tri-band router if your plan maxes out below 500 Mbps. But for gigabit fiber, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E is recommended to take full advantage of those speeds. Having faster speeds on your internet plan is important if household data usage is high. You may want to consider multigig plans for the future if you want to stream in 4K or 8K or play games on multiple devices at once.

Home Size and Layout

Measure your home’s square footage and decide how many nodes you’ll need for full coverage. Consider the placement of walls, floors, and other obstacles that might impact signals when deciding on mesh router range.

Features and Capabilities

Compare mesh systems based on Wi-Fi standards, available app controls, built-in security, number of ethernet ports, voice assistant integration, and other features important for your home network needs.

Budget

Mesh router kits can range from $100 to $1500 depending on capabilities. Make sure to balance your needs and budget. More affordable Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 systems still work well for many homes and plans.

How Does Mesh Wi-Fi Compare to Extenders and Ethernet?

Mesh Wi-Fi systems provide better whole home coverage than Wi-Fi extenders or ethernet cables alone. But there are some key differences to consider.

Mesh Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Fi Extenders

Extenders boost your existing router’s signal but can create new dead zones. Mesh routers provide consistent coverage since all nodes are equal. Mesh Wi-Fi is also faster with full bandwidth on all nodes, while extenders get reduced speeds.

Mesh Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet

A wired ethernet connection will always be faster and more reliable than wireless. But running ethernet cables to every room is cumbersome. Mesh provides full home Wi-Fi without wires. Use ethernet for stationary gear like desktop PCs or a big gaming setup, while mesh Wi-Fi covers everything else.

Key Takeaways on Mesh Wi-Fi

• Mesh routers use multiple access points working together for better whole home coverage.
• Mesh Wi-Fi provides faster speeds and fewer dead zones than a single router.
• Leading mesh systems are easy to set up in under 30 minutes without wiring.
•  Mesh routers make expanding your coverage simple by adding more nodes over time.
•  For most homes and budgets, Wi-Fi 6 mesh kits offer the best performance value.

With the right mesh Wi-Fi system chosen for your specific needs, you can finally enjoy fast, reliable wireless coverage in every corner of your home. No more dead zones or Wi-Fi headaches. There are other ways to extend your Wi-Fi signal, but nothing will preserve your internet speed as well as a Wi-Fi mesh router.

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