Eero 6 Wi-Fi 6 System (3 Pack)
"When a growing smart home needs to be covered, the Eero 6 is a cost-effective solution."
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Affordable Wi-Fi 6 mesh system
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Intuitive device management via app
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Solid speeds from the router
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Few ethernet ports on the router
Routers are likely a priority for many people. It's one of those underrated devices in the home that only works in the background, and the only time it ever comes to mind is when things aren't working properly.
A growing smart home presents some challenges as more and more devices require connectivity. This is why you should look into a router that can manage them all. With Wi-Fi 6, an integrated mesh network and a system that can be controlled with Alexa from Amazon, the Eero 6 is undoubtedly an attractive option for the average consumer.
Cover for the whole house
Growing your smart home includes not just the devices, but adequate coverage to ensure they stay connected and are not compromised in any way. The Eero 6 is a dual band Wi-Fi 6 mesh network that allows you to provision extender nodes to cover large rooms. For smaller spaces like my apartment, which is a smidge over 1,000 square feet, the Eero 6 is a bit over the top – but others will appreciate its 5,000 square foot range for larger homes and rooms.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
In my setup, the system packs a router and two extender nodes. I use it as a secondary, complementary network that contains my Internet of Things (IoT devices). My main network serves as the primary network for surfing the Internet with my smartphones and computers. Similar to other mesh routers I've checked out, the Eero router is connected to my modem gateway via one of its two gigabit ports. If you urgently need to make other connections, there isn't much left. I know how quickly things can get out of hand when you introduce smart home devices that require their own hubs or bridges. So it would have been nice to have more ports.
This is exactly what the growing smart home needs.
The extender nodes only act as Wi-Fi hubs to extend the range of the network to every corner of your home. Depending on the signal strength, I like that the Eero 6 automatically selects which node / router the devices are connected to. For example, the two smart displays in my bedroom connect to the extender node, which is in the same room – unlike the main router in the living room. In contrast to the router, the node extenders do not have any Ethernet ports for expansion. Not too surprising, but I still wish they had one or two.
Convenient smart home management
Today's routers are more consumer-friendly than ever, and the Eero 6 is no exception. Setting up is a breeze and all it takes is plugging the router into my gateway and downloading the Eero app. From there, you can attach it to your Amazon account to access voice control with Alexa.
The app does a good job of figuring out which devices are connected to the Eero 6. Since the naming conventions for some devices can be unclear, I would recommend going back to the app as soon as possible to change them. My smart home consists of more than 50 connected devices. So it helps that I oversee their activities, especially if you notice that a gadget appears to be sending larger amounts of data. It's a red flag that will help users better understand how their devices are behaving.
When it comes to the smart home, disabling access to a specific device is made easier with the help of Alexa. Once you've enabled the Eero Alexa skill, you can instruct the voice assistant to stop WiFi for a specific device or the entire network.
It's worth noting that the Eero 6 has an integrated ZigBee smart home hub, similar to the current Amazon Echo (4th generation). This makes it a breeze to connect ZigBee-enabled accessories and devices through the Alexa app without the need to use other third-party apps. That way, you don't have to manage another app or service. So, if you're already deep in the Amazon ecosystem, the Eero 6's ability to control ZigBee devices comes in handy.
Speed, speed, speed
The Comcast Xfinity router I've been using for a while now offers average download and upload speeds of 250Mbps and 40Mbps, respectively. Interestingly, switching to the Eero 6 has boosted performance to around 350 Mbit / s and 41 Mbit / s. The faster download speed is only achieved through the main Eero 6 router.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
However, when connected to one of the extender nodes, the performance will drop to about the same as my Xfinity router. For most smart home devices, this shouldn't be a problem, unless it's a security camera that uploads footage to the cloud for you to access. The latency response via the extender nodes is roughly the same as that of the main Eero router. This is therefore useful for real-time video conversations that you may have on a smart display, security camera, or other device.
Our opinion
You can't go wrong with the Eero 6 – this is exactly what the growing smart home needs to keep expanding. It has it all: a built-in ZigBee hub, expansion with extenders, device management, Alexa control, and an affordable price of $ 279 for a 3-pack system. For comparison, a similar Google Nest Wi-Fi kit costs $ 349. However, what Google has to offer is the additional utility of its Node Extenders that use Google Assistant for voice control so that they can effectively act as smart speakers.
How long it will take?
The minimalist all-plastic construction of the Eero 6 feels decent. However, since they are unlikely to ever move once they are set up, there is little risk of damage to them. In the event something goes wrong on its own, there's a 1 year limited warranty to cover it.
Is there a better alternative?
Yes and no. The Google Nest Wi-Fi costs more, but the added convenience of the Google Assistant built into its extender nodes makes it a useful utility for the smart home.
Should you buy it?
This is a good option if you are looking for a mesh network system that does not require an expensive investment.
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