This was one of the easiest and straight forward review/comparison vids I've seen. Tech terminology for the techies and simple references for the not so experienced/everyone. Loved the bar graph comparisons and the similar/multiple staging areas for fair comparison. Thorough, but not lengthy. Amazing job, brother. 👍🏾✊🏾
I went out and bought the Orbi AX4200, after watching this video. I'm so glad I did. Even with 350mb broadband I was only getting around 10mb in all other rooms apart from the living room. I'm now getting 300+ in almost all other rooms. Apart from the kitchen, which is hovering around 40. But thats up from zero, so I'm happy. Thanks! Love your content. Keep up the good work!
So one key thing to think about when buying a router is whether the software/firmware is really carefully coded or flaky. For many years I had the Apple router, not because it was the greatest router in the world in terms of speed or coverage, but because Apple paid attention to the quality of the router software as well as the hardware. In the past, I've had Linksys routers, netgear routers etc. and all of them had just crap software that made them pretty hard to live with over the long term. They'd randomly crash and need to be rebooted for no reason, or the company would carelessly push out some buggy firmware update that hadn't been properly vetted, etc. FWIW, the guys that originally made the Apple router now work at Ubiquiti, and that is what really pushed me in the direction of the Alien, as it is about as close as you can get to a modern version of the Apple router. I've had it for about six months now, and just like the old Apple router I had, the Alien never crashes, it just purrs right along. Maybe these other mesh systems have decent software now too, but I would love to see how many of these routers will provide six months or a year of uninterrupted up time in a busy house. At these prices, when the internet does go out, you really should never have to ask the question "is it the router"?
Very true. Another plus with the Amplifi is you can still access the router and it’s settings if the internet goes out, with Ines like Eero you cannot as everything it does is in the cloud, including it’s settings. I have the Eero Pro 6 but am in 2 minds about keeping it due to this, Amazon is collecting a lot of data, it’s a slick system though. Also the Amplifi has Ethernet ports.
I have a 2 story (plus basement) house and I have the last generation Orbi. It covers my WHOLE house corner to corner. I have 300 mpbs service and I get 300 megs everywhere. The Orbi mesh system is amazing. I can't say enough great things and love to rep it every chance I get.
I have 3 backhauled Amplifi Alien routers. Small house but older house with concrete and plaster walls. One is definitely not enough. I tried 2 at first, one in the back of the house and one in the living room. Needed one for the carport and converted garage bedroom. Perfect. Total area of house from front yard to the back is covered.
@@datsuntoyy I should clarify, I have 3 wired backhauled routers. Backhaul or backbone, is the connection between the mesh points. I used ethernet cable to connect each router so they all have the strongest connection to provide the max WIFI at each location.
Yo Chris, my man! Thanks for this review. You have no idea how many other youtubers did videos on some of these routers and didn't show any real world results. They just simply unboxed and talked about specs and called it a "review". Anywho, your results definitely confirmed I will be rolling with the Asus zenwifi xt8 mesh system. Thanks for the great content.
Ive had 2 of the Amplifi Aliens since they came out, connected with a Cat6 cable through the attic, instead of wirelessly bridging them. They call it an ethernet backbone. Holy cow, best freakin home network. Really happy with this setup. 42 Wifi devices and a few hardwired. Really dependable. I've owned several flagship routers, and while they work great in the first 3-4 months, I was getting intermittent issues after some time has passed. No problems so far, runs fine after over a year...
I have one alien and would like to add another. What you do called “Ethernet backbone.” Because I was thinking of switching it out because I can’t add the mesh point to it. You actually have to buy that as a package. But if I just buy another actual router then I am in and if they still work together.
I bought the Asus XT8 to replace a very old Asus router that was close to 10 years old and starting to struggle - what it would have been like in lockdown with the entire family streaming is just not worth considering. XT8 for me has been rock solid. Set up is, as Chris described, maybe not the easiest and wired backhaul option is buried deep in the setup webpage. I have 2 units because the basement is separated from the rest of the house by a thick high grade concrete floor. The old router did not penetrate that (except in one point where there was glazing rather than concrete). The XT8 has no such difficulties, I could run an entire 2100 sq foot house off a single node but having a second node dedicated to the basement is a massive step up.
Yes!!! Lower end - multi unit! Wired backhaul tests for handoff issues! Lots of 3 story homes in HTX that are all wired with an IDF. Would be so great to light up ports on each floor and MESH the place! Fantastic Videos!!
Also, just found a 2 pack of the w3600for $150 from walmart. That's a steal. If he had tested it at this price, the w3600 would have easily beaten the Asus in terms of value imo.
If you can, just get Xiaomi Ax3600 with Chinese firmware. You can configure it in Xiaomi App in English and you get a monstrous signal range. You can get one on Ali for around 100$. The only real downside is lack of USB ports. It handles Oculus Quest 2 like a champ!
This was exactly what I've been looking for. I had an issue with with my NetGear RAX120 4 months after purchase and they won't honor the warranty unless I pay $149 for phone support. So I really needed to know how the different brands compare on speeds. It also really helped that you showed the speed from the second mesh unit, that is a huge issue for us. My daughter is also using a computer without WiFi 6, and that made a big difference in my decision. I'm going to look at the Deco X90 but will probably go with the ASUS.
I just can imagine the pure efforts, time, focus and preparation that video took you from A to Z then upload it. This is one of the best videos I've seen comparing couple of mesh systems together in pure logical and scientifically presentation. Subscribed immediately. Big like and high respect 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
I recently purchased an ASUS RT-AX89X & meshed it with an ASUS RT-AX82U. Running the AX82U on a dual-band wireless backhaul has no loss in bandwidth/speed. Even if you didn't outright purchase a mesh system from ASUS, I would still recommend looking into buying two routers from the company just to mesh them. (You could get two RT-AX3000 units for $179.99 each and have a mesh system with 8 usable ethernet ports)
Terrific comprehensive overview. Replacing my ancient router and in the midst of new router information overload. This great side-by-side helped to clarify things.
I’d definitely appreciate a video comparing some budget options. These look great but would be wasted on the slow internet speeds available in my area.
Wifi 6 also provides a more stable connection. There are zero downsides and you are truly getting what you're paying for and more especially when modern devices are becoming wifi 6 compatible and are slowly having 4x4 instead of 2x2. this product will future proof you too. no drawbacks.
@@Blackfeet In rural areas, the chances of getting gigabit internet before these routers become obsolete is pretty low. If you get 100Mb or less for speeds, it would be a much better option to go budget and upgrade in the future if your internet can take advantage of the better routers.
I purchased Net-gear M3 Nighthawk Mesh Wi-Fi 6 about a year ago. The system works with all my Wi-Fi devices, all 23 of them. The problem I only have 2 devices that can actually make use of the Wi-Fi 6 abilities, my cell phones. All of the other 21 devices only operate at Wi-Fi 5. My laptops could be updated, but only if I crack open the machine and exchange the Modems. The other problem is drivers, there is no guarantee the drivers will be compatible in the systems. Why is it nobody is making Wi-Fi 6 upgrade adapters? I think most of my 21 devices have an Ethernet ports, a stamp computer with a Wi-Fi 6 modem would solve my problems. (My Ring cameras don’t have any direct connections) The Wi-Fi 6 technology would help eliminate devices talking over other devices thus reducing error messages and speed up communications for all my devices. Great show I wish I had watched your video before buying my Net-gear M3 Nighthawks I have 3 Mesh system and I haven’t noticed any slow down in my house(2100 Sq.Ft.). Net-gear forces you to switch your antivirus to Bit Defender in order get rid of their annoying messages. Do any of the router in this video do the same thing?
Thank you. I bought the Alien and I LOVE it. It looks amazing as well. Alien is so easy to work and I have noticed a significant difference in connectivity. I do not experience lag time anymore when I watch youtube or other streaming programs.
First time viewer & shopping for a higher end wifi 6 mesh system. Your video is awesome...well organized, logically presented and easily digestible. Thank you so much!
I decided to go with the Orbi AX4200 for $399 at Costco right now. This provided a huge a boost in speed and I feel it’s more than enough for most people. More importantly the consistency of the signal has been drastically improved from my prior setup with a Nighthawk modem/router combo and a Nighthawk range extender. It actually comes with a router and 2 satellites, which provided a great value at that price.
How many connection streams do you have at any one time? I was looking at this unit as my current wifi can't handle 3 phones, a tab, 3 tv's, security system, door bell, AC controls, ect, ect. I have a $139 wifi/cable modem combo.
@@datsuntoyy Not sure what you went with but I have the Orbi Mesh (2 APs, 1 Router). We have the following devices connected to it without issue: My Office: - Smart TV - 5 Laptops (Work) - 2 Desktops - 3 Phones (Duo, Apple, and Samsung - iRobot Vacuum (basement unit) - 4 Smart Lights (Philips using their Bridge attached directly to the Router Sons Room: - Smart TV - Laptop - Phone Son #2 Room: - Laptop - Desktop - Pixel Phone All Exterior Doors on August Locks (4) each with a Bridge all on the network 3 Nest Camera (Exterior) 1 iSmartGate for the Garage Door Master Bedroom: - Smart TV - Google Home - Google Clock - 14 Smart Lights (including bathroom - Phillips) Kitchen: - Google Home Living Room: - Smart TV - iRobot 2nd Floor Vacuum - 12 Smart Lights - Phillips Dining Room: - Google Device - 5 Smart Lights - Phillips Miscellaneous Smart Lights Inside: - 14 Lamp lights throughout the first floor - 12 Lamp lights in the basement Basement: - Smart TV - Google Device BackPorch: - 12 Smart Lights (non-Phillips) - Smart TV Front Porch: - Next Camera/Doorbell - 4 Smart Lights Essentially we easily have over 50 devices all running through the Orbi. We use MetroNet 1 Gig for our Provider and I generally can see 300-400 Mbps Up and Down in my office which has an AP outside the door but is also in the basement and furthest away from the main router and line drop. I will never use another device than the Orbi.
@@StephenSchusterE We haven't upgraded yet. We need to as ours is dying. Your list is impressive, I'll consider that one when we get one. I like the idea of having that much of the house on a network.
Congratulations on pronouncing "wifi 5 speed" without stumbling... :) Great review by the way. Was considering buying eero pro 6 (2 pack), but might go with the Orbi. Will get high-speed Internet later this year, and needed a wireless connection between modem (which will sit in the garage) and the rest of my wired network, without having to drill holes in the walls. Thanks for your complete review!
Great informative video, thank you. Yes, please make a video on less expensive router options, some people may be under budget constraints but need more coverage/speed.
Last years video was so helpful. I’m still getting a fraction of my gigabit plan but seeing these prices def makes waiting easier. Keep up the great work!
@Chris Majestic Definitely the best presentation out there on the mesh wifi! Question for you, Did you see an improvement with the Wifi 5 (AC) speeds from Orbi RBK50 to the Orbi RBK852 ? I went back to your 2019 video and you went from 440/480 to 633/555 (down/up) on the router and 350/360 to 458/423 (down/up) on the satellites. If I am interpreting this correctly, the Orbi RBK852 is a huge improvement even if you don't currently have any Wifi6 (AX) client devices.
I really liked this roundup, thanks for sharing. My suggestion goes in another direction then what you were planning, into higher end AX setups, would be great to compare - Ubiquiti Unifi 6 LR AP - EnGenius ECW230 - Ruckus R750 - Aruba AP-515 - Meraki MR36 - Zyxel WAX650S, etc.
I was looking for something to boost my Mbps, some type of booster, mesh, whatever. I came to your page looked at reviews and ended up getting the Asus Zenwifi AX. I only bought one, figured I didn't need 2. I just hooked it up today and getting around 133mbps on each of my 7 devices I have hooked up which is crazy to me coming off of 2-5mbps of each of them especially at night. Its early to give it early good reviews about it but we will see overtime. So far very impressed! The Orbi was to expensive for me, maybe in the future. Thanks Chris..but loving it so far.
Always enjoy your videos. I would definitely like to see one with lower costs. Or a comparison: "if house A has 2 people who WFH, don't game, do stream, get this". Versus: "House B has 3 kids, everyone has multiple devices, gaming, etc." Thanks!
Great overview, Chris. Toss up between the Orbi and eero for me when comes time to ditch my Synology set up. Noticing that companies are moving away from having a desktop web interface and relying solely on their smart app. Lastly, kudos for reminding folks that routers NEVEr give you speeds greater than the package they’re paying for. Too many folks scammed by those useless products promising faster speeds over and beyond.
Awesome review. I think you should also mention the cost for tech support. Netgear offers free support for 6 months then charges a ridiculous amount when others are free. If I knew how much the cost for tech support I would have never chosen Netgear. Netgear support prices 6 month plan $89.99 1 year $139.99 2 year $229.99 Or price per incident $49.99
Great video keep up the awesome work you do. My Question is my home is approximately 6,600 sqft, we have live in the country where there is no high speed internet provider( cable) have have antenna on side of home hits tower antenna max speed is 50 download 10 upload. More computers and phones found that no good. Only have one router that came with system do you recommend a good system to use with my situation?
Your review was the best. I’ve looked at several and you actually explained things a bit differently to where it filled in some blanks in my knowledge. Thank you very much! 👍
How do you not have more subscribers?! This video was amazing and gave exactly the information you need to make a sound decision. Thank you very much Chris!
I got the Netgear Orbi wifi 6 a few months ago and its a beast able to run my 1GB with a speed test around 950mbs consistent with my wifi 6 devices like my Galaxy Fold, Samsung Flex and Xbox Series X I also have 3000 sqft townhouse with over 100 connected devices. Garage doesn't give me an issue and my Arlo cameras never have an issue as well
Incredible video, I would look forward to the review of single router units. I would also like to see something that is more geared towards heavy users like the most cost effective way to get multi gig networking.
Thanks, Chris. Considering the EERO for my 1500 sq ft house...as my router is in the back in my den, but my Ring doorbell at the front of the house is dropping signals and I have not been able to get it to connect for weeks! I like the way you bust through the info, so I subscribed.
Man when I say YEARS later I mean it bro. We been through the Infiniti forums (helped me get my numbers for the 20x10.5s) We been through the Audi forums You helped me pick out a projector You helped me get the Klipsch Saved me from splurging on a Roomba And now I'm back here getting my mesh network right Man you've been a Godsend all these years! Hopefully you can help me with some Tesla stuff soon....
Hands down the best produce, pleasant to watch, most informative, review video I've ever sen. Excellent work, thanks for the info. I'm sure I'll be watching it again as I narrow down my selections.
Fantastic review!! I just subscribed. Have you posted a static image of the speed comparison chart? Historically I've been loyal to Linksys, but this review is causing me to re-think that stance.
I got the Deco x60 3 satellites and have been very satisfied and happy with the speeds of my 4K 4 story house. No issues setting up. Downloaded the updates easily and the app has been easy to use. For the price, very satisfied.
@@tuomasholo yah i’ve been searching around, we pay for 1 gig speed so i don’t need a $600+ setup that supports speeds most people don’t have, this should work fine if not i’ll find a different one
We live in home with metal studding. Only 1200 sq ft; use 2-3 pcs, smart tv, and 2 cell phones and printer. Would like less expensive but will need to pay more if we can't improve on Spectrum's delivery. Supposed to get 350mbs but speed tests only getting 160download at best. We have tpLinkAC 1750.
This is the best I have seen on WIFI 6 and Mesh routers. Well done. I just upgraded to COX Gigablast that has possible up 940 MBS. But I am getting 400+ wired and 150 WIFI Thanks
What a fantastic video, thank you so much. This was exactly what I've been looking for, explaining everything well, and giving good comparisons on value vs performance.
Hi Chris, enjoyed your analysis. I live in the Bahamas where most of our homes are constructed from concrete blocks on the inside and usually signals are poor. The mesh technology is very interesting and can be greatly appreciated here in the Bahamas. We are also just getting into G5 and think these WiFi 6 Mesh Routers might be overkill. I am sure you have videos on our needs in the Bahamas with G5 and concrete on the inside of homes, can you point me to videos you have done with your recommendations?
I went through and tested the orbi, two aliens, and Google nest systems and the alien blew all of them away. You should run the updates on the alien and retest, stay safe and awesome content!
@@ChrisMajestic aye that's awesome! My house is laid out really weird so getting signal to the car in the garage and the room above it was the hardest part. The only complaint I have is the connection drop when it's switching to the other alien, do you encounter that as well?
Thank you so much for this round-up. I ended up purchasing the Asus ZenWifi because of the pricing and because it tops your WiFi 5 tests because let’s be real most of our home networks will be WiFi 5 for the foreseeable future but WiFi 6 is currently a means of future proofing.
my iPhone 13 and iPad Air use wifi6, my macbook air M1 also have wifi6. my PS5 is wifi6, my Xbos Series S seems to be wifi5 though 😂 and the oneplus 9 i traded for my iPhone was also wifi6. i even replaced the router + repeater at my parents house for a 4 pack mesh system with wifi6E. buying any router/mesh locked to wifi5 seems odd in 2021?
My TP-link router has been almost flawless in my 1500sqft house. I have connection issue on the far end of the home because of placement (literally 2 furthest ends of the house), but I plan to remedy this soon with moving the router to a central location in the home (like the dead center of the house). So I agree with your comment that the size of the home with dictate if you really need a mesh system at all. Thanks for the vids. Happy New Year.
i'd rate you the best on youtube with this kind of reviews Chris! I bought my eero pro about a year or two ago by watching your video. it's been a fantastic experience and i've gone with eero pro 6 this year. one question that i have is- no matter how close i am to the router, the fastest speed i can go with my iphone 12 pro is around 300 mbps while i see you were getting 6-700 mbps..
I just recently upgraded my Eero Pro Gen 2 to Eero Pro 6! and I'm very happy! like you said very consistent results which is a big deal for me as a streamer and use a lot of zoom for work and school!
That is funny. I have the Eero Pro Gen 2 and I am extremely disappointed. I straight up can't load websites standing right next to the satellites when all my hardwired devices are pulling in 900mbs. I run a health check in the Eero app and it says everything is working great! When they do work, I have more dead spots in my house than I did with my old single router.
@@jamesdafirenze5161 dannnng, before eero I had the apple airport WiFi they were ok then when I switch to eero pro they was amazing and now I have the eero pro 6 and the speed is much faster and more consistent!
Enjoyed your video. I would definitely be interested in a review on WiFi routers around $200-$400. Don't need to be gaming speed but could run home theaters indoor and outdoor.
While I didn't comprehend much of what you were talking about, I did find it helpful. My house is less than 1400sqf but we have 5 smart TVs, my son's have gaming systems, smart phones, computers, etc. So I'm hoping a single Orbi RBK852 would give us more than we need. So, with all that said, thanks for your video.
Every Linksys product I've bought in the last 10 years has had stability problems of some sort. Not surprised to see this one also comes with headaches. Nice review
Watching your video on the last year routers I got the Orbi RBK50 and it’s been amazing. Even while gaming on the PS5 with 20 other devices on the WiFi I never experience any lag.
Great video. What would be a nice addition is if you did a quick google search on each product to see what the community is saying. For example, i bought the Linksys Velop last year and wish i had searched the forums first. You mention “inconsistent” results with the Velop, with longer term usage you’ll find it’s actually “unreliable” and a horrible product. A large number of angry customers with Linksys right now as we dropped over $500 for these mesh routers and they are garbage. Linksys is either oblivious or doesn’t care.... Search the forums before you buy! I bought the Netgear Orbi and the forums seem to support your conclusion on it being one of the best.
I was an early adopter with the original Velop System. Of time, it slowed down to the holes in my home were enormous. Yes, I wired the back hall to keep it alive. After my extended warranty was gone, I switched systems. I have been impressed with the eero 6 Pro model. My speed test have been uniform throughout my home. And now my speed test are in keeping with everything I am paying the cable company to provide! One surprise, this unit doesn’t like 5e cabling. I patched in a cat 6 to keep my tv running. I have purchased cat 6A, which will likely get installed tomorrow. I especially like how this system connected to all of my Ring cameras and door bell. It was seamless. On nice surprise, we have one Alexis devise in our home. It’s in an upstairs bedroom and only has WiFi in the room. It was funny when Alexis made an announcement that the network printer was running low on black ink! I didn’t do anything to the printer besides connect it to the network (it essentially made the connection on its own. The announcement via Alexia was a complete, but wonderful surprise!
Really really excited to see your video on the gaming routers. We game on 5ghz wifi and right now have this asus wifi 6 gaming router which has been doing well, but wanna see what all other options can offer. A1 videos, keep it up man!
Which. One. Gave. You. A. Great. Signal. In. Your. Basement. That’s literally the only question I wanted answered and you completely swung hard whiffed bad on it…
I'd love for you to highlight which systems require connectivity to a 3rd party service for management, and which systems allow you to control and configure them without a remote management interface.
This was absolutely the best review I’ve send. I just want to talk a minute and say thanks!
This was one of the easiest and straight forward review/comparison vids I've seen. Tech terminology for the techies and simple references for the not so experienced/everyone. Loved the bar graph comparisons and the similar/multiple staging areas for fair comparison. Thorough, but not lengthy. Amazing job, brother. 👍🏾✊🏾
I went out and bought the Orbi AX4200, after watching this video. I'm so glad I did. Even with 350mb broadband I was only getting around 10mb in all other rooms apart from the living room. I'm now getting 300+ in almost all other rooms. Apart from the kitchen, which is hovering around 40. But thats up from zero, so I'm happy. Thanks! Love your content. Keep up the good work!
I just found this channel and man I cannot compliment you enough on your delivery speed and information. I am subbed for life.
So one key thing to think about when buying a router is whether the software/firmware is really carefully coded or flaky. For many years I had the Apple router, not because it was the greatest router in the world in terms of speed or coverage, but because Apple paid attention to the quality of the router software as well as the hardware. In the past, I've had Linksys routers, netgear routers etc. and all of them had just crap software that made them pretty hard to live with over the long term. They'd randomly crash and need to be rebooted for no reason, or the company would carelessly push out some buggy firmware update that hadn't been properly vetted, etc. FWIW, the guys that originally made the Apple router now work at Ubiquiti, and that is what really pushed me in the direction of the Alien, as it is about as close as you can get to a modern version of the Apple router. I've had it for about six months now, and just like the old Apple router I had, the Alien never crashes, it just purrs right along. Maybe these other mesh systems have decent software now too, but I would love to see how many of these routers will provide six months or a year of uninterrupted up time in a busy house. At these prices, when the internet does go out, you really should never have to ask the question "is it the router"?
ASUS is great too 👍🏼
Very true. Another plus with the Amplifi is you can still access the router and it’s settings if the internet goes out, with Ines like Eero you cannot as everything it does is in the cloud, including it’s settings. I have the Eero Pro 6 but am in 2 minds about keeping it due to this, Amazon is collecting a lot of data, it’s a slick system though. Also the Amplifi has Ethernet ports.
I still love the Airport Extreme Gen 6. Wish Apple never stopped making them.
This review was amazingly done.. my first view on your channel, and I think you should have more subs.. Keep up the great work
Same...agreed!
I have a 2 story (plus basement) house and I have the last generation Orbi. It covers my WHOLE house corner to corner. I have 300 mpbs service and I get 300 megs everywhere. The Orbi mesh system is amazing. I can't say enough great things and love to rep it every chance I get.
Do you have to have a internet provider
@xwing8675 What is Internet provider?
@@celotlcoatl I just upgraded to a local 600 meg fiber service.
@@xwing8675 I meant what is the name of your internet provider? 😊
I have 3 backhauled Amplifi Alien routers. Small house but older house with concrete and plaster walls. One is definitely not enough. I tried 2 at first, one in the back of the house and one in the living room. Needed one for the carport and converted garage bedroom. Perfect. Total area of house from front yard to the back is covered.
what is a backhaul?
@@datsuntoyy I should clarify, I have 3 wired backhauled routers. Backhaul or backbone, is the connection between the mesh points. I used ethernet cable to connect each router so they all have the strongest connection to provide the max WIFI at each location.
Yo Chris, my man! Thanks for this review. You have no idea how many other youtubers did videos on some of these routers and didn't show any real world results. They just simply unboxed and talked about specs and called it a "review".
Anywho, your results definitely confirmed I will be rolling with the Asus zenwifi xt8 mesh system. Thanks for the great content.
Same, same, and same.
In a little under 15 minutes, I just realized I'm wifi illiterate and Hit the sub button immediately. Fan for life
Ive had 2 of the Amplifi Aliens since they came out, connected with a Cat6 cable through the attic, instead of wirelessly bridging them. They call it an ethernet backbone. Holy cow, best freakin home network. Really happy with this setup. 42 Wifi devices and a few hardwired. Really dependable. I've owned several flagship routers, and while they work great in the first 3-4 months, I was getting intermittent issues after some time has passed. No problems so far, runs fine after over a year...
I have one alien and would like to add another. What you do called “Ethernet backbone.” Because I was thinking of switching it out because I can’t add the mesh point to it. You actually have to buy that as a package. But if I just buy another actual router then I am in and if they still work together.
Straight forward, knowledgeable, practical, and a seemingly unbiased series of recommendations. I’m impressed! Well done Chris!
I bought the Asus XT8 to replace a very old Asus router that was close to 10 years old and starting to struggle - what it would have been like in lockdown with the entire family streaming is just not worth considering.
XT8 for me has been rock solid. Set up is, as Chris described, maybe not the easiest and wired backhaul option is buried deep in the setup webpage. I have 2 units because the basement is separated from the rest of the house by a thick high grade concrete floor. The old router did not penetrate that (except in one point where there was glazing rather than concrete). The XT8 has no such difficulties, I could run an entire 2100 sq foot house off a single node but having a second node dedicated to the basement is a massive step up.
Yes!!! Lower end - multi unit! Wired backhaul tests for handoff issues! Lots of 3 story homes in HTX that are all wired with an IDF. Would be so great to light up ports on each floor and MESH the place! Fantastic Videos!!
Those prices are crazy lol, please do routers for us common folks. Great content by the way!!! Love your videos!!!!
The best costs money. Wifi 6 is new.
I would recommend the Deco M5 for $150/3 pack for people who are willing to accept less than the best.
Also, just found a 2 pack of the w3600for $150 from walmart. That's a steal. If he had tested it at this price, the w3600 would have easily beaten the Asus in terms of value imo.
If you can, just get Xiaomi Ax3600 with Chinese firmware. You can configure it in Xiaomi App in English and you get a monstrous signal range. You can get one on Ali for around 100$. The only real downside is lack of USB ports. It handles Oculus Quest 2 like a champ!
Net gear has some nice nighthawk mesh routers for like 150 ish!
These cost alot on account they are "Mesh Systems" and not a Standalone Router.
This was exactly what I've been looking for. I had an issue with with my NetGear RAX120 4 months after purchase and they won't honor the warranty unless I pay $149 for phone support. So I really needed to know how the different brands compare on speeds. It also really helped that you showed the speed from the second mesh unit, that is a huge issue for us. My daughter is also using a computer without WiFi 6, and that made a big difference in my decision. I'm going to look at the Deco X90 but will probably go with the ASUS.
I just can imagine the pure efforts, time, focus and preparation that video took you from A to Z then upload it. This is one of the best videos I've seen comparing couple of mesh systems together in pure logical and scientifically presentation. Subscribed immediately. Big like and high respect 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Totally agree and 2nd Akram's thoughts, couldn't have said it better myself.
I recently purchased an ASUS RT-AX89X & meshed it with an ASUS RT-AX82U. Running the AX82U on a dual-band wireless backhaul has no loss in bandwidth/speed. Even if you didn't outright purchase a mesh system from ASUS, I would still recommend looking into buying two routers from the company just to mesh them.
(You could get two RT-AX3000 units for $179.99 each and have a mesh system with 8 usable ethernet ports)
This is only the second video of yours I have seen but I like it, +1 Subscriber from Australia.
Chris should be at 1 million subs with this kind of information.
Man i was thinking the same thing. Clear voice, great production, unbiased. A+ Chris. I am now a subscriber
Terrific comprehensive overview. Replacing my ancient router and in the midst of new router information overload. This great side-by-side helped to clarify things.
This channel deserves millions of subs, such an organized and easy to follow video with great information.
I’d definitely appreciate a video comparing some budget options. These look great but would be wasted on the slow internet speeds available in my area.
Wifi 6 also provides a more stable connection. There are zero downsides and you are truly getting what you're paying for and more especially when modern devices are becoming wifi 6 compatible and are slowly having 4x4 instead of 2x2. this product will future proof you too. no drawbacks.
@@Blackfeet In rural areas, the chances of getting gigabit internet before these routers become obsolete is pretty low. If you get 100Mb or less for speeds, it would be a much better option to go budget and upgrade in the future if your internet can take advantage of the better routers.
Came to find out about eero in the wifi 6 world. Did not disappoint! Thanks bruh!
Great video and this helped me make my choice. I went with the Orbi AX6000 set up for my 3,400 sqft home. Works well with no dead spots so far.
I purchased Net-gear M3 Nighthawk Mesh Wi-Fi 6 about a year ago. The system works with all my Wi-Fi devices, all 23 of them. The problem I only have 2 devices that can actually make use of the Wi-Fi 6 abilities, my cell phones. All of the other 21 devices only operate at Wi-Fi 5. My laptops could be updated, but only if I crack open the machine and exchange the Modems. The other problem is drivers, there is no guarantee the drivers will be compatible in the systems. Why is it nobody is making Wi-Fi 6 upgrade adapters? I think most of my 21 devices have an Ethernet ports, a stamp computer with a Wi-Fi 6 modem would solve my problems. (My Ring cameras don’t have any direct connections) The Wi-Fi 6 technology would help eliminate devices talking over other devices thus reducing error messages and speed up communications for all my devices. Great show I wish I had watched your video before buying my Net-gear M3 Nighthawks I have 3 Mesh system and I haven’t noticed any slow down in my house(2100 Sq.Ft.). Net-gear forces you to switch your antivirus to Bit Defender in order get rid of their annoying messages. Do any of the router in this video do the same thing?
Thank you. I bought the Alien and I LOVE it. It looks amazing as well. Alien is so easy to work and I have noticed a significant difference in connectivity. I do not experience lag time anymore when I watch youtube or other streaming programs.
First time viewer & shopping for a higher end wifi 6 mesh system. Your video is awesome...well organized, logically presented and easily digestible. Thank you so much!
As always, concise content delivered in an accurate & objective manner. Thank you!
I decided to go with the Orbi AX4200 for $399 at Costco right now. This provided a huge a boost in speed and I feel it’s more than enough for most people. More importantly the consistency of the signal has been drastically improved from my prior setup with a Nighthawk modem/router combo and a Nighthawk range extender. It actually comes with a router and 2 satellites, which provided a great value at that price.
How many connection streams do you have at any one time? I was looking at this unit as my current wifi can't handle 3 phones, a tab, 3 tv's, security system, door bell, AC controls, ect, ect. I have a $139 wifi/cable modem combo.
@@datsuntoyy Not sure what you went with but I have the Orbi Mesh (2 APs, 1 Router). We have the following devices connected to it without issue:
My Office:
- Smart TV
- 5 Laptops (Work)
- 2 Desktops
- 3 Phones (Duo, Apple, and Samsung
- iRobot Vacuum (basement unit)
- 4 Smart Lights (Philips using their Bridge attached directly to the Router
Sons Room:
- Smart TV
- Laptop
- Phone
Son #2 Room:
- Laptop
- Desktop
- Pixel Phone
All Exterior Doors on August Locks (4) each with a Bridge all on the network
3 Nest Camera (Exterior)
1 iSmartGate for the Garage Door
Master Bedroom:
- Smart TV
- Google Home
- Google Clock
- 14 Smart Lights (including bathroom - Phillips)
Kitchen:
- Google Home
Living Room:
- Smart TV
- iRobot 2nd Floor Vacuum
- 12 Smart Lights - Phillips
Dining Room:
- Google Device
- 5 Smart Lights - Phillips
Miscellaneous Smart Lights Inside:
- 14 Lamp lights throughout the first floor
- 12 Lamp lights in the basement
Basement:
- Smart TV
- Google Device
BackPorch:
- 12 Smart Lights (non-Phillips)
- Smart TV
Front Porch:
- Next Camera/Doorbell
- 4 Smart Lights
Essentially we easily have over 50 devices all running through the Orbi. We use MetroNet 1 Gig for our Provider and I generally can see 300-400 Mbps Up and Down in my office which has an AP outside the door but is also in the basement and furthest away from the main router and line drop.
I will never use another device than the Orbi.
@@StephenSchusterE We haven't upgraded yet. We need to as ours is dying. Your list is impressive, I'll consider that one when we get one.
I like the idea of having that much of the house on a network.
This is a great review of mesh systems backed up with actual data. Keep up the great work Chris!
Congratulations on pronouncing "wifi 5 speed" without stumbling... :) Great review by the way. Was considering buying eero pro 6 (2 pack), but might go with the Orbi. Will get high-speed Internet later this year, and needed a wireless connection between modem (which will sit in the garage) and the rest of my wired network, without having to drill holes in the walls.
Thanks for your complete review!
Great informative video, thank you. Yes, please make a video on less expensive router options, some people may be under budget constraints but need more coverage/speed.
Last years video was so helpful. I’m still getting a fraction of my gigabit plan but seeing these prices def makes waiting easier. Keep up the great work!
You can get a great Wifi 6 router for around $160.
When you go into the $200+ range, you're buying extra router to make a wifi 6 mesh system.
@Chris Majestic Definitely the best presentation out there on the mesh wifi! Question for you, Did you see an improvement with the Wifi 5 (AC) speeds from Orbi RBK50 to the Orbi RBK852 ? I went back to your 2019 video and you went from 440/480 to 633/555 (down/up) on the router and 350/360 to 458/423 (down/up) on the satellites. If I am interpreting this correctly, the Orbi RBK852 is a huge improvement even if you don't currently have any Wifi6 (AX) client devices.
I really liked this roundup, thanks for sharing. My suggestion goes in another direction then what you were planning, into higher end AX setups, would be great to compare
- Ubiquiti Unifi 6 LR AP
- EnGenius ECW230
- Ruckus R750
- Aruba AP-515
- Meraki MR36
- Zyxel WAX650S, etc.
I was looking for something to boost my Mbps, some type of booster, mesh, whatever. I came to your page looked at reviews and ended up getting the Asus Zenwifi AX. I only bought one, figured I didn't need 2. I just hooked it up today and getting around 133mbps on each of my 7 devices I have hooked up which is crazy to me coming off of 2-5mbps of each of them especially at night. Its early to give it early good reviews about it but we will see overtime. So far very impressed! The Orbi was to expensive for me, maybe in the future. Thanks Chris..but loving it so far.
Always enjoy your videos. I would definitely like to see one with lower costs. Or a comparison: "if house A has 2 people who WFH, don't game, do stream, get this". Versus: "House B has 3 kids, everyone has multiple devices, gaming, etc." Thanks!
Great overview, Chris. Toss up between the Orbi and eero for me when comes time to ditch my Synology set up. Noticing that companies are moving away from having a desktop web interface and relying solely on their smart app.
Lastly, kudos for reminding folks that routers NEVEr give you speeds greater than the package they’re paying for. Too many folks scammed by those useless products promising faster speeds over and beyond.
Hi Chris. Man you got this video down pat. Great transitions and detail. It looked very professional.
Awesome review. I think you should also mention the cost for tech support. Netgear offers free support for 6 months then charges a ridiculous amount when others are free. If I knew how much the cost for tech support I would have never chosen Netgear.
Netgear support prices
6 month plan $89.99
1 year $139.99
2 year $229.99
Or price per incident $49.99
Excellent info. Appreciate you providing the relative distances from the router and down/up speeds.
Great video keep up the awesome work you do. My Question is my home is approximately 6,600 sqft, we have live in the country where there is no high speed internet provider( cable) have have antenna on side of home hits tower antenna max speed is 50 download 10 upload. More computers and phones found that no good. Only have one router that came with system do you recommend a good system to use with my situation?
Your review was the best. I’ve looked at several and you actually explained things a bit differently to where it filled in some blanks in my knowledge. Thank you very much! 👍
Impressed with the review, even though I'm two years late finding it. Subscribed.
Your video came exactly when I need. Thank you for the good information.
How do you not have more subscribers?! This video was amazing and gave exactly the information you need to make a sound decision. Thank you very much Chris!
Thanks, just bought the Orbi and glad to hear you loved it! Great video
Dude, as soon as this guy started talking I wanted to be his friend
Damn lol
Love at first hearing? Lol
Yeah me 2. 😂
Yo same
Same
Great video as always.Eero also has a zigbee hub built in which is huge for smart home.
I got the Netgear Orbi wifi 6 a few months ago and its a beast able to run my 1GB with a speed test around 950mbs consistent with my wifi 6 devices like my Galaxy Fold, Samsung Flex and Xbox Series X I also have 3000 sqft townhouse with over 100 connected devices. Garage doesn't give me an issue and my Arlo cameras never have an issue as well
Chris, waiting for your 2021 review buddy. Eagerly waiting.. Just a phenomenal review you give your viewers. Top of the pile.
Talk about thorough! I love how various options were shown and explained in good detail, and the visuals with the graphs were a plus. 😎👍
Really Majestic Video - you got a new subscriber and I believe you deserve a lot more views !
Your channel is awesome and you deserve more subscribers! Great info as always. Thanks, Chris.
Incredible video, I would look forward to the review of single router units. I would also like to see something that is more geared towards heavy users like the most cost effective way to get multi gig networking.
Cat6a with 10gb nics. Oh and an isp that can provide multi gig. You are not going to get multi gb on Wi-Fi. Still need a cord for that.
I really like the way you explain without bashing well done
Thanks, Chris. Considering the EERO for my 1500 sq ft house...as my router is in the back in my den, but my Ring doorbell at the front of the house is dropping signals and I have not been able to get it to connect for weeks! I like the way you bust through the info, so I subscribed.
Most comprehensive mesh router review I have seen so far. Great job!
Man when I say YEARS later I mean it bro.
We been through the Infiniti forums (helped me get my numbers for the 20x10.5s)
We been through the Audi forums
You helped me pick out a projector
You helped me get the Klipsch
Saved me from splurging on a Roomba
And now I'm back here getting my mesh network right
Man you've been a Godsend all these years!
Hopefully you can help me with some Tesla stuff soon....
Top showdown review, thanks Chris. Answered all my questions. Great to see the phone setup screens as well.
Hands down the best produce, pleasant to watch, most informative, review video I've ever sen. Excellent work, thanks for the info. I'm sure I'll be watching it again as I narrow down my selections.
Fantastic review!! I just subscribed. Have you posted a static image of the speed comparison chart? Historically I've been loyal to Linksys, but this review is causing me to re-think that stance.
I got the Deco x60 3 satellites and have been very satisfied and happy with the speeds of my 4K 4 story house. No issues setting up. Downloaded the updates easily and the app has been easy to use. For the price, very satisfied.
just ordered it, i’m gonna backhaul it around the house maybe one unit on each floor
@@awadbuisir it’s been one year and the satellite’s are going well. No hiccups, just occasional updates.
@@tuomasholo yah i’ve been searching around, we pay for 1 gig speed so i don’t need a $600+ setup that supports speeds most people don’t have, this should work fine if not i’ll find a different one
I like that virtually any Asus router can be added to an AI mesh system. And many ASUS routers have the ASUSWRT Merlin firmware.
Are they backward compatible with the WiFi5 router?
@@reddepo Is what backwards compatible? AI Mesh wifi 6 and 5 routers? Yes.
@@mohamedahmed1023 Yes, wasn't sure if you can get a WiFi 5 to AiMesh with the latest WiFi 6. Thanks for the clarification.
Great video - got yourself a new subscriber - keep up this quality my man!
We live in home with metal studding. Only 1200 sq ft; use 2-3 pcs, smart tv, and 2 cell phones and printer.
Would like less expensive but will need to pay more if we can't improve on Spectrum's delivery. Supposed to get 350mbs but speed tests only getting 160download at best. We have tpLinkAC 1750.
Thank you for making such a comprehensive and straightforward video. Please keep it up.
This is the best I have seen on WIFI 6 and Mesh routers. Well done. I just upgraded to COX Gigablast that has possible up 940 MBS. But I am getting 400+ wired and 150 WIFI
Thanks
Def looking forward to the gaming router options, hoping to see what your opinion is with the Asus AiMesh config.
What a fantastic video, thank you so much. This was exactly what I've been looking for, explaining everything well, and giving good comparisons on value vs performance.
Very well done bro...you just got a 👍+1...keep up the awesome work!...#strongertogether💯
Great video, been looking around for new routers and this really helped - thanks!
Hi Chris, enjoyed your analysis. I live in the Bahamas where most of our homes are constructed from concrete blocks on the inside and usually signals are poor. The mesh technology is very interesting and can be greatly appreciated here in the Bahamas. We are also just getting into G5 and think these WiFi 6 Mesh Routers might be overkill. I am sure you have videos on our needs in the Bahamas with G5 and concrete on the inside of homes, can you point me to videos you have done with your recommendations?
I went through and tested the orbi, two aliens, and Google nest systems and the alien blew all of them away. You should run the updates on the alien and retest, stay safe and awesome content!
The alien is what I use personally. It has all of the latest updates.
@@ChrisMajestic aye that's awesome! My house is laid out really weird so getting signal to the car in the garage and the room above it was the hardest part. The only complaint I have is the connection drop when it's switching to the other alien, do you encounter that as well?
Thank you so much for this round-up. I ended up purchasing the Asus ZenWifi because of the pricing and because it tops your WiFi 5 tests because let’s be real most of our home networks will be WiFi 5 for the foreseeable future but WiFi 6 is currently a means of future proofing.
my iPhone 13 and iPad Air use wifi6, my macbook air M1 also have wifi6. my PS5 is wifi6, my Xbos Series S seems to be wifi5 though 😂 and the oneplus 9 i traded for my iPhone was also wifi6.
i even replaced the router + repeater at my parents house for a 4 pack mesh system with wifi6E. buying any router/mesh locked to wifi5 seems odd in 2021?
My TP-link router has been almost flawless in my 1500sqft house. I have connection issue on the far end of the home because of placement (literally 2 furthest ends of the house), but I plan to remedy this soon with moving the router to a central location in the home (like the dead center of the house). So I agree with your comment that the size of the home with dictate if you really need a mesh system at all. Thanks for the vids. Happy New Year.
i'd rate you the best on youtube with this kind of reviews Chris! I bought my eero pro about a year or two ago by watching your video. it's been a fantastic experience and i've gone with eero pro 6 this year. one question that i have is- no matter how close i am to the router, the fastest speed i can go with my iphone 12 pro is around 300 mbps while i see you were getting 6-700 mbps..
I just recently upgraded my Eero Pro Gen 2 to Eero Pro 6! and I'm very happy! like you said very consistent results which is a big deal for me as a streamer and use a lot of zoom for work and school!
@The Smash God Yupp I used the Eero to Eero Pro 2nd Gen and now the new Eero Pro 6 never had a issue with these
@The Smash God Yupp I only need 2 of them so I sold the 3rd. Also if you don’t mind following me on twitch it would be great
Twitch.tv/primetime3209
That is funny. I have the Eero Pro Gen 2 and I am extremely disappointed. I straight up can't load websites standing right next to the satellites when all my hardwired devices are pulling in 900mbs. I run a health check in the Eero app and it says everything is working great! When they do work, I have more dead spots in my house than I did with my old single router.
@@jamesdafirenze5161 dannnng, before eero I had the apple airport WiFi they were ok then when I switch to eero pro they was amazing and now I have the eero pro 6 and the speed is much faster and more consistent!
Truly amazing review of the latest AX wifi devices in single video with localy deployed speedtest, great job!
great video as usual. I'm probably going to get the Orbi based on my previous success with Netgear Nighthawk. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the Video, very nice rundown comparing the top dogs of WiFi 6 so far. The graphs are very helpful as well!
Enjoyed your video. I would definitely be interested in a review on WiFi routers around $200-$400. Don't need to be gaming speed but could run home theaters indoor and outdoor.
While I didn't comprehend much of what you were talking about, I did find it helpful. My house is less than 1400sqf but we have 5 smart TVs, my son's have gaming systems, smart phones, computers, etc. So I'm hoping a single Orbi RBK852 would give us more than we need. So, with all that said, thanks for your video.
I would love to see a video of the difference between the Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6
This review was dope! Your well spoken and deliver information perfectly to your audience! New sub here!
First video I’ve seen of yours. Excellent presentation.
Thanks Chris and Happy New Year.
Every Linksys product I've bought in the last 10 years has had stability problems of some sort. Not surprised to see this one also comes with headaches. Nice review
Watching your video on the last year routers I got the Orbi RBK50 and it’s been amazing. Even while gaming on the PS5 with 20 other devices on the WiFi I never experience any lag.
Finally, a more useful comparison review of the wifi 6 mesh
Great video. What would be a nice addition is if you did a quick google search on each product to see what the community is saying. For example, i bought the Linksys Velop last year and wish i had searched the forums first. You mention “inconsistent” results with the Velop, with longer term usage you’ll find it’s actually “unreliable” and a horrible product. A large number of angry customers with Linksys right now as we dropped over $500 for these mesh routers and they are garbage. Linksys is either oblivious or doesn’t care.... Search the forums before you buy! I bought the Netgear Orbi and the forums seem to support your conclusion on it being one of the best.
I was an early adopter with the original Velop System. Of time, it slowed down to the holes in my home were enormous. Yes, I wired the back hall to keep it alive.
After my extended warranty was gone, I switched systems. I have been impressed with the eero 6 Pro model. My speed test have been uniform throughout my home. And now my speed test are in keeping with everything I am paying the cable company to provide!
One surprise, this unit doesn’t like 5e cabling. I patched in a cat 6 to keep my tv running. I have purchased cat 6A, which will likely get installed tomorrow.
I especially like how this system connected to all of my Ring cameras and door bell. It was seamless. On nice surprise, we have one Alexis devise in our home. It’s in an upstairs bedroom and only has WiFi in the room. It was funny when Alexis made an announcement that the network printer was running low on black ink! I didn’t do anything to the printer besides connect it to the network (it essentially made the connection on its own. The announcement via Alexia was a complete, but wonderful surprise!
Really really excited to see your video on the gaming routers. We game on 5ghz wifi and right now have this asus wifi 6 gaming router which has been doing well, but wanna see what all other options can offer. A1 videos, keep it up man!
Which. One. Gave. You. A. Great. Signal. In. Your. Basement.
That’s literally the only question I wanted answered and you completely swung hard whiffed bad on it…
I'd love for you to highlight which systems require connectivity to a 3rd party service for management, and which systems allow you to control and configure them without a remote management interface.
Excellent video as always, tons of info. I'm one of the Ubiquiti fanboys but I also use them at three businesses
very nice video! i loved the edit.
could an extra testing (latancy/ throughput / lost packets)
keep it up!
Just the video that I was looking for. Thanks Chris and happy new year
Great review. Exactly the kind of information I've been looking for as I seek a replacement to my aging and failing Google WiFi setup. Thank you!