Fi Systems (2026): Netgear, Asus, Amazon, and More

Updated April 2026: I added information on the US government’s foreign router ban to our FAQ, added the Asus ZenWifi BQ16 Pro and gave an honorable mention for the Asus BD5 Outdoor, reorganized and removed some older systems, and updated prices.

If you are excited to sample the delights of Wi-Fi 7 or keen to future-proof, the Netgear Orbi 770 Series (8/10, WIRED Recommends) may be the best way to do so right now.

More and more phones and laptops now support Wi-Fi 7, and prices for Wi-Fi 7 systems like this one are getting slightly more affordable.

The Orbi 770 is backward compatible with previous Wi-Fi versions, but only devices that support Wi-Fi 7, like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 range , can take full advantage of this mesh.

These towering routers aren’t quite as big as the far more expensive Orbi 970 Series , but they have a similar design and are relatively large.

The main router has four 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, while the satellites make do with two 2.5 Gbps ports apiece.

There’s no USB.

Setup is quick and easy using the Orbi app on your phone.

It is a tri-band system, and by default, there is one SSID for the 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands, and it supports multi-link operation (MLO).

MLO is a new Wi-Fi 7 feature that allows devices to connect on multiple bands simultaneously.

While a single SSID simplifies things, MLO can cause problems for legacy devices because Wi-Fi 7 has more stringent security requirements (WPA2 or higher).

Something like an iPhone 5 won’t be able to connect, though you could potentially use a guest or IoT network.

Wi-Fi 7 also enables wider channels (up to 320 MHz from the current high of 160 MHz) and a handful of other improvements.

You can expect consistently fast Wi-Fi and excellent coverage from this system (Netgear optimistically suggests up to 8,000 square feet for a three-pack).

There's potential for stable, low-latency, multi-gigabit speeds if you have Wi-Fi 7 devices connected to the main router (there was occasionally a touch of lag with the satellites).

The Orbi app is straightforward and shows connected clients, enables you to check your internet speed, and has a few other settings.

You get 30-day trials of Netgear’s Armor security software (powered by Bitdefender) and Smart Parental Controls, but after that, Armor (phishing and malware protection, device and network scanning) costs $40 for the first year, then jumps to $100, and the parental controls (profiles, age-appropriate filters, scheduling, and time limits) are $8 per month.

You don't need either subscription.

A highly versatile mesh—a strength of Asus systems—the BT10 can be configured in the mobile app, or you can dive even deeper into settings via the web interface.

Asus continues to offer comprehensive security software and parental controls at no extra cost, so if you’re sick of subscriptions, this may be the mesh for you.

Just be aware that AiProtection Pro means sharing your data with Trend Micro, so you may want to review its privacy policy .

The parental controls allow you to set up profiles, schedule bedtimes, filter by age group, and review activity.

These extras generally require a monthly fee.

(Netgear, TP-Link, and Eero all charge for them.)
While I had a far better experience the second time around, with the BT10 comfortably outperforming the Deco BE67 it replaced, mixed online user reviews suggest your mileage may vary.

The potential reward for your risk is top-notch service that’s mercifully subscription-free.

If you want most of the benefits in a slightly slower but significantly cheaper package, try the BT8 (listed below in honorable mentions), which is one step down in the Asus lineup.

Top of my charts for almost every test, this is the fastest mesh system I have tested, offering speedy, stable Wi-Fi on every band and across an impressively wide coverage area.

It is a quad-band system, adding two 6-GHz bands to the usual 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands.

It offers an extremely versatile array of features and options, boasting all the goodies that Wi-Fi 7 has to offer.

Everything you could want is included here, from free parental controls and security software to VPN support and Quality of Service options to prioritize specific activities or devices.

This mesh is a dream for power users who love delving into settings and playing around.

Because it was first released in 2024, the BQ16 Pro has had several firmware updates and is rock-solid.

I suffered no teething troubles, and no issues have emerged in the past two weeks of testing.

Amazon’s Eero mesh systems are some of the easiest to set up, offer fairly wide coverage, and deliver stable connectivity.

The Eero Pro 6E is an elegant system, available as two or three identical routers.

The Eeros blend in easily on a table or shelf, sport a USB-C port for power and two Ethernet ports rated at 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps.

This tri-band system supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering the 6-GHz band alongside 2.4- and 5-GHz, and is designed to be a hands-off, set-and-forget mesh system.

Two other tricks make Eero systems attractive.

An Echo (4th Gen), Echo Dot (4th or 5th Gen), or Echo Dot with clock (4th or 5th Gen) smart speaker can act as a Wi-Fi extender , offering an extra 1,000 square feet of coverage at speeds up to 100 Mbps for up to 10 devices.

Eero also offers an Internet Backup option, so you can add multiple backup networks (Wi-Fi or hotspot) to keep you online if your main wired network goes down.

Eero’s simplicity will appeal to anyone who hates digging into settings, but there’s a cost.

You won’t find any Quality of Service features for prioritizing activities, and you can’t separate bands.

One final con with basic Eero systems is comparatively slow transfer speeds, though this was not an issue for the Pro 6E and other higher-end systems I tested.

Anyone with larger properties or above-average demands (lots of devices and people simultaneously using the internet) should consider the Eero Pro 7 ($700) —it offers slick and smooth tri-band Wi-Fi 7 at a reasonable price, and I think it's the sweet spot in Eero’s Wi-Fi 7 lineup.

Or the top-of-the-line Eero Max 7 ($1,700) , which boasts four Ethernet ports, two rated at 10 Gbps and two at 2.5 Gbps, though it will be overkill for most people.

If you want a stronger signal in your backyard this summer, you can also snag an Eero 7 Outdoor ($400) to pair with any of these systems, though I have not tested it yet.

All Eero systems are compatible with each other, which makes it easy to expand your network.

You can dig deeper into the differences in our Eero buying guide .

But whichever model you choose, keep an eye out for frequent discounts.

The combination of speedy performance, impressive range, and lots of extra features earns the Asus ZenWiFi XT8 the title of best Wi-Fi 6 mesh system.

I tested the two-pack, and the straightforward setup through the mobile app took minutes, though you have to keep the node close by during setup and then move it.

This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system with one 2.4-GHz band and two 5-GHz bands (one is reserved for wireless backhaul).

Available in black or white, these units are fairly large, but they're unobtrusive and look classy, with side vents to help dissipate heat.

Each router offers three gigabit Ethernet ports, which is generous, as well as a 2.5 gigabit WAN port and a USB 3.1 port.

The mobile app has a wealth of options, and the web interface is even more in-depth.

It’s easy to split bands or set up a guest network.

I also found that the app recognized most devices correctly.

(Sometimes it’s difficult to identify devices from the attributed hardware names in router apps.) There's support for AiMesh, which means you can easily add other Asus routers to expand your Wi-Fi system.

The dedicated backhaul channel—the way the router speaks to its nodes and vice versa—is extremely fast, ensuring you get the full speed of your internet connection even from that node you placed near the backyard.

I also tested the slightly upgraded version of this mesh, the Asus ZenWiFi XT9 ($350) .

It appears identical but offers a few upgrades beneath the hood.

Firstly, the 5-GHz band you can connect to has a 160-MHz channel width (theoretically double the XT8’s bandwidth), the processor is slightly more powerful, and there’s support for link aggregation.

On the downside, just like with the XT8, I had some teething troubles with the XT9 that required a firmware upgrade and some tweaks to the settings.

It’s slightly better than the XT8, so if you see it at a similar price, I would go for the XT9 instead.

Note: Even before the recent US foreign-made router ban , the US government was mulling a TP-Link router ban because of reports that vulnerabilities in the Chinese firm’s routers were exploited in high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government.

According to The Wall Street Journal , the US Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments are investigating TP-Link, though no evidence of any deliberate wrongdoing has been found.

TP-Link president Jeff Barney told WIRED the company is cooperating with the investigation, has a transparent supply chain with manufacturing in Vietnam, not China, and is now headquartered in California, having split from TP-Link Technologies, which focuses on mainland China.

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued TP-Link in February, claiming the company allows the Chinese Communist Party to access American consumers’ devices.

The impending ban will impact TP-Link, and it will have to apply for a Conditional Approval (as will every other manufacturer in this guide).

I'm monitoring this situation and will keep you updated.

The X55 is similar to the X20 system it replaces here on paper, but it’s capable of significantly faster speeds for not much more money.

That’s a price worth paying for quicker downloads and file transfers, and the X55 is significantly more stable and reliable than when I first tested it several years ago.

Coverage and speeds are solid, falling short of the Asus XT8 but beating systems like the entry-level Eero 6.

This is only a dual-band system, so speeds at the nodes are much lower with wireless backhaul because it only has two bands for all traffic.

The app is straightforward, and it’s easy to set up a guest network.

You get basic network security (router scan, guest network, QoS) and parental controls (create profiles, pause internet, block, and filter) included for free, but everything else requires a subscription.

While it's not the fastest mesh around, the X55 offers an excellent level of performance for the price, and it's likely enough for folks with modest needs and an internet connection below 1 Gbps.

Whether you want to watch a movie on your phone while sunbathing, crank the tunes at your barbecue, or stay online in your garden office, this router is a great way to get a better Wi-Fi signal into your backyard and outbuildings.

The thing about selecting an outdoor router to join your mesh is that you really need to pick something compatible, so folks with an Eero system should look at the Eero 7 Outdoor , and anyone with an Asus system should consider the ZenWiFi BD5 Outdoor .

I picked the Deco BE25 here as it strikes a nice balance between price and performance, and it’s a Wi-Fi 7 router.

You get fixings that enable you to wall- or pole-mount this outdoor mesh router, or you can set it on a table.

It's waterproof and dustproof, with an IP65 rating, and has survived a typical wet Scottish summer without any issues.

TP-Link suggests it can cover around 2,800 square feet, and it has no problem filling my backyard and beyond with speedy connectivity.

The base screws open to accommodate the power cable with a rubber seal, but you will need an outdoor socket or extension within reach.

Even better, this model supports Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), so you can hook it up to your network and power it with a single Ethernet cable.

It has two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports.

I tested with the Deco BE67 system above, and it formed a mesh with no problem.

It is only a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 device, so there’s no 6-GHz, but it delivered solid speeds on the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands, despite a distance between it and the nearest node and the fact that it was relying on wireless backhaul.

It offers basic security and parental controls, though you need to upgrade to Security+ at $5 a month or $36 for the year and Advanced Parental Controls at $3 a month or $18 a year to unlock all the features.

Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems, Compared
Mesh Wi-Fi Systems: Your Questions, Answered
What Should I Consider When Shopping for a Mesh System?

Here are a few points to keep in mind when you are buying a new mesh Wi-Fi system.

Wi-Fi standards: Many devices support Wi-Fi 7 now.

Many of the best laptops and phones do , and it’s only growing more common (the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 range support it).

All the models I recommend as main picks support at least Wi-Fi 6, and they are backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards.

If you have a lot of new devices, consider Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7.

Our router shopping guide goes into more depth .

Internet speeds: There are many ways to upgrade your Wi-Fi , but your internet speed is limited by your internet service provider (ISP).

If the maximum speed of data coming to your modem is 100 Mbps, that’s the fastest possible connection that any router can provide.

Bands: The top speed that router manufacturers claim on the box is all of the bands added together, which is disingenuous since you usually only connect to one band at a time.

MLO is a feature in Wi-Fi 7 that enables you connect on multiple bands simultaneously but you will still never achieve the top speeds that manufacturers state.

Backhaul: Backhaul channels are reserved for one mesh router or node to talk to another.

It’s common for mesh routers to have a dedicated backhaul channel, enabling the main router to provide speeds as close to your full internet speed as possible to any node.

This is also important for local network speed and may impact the performance of network-attached storage (NAS) systems, remote console play, and how quickly you can copy a file from one wireless device on your network to another.

QoS: Quality of Service allows you to prioritize the Wi-Fi connection for specific activities and their related apps or for specific devices.

You can use it to ensure gaming, streaming, or video calls take precedence, which can be very handy in any household with limited bandwidth.

Security: Most routers come with optional subscriptions for security, parental controls, and sometimes other extras like VPN service.

You don't need these subscriptions, but they can be handy and provide peace of mind.

Just make sure you factor in the cost or opt for a system from a manufacturer like Asus, which offers them for free.

Wait for sales: Mesh systems tend to be very expensive when first released and are often buggy.

By waiting a few months, you can expect deep discounts (50 percent is not unusual) and firmware updates that ensure more stable performance.

I am considering revising review scores based on initial pricing and performance for mesh systems that are now more affordable and stable, but I will always add a note to indicate when I have done this.

What Are the Benefits of a Mesh System?

Easy setup is part of the appeal of mesh Wi-Fi systems, and they generally have a companion app that should guide you through the process.

Mesh systems are designed to automatically manage your network, deciding on the correct bands and Wi-Fi channels for different devices to ensure a speedy and stable connection.

Mobile apps generally make it easy to check on connected devices and tweak basic settings when needed.

They often offer parental controls, network security, guest network, and device or activity prioritization features, but sometimes these require a paid subscription.

Mesh systems are also expandable, so you can add more nodes should you need to.

Many mesh manufacturers, such as Eero, enable you to mix and match mesh systems from different ranges.

What Are the Disadvantages of a Mesh System?

Is Mesh Router Location Important?

Are Mesh Systems Better Than Wi-Fi Extenders?

Should I Choose a Wi-Fi 6 or a Wi-Fi 7 Mesh?

All that said, if you have a very busy household with a lot of devices or want to be future-proof and don’t mind paying for it, a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh is the way to go.

If you currently have issues with latency or bandwidth, or you simply want the latest features, such as MLO enabling devices to connect on multiple bands, Wi-Fi 7 is worthwhile.

Can I Add Mesh Wi-Fi to an Existing Router?

You can add a mesh system to your existing router, but it’s not always the best idea.

Ideally, you will have a separate modem that you can plug your mesh directly into, and you can remove your old router.

If you have a combined router and modem supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you may need to plug your mesh system into that, but you should set your ISP’s router into bridge mode.

Ensure you check compatibility, as some mesh systems have limitations when used this way.

Some manufacturers also offer single routers that have mesh support, so you can add mesh systems or additional routers to create a mesh.

These are usually proprietary, such as AiMesh from Asus, so you can only mix routers from that manufacturer.

There is an open standard called EasyMesh, but only TP-Link offers wide support across its range.

If you decide to mix and match, it’s best to pick devices that support the same Wi-Fi standard with broadly similar specs.

What About the US Ban on Foreign-Made Routers?

The way the ban is described, it will likely apply to every new mesh system, because there are currently no companies manufacturing routers or the components they are assembled from in the US (except maybe some Starlink Wi-Fi routers).

But companies can apply for exemptions.

What About Firmware and Security Updates?

This is a worry, because the FCC has published a waiver that states, “All routers authorized for use in the United States may continue to receive software and firmware updates that mitigate harm to U.S.

consumers at least until March 1, 2027.”
What happens after that date is not clear, but if the FCC were to block further updates for the routers and mesh systems folks already own, it would exacerbate the very issue it is trying to address.

The majority of routers that are compromised and used in cyberattacks are usually older devices that no longer receive security updates.

This is tricky.

If you live in the US and need a router or a mesh, you should maybe still buy one, but I wouldn’t blame you for waiting to see how this pans out.

All the major manufacturers I asked who responded or have released a statement, including Asus, TP-Link, Netgear, and Synology, are confident about getting exemptions, but whether they will is impossible to say.

No one has been granted a Conditional Approval yet, though an FCC spokesperson told me, “We expect approvals to be granted in a timely manner.”
How Did WIRED Select Products to be Reviewed?

We are brand agnostic, so we will test systems from any manufacturer, provided we can get ahold of them.

The manufacturers or their PR companies provide all the mesh systems we test.

We do lean toward testing more systems from the most popular brands.

I would love to test one of Ubiquiti’s mesh systems but have been unable to secure one so far.

Most products are loaned for a month or so and then returned.

A handful of our recommended picks are kept for longer-term testing.

The remainder are donated to charities.

I recently dropped off a batch to Reusing IT and have donated several devices to Oxfam and Shelter.

Other Mesh Wi-Fi Systems We’ve Tested
Mesh systems are growing rapidly more popular, so you have a lot of choices.

While these aren't the best options, some of them only narrowly missed out on a place above, so they may still be worth exploring.

Asus ZenWifi BD5 Outdoor for $180 : I’ve listed a cheaper TP-Link Deco BE25 as my outdoor pick above, but you should go with whatever is compatible with your mesh system.

If you have an Asus mesh, that’s the BD5 Outdoor.

It’s very similar on the spec sheet, with dual-band Wi-Fi 7, an IP65 rating, and two 2.5-Gbps PoE auto-sensing ports, so you can power it and create a wired backhaul with a single Ethernet cable.

It has AiMesh support, and I’ve tested it with three different Asus mesh systems without any issues.

It will easily cover your backyard.

TP-Link Deco XE70 Pro (3-Pack) for $270 : Support for Wi-Fi 6E , which operates on the 6-GHz band, is common now, and with Wi-Fi 7 rolling out, 6E routers and mesh systems like this one are falling in price.

A two-pack of this tri-band mesh system is relatively affordable and enough to cover most households, making this perhaps the best Wi-Fi 6E mesh for most people.

I also tested the XE75 ($270 for a three-pack) , which is almost identical, but has three Gigabit ports and no multi-Gig.

There is also the XE75 Pro ($400 for a three-pack) , which does have the 2.5-Gbps port and theoretically offers slightly more bandwidth but is far more expensive.

Since TP-Link often discounts its mesh systems, I would pick whichever one is cheapest (folks with multi-gig connections should go with either Pro model).

TP-Link Deco X50 Outdoor for $150 : This was our previous outdoor pick, and it’s still a good dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that will form a mesh with any Deco system (I tested with the Deco X50 4G).

It’s a solid performer, but with the Wi-Fi 7 BE25 Outdoor coming in around the same price, I’d pick that instead.

Asus ZenWiFi BD4 (3-Pack) for $300 : One of the first Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems from Asus that might be described as affordable, the BD4 looks like an interesting prospect on paper.

Each unit has two 2.5-Gbps ports; installation was easy, and you get the usual subscription-free parental controls and security software.

But is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh a good idea?

You don’t get the faster 6-GHz band, and if you plan to use wireless backhaul, speeds will suffer for connected devices, although the BD4 can employ MLO to connect on both bands simultaneously.

Sadly, I found the BD4 was erratic.

A firmware update failed, and I had to factory reset, but I couldn’t log back in.

My internet also dropped several times, and I had to keep resetting my modem.

My experience with Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems from Asus so far has been frustratingly buggy.

Your mileage may vary, and this system performed well when it worked, but I think more firmware improvements are required.

Asus ZenWiFi BT8 (3-Pack) for $850 : Based on its mostly stellar speed and range, the tri-band BT8 is a Wi-Fi 7 mesh worth considering.

Sadly, the highs were hamstrung by inconsistent performance and perplexing intermittent lag, which made testing the BT8 a frustrating roller-coaster experience.

A step down from the BT10 but still plenty fast enough for most folks with 2.5-Gbps or slower internet connections, the BT8 was a breeze to install, offered impressive speeds across all three bands, and delivered excellent range.

Consider the subscription-free parental controls and security software, and the BT8 looks like a real contender.

While the release firmware was poor, this system is now consistently stable, and Asus has started to offer tempting discounts.

TP-Link Deco BE63 (3-Pack) for $500 : TP-Link has stuck with the vase-like design that marks its Deco range for this tri-band mesh, and each has a stylized 7 on the front, lest you forget this is a Wi-Fi 7 system.

Each router boasts four 2.5-Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port.

This mesh was a solid performer in my tests, but couldn't match the Netgear Orbi 770 above.

Folks with many legacy devices may prefer it to the Orbi 770 because you can separate the SSIDs (though it also supports MLO).

The UK version of this system is the BE65 (£450) , but it isn't quite as strong a performer as the BE63 because of limitations on the 6-GHz band in the UK.

Frequent deep discounts make this even more tempting for folks looking to try their first Wi-Fi 7 mesh.

Netgear Orbi 970 (2-Pack) for $1,437 : There’s no denying that the tri-band Wi-Fi 7 Netgear Orbi 970 is an impressive quad-band mesh.

It proved extremely fast and reliable, offers plenty of high-speed Ethernet ports, and delivers truly expansive coverage.

The accessible app includes comprehensive security (free for the first year).

I did have a few teething troubles, but the astronomical price is really what prevents me from recommending this mesh.

You can get similar performance for less.

You must also pay extra for full parental controls, now a separate subscription from the security software.

Only folks with large houses, multi-gig connections, and deep pockets should consider this mesh.

Linksys Velop Pro 6E (2-Pack) for $300 : Once up and running, this tri-band (2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz) Wi-Fi 6E system offers impressive range and decent speeds.

It is competitively priced with quite a few dips in cost (don't pay full price), comes with basic parental controls, and offers handy features like device prioritization and a guest network.

But I had a terrible time with the installation.

The app continually failed partway through the process, and I had to factory reset the routers.

Even then, it took multiple attempts to add the nodes.

It’s also not backward compatible with older Velop “Intelligent Mesh” systems , because this is a “Cognitive Mesh” system .

TP-Link XE200 (2-Pack) for $450 : This tri-band mesh system (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) scored some of the fastest speeds I have seen, offered consistently wide coverage, and blew away all the competition at close range.

I downloaded a 50-GB game in 20 minutes and didn’t encounter any issues during testing.

As it uses the 6-GHz band for backhaul, you have to think about placement and try to keep routers in sight of each other and within 50 feet (or better, connect them via Ethernet cable).

The app is simple and offers most of the features you will want, but there’s no internet speed test, and you need subscriptions for real-time security and proper parental controls.

While the XE200 is better than the XE70 Pro above, the reason it appears down here is the price.

It’s simply too expensive for most folks, though it has seen some deep discounts recently, so keep an eye out for deals.

TP-Link Deco X50 PoE (3-Pack) for $300 : This inconspicuous puck-sized router can be wall- or ceiling-mounted for rooms where a mesh with wireless backhaul just won’t cut it.

You must run an Ethernet cable to the router, but because it supports PoE, the cable delivers power too.

This dual-band router (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) has a 2.5-Gbps WAN port and a 1-gigabit LAN port and can cover up to 2,500 square feet.

TP-Link Deco X50 4G for £197 and Deco X50 5G for £280 : These routers operate just like regular dual-band routers (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), but they also have Nano SIM card slots for folks who live in areas with fast mobile networks, want some fallback option for patchy internet service, or need Wi-Fi temporarily or somewhere they can’t put in a fixed line.

Setup is simple, they feature TP-Link’s subscription services for security and parental controls, and each unit has one 2.5-Gbps WAN, two gigabit LANs, and two external antenna ports.

The performance will depend on your local mobile network, and you need an external antenna to get the best speeds.

Testing with a gigabit internet connection, they proved fast and reliable and can cover up to 2,500 square feet.

They are only available in the UK and Europe for now.

Mesh Systems We Don’t Recommend
They can't all be winners.

These are the mesh systems I had trouble with or can't recommend for one reason or another.

Acer Predator Connect T7 : I had high hopes for this Acer system, as the company has considerable prowess in computing, but my excitement at a relatively new mesh player was short-lived because the half-baked Predator Connect T7 is a mess.

The installation was buggy, the firmware update repeatedly failed, and even when I got it up and running, it proved to be one of the least stable systems I have ever tried.

The band steering is poor and frequently dumped me onto the slowest 2.4-GHz band.

The T7 also dropped my connection multiple times a day, froze video calls, and was a general pain.

It was so janky that I could not complete many of my tests.

Vilo 6 (2-Pack) : The original Vilo system impressed with an impossibly low $60 price for a three-pack, but it did not support Wi-Fi 6.

Vilo’s latest release does, and, in theory, that means better coverage, faster speeds, and connectivity for more devices.

Unfortunately, in practice, it was a different story.

I found the system difficult to set up.

While performance was good at times, it proved inconsistent.

The network dropped altogether and required a reboot several times in the first three days.

File transfer speeds were slow.

Each unit has three gigabit Ethernet ports, and the Vilo app offers parental controls, a guest network, and various network settings.

But weighing up the price and performance, this is impossible to recommend.

Netgear Orbi RBK863 (3-Pack) : As good as the Netgear Orbi 860 series is, the high price will repel most people, especially since it's a Wi-Fi 6 system.

Opt for a three-pack, and the range is unsurpassed.

It’s also very fast (though there’s no support for the 6-GHz band), and it proved rock solid during my testing, with zero glitches and no downtime.

These routers are among the largest in the mesh market.

You get a year of comprehensive security software, Netgear Armor, with your purchase, but it costs $100 annually after, and if you want parental controls, you’re looking at another $70 a year on top.

It is a dependable Wi-Fi 6 system, but there’s no need to spend this much.

Even with deep discounts, this is overpriced, and why buy it now when you can snag a good Wi-Fi 7 system for a similar price?

TP-Link Deco S4 (3-Pack) : The Deco S4 is a dual-band system that offers pleasingly wide coverage and stable connectivity, but I recommend Wi-Fi 6 support as a minimum now, and this is a Wi-Fi 5 mesh.

It is easy to set up and use, and each router has a pair of gigabit ports.

The app offers basic parental controls and QoS, but it is distinctly bare-bones.

That said, this could still be a good pick if money is tight and your internet connection is below 500 Mbps.

Wyze Mesh Router (2-Pack) and Wyze Mesh Router Pro (2-Pack) : More affordable mesh systems can only be a good thing, and the dual-band (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz) mesh router from budget security camera brand Wyze looks promising at first glance.

Each router has two gigabit ports, covers up to 1,500 square feet, and can connect more than 50 devices.

Setup was a breeze through the regular Wyze app.

While it mostly worked well for day-to-day video streaming and online gaming, I found that speeds were inconsistent (with fluctuations of more than 100 Mbps).

I also encountered a few complete drops with my iPhone 14 Pro, where it switched to cellular.

Features-wise, there is free security provided by Firedome, but not much else.

The parental controls are limited (just a domain blocker), though Wyze tells me more comprehensive controls are in the works.

The tri-band Wyze Mesh Router Pro adds Wi-Fi 6E support and performed far better, but failed to match some of our picks above.

I also have concerns about security breaches at Wyze .

Linksys Velop Wi-Fi 6 (MX4200) (3-Pack) : This mesh system was easy to install and generally offered solid coverage and speeds, but the performance was inconsistent.

It did well at long range but fell way behind the Asus XT8 at close range.

All three Velop units are routers with generous 3-gigabit LAN ports and a USB port, but they’re also big and chunky.

There’s a good range of features and options, but the sparse mobile app was a little glitchy and slow, and you need a Linksys Shield subscription ($50 a year) to get the handy age-range filters for parental controls.