How To Install Google Wifi Router

Google Nest Wifi

The Google Nest Wifi mesh arrangement is fast, beautiful, and easy to use. While there are more feature-packed options out at that place, few alternatives come up close to matching the style of Google's offering. Extras similar Google Assistant baked into the Points as well assistance the Nest Wifi stand out.

Out of all the tech purchases yous make, a router is probably among the least exciting. Information technology's an ugly box that's designed to pipe the internet wirelessly into your house. It'southward essentially a mod-mean solar day appliance, not an crawly tech toy. Just information technology doesn't accept to be this way! If you want more from your router than a dull box with a bunch of funky antennas sticking out, you'll want to check out the new Google Nest Wifi.

Wi-Fi routers piece of work best when placed out in the open, but most consumers don't desire to draw attention to a device that doesn't fit into their decor. Sleek and beautiful, this is ane router you don't have to hide out of sight. Bated from looking practiced, the Nest Wifi as well offers features y'all won't find on a typical router, such as built-in Google Banana functionality on its extension units.

I tin can't say I've e'er been excited to try a new router before, just at that place'due south a first time for everything. The Google Nest Wifi is fast, bonny, easy to set up, and packed total of useful features. On the downside, it'southward as well relatively expensive. So is the Nest Wifi worth the purchase? Bound into our Google Nest Wifi review to find out.

About this Google Nest Wifi review: The Nest Wifi was provided past Google for this review. I tested it for about a week, paired with a CenturyLink 850Mbps connectedness.

What is the Google Nest Wifi?

The Google Nest Wifi is a wireless mesh organization and a follow-up to the original Google Wifi from 2022. Without going also deep down the rabbit hole, there are unlike types of wireless routers, but mesh routers take been gaining in popularity in contempo years.

Larn more:What is a mesh network?

A mesh router uses multiple extension points to extend the network across your home or business. Unlike a more traditional Wi-Fi router, this method reduces weak spots and ensures y'all have dandy wireless net regardless of where in the edifice yous are.

The original Google Wifi utilized identical nodes, but the new Google Nest Wifi comprises two singled-out elements:

The router

The router is the brains of the operation and is physically connected to your net service by an ethernet cable. Keep in mind you'll withal need a modem. This simply attaches to it to provide superior Wi-Fi coverage. On the rear, you'll find an ethernet port for connecting direct to your modem as well as a secondary port if you lot want to physically connect another device (such as Philips Hue Hub, a desktop PC, etc.)

Google says the CPU and RAM of the Nest Wifi are double that of its predecessor, at that place are too more radios for improved internet connectivity. While some routers have a defended backhaul band, that's non the instance here. The Nest Wifi utilizes a more traditional 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band organisation for connections betwixt the router, Points, and any devices in the network. This typically isn't as fast equally a dedicated backhaul band would be, but it's honestly not a deal-breaker for almost users every bit the Nest Wifi is nevertheless plenty fast.

The Google Nest Point

A Nest Betoken is an extension unit that helps increase your Wi-Fi coverage to the farthest reaches of your dwelling or business. The Signal doesn't have an ethernet jack and is solely wireless, meaning y'all need at least one Nest Wifi router to apply the Point. The Nest Bespeak isn't just an cyberspace extender, it also has all the functionality of a Nest Mini baked in. In addition to consummate Google Assistant voice control, the Nest Mini besides has a few router-specific commands for running speed tests or pausing connections to groups of devices via the Home app.

The sound quality of the Nest Wifi Bespeak is very similar to the Nest Mini. Yous too go the aforementioned bear upon controls as the Nest Mini, and there's a glowing ring that illuminates white light when you speak or orange light when it'southward muted. While Google'due south Point bundles come with a white model, Google wants its Points to blend into your decor, so it also offers stake blueish or pale pink options.

Nest Wifi - 1 router, 1 point

The Nest Wifi mesh network is the perfect mix of features, performance, and ease of use. Information technology likewise happens to be i of the most cute looking routers on the market.

Practice I even need a Nest Point? If so, how many?

Technically speaking, the Google Nest Wifi router doesn't require Points to work. One unit tin provide internet access in a building up to ii,200 square feet. A router and a single Bespeak will bring that up to 3,800 square feet. While that's probably enough coverage for nigh, Google also sells a kit with ane router and two Points, and you lot can besides buy the Points individually.

Are there any reasons why you'd want a Point (or second router) fifty-fifty if your home is under 2,200 square feet? Absolutely. While the router can bring the internet to your whole house, thick walls and other impediments tin cause expressionless spots. Adding an actress betoken is a smashing way to ensure that every part of your dwelling house has equally keen coverage.

Have particularly thick walls that impede your Wi-Fi connection? A Bespeak can make a huge difference.

In my own experience, I used a kit with i router and i Bespeak in a 3,000 square-pes house that was converted into a co-working space (I have an office here). I was able to get great internet coverage whether I was in the attic, my office on the second floor, the master level, or the basement. Granted, speeds nonetheless varied in some areas further from the router or Point, simply they were never poor. I'll get more into speeds a chip later in the review.

Don't want the Google Assistant functionality and wish yous had more ethernet ports? The good news is there is more than than a one-size-fits-all approach to setting upwardly your mesh network. It is entirely possible to use 2 or more Nest Wifi routers to create a mesh network instead. Google even sells a kit that includes but two Nest Wifi routers.

Google Nest Wifi Mesh Router System (2-Pack)

Non interested in the Google Assistant features found in Nest Wifi points? This kit contains two Nest Wifi routers, the perfect basis for a mesh network for those who don't want the smart speaker extras. Yous also get the advantage of more ethernet ports this fashion!

Does Nest Wifi work with older Google Wifi hardware?

If you have an older Google Wifi setup, the good news is that they are cross-compatible, though Nest Wifi routers and Points will be faster. This means you tin continue using your Google Wifi routers alongside a Nest Wifi router or even add a Bespeak to your existing Google Wifi setup.

Setting upwardly Nest Wifi is as like shooting fish in a barrel as it gets

The Nest Wifi mesh router works like whatsoever other Assistant-powered smart device, pregnant you simply head into the Dwelling house app, and it detects it. You will need the latest version of the app, however. Setting up the Nest Wifi router and Bespeak took me under 15 minutes, including a few software updates it had to apply. What really made the setup process stand up out? It was so easy that even a less tech-savvy private wouldn't have any bug adding it to their network.

Plenty of speed and certainly a massive upgrade from a 'basic' router

When it comes to raw speeds, the Google Nest Wifi is plenty capable, though — like pretty much all wifi solutions  — it isn't capable of utilizing all of my co-working infinite's almost 1Gbps connection.

I performed dozens of speed tests on a Pixel 4 XL and Huawei Matebook X throughout the 3,000 square foot building. When close to the router, I could easily hit 200-300Mbps, and one time even over 500Mbps. Depending on what my other co-workers were doing, at that place were some obvious fluctuations. Pretty much every room saw at least 150Mbps or better, and that was undoubtedly a massive improvement over the 80Mbps boilerplate nosotros were getting from the existing crappy Wi-Fi router in my co-working space (a basic unit provided by CenturyLink).

Almost everywhere I went the Wifi was reliable and speedy.

Even when I moved farther away from the router to the far reaches of the basement, the worst speeds I saw were around 45Mbps. And this was an extremely remote spot with super thick walls (think old school dungeon-style basements). Overall the Nest Wifi was highly reliable and enough fast.

For those wondering, I elected to test the Google Nest Wifi primarily at the co-working space because of its dandy internet connection, as my domicile's sub-50Mbps connectedness wouldn't accept put the Nest Wifi to the test almost as well. Also, this is a small town co-working infinite, so I'one thousand not sharing a line with hundreds — it's more similar a dozen folks or fewer nigh of the time. Honestly, I'd say this infinite reasonably simulates the average family abode in terms of the bandwidth people are using.

Guest networking, parental controls, and other notable features

Speed and reliability are manifestly the virtually essential elements for a adept Wi-Fi feel, but Nest Wifi isn't without its extras. We've already talked most Banana integration in Points, but hither are some other features offered by Nest Wifi that help it stand out.

• Allows for easy guest network creation. Information technology took 30 seconds to gear up upwardly a guest network. Y'all tin can fifty-fifty enable an option that allows the guest network password to be viewed from your smart display, and there'due south a QR lawmaking selection that allows guests to sign in quickly.
• Parental controls are a breeze, too. Want to suspension Wi-Fi during homework time or when the kiddos should exist going to bed? Nest Wifi makes it easy. Just head into the Home app and tap a few buttons to set it up. Google also allows yous to restrict searches, though information technology's not the most robust arrangement. If yous want to fix more granular internet access, there are apps and software tools that requite you much more control. Still, it'due south prissy to accept the pick.
• It's designed to make the nigh of Stadia gaming. In the Dwelling app'due south settings, you'll find a "gaming preferred" option. Clicking on it ensures that other network traffic won't cause operation issues when a Stadia game is running. That's non to say others can't utilize the network while you're gaming, Nest Wifi will just intelligently allocate resources to ensure the smoothest gaming experience possible.

Read next: The best gaming routers

Nest Wifi isn't without its faults

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

As much as I enjoyed the Nest Wifi, I'd be lying if I said it was perfect. It's pretty shut, though. Here are a few things that aren't and so great about Nest Wifi:

• It can't handle much more than 250-300Mbps connections. If you take an ultra-fast network connection, the Nest Wifi won't be able to take full advantage of it. Sure it might occasionally manage to pull in above 300Mbps, simply that's not typical. That said, average U.s. household connections are at or nether 100Mbps, so I don't think this will exist an issue for nearly.
• There's no Wi-Fi 6 support. Wi-Fi six promises faster information rates, longer range, and improve support, but Google decided to stick with Wi-Fi v (802.11ac). The number of devices that can back up Wi-Fi 6 is however pretty low, but support would accept helped for a device that'due south supposed to be somewhat time to come-proof. After all, routers aren't something you typically buy every two years, similar a telephone. For those wondering, since Wi-Fi half-dozen requires specific hardware, in that location's no way for Google to "turn on" Wi-Fi 6 support later.
• The Points aren't as fast every bit the router. In order to make room for the Assistant features in the Signal without making it also bulky, Google decided to cut out some radios. While the Nest Wifi router has AC2200 MU-MIMO 4×4 and two×2 radios, the Point relies on AC1200 MU-MIMO ii×two (2.four/5GHz) radios. Overall I still got reasonably good speeds near the Points, but it yet seems like a foreign conclusion.
• Not enough ethernet ports. Every bit mentioned before, there's only one extra ethernet port on the router and none on the Points. This means you'll need to use a switch or something if you want more direct ethernet connections in your home.
• More advanced functions require a second app.While well-nigh of Nest Wifi's functions can be performed from the Home app, some of the more than avant-garde settings will crave you lot to download the Google Wifi app. Google says that the Dwelling app will eventually back up all the core features of the Nest Wifi, then this is more of a temporary situation.
• No support for OnHub users.Unfortunately, the Google OnHub router is non compatible with Google Nest Wifi.

These are probably the most significant things, though I'd too point out information technology would have been nice to take Banana functionality in the router and not just the Points. A Google rep told me the reason for this was to go on the device from being too bulky, and about users end up putting the router in a more hidden place anyway. Still, I feel like adding Assistant might have encouraged folks to prominently display the router, which would lead to fifty-fifty better Wi-Fi since there would exist potentially fewer obstructions this way.

Google Nest Wifi review: The verdict

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

The Nest Wifi is a keen mesh Wi-Fi system, and I highly recommend it for virtually users. Ultimately if you program to go Stadia, this is probably the best router for the job. If you're an boilerplate person who wants something easy to set up, like shooting fish in a barrel to apply, and isn't an eyesore, information technology'southward equally piece of cake to recommend Nest Wifi.

Don't miss: Google Nest Wifi vs Google Wifi — Should you upgrade?

On the other hand, this isn't the best option if you lot intendance near extreme speeds. If you're really after speed (and Wi-Fi half dozen back up), something like the TP-Link Archer AX73 ($199) or Motorola MH7020 ($229) might exist a better fit, though they're not cheap solutions. Both deliver impressive speeds, and the Archer AX73 is a stylish router, too. Motorola went more for role over grade, only it has neat software support to manage your connection.

Bottom-line, the Google Nest Wifi isn't cheap, merely it is a good value considering the looks and features it provides.

Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/google-nest-wifi-review-1051816/

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