Eero Mesh Wi-Fi Router Review: Good, But Not Great

The Eero, developed by a San Francisco-based startup, was one of the pioneering mesh-router systems available. However, it now faces strong competition from giants like Netgear, Linksys, and Google.

sibaide includes other products and relevant information you might need. Be sure to check it out.

We found the Eero system to be easy to set up and use, but it sometimes lost connections. Surprisingly, our tests showed a single Eero performing better as a standalone router compared to several Eeros in a mesh configuration.

For those struggling with Wi-Fi dead zones, we recommend the more reliable and budget-friendly Google Wifi. If budget is not an issue, then the Netgear Orbi is a superior choice.

Costs and What's Covered

A kit of three Eero devices costs $399, two for $299, and a single unit for $149. This pricing is comparable to Orbi's two-unit kit at $400 but is more expensive than Google Wifi's three-pack for $300.

The coverage area per Eero device is suggested to be around 1,000 square feet, which is lower than Orbi's claimed 2,500 square feet per unit. Google suggests that each Wifi node covers 1,500 square feet.

Similar to other true mesh-router systems, you can chain together as many Eero devices as needed to cover large areas. However, each added hop from one device to another decreases the overall performance.

While some mesh systems like Orbi and Linksys Velop have a third radio band to handle backhaul, Eero does not. You can physically connect the Eero units with Ethernet cables to boost performance.

Design

Measuring 4.8 x 4.8 x 1.3 inches, the compact, white Eero units are easy to conceal. They are slightly larger than the Luma or Google Wifi units but lack the Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD's small touch screen.

Each Eero unit has a single LED indicator: blue for setup, white when online, and red when there are issues. The units are equipped with a 2x2 SU-MIMO Wi-Fi configuration, allowing communication on 2.4- and 5GHz bands simultaneously but only with one device at a time. The Eero units also lack tri-band capability.

All Eero units are identical and come with four Wi-Fi antennas, a Bluetooth radio for setup, two RJ-45 gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB connector, and a power plug. The devices lack an on-off switch but can be controlled via a mobile app.

Specs

Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Dual Band Router-Extender kit
Number of Antennas/Removable: 5/No
Ports: Two 1Gbps LAN, USB 2.0, power
Processor: ARM-based dual-core 1GHz
Memory/Storage: 512MB/4GB
WiFi Chip: Qualcomm QCA9882
Peak 802.11ac Performance: 573.7Mbps (at 5-feet)
Range: 65-feet - router only
Size: 4.8 x 4.8 x 1.3 inches

Performance

The Eero system creates a mesh network among its units, presenting itself as a single network to user devices. Each unit uses a Qualcomm QCA9882 Wi-Fi chip, a dual-core 1GHz processor, has 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of storage.

In lab tests, the Eero performed better as a single router but was less effective in a mesh setup than other competitors. Particularly, Netgear Orbi and Linksys Velop performed better in mesh tests.

Eero excelled when pushing 471.8 Mbps through a ceiling, outperforming other mesh routers we have tested.

Stand-alone, a single Eero unit provided stable throughput at 573.7 Mbps at 5 feet.

At longer distances, however, its performance plateaued, and the throughput dropped off in steps rather than steadily declining like most other routers.

Router Performance Compared (in Mbps)

	AmpliFi HD	Eero	Google Wifi	Linksys Velop	Netgear Orbi RBK50	Netgear Orbi RBK40
5 feet	368.17	573.65	464.36	412.34	552.11	549.93
15 feet	377.73	450.96	440.90	527.10	510.90	543.50
50 feet	350.83	449.87	389.74	459.35	447.13	478.29
100 feet	293.82	250.27	227.22	330.06	371.42	315.45
150 feet	230.86	229.85	33.79	288.42	229.07	187.54

*Line-of-sight testing with a single router point. Percentages indicate change from 5-foot measurement on the same device.

A single Eero unit was effective through walls lined with metal shelves or thick soundboard, showcasing minimal signal loss. It particularly excelled in pushing bandwidth to an upper story through a ceiling.

Data Penetration Compared (in Mbps)

	AmpliFi HD	Eero	Google Wifi	Linksys Velop	Netgear Orbi RBK50	Netgear Orbi RBK40
Metal	343.45	448.58	396.39	559.95	455.70	536.72
Soundboard	369.51	457.17	402.55	381.66	549.99	540.96
Ceiling	390.21	471.79	425.20	67.80	424.12	384.83

*Percentages indicate change from 15-foot line-of-sight measurement.

When extended distances were tested, Eero showed a performance drop, typical for dual-band mesh routers that share bandwidth between backhaul and client service.

Single-Line Extension Hop Test (in Mbps)

	AmpliFi HD	Eero	Google Wifi	Linksys Velop	Netgear Orbi RBK50	Netgear Orbi RBK40
Single Hop (100 feet)	219.93	128.99	175.57	331.62	475.87	394.49
Double Hop (150 feet)	n/a	103.52	128.90	223.22	n/a	n/a

*Percentages indicate change from line-of-sight tests at the same distances without extensions.

Setup, Warranty and Support

The Eero setup process is user-friendly, requiring only an iOS or Android app. Setup involves creating an Eero account and following in-app instructions. Issues encountered during setup can be resolved by moving units closer together or manually entering serial numbers.

Eero offers a one-year warranty, comparable to Google Wifi and Luma. This warranty is shorter than Linksys' three-year warranty. The Eero Help Center provides support seven days a week, but during limited hours. Informative articles on Wi-Fi optimization are available on the website.

Customization

The Eero app runs exclusively in portrait mode. It offers bright and user-friendly interfaces, but lacks advanced features like prioritizing network clients. You can manage devices, create family profiles, and adjust network settings. Advanced settings allow for IP address reservations, DNS server choices, and port forwarding.

For more euro mesh fencing manufacturing information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Additional resources:
Barbed wire, and other terms for how the US is fortifying ...
Epoxy Coated Mesh & Wire Fabric
Crimsafe | The Strongest Security Screens in the USA

Smart-Home Integration

You can control the Eero network using Alexa voice commands for basic functions. Eero also integrates with Savant's home automation hub to control lighting, security cameras, and entertainment devices.

Security and Parental Controls

Eero promotes security by requiring customized network names and passwords during setup. It uses WPA2 encryption and does not allow connections from older devices using WEP or WPA protocols. The system uses HTTPS-based 256-bit AES encryption for communication with the Eero cloud, and firmware updates are signed for security.

You can shut down internet connections for individual devices or the entire network. Multiple profiles for each device can be created to set internet access schedules. Overall, the Eero's security features are among the best for mesh routers.

Bottom Line

Eero devices are stylish, user-friendly, secure, and powerful at close range. However, they do not perform as well as a mesh-router system. While future firmware updates might resolve this, we currently prefer the Google Wifi system for its affordability or the Netgear Orbi for its superior performance.

8.3

Eero 6 Plus mesh router

The Eero 6 Plus is priced at $240 on Amazon. Here's what we like and dislike:

Like

• Simple setup and control via Eero app
• Consistent speeds suitable for gigabit networks
• 160MHz channel support enhances performance
• Matter support and built-in Zigbee hub benefit smart homes

Don't like

• Routing to the wrong extender can cause slowdowns
• No option to limit Eero's data collection

Product details

• Wi-Fi Standard

  Wi-Fi 6

• Speed Rating

  AX3000

• Range

  Up to 1,500 sq. ft.

• Wireless Networking Security

  WPA2, WPA3

• Bands

  Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)

Design, Specs, and App Controls

The Eero 6 Plus is available now at $440 for a four-pack, $300 for a three-pack, $240 for a two-pack, or $140 for a single device. Each unit is identical and serves as either a router or an extender. The design is sleek, although uninspired, and it fits well in most home decors.

In terms of hardware, the Eero 6 Plus features an AX3000 build, up from AX1800 with its predecessor. This allows the system to support higher speeds, especially with 160MHz channel width. It has a 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of storage. Coverage for a three-unit setup is up to 4,500 square feet.

The back of each device includes a USB-C power jack and two gigabit Ethernet ports, which set a speed limit for the incoming connection. If you plan to upgrade to a multigig internet plan, you'll need a router with a multigig Ethernet jack.

The Eero app is intuitive, guiding users through simple setup steps. The app also lets users monitor network performance, set up profiles, and manage data. Additional security options include WPA3 encryption and an Eero Secure Plus subscription for advanced ad blocking and threat detection.

The app does collect some data, but Eero states it does not sell this information or use it for ads. There's no way to limit data collection, and requesting data deletion means you won't be able to use your Eero devices.

Performance and Speed

Testing the Eero 6 Plus at home showed a significant improvement over its predecessor. With a 300Mbps fiber internet plan, the Eero 6 Plus averaged download speeds of 304Mbps, compared to 196Mbps with the original Eero 6.

The system performed well, with stronger average speeds and fewer slowdowns when moving from room to room.

After upgrading to a gigabit connection, the system achieved average download speeds of 427Mbps and upload speeds of 380Mbps. While not the fastest, the Eero 6 Plus offers great value for its price.

Previous:

Crimsafe | The Strongest Security Screens in the USA

Next:

Wire Mesh Fence Market Size, Trends Overview