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Nighthawk Mesh Wifi 6 Router Mr60

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Which mesh router should yous buy?

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi
(Image credit: Google)

Comparison Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi is a great place to first if you're looking for one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems around.

Google isn't just a major force on the internet and how nosotros use it but is also a big player in how people get connected to begin with. The visitor first introduced one of the earliest mainstream mesh Wi-Fi systems dorsum in 2016, offering quick and user-friendly setup with app-based controls.

The original Google Wifi was 1 of our favorite mesh routers of 2016 but and so in 2019, Google released a new mesh Wi-Fi package under the Nest brand name. The Google Nest Wifi mesh kit took things upwardly a notch, improving upon the original in almost every mode, including past adding smart features we wish more than companies would adopt.

Still though, the original Google Wifi model didn't disappear. Instead, Google updated it in 2020 by giving it a lower cost while retaining the hardware and functioning nosotros loved in the original Google Wifi. Both Google Wifi and Nest Wifi are nevertheless being sold but the similarities in their hardware means that the only substantial difference is price.

This leaves shoppers looking for a mesh Wi-Fi organization wondering which is meliorate. For those comparing the original Google Wifi to the newer Nest WiFi, we've got the lowdown on which of these honor-winning mesh networking kits could be best for yous.

(Before yous buy one, there is one problem with mesh routers that you need to read virtually).

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Specs

Google Wifi Nest Wifi
Cost $99 (single), $199 (3 units) $169 (single), $269 (with ane access point), $349 (two access points)
Release date 2016 2019
Wi-Fi spec 802.11ac/Dual Band 802.11ac/Dual Band
802.11ac Blazon AC1200 MU-MIMO AC2200 (router)
Number of Antennas/Removable 4/No 4/No
Ports 2x 1Gbps LAN, USB-C for ability (Router) 2x 1Gbps LAN, power; (Extension) None
Processor Quad-cadre 710MHz Quad-cadre 1.4GHz
Retention/Storage 512MB/4GB (Router) 1GB/4GB; (Extension) 768MB/512MB
Wi-Fi Chip Qualcomm IPQ4019 Qualcomm QCS 400
Dimensions four.i 10 4.1 x 2.7 inches (Router) 4.3 x iv.3 x 3.6 inches ; (Extension) iv.0 ten four.0 ten 3.4 inches
Color options Snow Mist, Sand, Snow

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Price and availability

If you head to the Google Store, y'all can find Google Wifi listed for a very affordable $99 for a single unit and $199 for a trio of interchangeable units. Nonetheless, if you demand two or 4 or five points for your Google Wifi system, you'll need to buy them individually.

The relaunch of Google Wifi back in 2020 brought some pocket-size technical changes forth with a lower starting price. While the hardware is largely identical, the power connector has been changed from USB-C to a standard barrel connector and the Google "G" logo has inverse from a simple sticker to a letter molded into the plastic of the device'south housing.

The older models can still be found on Amazon, selling for different prices when compared to the 2020 version sold directly by Google.

Google Wifi (2016 model) Google Wifi (2020 model) Nest Wifi
Single router $84 (opens in new tab) $99 (opens in new tab) $169 (opens in new tab)
2-pack north/a n/a $269 (opens in new tab) (one router + 1 signal)
iii-pack $184 (opens in new tab) $199 (opens in new tab) $349 (opens in new tab) (i router + 2 points)
Improver units $78 (opens in new tab) $99 (opens in new tab) $149 (opens in new tab) (i point)

On the other hand, Nest Wifi is sold every bit either a single router or in packs of two or three, bundling a single router with one or 2 points. A single router sells for $169 or for $269 when bundled with a Wifi signal or $349 for two points. You can also purchase private Wifi points for $149 each.

Google recommends adding no more than five points to a single network for a total of six units (1 router + 5 points). According to Google: "Adding more may exist detrimental to Wi-Fi performance."

Here's the all-time part though. If yous already own a Google Wifi unit and desire to upgrade to the company's newer Nest Wifi, your older Google Wifi points volition however work with the newer Nest hardware. This gives you additional expansion points for fifty-fifty more than coverage expanse and lets you brand use of your older hardware. While the operation may not exist as good on these older devices, it's a simple way to upgrade for a lot less.

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Blueprint

The biggest obvious change from 2016 to now is in the physical blueprint. The original Google Wifi mesh system has a collection of interchangeable units chosen points, all identical and capable of connecting with each other to create a seamless mesh network.

One Google Wifi point connects to your modem and serves as the central unit of measurement, while the rest act as your mesh extensions throughout the house — but it doesn't matter which one you choose to be the central unit.

Google WiFi

(Paradigm credit: Google)

With a white plastic body, a cylindrical pattern and distinctive LED stripe effectually the center of each Wi-Fi point, the Google Wifi pattern manages to feel a little dated, even though it was introduced just six years ago.

Nest Wifi in Pink

(Prototype credit: Google)

The newer Nest Wifi updates the blueprint of the mesh kit, retaining the cylindrical wait but softening it with rounded corners, removing the stylized LED indicator stripe and adding color options beyond plain white.

The biggest blueprint change Nest Wifi introduced is a shift abroad from interchangeable points to a system that uses a designated primal router unit and designated mesh points throughout the house. The router and points differ slightly in both wait and features and are non interchangeable the way the Google Wifi points are.

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Features

The original Google Wifi offered plenty of advanced features for its time, with simple mesh networking and 802.11ac connectivity that was top-of-the-line when the system was introduced.

Ethernet Ports

(Paradigm credit: Google)

Each Google Wifi betoken is equipped with a pair of Ethernet ports, letting you connect your cable modem to the central unit or attach other devices to the extended mesh network through the various points around the house.

But the existent standout characteristic back in 2016 was the ease of setup. Using the Google Wifi App (since inverse to the the Google Home app), you lot could ready each Google Wifi device simply by scanning a QR code on the base of the unit, with setup taking roughly five minutes per unit.

When it initially launched, the Google Wifi mesh kit was likewise notable for its early smart-domicile capabilities, which included IFTTT functionality.

When Google introduced Nest Wifi in 2020, it updated this feature set with a number of new functions.

Smart-abode features were a major focus, every bit the Nest name might suggest. In addition to app-based network management, Nest Wifi works with the entire Nest family of products, plus major brands such equally Philips Hue, Tile trackers, GE, TP-Link, and Kasa. From smart locks to smart lights and plugs, your whole house full of continued devices should be compatible with the Nest Wifi arrangement.

Just the biggest characteristic change to come with Nest Wifi was integrated smart-speaker technology, putting a Google Home smart speaker into every expansion point. It'southward a clever move on Google's part, offering a elementary path to putting smart-speaker technology into multiple rooms of a domicile without requiring an extra device aslope a satellite mesh unit. (Cheque out the best Google Domicile speakers to see our picks for standalone smart speakers.)

Similar smart-speaker technology has been offered on other mesh products — the Netgear Orbi Voice came out a full year earlier the Nest Wifi and TP-Link announced an Alexa-equipped mesh system during CES 2021 — only only Google has idea to do and then in its flagship mesh-networking equipment.

Google Nest WiFi Lifestyle

(Paradigm credit: Google)

In addition to letting you command certain router features with vox commands, Nest Wifi also gives you the choice of asking about the weather, playing music or controlling the various connected devices in your habitation.

You can employ the multiple Google Abode-equipped Wifi points as an intercom system between rooms and fifty-fifty play music that follows yous from room to room.

The simply area where we failed to see the expected advancement was in Wi-Fi standards, with the Nest Wifi still using 802.11ac (retroactively renamed Wi-Fi 5) instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) protocol.

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Performance

The biggest differences between the Google and Nest versions of Google'southward mesh system are in operation and range, with the newer Nest Wifi offering faster throughput and larger coverage areas across the lath.

The Google Wifi offered maximum throughput of 464.4 Mbps, nevertheless fairly impressive for an affordable mesh Wi-Fi system. Simply the Nest Wifi stepped that upwards substantially, with a top throughput of 653.2Mbps. That even tops some of the Wi-Fi half dozen models on our best mesh routers page.

The Nest Wifi also offers amend range, translating into larger coverage areas with the same number of units. Where a single Google Wifi unit covered 1,500 square feet, the Nest Wifi router covers 2,200 square feet. Adding a 2nd or tertiary unit only increases expanded range farther, as indicated in the nautical chart beneath.

Google Wifi Nest Wifi
Single router Up to 1500 sq ft Up to 2200 sq ft
2-pack Up to 3000 sq ft Up to 3800 sq ft
3-pack Up to 4500 sq ft Upward to 5400 sq ft

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Security

Since the commencement Google Wifi was released, Google has built security features into its mesh Wi-Fi products.

The 2016 Google Wifi boasts an Infineon Trusted Platform Module (TPM) that encrypts network traffic and verifies firmware installations to protect the entire network at the router level. Y'all tin can also pause the internet connexion to one or all devices in the home.

But the Google Wifi lacks any built-in malware protections and doesn't offer any substantial parental controls, such equally content filtering or deeper access controls.

The Nest Wifi, on the other hand, adds precisely the sort of features that the Google Wifi was missing. It keeps the TPM-based encryption, and upgrades to the WPA 3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security protocol, which later was added to the 2020 version of Google Wifi.

The Nest Wifi also gets some ameliorate parental controls. The power to pause Wi-Fi admission is enhanced with the ability to schedule internet time-outs or gear up routines to disconnect the kid's devices for scheduled events similar homework or bedtime. Parents tin also filter content by site, applying Google SafeSearch to block millions of inappropriate developed websites.

The best function? These parental controls tin be accessed correct from your smartphone or through Google Assistant — including the Google Dwelling app congenital into the Nest Wifi points throughout the house.

Google Wifi vs. Nest Wifi: Which is all-time for yous?

When you go right down to it, both the Google Wifi and Nest Wifi are highly capable mesh systems, with decent features and reasonable prices. But if you desire the best mesh Wi-Fi kit you can get right now, the Nest Wifi is the clear winner.

The Nest Wifi offers a much more comprehensive feature set, including broader smart-home compatibility and powerful parental controls. The Nest offers better range and faster performance. And the inclusion of Google Home in every Nest Wifi signal is a no-brainer for anyone looking to add a great smart speaker to 1 or more than rooms in the house.

That said, the Google Wifi is still a smart choice for upkeep shoppers, and while the feature fix isn't as rich, the performance is withal quite good, peculiarly if range is less of a concern.

If you lot don't care about Google Home, or if you're already an Alexa household, then the lack of smart speaker in the Google Wifi isn't even making information technology to your pros/cons list.

The Nest Wifi is the latest and greatest, to be certain, but there'due south withal plenty of reason to get Google Wifi.

Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom's Guide where he covers everything from information breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to embrace your whole home or business organisation with Wi-Fi. Earlier joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro subsequently moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he'south not writing Anthony can exist found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart dwelling house.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-wifi-vs-nest-wifi-which-mesh-router-should-you-buy

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