Whole- home wireless speeds can be improved by using the best wi-fi 6 mesh routers. The ability of mesh systems to deliver full gigabit speeds quickly throughout a large house has been made possible by the use of wi-fi 6. The compact routers are able to hit 500Mbps on their own while being deployed as a mesh. With more phones than ever, and families asking more of their internet connections than ever, it's an excellent time to upgrade to wi-fi 6.

What are the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers?

It is easy to over buy with so many ultra-fast wi-fi routers. Most people do not need a lot of extra speed. The TP-Link Deco X55 has a connection with the AX3000 and three nodes in the box. The 160MHz connections on this Deco are different from older models so that your devices can make the most of the 5 GHz connection.

The second-best option is the Netgear Nighthawk MK62, which is designed for people who want a compact mesh system with enough speed for most people. You can blanket your home in wi-fi without dedicating a ton of space to each unit, thanks to a compact routers and satellite design.

The TP-Link Deco X90 is one of the most powerful mesh systems you can get with a tri-band connection. If you are looking for a mesh system that can keep up with a high-speed internet connection, it is an excellent choice.

TP-Link Deco X55 mesh router

(Image credit: TP-Link)
  • Top speeds: Dual-band AX3000, 2402Mbps @ 5GHz, 574Mbps @ 2.4GHz
  • Top features: 6,500 sq ft. coverage, 3x Ethernet ports per node, 160MHz support, easy setup

TP-Link's Deco mesh systems are some of the most affordable options available with solid speeds, a good app, and great coverage. The Deco X55 is a compact mesh system that has a lot in common with the older Deco X60, but there are some worthwhile updates that make the newer model a better choice. The Deco X55 supports 160MHz connections compared to 80MHz on the X60. This allows for a faster connection on supported devices.

There is an upgrade with three gigabit Ethernet ports on each of the nodes around the back. If you upgrade from an older network switch, this makes it easier to keep wired devices online. You can use a more reliable wired connection to your device if you place your node in proximity to a home office or entertainment center.

The kit has a nice design with a white housing that is easy to blend in with. This allows users to place the node in a room that is more optimal.

TP-Link's mesh systems are set up with the Deco app which is easy to use and guides you through getting set up in a few minutes. Make sure to download the app before you uninstall your old one. TP-Link's Home Shield package comes with parental controls and basic QoS. You can upgrade it with a subscription to add more features.

The TP-Link Deco X55 is a dual-band mesh kit with three nodes that can provide up to 6,500 square feet of coverage. The connection has plenty of speed for most families with 2,402Mbps on the 5 GHz band and full access thanks to a 160MHz connection.

Netgear Nighthawk mesh on table

(Image credit: Netgear)
  • Top speeds: Dual-band AX1800, 1200Mbps @ 5GHz, 600Mbps @ 2.4GHz
  • Top features: 3,000 sq ft. coverage, 1 open Ethernet ports per node, easy app setup, Compact nodes

Most homes should be able to handle the AX1800 speeds of the Netgear Nighthawk MK62, even if you give up some speed compared to the larger and more expensive mesh systems. The 5 GHz band has 1200Mbps and the 2.4 GHz band has 600Mbps. If you need a few more wired connections, a network switch could connect to one of the gigabit LAN ports on each routers.

More satellite units could be added down the line, as Netgear claims these can cover a 3,000-square-foot home. Compatibility with the EashMesh helps this. The EasyMesh standard is designed to ensure compatibility with mesh products in the future. It was all brought together with the robust app from Netgear.

The Nighthawk Mesh wi-fi 6 system from Netgear is an AC only system with a compact housing. The smallest footprint of a CD case is 2.5 inches tall. The mesh system is easy to integrate into a home.

It is easy to monitor your network usage and add satellites with the Nighthawk app. Even if you are away from home, you can still manage your network remotely. You can get internet security from BitDefender and more in-depth device controls with the help of Netgear Armor.

If you want a small, fast, and reliable routers for most people, the Netgear Nighthawk MK62 is a good choice. With a tiny housing, you can get more speed without dedicating a lot of shelf space.

TP-Link Deco X90

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
  • Top speeds: Tri-band AX6600, 4804Mbps + 1201Mbps @ 5GHz, 574Mbps @ 2.4GHz.
  • Top features: 6,000 sq ft. coverage, 1x Gigabit Ethernet port + 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet per node, Easy app setup, HomeShield security and parental controls included

The TP-Link Deco X90 has a tri-band connection. The speeds are broken down to 4804Mbps on one 5 GHz band and 1201Mbps on the other. Older devices or those that need a little more range can get an additional 574Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. There are four antennas that provide coverage, two of which are connected to other Decos. Each Deco X90 node has plenty of power, with eight streams.

A Deco X90 set is up to 6,000 square feet. TP-Link uses the software of the routers to provide the best coverage for your home. If you need more coverage, the Deco X90 can be expanded. You can use more X90 and other Decos.

The Deco X90 is rather tall at 8.3 inches, so you need to think about how you place them. If left visible, the X90 would not look bad if it were not a white housing. There are only two Ethernet ports in each node. One is used for the internet. If you have a lot of wired devices, you may need to pair this system with a switch.

The Deco system can be set up with the Deco app in a few minutes. Home Shield has some security features and parental controls. Most people will have everything they need in the free version, including profiles, schedules, and content filters.

The TP-Link Deco X90 is one of the fastest mesh systems around, with great coverage and a fast mesh link thanks to a tri-band connection. It can be expanded with any other Deco routers and can cover up to 6,000 square feet.

Asus ZenWiFi XT8

Source: Asus (Image credit: Asus)
  • Top speeds: Tri-band, 1201Mbps + 4804Mbps @ 5Ghz, 574Mbps @ 2.4Ghz
  • Top features: 5,000 sq ft. coverage, 3x + 2x Ethernet ports, dedicated 5Ghz backhaul, easy setup

One of the first networking companies to commit to mesh networking with its robust AiMesh software that works on most routers regardless of whether they were explicitly designed for a mesh. The ZenWiFi XT8 is a sleek and reasonably compact design that has incredible capabilities. There are three available Ethernet ports on the back of the routers, which come in white or charcoal colors.

With a tri-band setup, the ZenWiFi XT8 is capable of wireless speeds up to AX6600. There is 574Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 1201Mbps and 4804Mbps at 5 GHz. While most connections today max out at 1Gbps, the ZenWifi is ready for the future with a 2.5Gbps input for faster internet speeds or, more realistic, a fast wired home network.

If you want to expand your mesh, you will need a tri-band wi-fi 6 capable router. Most homes should be covered by the ZenWiFi XT8 because it can cover up to 5,500 square feet. It is nice that you can use an older routers as an expansion in low priority areas.

AiProtection Pro is a great value in home networking. AiProtection Pro comes with network security using the official database of Trend Micro. It has advanced parental controls that allow you to control all of your kids devices with schedules and content filters.

One of the best fast tri-band mesh systems is created by Asus and they take it to the next level with good compatibility and included software. AiProtection Pro adds network security and parental controls to the free AiMesh software.

Eero

(Image credit: Eero)
  • Top speeds: Tri-band AX4200, 2402Mbps + 1201Mbps @ 5GHz, 574Mbps @ 2.4GHz
  • Top features: 2,000 sq ft. coverage, 2x Ethernet ports, Expand with any other eero, compact design, eero Secure available

More and more people are getting internet with high speeds. Getting a mesh system fast enough to support it usually means you have to find room for a large node in several rooms of your house. The Eero Pro 6 has a small 2.1-inch tall and 5.3-inch wide housing, and it has a tri-band AX4200 speed. On the 5 GHz band, the rates are 2,607 Mbps and 1,199 Mbps, and on the 2.4 GHz band, they are 574 Mbps. Even high-end laptops should be able to make the most of the connection with eight spatial streams.

The three-pack can cover 6,000 square feet and the eero Pro 6 can cover up to 2,000 square feet. If your home has a lot of interference like dense walls, this can vary greatly. With three less powerful nodes, eero's approach with the Pro 6 should allow for a lot of flexibility in the mesh setup. If you have an older eero, you can use them to expand your eero Pro 6 mesh. In areas where you connect to the slower eeros, your speed will be slower.

Software isn't the first thing most people think of when shopping for a routers, but eero's app and consistent software updates have shown how convenient it can be to have a wealth of settings and network statistics at your fingertips. The setup is easy, even if you are setting up for the first time. Eero supports a lot of nice features.

Eero secure is a subscription software suite. The base eero secure subscription has improved network security, parental controls, and ad blocking. If you have students on your network, this is an excellent package to have. For a bit more, Eero Secure+ adds a password manager, a VPN subscription, and a few other things.

Thanks to a quick tri-band AX4200 setup, Eero's fastest routers ever enable gigabit mesh speeds. It is easy to upgrade an existing eero mesh or create a new one with this.

TP-Link Deco X60 Review ports

Source: TP-Link (Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
  • Top speeds: Dual-band AX1800, 1200Mbps @5GHz, 575Mbps @2.4GHz
  • Top features: 5,800 sq ft. coverage, 2x Ethernet ports per router, Works with all other Deco models, easy setup

The TP-Link Deco X20 is an excellent value for a wi-fi 6 mesh system, since you get three nodes in the box to provide coverage up to 5,800 square feet. It should be easy to find space for these in any room in the white cylindrical housing, which is 4.33 inches in diameter and 4.49 inches tall. There are four antennas and a dual-band connection inside.

Each one has two gigabit Ethernet ports on the back. This can help you get a wired device online. Since consoles could be connected via Ethernet, they benefit from it.

All of this will be configured with TP-Link's app so that you will need a device running at least one of the following. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, and the app will help you set the devices up in a robust configuration.

TP-Link's HomeCare software is compatible with the TP-Link Deco routers. HomeCare has advanced parental controls and security for your network. Quality of Service can be kept up even with heavy usage.

TP-Link's Deco series is one of the best values for covering a large area. The dual Ethernet ports make it easy to get your home connected, and the AX1800 will keep up with most standard usage.

  • Top speeds: Tri-band, 7685Mbps total capacity, 1148Mbps + 4804Mbps @ 5GHz
  • Top features: 3,000 sq ft. coverage, 4x Ethernet ports, AmpliFi Teleport app, easy setup, attractive design

The AmpliFi Alien is a fast routers. The Alien can hit 7,685Mbps of combined wireless capacity with the use of a 5 GHz band and a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band. This breaks down to 1,148Mbps and 4,804Mbps for the 6 clients. It is sufficient for years to come and is more than enough speed for a gigabit connection.

A pack with a similarly equipped MeshPoint takes up to 6,000 square feet, and a single Alien Router covers up to 3,000 square feet. The MeshPoint has no wired ports on the back, while the Alien Router has four. If you need the extra ports, you can create a mesh with multiple routers.

AmpliFi Alien is a cylindrical housing with a 4.33-inch diameter. There is a power andWAN port on the bottom. There are four ports on the back. There is a screen on the front of the routers that can show network information in real-time.

The AmpliFi app can be used to set up your mesh. You can manage connected devices and family profiles. You can connect to your home network while you are away from home with AmpliFi Teleport.

For most of the time, a wired connection is the best option for competitive gaming. You have plenty of capacity for all of your devices if you use the wi-fi 6 connection on this router, it is about as good a backup as you can ask for. High-end gaming PCs can connect to up to 2,402Mbps with a strong signal, even though the PS5 only connects at 1,199Mbps. This is enough for most things, but it's more than likely faster than your internet connection anyways.

Eero 6 on a PC

(Image credit: Eero)
  • Top speeds: Dual-band AX1800, 1201Mbps @ 5GHz, 574Mbps @ 2.4GHz
  • Top features: 1,500 sq ft. coverage, 2x (1 for WAN) Ethernet ports, great software experience

The performance of the eero is getting better with the introduction of wi-fi 6. The Eero 6 comes with a dual-band connection that can provide up to 1201Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 574Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The mesh will share the 5 GHz band with devices, so eero only recommends this routers for internet connections up to 500Mbps. If you have a studio apartment or a small home, eero 6 can deliver high-speed internet.

When deployed with other eeros, this router is designed to work together. If you want the best possible speed, you should pair it with the eero 6 Pro or the eero 6 Extender. If you are connected to a slower wi-fi 5 band, it will reduce your top speeds. One of the Eero 6 ports will be used for internet connection if the base routers is for your mesh.

Eero 6 is just 3.82 inches deep. It's designed to sit on a table or shelf, so expect to dedicate a bit of space to it. eero 6 is remarkably small.

The setup and management app of Eero is robust, so people want almost any option. Eeros will make sure your network is secure. There is an optional eero Secure and eero Secure+ subscription that can add advanced filters for inappropriate content, as well as a password manager.

Eero 6 brings excellent speed at an affordable price. The eero app can be used to add or start a new eero mesh.

Netgear Orbi Cbk752 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
  • Top speeds: Tri-band AX4200, 1400Mbps + 2400Mbps @ 5GHz, 600Mbps @ 2.4GHz
  • Top features: DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, 5,000 sq ft. coverage, 4x + 2x Ethernet ports, dedicated 5Ghz backhaul, easy setup

If you have cable internet, your internet service provider may try to get you to pay an additional monthly fee for a routers that doesn't deliver great performance. The Orbi CBK752 has a DOCSIS 3.1 modem that can handle the fastest speeds a cable modem can deliver, with a theoretical max download speed of 10Gbps. The Orbi RBK752 has a fast mesh connection that uses the same satellites. 600Mbps at 2.4 GHz plus 1400Mbps at 5 GHz for connected clients with a dedicated 2,400Mbps 5 GHz backhaul.

You can add additional satellites if you need more coverage, but this system only covers 5,000 square feet. 2,500 square feet will be added by an additional satellite. There are four open Ethernet ports in the base router and two in the satellite. You could use a satellite for expansion.

Orbi routers are tall and awkward, but they are easy to place. The base router is about 7.7 inches wide and 3.5 inches deep. The Satellite is 9.1 inches tall, 7.2 inches wide, and 2.8 inches deep.

The setup uses the Orbi app. You can restrict internet access and see all connected devices. You can see the quality of each satellite's connection to make sure you get as much speed as possible. You can subscribe to Netgear Armor, which has security features powered by BitDefender. The modem is compatible with all major US cable service providers, but you will need to contact your service provider to get the modem activated.

The Orbi CBK752 is a cable modem and router that can be used to simplify your mesh network. A DOCSIS 3.1 modem can keep up with any cable connection, and an Orbi router can make sure you have plenty of coverage for any size home.

Asus ZenWiFi ET8 Wi-Fi 6E mesh router review

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
  • Top speeds: Tri-band AXE6600, 574Mbps @ 2.4GHz, 1201Mbps @ 5GHz, and 4804Mbps @ 6GHz
  • Top features: Single or multiple Wi-Fi names, 3x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, USB 3.1 port, easy setup

The ZenWiFi ET8 is a small tri-band mesh kit with 6E support. The speeds are broken down to 574Mbps for legacy devices, 1201Mbps at 5 GHz, and 4804Mbps at 6 GHz for newer devices. There are three gigabit Ethernet ports on the back and a 2.5Gbps port on the front. There is a phone that can be used for tethering, as well as ausb 3.1 port that can be used for network storage.

The new version of wi-fi is called wi-fi 6e and it has great capacity and faster speeds. There are many more channels with 160MHz support available in this new spectrum which can significantly reduce the effects of congestion. It is not a great fit for everyone just yet, as there are only a few devices that support it.

An in-depth web interface and robust app make setup easy. Compared to other mesh systems, Asus gives customers more access to advanced controls. AiProtection is included with parental controls and security for free. You can use any other AiMesh-compatible routers, including older ZenWiFi kits.

The ZenWiFi ET8 is one of the first mesh wi-fi 6e routers available, and it is an excellent fit for many people. It works great with both newer 6 GHz and 5 GHz devices.

Most people don't need much more than a home wi-fi network with gigabit speeds. Even if you don't need a lot of speed, you can still take advantage of the other improvements. The best way to upgrade to a better wireless network is to use a great wi-fi 6e routers, including a couple of mesh systems, which are already available.

If you want to make the most of your phone, it's a good idea to use the best one that supports wi-fi 6. Better handling of multiple connections is one of the features of the wi-fi 6 mesh systems. Many new phones support the protocol, but not many devices sold in the past couple of years. All of these routers support older versions of wi-fi to keep compatibility, with the added benefit of better connections between the base and satellite units.

Can you make your own mesh?

It's important to keep in mind that a mesh network can be accomplished by any routers with a powerful enough processor and enough RAM. Most other manufacturers have included AiMesh in their routers, but Asus has taken it a step further. The setup process for a complete mesh system will be more complicated than putting together your own.

With the improved capacity and speeds of the previous generations, this technology is more promising. TP-Link and Linksys have begun to include support for mesh expansion in their standard routers. This can be a significant upgrade path for those who want to start with a traditional routers and only upgrade as necessary.