Eero has done more than any other company to make mesh systems popular. The firm, which is owned by Amazon, is on a quest to make Wi-Fi as easy as possible for people who don’t like to fiddle with settings. Eero systems are simple to set up, easy to use, and backwards compatible with earlier generations since simplicity is crucial.
It is impossible to overlook Eero for the typical family looking for a safe, hands-free mesh system that provides dependable Wi-Fi. For the fastest connections conceivable (at least until Wi-Fi 7 launches), this tri-band system is the first of its kind to offer Wi-Fi 6E.
Setup
Setup is purposefully quick and simple. Each Eero unit is a uniform, rounded square in a bright white color that fits very well on a shelf or cabinet. Sadly, they are restricted to two 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps Ethernet ports. If you are fortunate enough to have a multi-gig internet connection, this could seem like excellent news, but the Eero Pro 6E has a maximum output of 2.3 Gbps, which is the result of combining 1.3 Gbps wireless and 1 Gbps cable connections. Although it supports wireless backhaul, the speed is just 1 Gbps. That is to say, people with many gigabits of internet entering their home should go elsewhere. There are no other ports besides the USB-C power cable.
Each Eero Pro 6E router should cover about 2,000 square feet and be able to connect at least 100 devices. These tri-band routers allow for connections at frequencies of 2.4, 5, and 6. The wireless backhaul of Eero selects the right band for traffic between any nodes and the primary router. Place them close to one another, ideally with a direct line of sight, to encourage it to use the 6-GHz frequency.
Testing the Eero Pro 6E a year after its debut has the benefit of allowing Eero to iron out any kinks and ensure silky smooth operation. There are no hiccups, distorted video calls, or buffering; just dependable, quick Wi-Fi.
In addition to serving as routers, Eero Pro 6E smart home hubs also support Zigbee and Thread. To switch on Thread, you must navigate to the network settings in the Eero app, but if you have many smart home gadgets, it will be well worth your time. If you have child profiles set up and want to halt their internet so they can go downstairs for dinner, you can also utilize Alexa voice commands with your Eero. Support for the matter is also coming.
Subscription
Eero has lowered the cost of the Pro 6E after one year on the market. The 3-pack is now $550 instead of $700, the 2-pack is now $400 instead of $500, and a single router is now $250 instead of $300. A single subscription dubbed Eero Plus, which is expensive and costs a whopping $10 per month or $100 per year, has replaced the previous, less expensive alternative (Eero Secure, which cost $3 per month or $30 per year).
You are missing out on a number of useful things without that Eero Plus subscription. However, in order to get sophisticated security, historical data, internet backup, ad filtering, content filters, app banning, and VIP support, you will need to pay a monthly subscription fee. You can still plan Wi-Fi downtime for the kids, create a guest network, and take advantage of the smart home hub features. Additionally, Eero Plus includes memberships to Encrypt.me, Malwarebytes, and 1Password.
The expanded controls make the Eero Plus subscription necessary for parents. Advanced security is tough to evaluate because it only provides a list of stopped threats and scans without providing any other information. If you intend to use the included software, it will be simpler to sell.
Having saying that, using the Eero app is a pleasure. It is well-designed, keeps track of the speed your ISP is providing, and accurately identifies the devices on your network. (Some routers perform this poorly.) The parental controls are extensive if you subscribe to Eero Plus, and creating profiles and grouping devices is simple.
The inability to break bands is a drawback of this accessibility. (The router selects the band on which to connect nodes and gadgets.) For smart home devices that can only handle the 2.4-GHz band, this can be a problem, although Eero does provide a solution in the app’s troubleshooting area. Additionally, there is no quality of service (QoS), a function that is common on routers, for prioritizing traffic, however you will discover a toggle to optimize for gaming and conferencing in the Eero Labs Beta part of the Discover page.
Eero gathers a lot of data as a cloud-based mesh, ostensibly to enhance network performance. However, given that this is an Amazon corporation, some people might have privacy concerns.
Spot
The Eero Pro 6E might be the best option for busy families in small to average-sized homes or for groups in apartments that have no time to mess about with settings and at least a few gadgets that can connect to the 6 GHz band.
They can be used to expand the coverage by people who are upgrading from an older Eero system or who have Echo speakers with Eero Built-In. Given that one of the key disadvantages of this system is its limited range, this could be especially important for those with vast properties.
The primary opposition is Eero’s own lineup. The majority of users will discover that the less expensive Eero Pro 6 ($300 for a 2-pack) performs just as well. Although the 6E may be able to squeeze out an additional 100 Mbps when close up, there isn’t much of a practical benefit. A game or other huge file may download slightly more quickly, but even then, only if you have 6-GHz devices. The Pro 6E may wind up using the 5-GHz band to transmit and receive data if there is nothing to use the 6-GHz band for and if the router and nodes are too far away. The Eero Pro 6 (with its two 5-GHz bands) will function much better in that situation.
Additionally pricey is the Eero system. Anyone who is set on purchasing a Wi-Fi 6E mesh network might consider the TP-Link Deco XE75 ($300 for a 2-pack), which is a more affordable alternative and offers comparable performance, or the Deco XE200 ($700 for a 2-pack), which is a speedier option. If Wi-Fi 6E isn’t absolutely necessary for you (and, given the impending release of the significantly superior Wi-Fi 7, I don’t think it should be), you can find a ton of other options in our guides to the Best Wi-Fi Routers and Best Mesh Systems.
In the end, there are routers with superior hardware and more functionality, but with Eero, you pay for convenience and security. The Eero Pro 6E with an Eero Plus subscription provides all you need for busy families who don’t have the time or patience to delve into network settings and who value convenience above expense.
