Google appears to be altering its technique with web routers somewhat. The last-generation Google Nest WiFi was sort of constructed to be an all-in-one residence hub. Positive, it was a router, however the secondary entry factors additionally served as Google Assistant audio system, making them immediately smarter than many different choices on the market. That’s to not point out the mesh system that supplied web protection round your house. Now, the corporate is out with the brand new Google Nest WiFi Professional.
The Nest WiFi Professional will get a brand new design, improved connectivity, and…loses Google Assistant. It affords loads of sensible options, to make certain, and a few of these options will likely be significantly useful to these constructing a smart home and a high-end web community.
How a lot does the Nest WiFi Professional enhance on the unique Google Nest WiFi? I’ve been testing the gadget to search out out.
Google Nest WiFi Professional
Ranking: 4 Stars
The Google Nest WiFi Professional will not be the best-looking router on the market, however with WiFi 6E and a variety of sensible options, it’s a significantly compelling choice.
BGR could obtain a fee
BGR could obtain a fee
Professionals
- WiFi 6E
- Works by Google Residence
- Comparatively simple to arrange
- Simple to entry many options
- Works as a mesh system
Cons
- No Google Assistant
- Design isn’t the very best
Google Nest WiFi Professional design
The Google Nest WiFi Professional is greater than a primary refresh — it additionally affords an all-new design. As a substitute of the textile protecting, like on different Google units, the Nest WiFi Professional has a shiny plastic look.
I can’t say I find it irresistible.
Whereas it doesn’t essentially really feel tremendous low-cost once you maintain the router, it undoubtedly appears somewhat low-cost from a distance. I want Google had caught with the textile protecting generally, because it feels extra approachable and fewer chilly.
The Google Nest WiFi professional is available in a number of totally different colours, together with Snow, Linen, Fog, and Lemongrass. We’re reviewing the Fog mannequin. On the again, could be discovered three easy ports — an influence port, and two Ethernet ports.
The gadget isn’t essentially small, nevertheless it’s no outsized both. It’s somewhat over 5 inches tall, 4.5 inches vast, and three.3 inches thick. Most individuals ought to discover that it matches the place that they had their earlier router.
Typically, I don’t love the look of the Google Nest WiFi Professional. It virtually is sensible that it received’t be used as a Google Assistant speaker — as you don’t should hold it out within the open in case you don’t need to.
Google Nest WiFi Professional options
Whereas the Google Nest WiFi Professional doesn’t have Google Assistant, nevertheless it does nonetheless supply a variety of options for people who desire a high-end networking expertise. For starters, It helps the brand new WiFi 6E normal, which means that it has a 2.4GHz band, 5GHz band, and 6GHz band. Google says that every router will supply as much as 2200 sq. toes of protection, and as much as 5.4Gbps of dowload speeds.
The Nest WiFi Professional can be utilized in a mesh system, and also you don’t have to fret about choosing up the suitable beacons. As a substitute, simply purchase one other Nest WiFi Professional — they can be utilized interchangeability as fundamental routers or beacons in your system.
The router is ready up on your next-gen smart home. It helps the Thread smart home normal, in order you get extra Thread-enabled units, it is going to be in a position to take part in that system. Google says that the gadget will assist Matter down the road, nonetheless that assist was not out there at launch.
Google Nest WiFi Professional software program
You’ll arrange and management your Nest WiFi Professional router by the Google Residence app — which is an efficient factor, for these in Google’s smart home ecosystem already. Having the router managed by the Residence app means you don’t should obtain and handle one other app, such as you would most different fashionable sensible routers. For instance, Amazon nonetheless requires your to obtain and set up the Eero app to make use of Eero routers, as an alternative of setting it up in the primary Alexa app.
The Google Residence app means that you can entry various options that may usually be out there in a router’s related app. Generally, these options could be a little buried in menus and settings, however you’ll get used to the place issues are for probably the most half.
All the standard options are right here. You possibly can create visitor networks shortly and simply, see and handle units which can be linked to your community, and see velocity testing data. It’s a very good function set, and I discover that the router will supply the whole lot that the majority common customers will need.
Google Nest WiFi Professional efficiency
The Google Nest WiFi Professional is without doubt one of the first routers to ship with WiFi 6E assist, nonetheless there may be undoubtedly nonetheless some competitors. As talked about, WiFi 6E routers introduce a 3rd band of connectivity — 6GHz. That signifies that units that assist WiFi 6E can get super-fast connections once they’re inside an honest vary. You received’t have to fret about deciding which units needs to be linked to the totally different bands, and when — the router is sensible sufficient to handle all of that by itself.
Typically, I discovered the router to carry out excellently. When put next with my Ring Alarm Professional, which has a WiFi 6 router, it provided obtain speeds of as much as 100Mbps extra — although take into account that all types of variables can impression these sorts of exams. After all, for probably the most half, the enhancements you’ll get from WiFi 6E would require units that, you understand, really assist WiFi 6E.
Conclusions
The Google Nest WiFi Professional could lack a few of the options some need from older Nest WiFi merchandise, however in case you’re on the lookout for a router that lives throughout the Google ecosystem and the Google Residence app, and wish the very best wi-fi efficiency you may get proper now, then the Nest WiFi Professional is unquestionably value contemplating.
Most individuals purchase a router that’s going to final them for years to return, and for that purpose I do suggest going for a WiFi 6E mannequin in case you’re out there and might afford one. When you don’t fairly need to spend that sort of money, nonetheless, then a WiFi 6 mannequin will certainly do the job.
The competitors
Maybe the most important competitors for these in Google’s ecosystem comes from the Google Nest WiFi, which nonetheless affords greater than sufficient when it comes to sensible networking, plus the entry factors function Google Assistant audio system, which is sweet. When you don’t need to spend fairly as a lot on a networking expertise, the usual Google Nest WiFi could be the best way to go.
Ought to I purchase the Google Nest WiFi Professional?
Sure. If you would like an important networking expertise and don’t thoughts spending a bit, it’s an important choice.
