Google wifi 3 pack review

When compared to other routers, setting up Google wifi 3 pack is a breeze. However, it may not be the strongest or have the most granular controls, but its unprecedented ease of use makes up for its seeming shortcomings.

Other mesh wifi systems may have been available before Google, but none of them have been as instrumental in popularizing mesh routers as Google’s offering.

Even though Samsung Connect Home and Netgear Orbi have been around longer, Google wifi 3 pack has essentially established what a mesh wifi router should be. The Google mesh router is so popular because it combines a low price with a minimalist appearance, easy setup, and great functionality. It’s easy on the eyes wherever you put it, giving you a stable, constant connection wherever within range. Void areas will no longer be an issue.

Google wifi 3 pack is an excellent option because of its speed, functionality, and cost, whether you have a spotty internet connection or are just ready to upgrade from your current router.

Google Wifi 3 pack review: Price and availability

· Expensive

· Can be bought separately or in packs of two and three for larger homes

Google isn’t asking for much, especially considering what Google wifi is capable of doing, considering what it already provides in terms of accessibility and functionalities. In the initial generation of wifi, a set of three devices cost a total of $259 (about £204, or AU$399). This price included one primary “Wifi point” (the device that is connected to the modem or gateway) as well as two secondary “Wifi points.” The Google wifi System can cover an area of up to 4,500 square feet (418 square meters) with only three access points, the company says.

A three-pack system of the latest generation of Google wifi devices may now be purchased in the United States and the United Kingdom for the prices of $199 and £189, respectively (about AU$499). The pricing of a single Google wifi device has not changed from the previous generation and can be purchased for just $99 or £89 (about AU$199). It provides more than adequate coverage, and the price is still incredible, even if the area you have to work with is just that of a small apartment.

If you live in the United Kingdom, you will also have the option of purchasing the Google wifi in either a 2-pack or a 3-pack, with the price ranging from £229 to £329 for each additional device. Since Google wifi has been removed from the product page for Google in Australia, consumers in that region cannot purchase either the original generation or the recently updated version of the Google wifi mesh router. This implies that the Australian deployment is likely near and will very surely see a similar price decrease on the three-pack of networking points, even though it is a little farther behind the rollouts in the United States and the United Kingdom.

It gives more units for less cash than any of its competitors, such as the Netgear Orbi, with other wireless mesh routers coming in at least $400 (about £320, AU$520), with the same number of mesh nodes costing at least $400 (about £320, AU$520). The Google wifi is a fantastic deal.

Design and setup

Google’s wifi routers are the most attractively designed of any available option, and their setup process is among the simplest. The Google wifi device provides the same functionality for all users as a primary, small cylinder with a white LED band in the middle.

Any Google wifi device may serve as the network’s primary “router.” In contrast, the rest of the devices can operate as repeaters by relaying the wired signal transmitted to the primary device over the air. USB-C is used to power all three devices.

As with the gear, you are setting up a Google wifi is a breeze, facilitated by free software for iOS and Android. We won’t go into the specifics, but you can set up your network using the Google wifi app by scanning the QR codes on the wifi point linked to your modem or gateway.

After giving your new network a name and password, the app will prompt you to couple any other wifi hotspots you have by scanning their QR codes. Once paired, you may give each node a unique name inside the network. Once again, the first Google wifi node just needs a brief period to discover and activate any subsequent nodes.

Unfortunately, band switching won’t provide you with the same level of connectivity that even Netgear Orbi does. However, this is taken care of automatically in the background by Google wifi.

More advanced features, such as constantly tracking your network’s points and connected devices, are available via the Google wifi app. The software also includes an internet speed test, similar to Ookla’s mesh test, which evaluates the connectivity between your Points, and a wifi test, which evaluates the quality of your local network connection.

This is the most comprehensive and advanced set of controls we’ve seen on a wifi mesh system without dropdown menus or toggle switches.

In addition, you may use this software to temporarily prioritize bandwidth for one device, manage smart home devices, and suspend internet access for specific devices in a household.

Additionally, you can now test many devices at once using Google wifi’s Network Check, allowing you to pinpoint weak spots in your network and reposition your access points for optimal throughput.

Performance

Compared to the Netgear Orbi, Google wifi provides performance on par with or even better than the competitor. Our router maximizes the speed of our 100 Mbps wifi connection better than any other we’ve encountered. The critical difference is that Google wifi provides this level of performance across our whole home, despite its modest size.

We had no issues playing Overwatch in the basement office, where the modem is located, or watching Netflix in 4K on the Roku Premiere down in the basement. The Google wifi and similar wifi mesh networks place more importance on providing a reliable signal than on providing the fastest possible throughput. Nonetheless, it fulfills its promises.

By giving your gaming session more priority than your Facebooking and streaming high-definition films, the traffic prioritization tool ensures that your gaming session receives the bandwidth it needs to run well. The network may recover automatically if one or more wifi Access Points lose power.

While we know that the Netgear Orbi tri-band system communicates via a second 5GHz wifi channel and that Google wifi runs its mesh system across current wifi frequencies (2.4GHz and 5GHz) using the 802.11s mesh protocol, we have not seen a significant difference in performance between the two. Compared to Google wifi, Orbi provides slightly better download rates in MB/s on the 2.4GHz band. However, it could just be an outlier.

Compared to competing routers, Google wifi offers exceptional value for money. While comparable coverage may be achieved by competing systems with fewer units, the added flexibility afforded by a more significant number of units is beneficial for reducing coverage gaps.

SPEC

· Beamforming: Implicit and Explicit for 2.4 & 5GHz bands

· Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.7 inches (106.1 x 68.7mm; D x H) each

· Memory: 512MB RAM

· Ports: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports per Wifi point (1 WAN and 1 LAN port each)

· Processor: Quad-core ARM CPU (each core up to 710MHz)

· Storage: 4GB eMMC flash

· Weight: 12oz (340g) each

· Wireless Connectivity: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, AC1200 2×2 Wave 2 Wi-Fi (expandable mesh; dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz, TX beamforming); Bluetooth Smart ready

BENCHMARKS

Here is how the Google Wifi fared in our brief suite of tests (conducted on a 100Mbps service):

Ookla Speed Test 5GHz (Download | Upload):

Within 5 feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 101.41 | 117.83 Mbps

Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: 97.05 | 118.67 Mbps

Ookla Speed Test 2.4GHz (Download | Upload):

Within 5 feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 47.53 | 96.72 Mbps

Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: 50.95 | 82.98 Mbps

1.5GB Steam download 5GHz (peak speed):

Within 5 feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 12.6 MB/s

Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: 12.2 MB/s

1.5GB Steam download 2.4GHz (peak speed):

Within 5 feet/1.52 meters; no obstructions: 7.2 MB/s

Within 13 feet/3.96 meters; three plaster walls: 8.8 MB/s

how exactly does this work?

The Google wifi is an improved version of the company’s earlier OnHub home routers. With wifi, you may use up to three devices at once instead of just one. A wifi point is any gear that can connect to a wireless network. The smallest residence or average-sized apartment that a single point can cover is around 1,200 square feet. The coverage area may be expanded by placing additional points (up to a maximum of six) at various locations around the home. With only three of these devices, coverage for a house of 4,000 square feet or more may be achieved.

There is no discernible difference between the various Google wifi devices. In a multi-unit setup, the first unit acts as the primary router, connecting to the internet through an Ethernet cable or broadband modem. The new nodes combine to form a single, expansive wifi network. Wifi access points should be placed one or two rooms apart for optimal coverage, although this may vary from house to house. By gauging the strength of the signal between devices, the Google wifi app may assist find the optimal spot.

The program provides a graphical representation of your whole home network. In addition to providing a bird’s-eye view of your complete home network, it also allows you to selectively suspend internet access for any particular device or a group of devices. To further personalize your Google wifi experience, you may adjust several parameters, such as the guest network, IP reservation, and port forwarding. There is no need for manual input; just a few touches on your phone’s screen will do everything. More capabilities, such as voice control (through your phone, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa) and compatibility for other appliances (such as the Nest thermostat), are promised in future updates to the wifi, according to Google. Don’t forget to return to see how these additions develop.

There are many great things about Google wifi. In terms of use and wireless range, it succeeds well. As a bonus, its performance is superb. There’s more. If you already have a Google OnHub, it will be upgraded automatically today so that it can join the wifi ecosystem and utilize the same Google wifi app. As a result, every OnHub may function as a wifi point, much like a Google wifi device, in addition to its traditional role as a standalone router.

Ideal use case

It’s essential to check whether your existing network can handle Google Wifi speeds before making the purchase. It works best as a standalone home router linked to your Internet service provider’s modem.

Remove any existing router and replace it with Google Wifi. If your Internet service provider presented you with a “combo box” that also included a wireless router, you should simply send it back and request a modem instead.

You may share the internet by connecting Google Wifi to an existing router, but you won’t be able to use the router’s more complex functions, such as port forwarding. Make sure everything is linked to Google Wifi since devices on the original router’s network will not be able to interact with those on the Wifi. For example, this might prevent you from mirroring your phone’s display on an Apple TV or Chromecast.

Google Wifi may also function as a bridge, integrating any connected devices into the host network. All of its unique and exciting features would be deactivated if this happened.

Should I buy the Google Wifi?

The Google wifi router is, without a doubt, the most straightforward and trouble-free router we have ever installed. And this is before taking into account the other two devices needed to complete the operation. There are more units available than most of Google’s competitors, and the app for setting it up and managing it is currently the best. All of this comes at a relatively inexpensive pricing point.

Even though it does not have more delicate hardware controls and AC3000 or AC2200 throughput, Google has carefully considered every toggle and test that it can provide in an easily understood manner via its app. Even priority control for the available bandwidth is included. When you combine it with a clean, uncomplicated hardware design that is better to display in plain view than any other routers we have seen, you have all you need to create one of the most excellent wifi systems that money can buy in 2022.

Why We Like It – Google WiFi 3 Pack

The Google WiFi mesh network architecture provides exceptional coverage even for expansive houses and is very simple to install. The WiFi app performs effectively and provides various useful features, including the ability to quickly customize settings, the capacity to take control of connected devices, and more. Additionally, the router system is compatible with intelligent home gadgets like the Google Nest.

Pros