Prime Day offers reveal top Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers from Asus, TP-Link, Eero, and Netgear
In the rapidly evolving world of wireless networking, the latest standard, Wi-Fi 7, is making waves for its potential to revolutionise home and office connectivity. At the forefront of this revolution are tri-band routers, offering a significant speed advantage and improved network efficiency.
Amazon's flagship Wi-Fi 7 router, the Eero Max 7, is a prime example of this trend. Boasting tri-band wireless, two 2.5 GbE ports, two 10 GbE ports, and coverage of up to 5,000 square feet, the Eero Max 7 promises blazing-fast speeds and reliable connectivity for even the most demanding networks.
But what makes tri-band routers so special? Let's delve into the world of band configurations to understand the differences between dual-band, tri-band, and even quad-band routers.
Dual-band routers, the most common type, support two bands, typically 2.4GHz and either one of the 5GHz or 6GHz bands. While they are generally less expensive and suitable for smaller networks or environments with fewer devices, they may struggle in congested environments due to limited spectrum availability.
Tri-band routers, on the other hand, support three bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. By allowing devices to be distributed across multiple bands, they offer better performance than dual-band routers, reducing congestion and improving overall network efficiency. Tri-band routers are ideal for larger homes or offices with many devices.
Quad-band routers, while not as common, would typically imply support for even more bands. However, in the context of Wi-Fi 7, quad-band configurations are not well-defined in current market offerings.
The key to Wi-Fi 7's potential performance lies in its unique features, such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows devices to connect and send/receive data from multiple bands simultaneously, enhancing performance and reducing latency. Wi-Fi 7 also supports up to 320MHz channel bandwidth, further increasing data throughput.
In terms of practicality, tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers offer the best balance. They provide fast and reliable connections by utilising the full potential of the available spectrum. For instance, high-speed applications can utilise the less crowded 6GHz band, while smart home devices can be relegated to the 2.4GHz band, and other devices can be distributed across the available bands.
As the Wi-Fi 7 market continues to grow, numerous manufacturers are producing tri-band mesh routers, offering a wide range of options. For instance, the Netgear Orbi 770 is a tri-band Orbi mesh router, offering coverage of up to 5,500 square feet and 11 Gbps of combined throughput, with three 2.5 GbE ports and one 2.5 GbE port for WAN.
Meanwhile, the TP-Link Deco BE63 is a mid-range, tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with four 2.5 GbE ports, 10 Gbps of combined throughput, and coverage of 5,800 square feet.
For those on a budget, there are also affordable options like the TP-Link Deco BE23, an entry-level dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router, offering up to 3.6 Gbps of throughput and covering 4,500 square feet.
In conclusion, tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers offer the best balance between performance and practicality for most users, providing fast and reliable connections. As the Wi-Fi 7 market continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative products hitting the market.
The Amazon Eero Max 7, a prime example of the Wi-Fi 7 trend, is a tri-band router featuring 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, providing better performance and improved network efficiency for larger networks. Tri-band routers, such as the Netgear Orbi 770 and TP-Link Deco BE63, offer the best balance in the rapidly evolving world of data-and-cloud-computing and technology, delivering fast and reliable connections through the full potential of the available spectrum, including Wi-Fi 7's unique Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and increased data throughput.
