Large homes are difficult to cover with a single Wi-Fi router device. Dead zones and blind-spots will be everywhere.
Houses of more than 3,000 sq.ft. or at least two-storied and those with unusual layouts usually need multiple routers and extenders to receive strong signals in far-off corners.
A mesh WiFi system is a perfect solution for a strong and reliable Wi-Fi network supporting data-intensive applications, such as video conferencing, streaming and gaming.
Such Wi-Fi systems typically work on mesh technology, with a central unit and several satellite nodes that work together providing a blanket wireless network within the whole house.
The mesh’s distinct advantage lies in working as a single Wi-Fi network with only one SSID (service set identifier). The nodes do not lose signal strength as wireless extenders typically do.
Additional, extra nodes are easily pluggable in the system if needed. In this article we will compare three popular mesh models, the Meshforce M3, Google Wi-Fi, and Eero, to help you select the right one for your home.
Table of Contents
Meshforce M3 Brief Review
The M3 is the second generation whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system from MeshForce. The 3-unit system consists of one M3 Wi-Fi Point (router unit) and two M3 Dots (satellite units).
- New Generation Mesh WiFi: The future of WiFi is here, replace your old wireless router with all new MeshForce M3 WiFi system. Equipped with gigabit ethernet, the flawless and flexible AC1200 dual band WiFi whole house system supports up to 60 devices, it is a smart home hub for PC, mobile, TV, and everything that connects wirelessly.
- Eliminate WiFi Dead Spots: Cover more than 4000 square feet from garage to backyard, seamless single WiFi name for entire house. Easy to expand the coverage by adding more M3 Dots, simply plug M3 Dot WiFi extender to eliminate WiFi dead spots. Support up to 6 dots to build WiFi system for any home size.
- Easy to Setup and Manage: Use My Mesh app and complete setup your mesh WiFi system in less than 15 minutes. Manage your connections and guest network right on your iOS or Android mobile devices, at home or remotely, anytime and anyplace.
Last update on 2021-04-16 at 19:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It brings significantly higher speeds and superior performance over the previous generation M1. It easily extends coverage to far-off areas like the garage and backyard by plugging additional M3 Dots in the system. Here are the M3’s main features, specs, pros, and cons:
Features
Wi-Fi Performance – The MeshForce M3 is a dual-band Wi-Fi that supports gigabit Ethernet, with speeds up to 1200 Mbps on 802.11n and 802.11ac. The coverage area extends up to 4,000 sq.ft., significantly higher than previous generation systems.
Flexible with M3 Dot – It easily adds up to 6 M3 Dots, part of the M3 Dot Wi-Fi extension unit. You only need to add the dots in the mobile app and plug them in the wall to extend your Wi-Fi range.
Single SSID – The Mesh system works on a single SSID for the entire home. The network is self-healing, and the technology allows multiple nodes to communicate with each other seamlessly. The nodes allow you to move anywhere in the house, garage, or backyard without worrying about disconnections or poor signal quality.
Easy management – Setting up and managing the Wi-Fi system is easy with the My Mesh mobile app. Local as well as remote management, is possible using your device.
Secure and Reliable – The WPA2 Mixed encryption mode provides solid security to your network. You can activate guest mode to create isolated Wi-Fi zones and provide temporary internet access to visitors.
Parental Control – The system has adequate parental controls to limit children’s internet access by device and time.
Main Technical Specs
– Dual-band Wi-Fi, with speeds up to 1200 Mbps
– Signal Rate and Wi-Fi Frequency up to 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 802.11n/g/b, and up to 867 Mbps on 5GHz, 802.11ac
– Mixed WPA/WPA2-PSK Security
– 1x shared Gigabit WAN/ LAN Port / 1x Gigabit LAN Port
– My Mesh App needs iOS 9 or higher and Android 4.4 or higher
Pros
The dual-band MeshForce M3 is an affordable system with a price-tag which is much lower than most mesh systems (for a 3-unit set). The purchase of additional M3 dots will not weigh heavily on your wallet.
The system is easy to set up and manage, even for non-tech-savvy users. The mobile Mesh App does a good job with local and remote management but does not offer advanced settings.
The built-in malware protection and parental control give you peace of mind.
Cons
The main unit is slightly bulky with large dimensions. The trapezoidal shape does not look stylish.
Speed is relatively less compared to advanced mesh systems and significantly less than advertised. There are many competitive products that more than double the speed for a little higher cost.
The performance drops with each additional M3 Dot in the system.
Google Wi-Fi Brief Review
Google Wi-Fi is a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system that offers a seamless and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home.
- This product includes 2 router units.
- Nest Wifi is a scalable and flexible Wi-Fi system. These Nest Wifi devices work together to blanket your whole home in fast, reliable Wi-Fi and eliminate buffering in every room – with coverage up to 4400 square feet.[1]
- 1 Wi-Fi router plugs into your internet provider’s modem to create your Wi-Fi network. The other extends the wireless network and keeps your connection fast to devices in every room. For more coverage, add Nest Wifi routers or points to your system.
Last update on 2021-04-16 at 19:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Although it replaces traditional routers, it needs an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a modem to connect to the internet. The system will work better if you replace all existing routers with its satellite nodes. Here are Google Wi-Fi’s features, specs, pros, and cons:
Features
Coverage – The dual-band Google Wi-Fi mesh system with 3-units, a primary Google Wi-Fi, and two nodes covers an area of 4,500 sq.ft. Each additional node or point adds 1,500 sq.ft. coverage.
Reliable connection – Network Assist technology boosts your connection speed by simultaneously transmitting to all devices instead of sequentially. It automatically selects the channel with the least traffic and the fastest band for devices.
Easy setup and management – The Google Wi-Fi App keeps the setup simple and easy to manage from anywhere. It is perfect for beginners who do not know anything about networking.
Security – The WPA2 encryption provides reliable protection to your network. Your guests can use your network by creating temporary, isolated Wi-Fi zones.
Parental Control – The system provides strong parental controls to limit children’s internet access by device and time.
Main Technical Specs
– Dual-band Wi-Fi, with speeds up to 2200 Mbps
– Signal Rate and Wi-Fi Frequency up to 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 802.11n/g/b, and up to 867 Mbps on 5GHz, 802.11ac
– ARM Cortex-M0 quad-core processor, 512 MB RAM
– Equipped with ZigBee, and Bluetooth 4.2
– Google Wi-Fi App needs iOS 8 or higher and Android 4 or higher
Pros
Good performance and one of the best designs among peers. The circular shape and short height of 2.7 inches keep the system stable without the danger of accidentally toppling the unit. The entire system’s weight is only around 300 grams.
The system supports automatic band steering based on bandwidth, signal strength, and other factors and automatically assigns devices to the nearest node.
The built-in Google Assistant voice technology helps you to manage the units and clients easily.
The 3-unit Google Wi-Fi has a competitive price.
Cons
Consider replacing your existing routers before opting for Google Wi-Fi. Although you can connect Google Wi-Fi to an existing router, it does not work well in combined mode. Devices on an existing router and those on Google Wi-Fi will not communicate with each other.
The Google Wi-Fi App is user-friendly but does not offer advanced features. It is a nice option for beginners, but expert users will find the lack of customization frustrating.
It lacks MU-MIMO technology that allows the system to serve multiple clients simultaneously. Clients compete for bandwidth.
The wireless performance takes a hit due to the sharing of bandwidth by the backhaul traffic.
The device is difficult to mount on the wall like other routers due to its peculiar circular shape.
Eero Brief Review
- Whole-home WiFi system - The Amazon eero Pro mesh WiFi system (1 eero Pro + 2 eero Beacon) replaces the traditional WiFi router, WiFi extender, and internet booster by covering a 2-4 bedroom home with fast and reliable internet powered by a mesh network.
- eero 2nd generation - With the most intelligent mesh WiFi technology and powerful hardware, the eero 2nd generation WiFi system is 2x as fast as the original eero WiFi. Backwards compatible with 1st generation eero products.
- WiFi extender - The eero Beacon is a full-fledged WiFi access point that simply plugs in to standard outlets and easily extends your WiFi connectivity to every device with more reliability than the standard WiFi booster.
Last update on 2021-04-16 at 19:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Eero is a powerful mesh Wi-Fi system, with a main gateway router and additional nodes. The dual-band system is enough for most homes that do not need gigabit speeds, but Eero also offers a three-band system with higher speed and coverage. Here are the dual-band Eero’s features, specs, pros, and cons:
Features
Coverage – The dual-band Eero mesh system with 3-units covers an area of 5,000 sq.ft. Each additional node adds 1,500 sq.ft. coverage.
Reliability – Eero’s TrueMesh technology allows multiple Wi-Fi hops that can travel around walls and other obstacles. The system automatically connects to the nearest Eero unit and dynamically reroutes traffic.
Software updates – Automatic software updates keep your Eero system healthy with the latest features and security.
Security – WPA2 encryption between the Eero units, your devices, and the cloud provides industrial class security.
Apple HomeKit support – Eero offers more protection and support to manage apple devices with the Apple HomeKit.
Main Technical Specs
– Dual-band Wi-Fi, with speeds up to 1200 Mbps
– Signal Rate and Wi-Fi Frequency up to 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 802.11n/g/b, and up to 867 Mbps on 5GHz, 802.11ac
– Qualcomm 700 MHz quad-core processor, 512 MB RAM
– Three built-in antennas in each unit
– 2 x Gigabit WAN/LAN ports
– Beamforming, 2 x 2 MU-MIMO
– DHCP, IPV6, NAT, VPN Passthrough, UPnP, Static IP, and Port Forwarding
– Works with Amazon Alexa and Bluetooth 5.0
– Eero Wi-Fi App needs iOS 8 or higher and Android 4 or higher
Pros
The design is the smallest among mesh systems. It has individual, square-shaped units measuring 3.9 inches sidewise and the shortest at 2.4 inches.
Although the speeds are not as advertised, the system performs well. It does not lose significant signal strength with additional nodes. It provides stable speeds up to 350 Mbps.
The system is easy to set up and manage with the Eero App. The initial setup will take less than 10 minutes for the majority of users.
Cons
The lack of the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology limits speed and coverage.
A few users may find it convenient that the individual units do not have an ON/OFF button.
The three-unit Eero system is a little costly.
Eero Secure and Secure+ services provide much-needed security, but you need to pay for them.
MeshForce M3 vs. Google Wi-Fi
Similarities
The MeshForce M3 and Google Wi-Fi both are dual-band systems that use the 2.4 MHz and 5 MHz bands. They do not support the new Wi-Fi 6 technology, and speeds are significantly lower than advertised.
Additional nodes impact wireless signal strength, and speeds may drop up to 25 percent.
The WPA2 Mixed encryption mode provides industrial-grade security. You can activate guest mode to create isolated Wi-Fi zones and provide temporary internet access to visitors.
Both the systems need a mobile app for set up and management and do not support a web interface.
Differences
Google Wi-Fi covers more than 4,500 sq.ft., compared to the M3’s coverage area of 4,000 sq.ft.
Privacy is more of a concern with Google Wi-Fi than the M3, as you need to remain connected to your Google account to use the system.
Google Assistant is useful to issue voice commands. The M3 does not employ voice recognition technology.
MeshForce M3 vs. Eero
Similarities
The MeshForce M3 and Eero Wi-Fi both are dual-band systems that use the 2.4 MHz and 5 MHz bands. Eero also provides a tri-band mesh system. Speeds are significantly lower than advertised.
You can add additional units in the system easily in both the systems to increase coverage area by 1,500 sq.ft. per unit.
Both systems use a single SSID to identify the network. Additional units become part of the network.
Both the systems need a mobile app for set up and management and do not support a web interface.
Differences
The Eero units are considerably smaller than the M3’s bulkier ones. You can place the Eero on a coffee table without accidentally toppling it.
The M3 covers an area of 4,000 sq. ft. compared to Eero’s 5,000 sq.ft.
Eero provides additional security features in the form of paid subscription services.
Eero also has support for Amazon’s Alexa, while the M3 lacks a voice recognition feature.
Conclusion
The Eero Mesh Wi-Fi system is the top choice between the three for speed and coverage but is also the costliest.
Google Wi-Fi does a reasonable job if you do not have too many wired devices and want to balance performance and cost.
The MeshForce M3 lies at the bottom of the pyramid but is the best choice for people on a budget.
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