![]() And without that option to split bands, of course, you're left trying to maneuver compatible client devices to play nice with it (i.e. On paper, the fact it offers the latest standard of Wi-Fi should see it hold its own, but we found the 6GHz band pretty exhausting to try and kick into gear. Unfortunately, the general performance of the Nest Wifi Pro doesn't do much to salvage the limitations of the design and features, either. Unfortunately, it's just tied up in a package that also features a distinct lack of network security features, as well - or, indeed, more advanced things like dynamic DNS or VPN network connections. Naturally, we haven't been able to test this out, but it's one of the only future-proofed bonuses here. In this sense, it's at least a relief that the Nest Wifi Pro is set up (somewhat) for the future of the smart home, offering the ability to act as a Matter controller and a Thread border router, like the Google Nest Hub Max pictured with it above. But considering this is a system that's grounded in the smart home, it still feels utterly bizarre to have tons of devices - even Google ones - floating around in unconnected chaos. This limitation isn't unique to Google - plenty of other mesh systems also don't offer this - but it does still present some classic issues, such as connecting smart home gadgets to the 2.4GHz band.Īgain, this isn't something we haven't encountered before. Our biggest gripe, for example, is the fact you can't split the network into three different SSIDs, with everything blanketed under one name and parceling out devices along the trio of bands. We think anybody hunting a super-simple mesh system will probably be fine with the above, but anybody wanting to gain true control over their home network will likely be disappointed. Ultimately, though, none of these are especially unique or useful. Then there are some fancy little graphs showing you things like usage, and a built-in speed test function. You get some nice essentials, like port forwarding, guest network features and the ability to prioritize devices for specific periods of time, but that's roughly the extent of your powers.įor those with kids, there's actually also the Family Safety option that allows you to set individual device schedules and restrict certain content via Google SafeSearch's database - though this is limited to just 'on' or 'off'. Given it represents the only portal for system control, though, we think it's lacking some depth. We generally quite like the interface of the Google Home app, with things kept relatively neat, tidy and intuitive. If the design and setup sit on the basic end of the spectrum, it's a theme that continues when it comes to the features and overall performance. Not wholly unexpected, but another potential perk that's missed out on here. ![]() ![]() Nest Wifi Pro also isn't backward compatible with any of the older Nest Wifi stations, either, which means legacy users hoping to save some cash will actually have to completely replace their entire system. It's fast enough in most cases, of course, but it does also feel like an odd omission from Google to forego 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet altogether - especially when options like the Eero Pro 6E are around, as well as top-of-the-line models like the Netgear Orbi RBKE963 that stretch to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port. The plus side is that this is an improvement on the singular port present on the original Google Nest Wifi, but the bad news here is that they're only Gigabit ports. ![]() On the rear of each, meanwhile, is where you'll find the port setup, which comprises a power socket sitting between a pair of Ethernet ports. It's about as breezy as any system we've set up, so a good start if the idea of 'installing' mesh feels daunting to you. They each feature an LED light to show the network status, but the experience is largely driven through the app following installation. You'll get clear indications regarding connection strength after scanning the station's QR code and placing it, and, once this is done, you can largely forget about them. In typical Google fashion, setup is super simple - especially if you're already fully embedded in Google Home and have all your Rooms and Groups set up. One will act as the main router, though, of course, which frees the other stations to be dotted around your home. Whether you pick up the system as a single unit or add on one or two nodes, each device is identical. The look is clean and unobtrusive in pretty much any room, and, really, if it weren't for the throngs of cords coming out the rear, it'd actually be relatively ornament-like. It's fair to say that Google understood the design assignment with the Nest Wifi Pro. ![]()
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