Google Nest WiFi Pro Review - 6 Months Later

Summary

After six months of using the Nest Wifi Pro, the reviewer has changed their initial impression and now appreciates the system's design, ease of setup, and smart home integration. It offers good performance for its price, with features like Matter support, family-friendly tools, and fast speeds, despite lacking a dedicated wireless backhaul. However, the range is limited compared to competitors. The reviewer recommends the Nest Wifi Pro for users seeking a cost-effective upgrade over ISP-provided routers, especially with its Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support for future-proofing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The user initially wasn't impressed with the Nest Wifi Pro but changed their mind after six months.
• 👍 The small form factor and design make it easy to place anywhere in the home, improving speed and performance.
• 🎨 The router's polished look and variety of color options make it stand out aesthetically.
• 🔌 Google simplified the hardware, making the main router and Wi-Fi points identical, and reintroduced Ethernet ports for wired connections.
• 📱 The setup process is user-friendly, done through the Google Home app, although it lacks advanced customization options.
• 📡 The Nest Wifi Pro supports Matter and has a built-in Thread radio, which benefits smart home device connectivity.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family support features, like Wi-Fi pauses and safe search, are included without subscription fees.
• ⚡ Over time, the system's performance improved, offering speeds comparable to more expensive Wi-Fi 6E systems.
• 🚀 The 5.9 GHz spectrum offers faster speeds with less congestion due to limited device support for this band.
• 🔻 Some downsides include a lack of a dedicated backhaul band, potentially causing congestion in the future, and a shorter range compared to more expensive competitors.

Q & A

What initially caused the reviewer to have a negative impression of the Nest Wifi Pro?

The reviewer wasn't initially impressed with the Nest Wifi Pro, but over time, particularly after six months, their opinion changed as they noticed improvements in performance.

What aspects of the Nest Wifi Pro’s design does the reviewer appreciate?

The reviewer appreciates the Nest Wifi Pro’s small form factor, its polished look, and its variety of color options, which make it aesthetically pleasing and easy to place in visible areas without sacrificing design.

How has Google simplified the hardware of the Nest Wifi Pro compared to the previous Nest Wifi system?

Unlike the previous Nest Wifi system, where the main router and Wi-Fi points were different, Google simplified the Nest Wifi Pro by using the same hardware for both the main router and the Wi-Fi points.

What feature of the Nest Wifi Pro supports smart home devices, and why is it important?

The Nest Wifi Pro supports Matter and has a built-in Thread radio, which is important for integrating with smart home devices that adhere to the new Matter standard.

What are the family support features of the Nest Wifi Pro?

The family support features include creating profiles for each child, grouping their devices, scheduling Wi-Fi pauses, enabling safe search to block adult content, and pausing or unpausing Wi-Fi manually. These features do not require a subscription.

How has the performance of the Nest Wifi Pro improved over time according to the reviewer?

After six months, the reviewer noticed that the Nest Wifi Pro’s performance improved significantly, with speeds comparable to more expensive systems, such as the Netgear 6E, but at a fraction of the cost.

What is the significance of the 5.9 GHz spectrum support in the Nest Wifi Pro?

The 5.9 GHz spectrum provides an additional 160 MHz channel for Wi-Fi 6 devices, resulting in faster speeds and less congestion, as not all devices support this band.

What potential downsides did the reviewer mention about the Nest Wifi Pro?

The reviewer noted potential downsides such as the lack of a dedicated wireless backhaul, limited range compared to other routers, and concerns about future congestion on the 6 GHz band as more devices start supporting it.

Why might the Nest Wifi Pro’s range be limited compared to other systems?

The smaller size of the Nest Wifi Pro means its range is limited to about 2,200 square feet per unit, which is less than competing systems like those from Asus and Netgear.

Who is the Nest Wifi Pro best suited for, according to the reviewer?

The reviewer recommends the Nest Wifi Pro for people looking for better home Wi-Fi performance than what their ISP’s provided router offers, and those interested in future-proofing with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E support.