Is Upgrading to Eero 7 Worth It? Detailed Comparison and Results

Summary

In this video, the user shares their experience with the new Eero Wi-Fi 7 hardware, comparing it to the previous Wi-Fi 6E setup. They highlight significant speed improvements, including faster throughput and better backhaul performance, particularly in challenging locations like concrete areas. With Wi-Fi 7, Eero devices deliver more power, optimizing performance even for non-Wi-Fi 7 client devices. The user also shares their son's upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, noting a doubling of backhaul performance. The video delves into the technological advances that make Wi-Fi 7 a substantial improvement over its predecessors, especially in terms of antenna efficiency and bandwidth utilization.

Takeaways

• 😀 The user was initially skeptical about the need for Wi-Fi 7 but was impressed by its speed improvements over Wi-Fi 6E.
• 😀 Wi-Fi 7 delivered speeds up to 150-200 Mbps faster than Wi-Fi 6E in the user's testing, even with non-Wi-Fi 7 client devices.
• 😀 In the user's house, Wi-Fi 7 increased download speeds from around 600 Mbps to 750-800 Mbps.
• 😀 The key benefit of Wi-Fi 7 lies in its improved backhaul performance, especially in difficult locations where wired connections aren't possible.
• 😀 Wi-Fi 7's ability to use all available bands simultaneously (instead of just one) significantly improves overall throughput.
• 😀 With Wi-Fi 7, the user saw a substantial increase in backhaul speeds to an outdoor patio—from 119 Mbps with Wi-Fi 6E to 275 Mbps with Wi-Fi 7.
• 😀 The engineers behind the Max 7 model of Eero access points explained three main improvements: higher transmit power, more efficient antenna design, and better overall receive performance.
• 😀 Despite having lower antenna gains, the Max 7's four antennas provide a 3dB better receive performance than older models with fewer antennas.
• 😀 Higher antenna gain typically benefits long-range or directional use cases, but in indoor settings, lower antenna gain allows more energy to be distributed across the space.
• 😀 Switching to Wi-Fi 7 also brought a noticeable improvement in backhaul performance for the user's son, who saw speeds jump from 250-300 Mbps to 600 Mbps after upgrading from Wi-Fi 6E.

Q & A

What prompted the user to test the Eero Wi-Fi 7 system?

The user was initially unsure about the need for Wi-Fi 7 and was asked by Eero to test the new system. After testing, the user noticed significant performance improvements compared to their previous Wi-Fi 6E setup.

How much faster were the speeds with Wi-Fi 7 compared to Wi-Fi 6E?

The user observed speeds that were 100-150 Mbps faster with the Eero Wi-Fi 7 system, with some areas of the house reaching 750-800 Mbps compared to 600 Mbps with Wi-Fi 6E.

What impact did the Wi-Fi 7 system have on backhaul performance?

Wi-Fi 7 significantly improved backhaul performance, with the user seeing speeds of 275 Mbps to a back patio where they previously had 119 Mbps with Wi-Fi 6E, even without wired backhaul.

How does Wi-Fi 7 differ from previous Wi-Fi technologies in terms of backhaul?

Wi-Fi 7 allows all available bands to be used simultaneously for backhaul, whereas older systems would only use one band at a time, improving performance and reducing congestion.

Why did the user's non-Wi-Fi 7 client devices experience faster speeds with the Eero Wi-Fi 7 system?

The user’s non-Wi-Fi 7 devices performed better due to three key factors: increased transmit power, lower antenna gains allowing for more power delivery to antennas, and improved receive performance from the access point's four antennas.

What is the effect of antenna gain on Wi-Fi performance in indoor settings?

In indoor settings, lower antenna gain is beneficial because it allows more power to be delivered into the space, whereas higher antenna gain is more useful in long-distance or directional settings.

What improvements did the user's son experience when moving from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 6E?

The user's son saw his backhaul performance double, going from 250-300 Mbps to 600 Mbps after upgrading from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 6E with the new Eero system.

What was one of the challenges in the user's home that required Wi-Fi 7?

The user had a location in their home where they couldn’t use wired backhaul, and Wi-Fi 7 helped overcome the challenge of providing strong Wi-Fi coverage to their back patio through a concrete wall.

How does the number of antennas affect Wi-Fi performance in Eero's Max 7 system?

The Eero Max 7 system uses four antennas, providing an average 3 dB better receive performance compared to devices with only two antennas, which enhances overall throughput.

What are the three key factors that made the Eero Max 7 system outperform older Wi-Fi systems?

The three factors are: increased transmit power, optimized antenna gain, and improved receiver performance from the additional antennas, all of which contributed to faster speeds and better coverage.