Pros & Cons
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- Supports Wi-Fi 6
- Integrated Zigbee smart home hub
- Alexa compatible
- Nice price
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- Modest performance claims
- Dual band means no support for Wi-Fi 6E
Editors' Note: This is the latest version of the Eero 6. Read our most recent review from November 3, 2020 below.
When Amazon recently announced that it was upgrading its Eero router line, the big news was support for the new Wi-Fi 6 standard. That's certainly a step up from when we tested the Eero line last year, where it just climbed into the top half of finishers in our Wi-Fi mesh networking roundup. However, Amazon is looking to set the Eero line further ahead in its newest incarnation by adding a slew of goodies to make it more attractive, including a built-in smart home hub, additional and optional security layers, and a very nice price.
Compared to our other mesh-capable wireless routers, the Eero 6 line is between $100 and $200 cheaper than a lot of the current competition we've tested. Part of what makes this possible is that Amazon has kept performance expectations low for the Eero 6, claiming it's intended for households with up to a 500 megabit per second (Mbps) connection to the Internet. That's still a big swath of the current broadband market, for which Amazon now has a very attractive price point that can also claim Wi-Fi 6 compatibility. For those with faster connections, there's the Eero Pro 6, which can handle Internet pipes with Gigabit-level throughput, though otherwise it's very similar to the Eero 6.
A basic Eero 6 router will cost you only $129 and should cover up to 1,500 square feet, according to Amazon. If you opt for a "two-pack," you'll get a router and and one extender, which will cost $199 and cover up to 3,000 square feet. Finally, there's the "three-pack," which will run $279 and cover up to 5,000 square feet. Additional extenders can be had for $89 each. None of that qualifies for our Budget Router roundup, but as far as superior wireless mesh systems go, those are among the lowest prices we've seen to date.
Wi-Fi 6 and Zigbee
And to make things even sweeter, Amazon's included a Zigbee-compatible smart home hub as part of the router. That means Zigbee devices (including smart bulbs, locks, and appliances to name just a few) can now plug directly into your network without the need for another hub device. The Eero 6 is also Alexa-compatible, so you'll be able to control some functions of the router, like parental controls, using voice commands as part of an Alexa skill. Finally, like most mesh systems, the Eeros can be controlled via a mobile app that'll let you not only setup the system, but also control all network functions whether or not you're on-premises at the time.
Security is Amazon's last deal sweetener, with the core Eero line offering two optional security subscriptions. A Basic tier that will cost $2.99 per month adds more advanced parental controls and privacy capabilities. Then there's the higher-end Eero Secure+ tier, which will run you $9.99 per month, but will add Malwarebytes malware protection at the router, 1Password password management, and a router-level Encrypt.me virtual private network (VPN).
While the sub-500 Mbps Internet numbers might put off some buyers at first glance, check how fast your Internet connection really is before passing (try the free Ookla speed test if you're interested). If you're like most U.S. customers, those numbers will probably suit you just fine, and you'll get full Wi-Fi 6 speeds on your internal network anyway plus that host of add-on capabilities all at one of the lowest prices we've ever seen for a wireless mesh system. We'll be running the new Eeros through PC Labs router testing suite soon, but you can order them immediately as the Eero 6 line became available on November 2, 2020.