But it’s those challengers who have innovated the most. Today’s hero could be tomorrow’s has-been, as established brands like Linksys and Netgear try to one-up each other while simultaneously fending off new challengers such as Eero (now owned by Amazon) and Google.
Innovation is one of the biggest upsides of this dynamic, and confusion its biggest downside. Twin and sometimes conflicting demands for high performance and ease of use are powering a thriving and rapidly evolving market. Best mesh Wi-Fi system for smart homes: Samsung SmartThings Wifi.Best budget mesh Wi-Fi system: TP-Link Deco M5.Best mesh Wi-Fi system: Netgear Orbi RBK50.We pick the best mesh systems here, because even those of us fortunate enough to have ethernet drops everywhere have devices-smartphones and tablets, for instance-that depend on Wi-Fi to connect to the home network and the internet. You can deploy a mesh Wi-Fi router without any satellites, but you’d be losing out on all the coverage benefits that mesh technology provides. If you’re suffering with low wireless throughput or dead spots in any area of your home, we heartily recommend deploying a mesh network consisting of a Wi-Fi router with one or more satellite nodes that you sprinkle around your home, because it will blanket your home with coverage. A great wireless router is an essential element of tech life, whether you’re building out a smart home or you just want the best experience streaming music and video at home.
