Best mesh Wi-Fi system 2024: get the best mesh Wi-Fi for you

Wave goodbye to wireless network woes with one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems on the market in 2024

The Netgear Orbi NBK752 router on a table
The Netgear Orbi NBK752
(Image credit: Netgear)

If you want one of the best mesh Wi-Fi networks of 2024, then you're in the right place:  we'll guide you to the best products on the market at the moment, opening up a future of stable, speedy Wi-Fi you can rely on wherever you are in your house.

These mesh networks make use of several different units scattered around the home, blanketing the place that you live in with wireless connectivity and cutting out any dead zones with no signal along the way.

The way that they work means these systems may be better for you than one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers, especially if you're living in a larger home or you've got lots of different devices that need to be connected simultaneously.

Starting your search can feel rather daunting, but we'll guide you through all the specs, features and jargon you need to know about. We want to make choosing the best mesh router system for your needs as straightforward as possible.

While you’re here, if you’re kitting out your setup, check out our guides to the best webcams, best office chairs and best NAS drives so that your home office is fully equipped for best experience.

Best mesh Wi-Fi systems you can buy 2024: The top 3

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The best premium mesh Wi-Fi system is the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12. It's fairly pricey, sure, but with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity it's future-proofed for the very fastest of speeds, and it excels in most areas.

The best mesh Wi-Fi system for most people is the Amazon Eero Pro 6E. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard, it's really easy to set up and configure, and it offers lots of coverage.

The best cheap mesh Wi-Fi system is the Google Nest Wifi. It doesn't support the very latest Wi-Fi standards, but that means you save a substantial chunk of cash, and it has Google Assistant on board.

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 (Lego Minifig for scale)T3 Best Buy badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best premium mesh network with Wi-Fi 6E

Specifications

Connection: : Tri-band WiFi 6E (802.11ax)

Reasons to buy

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Future-proofed Wi-Fi 6E
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Tri-band support

Reasons to avoid

-
You might not like its looks

Looking for something almost magic? The Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is a high-level Wi-Fi 6E mesh system, which is the latest and greatest standard of Wi-Fi, capable of the fastest speeds. That means you'll future-proof your setup when more 6E-capable products come to market.

As we said in our review: "The Asus ZenWifi Pro ET12 is clearly one of the better systems out there – both in terms of the performance and features of the units – making it a real future-proof winner in the world of mesh routers". 

Sure, it'll cost you a fair whack of change, and if you don't really need the Wi-Fi 6E capability then you can avoid it for one of the more affordable and better-suited options below. But if money is no object then Asus' system is mighty impressive.

Amazon Eero Pro 6E best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best mesh Wi-Fi system for most people

Specifications

Connection: Tri-band AX5400

Reasons to buy

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Connect lots of devices
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Really easy to set up
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Acts as a smart home centre

Reasons to avoid

-
Eero Secure is extra
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Not the widest coverage

The Amazon Eero Pro 6E is the latest compact mesh system from Amazon, and it offers what most people are looking for: something that's simple to set up, something that works in a straightforward way, and something that offers fast and reliable Wi-Fi. It's one of the most user friendly options out there right now.

All that good stuff makes us think this is the best mesh network for most people. Sure, other entries in this list will win out in terms of raw performance or the square metres that are covered, but they'll also be more expensive, more difficult to configure, or both. With Wi-Fi 6E supported, this system hits a really sweet spot.

It'll even double up as a Zigbee hub and does double duty as the centre of your entire smart home, and with three bands to use, you can connect loads of devices. It is on the expensive side, so if you're counting the pennies you might want to go for the more affordable standard Eero set that sticks with two bands and Wi-Fi 6.

Google Nest Wifi best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Future)
The best cheap mesh Wi-Fi network

Specifications

Connection: Dual-band AC2200

Reasons to buy

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Fast and reliable connection
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Built-in Google Assistant
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Won't cost you much at all

Reasons to avoid

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No Ethernet ports
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No Wi-Fi 6 support

As you can tell from our Google Nest Wifi review, we're quite taken by Google's Wi-Fi networking kit – it's fast, reliable, offers decent coverage, and the satellite nodes come with Google Assistant built-in (so they're effectively mini smart speakers). What's more, the software is as polished as you would expect from Google.

The app lets you do everything from measuring signal strength to stopping the kids from staying on the internet for too long. Setup is very easy too, which is always something we like to see. There's no Wi-Fi 6 support here, but you might not need that, and it means the mesh system is very affordable compared to other options.

According to Google, a two-pack Nest Wifi hub is good for 210 square metres (2,260 square feet) of coverage, and in our testing we found it had impressive reach and low latency – it can even work alongside an existing Wi-Fi network to add a second one. Be sure to check out our Amazon Eero vs Google Nest Wifi feature as well.


Best mesh Wi-Fi networks 2024: Best of the rest

NETGEAR Orbi Wi-Fi 6E RBKE963 best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Future)
The best hyper-premium mesh Wi-Fi system

Specifications

Connection : Quad-band Wi-Fi 6E

Reasons to buy

+
Mesh router and extension nodes are super stylish
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Netgear Orbi app is feature packed and easy to use

Reasons to avoid

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Very, very expensive
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Netgear Armor security software costs after free trial

In many ways this model would be our number one pick, because it's so very advanced that you cannot call it the best mesh Wi-Fi system in the world. But that comes with an inevitable steep price tag.

As we note in our Netgear Orbi Wi-Fi 6E (RBKE963) review, this system delivers awesome performance across the board as it was the world's first quad-band mesh Wi-Fi 6E system. In layman's terms this means that you get next-gen speeds, connectivity, range and device capacity.

In terms of speed, this system delivers a maximum of 10.8Gbps (incredible!) and a simply monstrous 700 square metres coverage area (you can buy more satellites, too, up to 6 and extend this coverage up to a mind-blowing 1,625 square metres!). You can hook up 250 devices to the RBKE963's network, which is more devices than even the most die-hard technophile will own.

The price, of course, is a serious blocker to an instant purchase. But if you can afford it and want the best, then you're looking at the emperor of mesh networking products.

Eero 6 best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
A more affordable mesh Wi-Fi network

Specifications

Connection: Dual-band AX3000

Reasons to buy

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Strong and stable Wi-Fi
+
App is polished and professional
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Cover up to 460 square metres

Reasons to avoid

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Security extras require a subscription
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No Ethernet ports on extenders

We featured the Pro version of this set above, but the standard Eero 6 is still well worth considering: it isn't quite the fastest option out there, nor does it offer the most advanced features, but it's a compelling blend of performance and features at the right price, and it's going to appeal to people with more modest requirements.

As we said in our review: "the Eero 6 is going to be more than enough for the needs of most users – and its value-for-money, stable performance and simplicity make it stand out."

It's also really easy to set up and has one of the most intuitive and polished apps that we've come across in all our years of mesh Wi-Fi network testing. You can pause internet access, set up a guest network for your friends, and much more besides, all with a few taps on your phone. 

If you're looking for something that can be configured in minutes and that 'just works' – and we expect that most of you are – then you can't do very much better than Amazon's Eero 6 system. 

Netgear Orbi NBK752 best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best mesh Wi-Fi system with added 5G

Specifications

Connection: : Tri-band AX4200

Reasons to buy

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Lots of customisation options
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Great speed and coverage
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Combines 5G with Wi-Fi 6

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the easiest setup
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Costs quite a bit

The big selling point when it comes to the Netgear Orbi NBK752 is that there's room for a 5G SIM, so you can connect it up to a cellular network as well as a Wi-Fi one – if your broadband should go down for whatever reason, or you don't have great broadband speeds in your area, then the 5G network is always available too.

As you would expect from the Orbi brand from Netgear, this is a very powerful mesh network system, one that gives you plenty of configuration and customisation options. Wi-Fi 6 is supported, and you're able to cover a substantial area with just two boxes – and you've got Ethernet ports to make use of if you need to as well.

The downside is that this is going to cost you quite a bit, and that's before you've taken into account the cost of a 5G data subscription from whatever phone network you prefer. If you do have the budget for it however, we think that the Netgear Orbi NBK752 is a powerful and professional system that's one of the best around.

Huawei Wi-Fi Mesh 7 best mesh Wi-FiT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
One of the best price vs performance mesh Wi-Fi systems

Specifications

Connection: Tri-band AX6600

Reasons to buy

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Solid and reliable performance
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Relatively affordable price point
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Lots of wired ports available

Reasons to avoid

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Setup can be fiddly
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Quite an uninspiring design

Get the Huawei Wi-Fi Mesh 7 system set up in your home and you're guaranteed some smooth, speedy, stable wireless internet all the way around the rooms you live in. While the setup process could be a little bit more straightforward, there's no doubting the quality and performance of this Wi-Fi 6 offering from Huawei.

We also like the four wired Ethernet ports that you get on both units here, which is perfect if you have devices like consoles within range that you absolutely need the very best speeds for. There's a simple web interface that you can access that does the job of keeping you informed about your system and your connected devices.

While there's no Wi-Fi 6E support on offer here, many normal people are going to do just fine with Wi-Fi 6, and the tri-band configuration means more room on the network for your various gadgets (and a more stable link between the two Huawei units). Clearly one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems that you can buy at the moment.

TP-Link Deco X90 (AX6600) reviewT3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Future)
A great mesh Wi-Fi network for large homes

Specifications

Connection: AX6600 Tri-Band WiFi

Reasons to buy

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Connect up to 200 devices
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Impressive speeds and coverage
+
Easy to manage and monitor

Reasons to avoid

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Extra subscription cost for HomeShield Pro 
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Expensive to buy

If you live in a large home with lots of people and lots of connected devices, the TP-Link Deco X90 (AX6600) will be one of the best mesh networks for you. It’s a tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system that can reach maximum speeds of a whopping 6600Mbps - and you’ll be able to have up to 200 devices connected to it at once too!

In our testing, it was an absolute marvel at boosting coverage and eliminating Wi-Fi weak spots. You can have someone stream 4K video in one room and play online games in another without any problems at all. So if you have three or more bedrooms then this mesh network option will make a world of difference. 

The best part about it is just how easy it is. There’s no finicky set-up you just plug them in, log in to the Deco smartphone app and name your network. That’s literally all you need to do, it takes a matter of minutes. 

Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Orbi RBK353T3 Approved badge


(Image credit: Future)
The best affordable Orbi mesh Wi-Fi system

Specifications

Connection: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6

Reasons to buy

+
Wi-Fi 6 support
+
Easy to set up
+
Smaller Orbi units

Reasons to avoid

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Only dual-band
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Very white and plastic
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Slightly clunky app

There are numerous Orbi packages to pick from and this is the most affordable. However, you do miss out on some advanced features (it's dual-band rather than tri-band, for example), but there is support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard.

As we said in our review: the units in this pack are smaller than they are in other Orbi systems, so they're easier to place around the house. As usual with Netgear hardware, everything is very straightforward to set up and configure – basically all you have to do is plug the boxes in, install the app, and follow the instructions.

With total speeds of 1,800 Mbps possible (though your broadband will probably fall far short of that), and coverage for around 488 square metres (with the three-pack option), this is a mesh networking system that you can rely on for getting dozens of devices online.

TP-Link Deco Voice X20 (AX1800) reviewT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Future)
The best mesh Wi-Fi network with Amazon Alexa built-in

Specifications

Connection: Dual-band AX1800

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent speeds and coverage
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Amazon Alexa built-in
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Easy to set up and use

Reasons to avoid

-
Speaker quality is just okay
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Expensive for what it is

If you want a reliable mesh network then the TP-Link Deco Voice X20 will provide Wi-Fi 6 coverage across your home, boosting speeds and eliminating weak spots - it may not be the most powerful out there, but for most households it’ll do everything you need it to and more. 

That's not all this networking kit can do though. When it comes to smart features, they don’t get much smarter than this because there's Amazon Alexa speakers built-in. You can ask Alexa from anywhere in your home, as well as expand your Wi-Fi network, all in one go. And while saving on space and wall sockets. 

To manage and monitor your network from any location, you’ll just need to open up the Deco app, which is very easy to use and gives you loads of control over who or what is connected and when. It's super smart.

What is a mesh network?

Rather than having one router serving up Wi-Fi to your home, these mesh network routers and nodes give you several access points, blanketing all the rooms in your home with the wireless internet connectivity you need – Netflix need never be interrupted by the buffering symbol again.

What's more, now is a great time to be shopping for one of the best mesh networks, as hardware manufacturers continue to introduce price drops and deals, even on newer systems. Let's take a more detailed look at what mesh networks are, and how to choose the best mesh network for your home.

Best mesh network map showing coverage between nodes

Mesh networking helps you eradicate connectivity dead zones in your home.

How to buy the best mesh Wi-Fi system for you

Bear in mind that there are other ways to extend your Wi-Fi and get rid of dead zones around the home, including Wi-Fi extenders and Powerline adapters. Before you start splurging cash on the best mesh Wi-Fi network gear, make sure a mesh networking kit is definitely the right choice for you.

It's easy to see the appeal of mesh networks: they're fast, reliable, and easy to set up (it's almost as if tech companies are waking up to how easy home Wi-Fi should be). Even if you've never had to configure your own wireless network before, the best mesh networking kits make it all very straightforward.

On a technical level, these mesh networks are made up of little Wi-Fi 'nodes' that talk to each other and get as a strong a signal as possible out to all your devices. As far as your devices are concerned, it's just one consistent wireless network.

Look for the speed, often written as something like AC2200 – that's the type of Wi-Fi (AC) and theoretical maximum speed (2,200 Mbps), though you probably won't get that in reality. You'll also need to decide on a number of nodes: two should do most homes, but bigger places might need more.

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is the Tech Editor and AV Editor at T3.com. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 and, as a phones expert, has seen hundreds of handsets over the years – swathes of Android devices, a smattering of iPhones, and a batch of Windows Phone products (remember those?). But that's not all, as a tech aficionado his beat for T3 also covers tablets, laptops, gaming, home cinema, TVs, speakers and more – there's barely a stone unturned that he's not had a hand on. Previously the Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for a 10 years, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more. In addition to his tech knowledge, Mike is also a flights and travel expert, having travelled the globe extensively. You'll likely find him setting up a new mobile phone, critiquing the next MacBook, all while planning his next getaway... or cycling somewhere.

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