eero Wi-Fi 6 Preview
Originally Posted: September 24th, 2020
Last Updated: April 19th, 2022
eero Wi-Fi 6 Preview
The following article is a preview of the products from when they were originally launched in September 2020. For an updated comparison and speed test results, see my full review of the eero 6+ and eero Pro 6E.
Today, Amazon unveiled 3 new models of eero with support for Wi-Fi 6. The lineup looks a lot like what it replaced. There’s a basic model, a Pro model, and a mesh extender. The big improvement is the jump to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) over Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), but there are a few other changes as well. The new models add support for Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy, and have a built-in Zigbee smart home hub. It’s unclear if they will support HomeKit on release, but that will probably be added in a later software update after Apple certifies it.
I won’t be able to fully review these until they are released in November. For now let's look at the new models, and the improvements that Wi-Fi 6 will bring.
The new Eero Pro 6 and Eero 6. Image credit: eero.com
Brief Tour of the New Eero Family
Existing Wi-Fi 5 models
eero
eero Pro
eero Beacon
New Wi-Fi 6 models
eero 6
eero Pro 6
eero 6 Extender
If you’re not familiar with eero, I’ve already wrote about how to setup an eero, reviewed the eero Pro with gigabit speeds, and compared the two models. Most of what I wrote in those posts will apply to the new models as well. TL;DR: eero makes mesh Wi-Fi systems that are easy to use and have great range.
The formula for the Wi-Fi 6 models is the same as the older Wi-Fi 5 models. You have two options for your main unit: non-Pro or Pro. The basic eero is a dual-band device, supporting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The Pro model adds another 5 GHz radio. Either of these can act as your gateway, and have two gigabit Ethernet ports for your Internet connection or a downstream device. Power comes from an included USB-C power adapter, and you manage them on your smartphone with the eero app.
In addition to the two new gateways, there’s also the new eero 6 Extender which replaces the eero Beacon. Despite the name change, the Beacon and the Extender do the same thing. They both lack Ethernet ports, so they cannot act as your gateway. Instead, these extend your eero network and help expand its range. No matter which models you pick, all of the various eero units join together to form one mesh Wi-Fi network.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting Wi-Fi 6 Mesh
Starting with the obvious, Wi-Fi 6 is faster than Wi-Fi 5. In ideal conditions you can roughly expect a 25% improvement in speeds. Of course, there are asterisks on that 25% improvement. Wi-Fi is complicated, and there is no guarantee that 25% is going to apply universally. Beyond higher numbers on a speed test, there’s a lot of other benefits. Most of the changes in Wi-Fi 6 don’t focus on improving speeds, but rather improving efficiency. The biggest improvements in Wi-Fi 6 relate to dense networks, and handling more Wi-Fi devices at one time. For dense networks, throughput speeds can be up to 4 times higher than Wi-Fi 5.
If you’re interested in some of the nitty gritty nerdy details, this paragraph is for you. Wi-Fi 6 has better power control methods to avoid interference with neighboring networks. Wi-Fi 6 uses OFDMA, higher order 1024-QAM modulation, bi-directional MU-MIMO, and more spatial streams to increase throughput. Wi-Fi 6 is more reliable, and it has lower power consumption thanks to a feature called Target Wake Time. Security also improves, thanks to WPA3. Chris Hoffman has a good article on HowToGeek if you’re interested in even more nerdy details.
If I lost you there, all you need to know is the Wi-Fi 6 is faster and better than Wi-Fi 5. The Wi-Fi 5 eero and eero Pro are still some of the best Wi-Fi mesh kits I’ve tested. The eero app is polished and makes setup and maintenance easy. Eeros have good range, performance, and do a lot of smart things behind the scene to make your mesh network perform how it should. I expect the same from their Wi-Fi 6 devices, but I won’t know for sure until November.
What about Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 standard, which adds support for the newly unlocked 6 GHz spectrum. In the US, the FCC voted to allow the use of the 6 GHz spectrum back in April 2020. Other countries and regions are still working through their own regulatory processes to make it available globally. Since Wi-Fi 6E simply extends the Wi-Fi 6 protocol into new spectrum, it doesn’t require as much research and development as a whole new Wi-Fi standard. However, regulatory processes and creating new technology takes a lot of time. The IEEE started working on the Wi-Fi 6 standard back in 2014, and it still isn’t officially ratified.
For Wi-Fi 6E, new chipsets will need to be made, antennas will need to be tweaked, devices will need to be developed, tested, certified, and released. Since this is US-only for now, Wi-Fi 6E may be slowly developed and adopted. It will probably be expensive. If Wi-Fi 6E is anything like the rollout of Wi-Fi 6, the first access points may not even be that good! These things take years to design, release, and perfect. I wouldn’t expect Wi-Fi 6E devices to be common or cost-effective any time soon.
Wi-Fi 6E could be a great improvement for high-density networks, but it is unlikely to make a large difference in most people’s homes. Think about Wi-Fi in a convention center, or a stadium — that’s where the extra spectrum from Wi-Fi 6E will be most relevant.
In my opinion, most average home users should not hold off on their network upgrades due to Wi-Fi 6E coming at some point in the future. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is also under development, and there’s always going to be something better coming. Technology buying decisions are complicated and personal, and that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself. If you’re happy with your current network setup, waiting might make sense. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for a new home network, now is a good time to purchase some Wi-Fi 6 gear.
Available for Preorder
Getting back to eero, the new Wi-Fi 6 models are available for preorder starting today, and they’ll launch November 2nd. Pricing and availability vary by region, but in the US the following is available:
eero 6 - $129
eero 6 + Extender - $199
eero 6 + two Extenders - $279
eero Pro 6 - $229
Three eero Pro 6 - $599
Full eero 6 Spec Comparison
Basic Gateways
eero (old) - $99
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Speed Rating: AC1300
Number of Radios: 2 (dual-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2
Physical Interfaces: 2 Gigabit Ethernet
Recommended Coverage Area: 1500 square feet
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 550 Mbps
Smart Home Hub: No
Bluetooth: 4.1 LE
Zigbee Support: No
Alexa Support: Yes
eero 6 (new) - $129
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Speed Rating: AX1800
Number of Radios: 2 (dual-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2
Physical Interfaces: 2 Gigabit Ethernet
Recommended Coverage Area: 1500 square feet
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 900 Mbps
Smart Home Hub: Yes
Bluetooth: 5.0 LE
Zigbee Support: Yes
Alexa Support: Yes
Pro Gateways
eero Pro (old) - $199
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Speed Rating: AC2200
Number of Radios: 3 (tri-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2 and 2x2
Physical Interfaces: 2 Gigabit Ethernet
Recommended Coverage Area: 1750 square feet
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 1 Gbps
Smart Home Hub: No
Bluetooth: 4.2 LE
Zigbee Support: No
Alexa Support: Yes
eero Pro 6 (new) - $229
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Speed Rating: AX4200
Number of Radios: 3 (tri-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2 and 4x4
Physical Interfaces: 2 Gigabit Ethernet
Recommended Coverage Area: 2000 square feet
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 1 Gbps
Smart Home Hub: Yes
Bluetooth: 5.0 LE
Zigbee Support: Yes
Alexa Support: Yes
Mesh Units
eero Beacon (old) - $149
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Speed Rating: AX1300
Number of Radios: 2 (dual-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2
Physical Interfaces: None
Recommended Coverage Area: 1500 square feet (adds to existing eero network)
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 350 Mbps
Smart Home Hub: No
Bluetooth: No
Zigbee Support: No
Alexa Support: Yes
eero 6 Extender (new) - $89
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Speed Rating: AX1800
Number of Radios: 2 (dual-band)
2.4 GHz: 2x2
5 GHz: 2x2
Physical Interfaces: None
Recommended Coverage Area: 1500 square feet (adds to existing eero network)
Recommended with ISP speeds: up to 500 Mbps
Smart Home Hub: No
Bluetooth: No
Zigbee Support: No
Alexa Support: Yes
