Asus ZenWiFi BD4 (3-Pack) for $300: One of the first Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems from Asus that might be described as affordable, the BD4 looks like an interesting prospect on paper. Each unit has two 2.5-Gbps ports; installation was easy, and you get the usual subscription-free parental controls and security software. But is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh a good idea? You don’t get the faster 6-GHz band, and if you plan to use wireless backhaul, speeds will suffer for connected devices, although the BD4 can employ MLO to connect on both bands simultaneously. Sadly, I found the BD4 was erratic. A firmware update failed, and I had to factory reset, but I couldn’t log back in. My internet also dropped several times, and I had to keep resetting my modem. My experience with Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems from Asus so far has been frustratingly buggy. Your mileage may vary, and this system performed well when it worked, but I think more firmware improvements are required.
Netgear Orbi 870 (3-Pack) for $1,300: This tri-band mesh from Netgear is a step up on the 770 Series we recommend above, adding a 10-Gbps WAN/LAN port and doubling the bandwidth on the 5-GHz and 6-GHz bands. My experience with the 870 Series is best described as flawless. The setup was straightforward, performance was top-notch on every band and at various distances, and this mesh system was near the top of the table in all my tests. It also proved extremely stable and had no trouble covering my entire home and garden. The Netgear app is light on functionality, and keeping the security software and comprehensive parental controls after the free 30-day trial requires pricey subscriptions, but you don’t need them. The only reason the 870 doesn’t appear above is that the 770 is likely enough for most folks, but if your internet connection is faster than 2.5 Gbps, this is the mesh system I recommend.
Asus ZenWiFi BT8 Photograph: Simon Hill
Asus ZenWiFi BT8 (3-Pack) for $850: Based on its mostly stellar speed and range, the tri-band BT8 is a Wi-Fi 7 mesh worth considering. Sadly, the highs were hamstrung by inconsistent performance and perplexing intermittent lag, which made testing the BT8 a frustrating roller-coaster experience. A step down from the BT10 but still plenty fast enough for most folks with 2.5-Gbps or slower internet connections, the BT8 was a breeze to install, offered impressive speeds across all three bands, and delivered excellent range. Consider the subscription-free parental controls and security software, and the BT8 looks like a real contender. While the release firmware was poor, this system is now consistently stable, and Asus has started to offer tempting discounts.
Google Nest Wifi Pro Photograph: Simon Hill
Google Nest Wifi Pro (3-Pack) for $400: Mesh systems don’t come much simpler than this one. Google’s Nest Wifi Pro is a tri-band (2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz) Wi-Fi 6E system that works via Google Home, and each router sports two 1-gigabit ports. The setup is super simple, coverage and performance were solid and consistent, and my testing was refreshingly free from glitches and buffering, though WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu had issues that Google's customer support could not fix. The Nest Wifi Pro came mid-table in raw speed at short, mid, and long range, and settings in the Home app are very bare-bones. Disappointingly, it is not backward compatible with older Nest routers.
TP-Link Deco BE63 (3-Pack) for $470: TP-Link has stuck with the vase-like design that marks its Deco range for this tri-band mesh, and each has a stylized 7 on the front, lest you forget this is a Wi-Fi 7 system. Each router boasts four 2.5-Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port. This mesh was a solid performer in my tests, but couldn't match the Netgear Orbi 770 above. Folks with many legacy devices may prefer it to the Orbi 770 because you can separate the SSIDs (though it also supports MLO). The UK version of this system is the BE65 (£450), but it isn't quite as strong a performer as the BE63 because of limitations on the 6-GHz band in the UK. Frequent deep discounts make this even more tempting for folks looking to try their first Wi-Fi 7 mesh.