The tri-band eero Pro 6E can cover an entire home in Wi-Fi, has an easy setup procedure, and is reliable with autonomous operations. Having said that, if you want peak speed or to adjust settings, this is not the mesh kit to buy.
The single LAN port, lack of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), and lack of a USB connector for network-wide storage are downsides of the three-pack mesh kit, even if they should be sufficient for the average home.
However, the eero Pro 6E stands out from the competition because of its integrated Zigbee technology. The mesh router serves as the hub for integrating locks, lights, and cameras thanks to its ability to support a wide range of smart home equipment.
Does this home networking solution win due to its focus on smart homes, 2.5Gbps broadband input, and increased throughput from leveraging 6GHz data? Our eero Pro 6E review will assist you in determining whether or not this is among the best mesh routers.
Also, let’s not forget that you still need reliable internet, such as Wave Internet even if you have the best-performing router.
How is the eero Pro 6E Designed?
The white nodes have the same low-profile, curved design as prior eero devices and are identical. However, they are a little larger than eero’s 6 Plus nodes.
Each node has a small LED indicator that lights solid white and flashes blue during setup and solid white when everything is connected and functioning as it should. The node’s internet connection has been lost, as indicated by a red LED.
Two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports, one of which is a 2.5GbE port and the other a 1GbE port, are located around the rear, along with a USB-C power port. The usage of one of the ports for wired backhaul is possible.
The eero Pro 6E lacks the USB connectivity for printers and other devices that the Asus ZenWiFi ET8 mesh network offers, just as prior eero systems, given the fact that it requires a USB cable for power delivery.
How Speedy is the eero Pro 6E?
This AX5400 system has maximum theoretical 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz band speeds of 800Mbps, 2.3Gbps, and 2.3Gbps, respectively. It is also a Wi-Fi 6E system, which means it enables 6GHz data transfers in addition to 2.4GHz and 5GHz data transmissions.
It supports all of the most recent Wi-Fi 6 technologies, including 160MHz channel broadcasts, MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming, WPA3 encryption, and direct-to-client signal beamforming.
The eero Pro 6E features a dual-core 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB flash storage. It has a Zigbee radio that you may use to operate security locks, video cameras, and thermostats that are part of home automation systems.
Additionally, it supports the Thread networking protocol, which is intended to improve connectivity in smart homes.
How Similar is the eero Pro 6E to Its Predecessors?
The eero Pro 6E lacks free parental control and anti-malware software, similar to older eero systems, although you may purchase those features through an eero Secure subscription.
All of the features included in the Secure plan are also included in the Eero Secure Plus plan, along with Encrypt.me VPN, DDNS remote network access, Malwarebytes antivirus protection, and 1Password password management.
The user-friendly smartphone app on the eero Pro 6E is identical to that on preceding eero systems. When the program first launches, a home screen with panels for each connected node and internet connectivity appears.
You can examine upload and download speeds and run a speed test when you tap the internet panel. To view the node’s IP address, data rate, clients connecting to it, and other information, tap one of the node panels. You can also see the node’s connection type (wired or wireless).
How is the eero Pro 6E configured?
Eero is still using the same setup process that it has been doing for years. Its Android and iOS app is one of the quickest and simplest ways to build a mesh network.
There is also an app for Fire tablets because of its affiliation with Amazon. The program is perfect for beginning networkers because it provides step-by-step instructions, images, and explanations.
The Discover button leads you to a screen where you can set up the parental control and network security settings for Eero Secure and link the device to an Amazon Alexa account.
You may adjust network and guest network settings, passwords, and notification settings on the screen that is displayed when you click the Settings button. You may set up Port Forwarding, DNS, DDNS, and NAT settings in advanced network settings. You can also construct a Thread network for usage by smart home devices that support Thread.
All in All
The Eero Pro 6E may not be the fastest or have the greatest range, but it is simple to set up and has enough power to cover a medium-sized house in Wi-Fi.
It can provide a gigabit of data per second, thanks to its 2.5Gbps broadband input, 6GHz frequency, and automated optimization software that eases network congestion.
The downsides are that its available bandwidth quickly decreases and that its lone 1Gbps downstream port is inferior to those of the rivals. Despite lacking a USB connector, the eero Pro 6E’s Zigbee host enables any house to become a smart home.