EIT Health Wild Card: Irish Startups Haon and Myndgard Among the Finalists
24/10/2023
Anker Soundcore Motion X500: A Portable Speaker with Spatial Audio Technology
27/10/2023Amazon Eero Max 7: The Fastest and Most Powerful Eero Mesh Wi-Fi Yet
Credit: Amazon
If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your home Wi-Fi network, you might want to check out the latest product from Amazon: the Eero Max 7. This is the first mesh Wi-Fi system from Eero that supports Wi-Fi 7, the newest and fastest wireless standard available. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what the Eero Max 7 can do, how it compares to other mesh Wi-Fi systems, and whether it’s worth the hefty price tag.
What Is Mesh Wi-Fi and Why Do You Need It?
Before we dive into the details of the Eero Max 7, let’s quickly review what mesh Wi-Fi is and why you might want to consider it for your home. Mesh Wi-Fi is a type of wireless network that uses multiple devices, called nodes or satellites, to create a seamless and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi routers that have a single access point and can suffer from signal loss or interference, mesh Wi-Fi systems can automatically route your data through the best path and frequency, ensuring optimal performance and stability.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems are ideal for larger homes, especially those with multiple floors or walls that can block or weaken the Wi-Fi signal. They are also great for homes with many devices that need to connect to the internet, such as smart TVs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart speakers, security cameras, and more. With mesh Wi-Fi, you can enjoy fast and consistent Wi-Fi speeds in every corner of your home, without worrying about dead zones or buffering.
What Is Wi-Fi 7 and How Does It Work?
Wi-Fi 7 is the latest generation of wireless technology that promises to deliver faster and more efficient Wi-Fi than ever before. It operates on the 6 GHz band, which is less congested and offers more bandwidth than the previous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It also supports wider channels (up to 320 MHz), multi-link operation (MLO), and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), which enable higher data rates, lower latency, and better network capacity.
Wi-Fi 7 is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, so you can still use your existing devices with a Wi-Fi 7 router. However, to take full advantage of the benefits of Wi-Fi 7, you’ll need devices that support it as well. Currently, there are not many devices that support Wi-Fi 7 on the market, but this is expected to change in the near future as more manufacturers adopt the new standard.
What Are the Features and Benefits of the Eero Max 7?
The Eero Max 7 is Amazon’s most advanced mesh Wi-Fi system yet, and it’s also one of the first to support Wi-Fi 7. Here are some of the features and benefits that make it stand out from other mesh Wi-Fi systems:
- Fast and powerful performance: The Eero Max 7 can deliver wireless speeds of up to 4.3 Gbps and wired speeds of up to 9.4 Gbps, thanks to its tri-band design that supports 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz radio bands. It also uses Eero’s patented TrueMesh technology to dynamically route your data through the fastest and most reliable path on your network.
- Large and flexible coverage: The Eero Max 7 can cover up to 2,500 square feet with a single node, or up to 7,500 square feet with a three-pack. You can also add more nodes as needed to extend your coverage further. The nodes are backward compatible with other Eero devices, so you can mix and match them according to your needs.
- Easy setup and management: The Eero Max 7 is very easy to set up and manage using the Eero app on your smartphone. You can monitor your network status, run speed tests, share your Wi-Fi password, create guest networks, pause internet access for specific devices or profiles, enable parental controls, and more.
- Smart home compatibility: The Eero Max 7 is not only a mesh Wi-Fi system but also a smart home hub that supports Zigbee, Thread, and Matter protocols. This means you can easily connect and control compatible smart home devices without needing additional hubs or bridges. You can also use Alexa voice commands to manage your network and devices.
- Extra features with subscription: The Eero Max 7 also offers optional subscription plans that provide additional features such as ad-blocking, malware protection, VPN integration, activity reports, advanced parental controls, and more.
Eero Max 7 marks Eero's inaugural foray into Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems, boasting impressive BE20800 speeds complemented by Eero's trusted software. Each Max 7 node is equipped with dual 10Gbps Ethernet and dual 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, allowing seamless connection of multiple wired devices to the network.
| Bands | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
| Coverage | 2,500 square feet per node |
| Speed | |
| Wi-Fi Protocols | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Security | WPA-3 |
| App | eero app |
| Ports | 2x 10GbE, 2x 2.5GbE |
| Network | Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 |
Pros
- Ultra-fast BE20800 tri-band Wi-Fi 7 speeds
- Compatible with all other Eeros
- Dual 10Gbps Ethernet ports
- Compact and attractive for the power
Cons
- Few advanced settings
- Many won't want to pay for Eero Plus
- Very expensive
What Are the Downsides of the Eero Max 7?
The Eero Max 7 is undoubtedly an impressive mesh Wi-Fi system that offers many advantages over traditional routers and extenders. However, it also has some downsides that you should be aware of before buying it. Here are some of the drawbacks of the Eero Max 7:
- High price: The Eero Max 7 is one of the most expensive mesh Wi-Fi systems on the market, costing $599.99 for a single node, $1,149.99 for a two-pack, and $1,699.99 for a three-pack. This is a hefty investment that might not be worth it for everyone, especially if you have a small home or a limited budget.
- Limited device support: The Eero Max 7 supports Wi-Fi 7, which is the newest and fastest wireless standard available. However, there are not many devices that support Wi-Fi 7 yet, so you might not be able to enjoy the full potential of the Eero Max 7 until more devices catch up with the new technology.
- Lack of advanced settings: The Eero Max 7 is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, which is great for most users who want a simple and hassle-free Wi-Fi experience. However, if you’re a power user who likes to tweak and customize your network settings, you might find the Eero Max 7 too restrictive and limited. For example, you can’t change the Wi-Fi channel, access the web interface, or use third-party firmware.
Is the Eero Max 7 Worth It?
The Eero Max 7 is a powerful and innovative mesh Wi-Fi system that can provide fast and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. It’s also one of the first to support Wi-Fi 7, which is the future of wireless technology. However, it’s also very expensive and might not be compatible with all your devices yet. Therefore, whether the Eero Max 7 is worth it or not depends on your needs, preferences, and budget.
If you have a large home with many devices that need a strong and consistent Wi-Fi connection, and you don’t mind paying a premium for the latest technology, then the Eero Max 7 might be a good choice for you. It can offer you a smooth and seamless Wi-Fi experience that can handle all your online activities, from streaming to gaming to working from home.
However, if you have a small home with fewer devices that don’t require very high speeds or features, or you’re looking for a more affordable or customizable option, then the Eero Max 7 might not be the best fit for you. You might be better off with a cheaper or more flexible mesh Wi-Fi system that can still meet your needs without breaking the bank or limiting your options.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you. The Eero Max 7 is an impressive product that showcases the potential of mesh Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 7, but it’s not for everyone. You should weigh the pros and cons carefully before buying it, and compare it with other mesh Wi-Fi systems on the market to find the best one for you.
