Mesh routers are becoming more popular than ever, especially in homes with multiple levels where WiFi connections can be inconsistent. Many mesh routers have complicated set-up processes that intimidate people, especially if networking isn’t their forte. That’s part of what makes the Eero 6+ so appealing: it’s incredibly easy to set up and use, living up to Amazon’s ideal of frustration-free setup. Combine that with improved internals over the previous model, and you have a router that reaches higher speeds with greater bandwidth than ever before. Want to learn more? Read our Eero 6+ review to find out what makes this router so impressive.
I’ve set up mesh routers in the past, and the process isn’t always easy — but the Eero 6+ could not have gone smoother. The process is simple: disconnect your modem from power, connect the Eero to your modem via Ethernet, plug in the Eero, and plug in your modem. The Eero app provides a step-by-step guide for you to follow. Enable Bluetooth to pair your phone with the Eero router, after which it finishes setup automatically.
Patrick Hearn | SPY
Positioning is made simple thanks to the app. It tells you if the location you’ve placed the Eero 6+ is a good choice or whether its signal output is blocked by an obstacle (like a TV or metal wall.) After the first Eero is set up, you can easily add the second one anywhere else you’d like in your house to extend your network even further. Again, unlike some mesh routers I’ve used in the past, the second device was immediately active. My devices connected automatically to the Eero closest to them.
The Eero 6+ is not only a WiFi 6 router but also a router that provides access to the 160 Mhz channel on the 5 GHz band. What does that mean for the average person? It’s fast. Really fast.
The Eero 6+ supports speeds up to one gigabit per second and has two auto-sensing gigabit ports for a local or wide-area network. If you’re connecting a game console or PC to the Eero 6+ through Ethernet, these ports will give you the highest speeds and lowest latency.
After setup, I performed a speed test in my bedroom — a room I’ve never had a great signal in. My WiFi speeds are usually cut down by at least 80% in the bedroom, which makes streaming anything difficult. The speed test results were 955 Mbps down, 42 Mbps up; in other words, about 95% of the Eero 6+’s supported speeds. That’s a great result considering my maximum speed is 1.2 Gbps over Ethernet. The results were similar across the rest of the house, though I did get faster results the closer I was to the Eero itself.
Courtesy of Amazon
In addition to blazing-fast internet, the Eero 6+ works as a smart home hub. This allows Alexa to control Thread and Zigbee devices throughout your home, and you can enable the Eero Skill within Alexa to control your WiFi itself with just your voice. You can pause the connection for individual devices and profiles, or you can block access entirely; for example, at dinnertime. There’s also one fantastic inclusion that many companies overlook: you can turn off the LED on the router when you go to sleep so there’s no pesky light in your room.
Selecting any device within the Eero app will show you which WiFi band it’s connected to, as well as when it was last active. When possible, Eero automatically identifies the type of device, its manufacturer and more. You can choose to block devices from this menu or assign them to a specific user profile to limit their permissions and allowed connectivity time.
Security
Eero includes an optional subscription to Eero Secure+, a service that’s chock-full of advanced safety features to keep you safe while browsing. Among these are:
Network-wide adblocking
Blocking or whitelisting specific websites on a per-profile basis
SafeSearch
Profile-specific content filtering
Data usage charts
VIP tech support that shortens wait times
A unique Eero domain to hide your IP address
1Password
Encrypt.me
Malwarebytes
The best part is that Eero Secure+ is affordable at just $9.99 per month, or $99 per year — a lot better than some security plans. There is also a lower-tier version called Eero Secure that’s just $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. It has all the same features but doesn’t provide 1Password, Encrypt.me, Malwarebytes or remote network access.
The Eero 6+ performs automatic scans of your networks and blocks any detected threats, maintaining a log of these events within the Activity tab at the bottom of the screen. It provides such granular control of your network that you can block access to sites like Reddit for your children while still allowing yourself access. For those that are blocked, it will just look like the site is down. The inclusion of a network-wide ad blocker is always a plus, too.
Our Verdict
The Eero 6+ provides the experience every router should have: effortless setup and operation. You don’t have to think about it once it’s up and running, and it does all of this for an affordable price point. Amazon has said they will offer a single-router package in the future if you don’t need two routers in your home, but it’s not yet available. The high speeds and great bandwidth, combined with all the security features, make the Eero 6+ an easy option for anyone that needs a router.
Patrick Hearn | SPY
So Should You Buy It?
After reading through our Eero 6+ review, that should be obvious. The answer is: absolutely. You receive two routers for the price of a single higher-end router that provide the same or greater levels of performance when streaming, gaming and much more.
Pros:
Supports more than 75 connected devices
Provides dual-band WiFi 6
Robust security features keep you safe while browsing
Easy setup
Cons:
Only supports up to 1-gigabit speeds
Security features are locked behind a subscription
The Eero 6+ has no moving parts and shouldn’t be moved around your home too often. The risk of it falling is low, and its build is solid. Under normal use, it should last for years to come. Should something go wrong, Amazon provides a 30-day return window and a one-year warranty.
What Are Some of the Alternatives?
At this price point, there aren’t a lot of mesh routers that compete with Eero for the same capabilities, but you do have options.
Nest WiFi Mesh System
The Nest WiFi system can handle up to 200 connected devices at the same time — more than double the Eero 6+ — and cover up to 4,400 square feet.
