Best mesh Wi-Fi routers of 2026: Our top picks after testing range and speed

We test a lot of routers at CNET HQ — networking and otherwise — so we’re constantly updating our roundups of the best systems on the market. I’ll blog about any new mesh systems we test here as we go along, as well as a quick summary of my takeaways. Please note that this list includes several systems tested in my home rather than our most recent test setups.

Ares Skateboard Max AX6600: A high-power Wi-Fi 6 system with an upright cylinder design, the Surfboard Max Pro was able to deliver fast speeds to other Wi-Fi 6 devices in my tests, but performance was inconsistent with previous-generation Wi-Fi 5 devices. I didn’t like it either Ethernet The plugs are located at the bottom of the device, which forces you to bend your cables to the extreme to connect the router.

Asus Zenwifi XD6: The middle child of Asus’ family of Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, the ZenWifi XD6 is a dual-band mesh system. It won’t give you the ZenWifi XT8’s tri-band design, and you won’t get a multi-Giga Ethernet socket for this system. However, the system performed as well as any dual-band mesh router I tested when I first reviewed it, so it’s not a bad choice by any means. Available for around $150, it’s a reasonable price for a high-performance system.

Asus Zenwifi XT8: One of the most powerful ZenWifi systems, the tri-band XT8 performed well in our speed tests, and was among the first mesh routers to include multiple mesh Ethernet WAN ports on each device. Available in two packs For $260the former CNET Innovation Award winner, is a reasonable alternative, but not as valuable as the Netgear Orbi 870 or Eero 7.

Aero 6: Amazon’s first mesh Wi-Fi 6 router, the Eero 6 hit the market back in 2020, but it didn’t blow us away during our testing. The Eero systems that followed performed much better in my speed tests, and they offer the same smart home perks, like the built-in radios of Zigbee and Thread.

Aero Pro 6E: The Eero Pro 6E did an excellent job in our speed tests, coming out on top in almost every category while offering a noticeable speed increase for Wi-Fi 6E devices that can connect over the 6GHz band. The Eero 7 is the better value for most households, but if you’re a power user of Wi-Fi 6E with gigabit speeds at home, upgrading to the Eero Pro 6E is worth strong consideration.

Max 7 application: It’s Amazon’s latest, biggest, and most expensive Eero mesh system, and it adds support for Wi-Fi 7, the new Wi-Fi standard that promises to build on Wi-Fi 6E’s foray into the 6GHz band. In our speed tests, the Max 7 was able to reach blazing-fast speeds, but at over $1,000 for a two-pack, you’re better off spending less on the Orbi 870.

Linksys Velop MX2000: Available in two packs For $150The Linksys Velop MX2000, also known as the Velop Atlas 6, is decent enough as basic Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, but you’ll find better value and faster speeds if you shop around.

Nest WiFi Pro: Nest Wifi Pro mesh router Recreates the original Nest Wifi offering By ditching the built-in Google Assistant smart speakers and adding access to the 6GHz band via Wi-Fi 6E support. With its built-in Thread Radio and powerful smart home controls via the Google Home app, this is a good choice for smart home enthusiasts, and it performed as stable as I saw in my speed tests. However, those speeds were a bit lackluster, and the system also lacked backward compatibility with previous Nest Wifi and Google Wifi devices. in $400 for three packagesIt’s a bit expensive for such middle-of-the-road performance.

Netgear Orbi AX6000: Originally released as the Netgear Orbi 850 Series, and recently updated to the 860 Series, both generations of Netgear’s flagship AX6000 mesh router deliver solid performance, but I wasn’t impressed with the system speeds on a gigabit network, as many lower-cost systems were able to outperform it in my tests. However, this is one of the most consistent mesh routers I’ve tested, with reliable speeds from one test to the next. If this kind of consistent performance is what you’re looking for, it belongs at the top of your list.

TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro: The Deco X4300 Pro is an impressive system that features some of the best Wi-Fi 6 speeds we’ve seen, as well as multi-Gigabit Ethernet jacks on each device. The Deco W7200 still feels like the better value for most homes, but if you’re looking for a step up from this system, put the X4300 Pro on your radar.

TP-Link Deco X55 Pro: The X55 Pro received a CNET Lab award for fastest Wi-Fi 6 router, and it’s worth considering as a mesh system, too. It shares a lot of similarities with the Eero 6 Plus — Wi-Fi 6 support, long-range range, and gigabit Ethernet jacks — and at $175, the X55 Pro is a solid value for a three-piece mesh system.

TP-Link XE75: TP-Link’s first Wi-Fi 6E mesh router, the XE75 did a good job in our initial tests, though the system’s average upload speeds were lower than I expected. It’s a clear value choice and is currently available in a two-pack For $173so take a look at it if you’re interested in Wi-Fi 6E but afraid to overspend. I will update this page once it’s been retested in our lab, so stay tuned.

TP-Link Deco X90: With a multi-Giga WAN port and a faster speed rating, the Deco X90 is a mid-range upgrade over the Deco W7200, and it costs $259 for a box of two. It performed well in my tests, but not enough for me to recommend it over the Eero 7