eero or Orbi? It depends.

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Eero and Orbi are both popular mesh networking systems that provide a stable and reliable wireless connection throughout your home or office. While both systems offer similar features and capabilities, there are some key differences that set them apart from each other.

Eero’s top-of-the-line mesh system is the Eero Pro 6, which is based on the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard and supports the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. It offers a maximum data transfer rate of 1.8 Gbps, features a tri-band design that allows for faster and more efficient data transfer between devices and also include a built-in Zigbee smart home hub and Thread capabilities. The Zigbee smart home hub allows you to control your Zigbee-compatible smart home devices directly from the Eero app, eliminating the need for a separate hub. Thread is a low-power, secure, and scalable mesh networking protocol that is designed to connect devices such as smart lights, door locks, and sensors. It allows these devices to communicate with each other and with the Eero router, even if they are not connected to the internet.

On the other hand, Orbi’s top-of-the-line mesh system is the Orbi WiFi 6 (RBK852), it also supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard and also supports 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. It offers a maximum data transfer rate of 5.3 Gbps and features a quad-stream design that allows for even faster and more efficient data transfer. The Orbi WiFi 6 also includes advanced features such as a dedicated backhaul channel that helps to improve the overall performance of the network and a built-in Smart Parental Controls that allow you to manage and monitor internet usage for your family.

In terms of coverage, the Eero Pro 6 offers up to 6,000 sq ft coverage, while the Orbi WiFi 6 provides up to 5,000 sq ft coverage. In terms of maximum number of devices supported, the Eero Pro 6 can handle up to 75 devices while the Orbi WiFi 6 can handle up to 75 devices.

In conclusion, both Eero Pro 6 and Orbi WiFi 6 are high-performance mesh networking systems that provide a stable and reliable wireless connection throughout your home or office. While they both offer similar features and capabilities, the Eero Pro 6 offers a tri-band design, built-in Zigbee smart home hub and thread capabilities, and a maximum coverage area of 6,000 sq ft. On the other hand, the Orbi

WiFi 6 offers a quad-stream design, built-in Smart Parental Controls, and a maximum coverage area of 5,000 sq ft. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you are looking for a mesh system with a built-in smart home hub, Thread capabilities and a slightly larger coverage area, the Eero Pro 6 may be the better option. On the other hand, if you need a mesh system with a dedicated backhaul channel and more advanced parental controls, the Orbi WiFi 6 may be the better choice.

It’s important to note that Zigbee and Thread are different technologies and protocols, Zigbee is a low-power, low-data rate wireless mesh networking protocol that is designed for smart home devices, while Thread is also a low-power mesh networking protocol that is designed for connecting devices such as smart lights, door locks, and sensors, it’s built to connect devices even if they are not connected to the internet. Both protocols have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific use case, but having both options available with Eero Pro 6 can provide more flexibility and make it easier to build and maintain a smart home network.

Here are some of our recommended Mesh Systems, which can be found at the links below (these are the most recent models):

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