Eero 7 review

Eero 7: Introduction

Wi-Fi 7 has confirmed to be unimaginable by way of speeds, however additionally it is breathtakingly costly to purchase.

Regardless of some extra mid-range techniques coming to market, there has probably not been a really inexpensive system till now with the Eero 7 system.

To get the worth down, Amazon has taken the covers off of the Eero 7, which was launched earlier this yr alongside the brand new Eero Professional 7.

It was again in 2023 that Amazon first took Eero down the Wi-Fi 7 path with the staggeringly quick, but in addition staggeringly costly, Eero Max 7.

Sitting under the Max 7 within the Eero hierarchy, however above the Eero Professional 6E and the Eero 6+, the brand new Wi-Fi 7 duo make multi-gigabit speeds extra accessible and can future-proof your property community for years to come back.

It’s the Eero 7 that we have now on overview right here; which is $30 greater than the 6E at $169.99 for a single unit, and it’s is a dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5GHz system, delivering wi-fi speeds as much as 1.8Gbps and wired speeds as much as 2.3Gbps should you use the two.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the again.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t have the 6GHz band, so it’s not able to the quickest switch speeds and works greatest in an space with little congestion.

But when that fits you, this can be a good mesh system, powered by among the finest apps within the enterprise. Learn on for our full overview.

Setup and specs

The Eero Max 7 used a lot greater satellites than different Eero techniques, however the Eero 7 is again to the smaller measurement, much like the Eero Professional 6. That makes them simpler to put, they usually mix in with the atmosphere higher.

There’s a alternative to purchase the system as a three-pack ($349.99), two-pack ($279.99) or individually to broaden a present system ($169.99). That makes the Eero 7 lots cheaper than different Wi-Fi 7 techniques.

In a standalone system, one Eero 7 machine should act because the gateway, connecting to the web; the opposite gadgets are satellites.

There’s additionally the choice to attach the Eero 7 to any current Eero system, though doing so with an older-standard model will restrict velocity and scale back the channel bandwidth out there. I’d solely use this with different Eero 7 or Wi-Fi 7 techniques.

Every satellite tv for pc has two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the rear. That’s a neat, free improve to community speeds, notably as the usual will run over commonplace Cat 5E cabling. 

Along with wired gadgets, you possibly can join Eero 7 gadgets collectively utilizing a 2.5 Gigabit (wired backhaul) as a substitute of a wi-fi backhaul.

On condition that there isn’t a devoted channel for inter-satellite connection, a wired backhaul could be a great way to enhance efficiency, in addition to present the choice to put a satellite tv for pc at a larger vary, akin to in an outbuilding.

Every Eero 7 machine makes use of Wi-Fi 7, however solely makes use of the two.4GHz (2×2) and 5GHz (2×2) bands; there’s no help for the 6GHz band, which has much less vary however affords a lot sooner throughputs.

On paper, then, the Eero 7 doesn’t appear that completely different to the Eero 6+. However Wi-Fi 7 does provide some benefits over Wi-Fi 6, even on twin band.

That features wider radio bands (as much as 240MHz, in comparison with 160MHz on the Eero 6+), and help for 4K QAM, which successfully implies that the system can switch 20% extra information.

In fact, all of those options depend on much less congested radio house, which is more durable to ensure with 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Each bands can be utilized on the similar time with Wi-Fi 7 shoppers, rising the utmost doable velocity {that a} machine can utilise.

Total, the Eero 7 has a most throughput of 1.8Gbit/s, in comparison with the 1Gbit/s that the Eero 6+ affords. That’s a substantial on-paper benefit, though actual throughputs, as mentioned under do fluctuate.

Options

The Eero 7 operates in the identical means as some other Eero machine, managed by way of the cloud utilizing the Eero app.

It’s a genuinely sensible system that’s straightforward to make use of and management, with a transparent display exhibiting the standing of the community and a listing of all linked gadgets.

At no cost, you possibly can create profiles for every individual in the home, and assign their gadgets to them, scheduling once they can and might’t entry the web. For extra you want Eero Plus ($99.99/£99.99 yearly).

With this subscription, you get correct internet filtering, together with the choice to dam particular websites and functions, akin to Snapchat or Roblox, and subscriptions to Malwarebytes, 1Password and a VPN.

You additionally get web backup options, which let you designate a second Wi-Fi community as a backup in case your major connection goes down.

This could possibly be a Wi-Fi hotspot, 5G router, or a neighbour’s community. And, to stop swamping a low-speed connection, you possibly can even choose which gadgets are allowed to make use of it. Total, Eero Plus is nicely definitely worth the charge, notably when you’ve got kids in the home.

Sensible house customers get Zigbee and Thread built-in, controllable by way of connecting the system to your Alexa. 

Moreover, Alexa integration is on the market, offering voice management. This nonetheless works higher within the US than within the UK, providing voice management over particular person gadgets, profiles, and permitting the Visitor community to be toggled on and off. Within the UK, I may pause a profile and that was all.

The app doesn’t provide a lot in the best way of superior controls, akin to setting your individual community channel.

Slightly, the system takes care of the whole lot for you. I’ve not notably had a difficulty with this, however should you do wish to see what the system is doing and modify it manually, this isn’t the mesh system for you.

Efficiency

The first benefit of Wi-Fi 7 is its use of the 6GHz band, which affords much less congestion and sooner speeds at shut vary. With out this, the Eero 7’s efficiency may be very depending on native interference.

I examined utilizing OpenSpeedTest, with an iPhone 16 Professional performing because the shopper. In the identical room because the Eero 7, I bought throughputs of 600.05Mbit/sec, which is sweet however not that a lot sooner than the 561.75Mbit/sec that the Eero 6+ achieved underneath the identical circumstances.

Transferring to the primary ground in my house, the Eero 7 dropped to 361.45Mbit/sec and, on the second ground, speeds had been 218.70Mbit/sec. That’s higher than the Eero 6+, however not by an enormous quantity, and the speeds are means behind what the Eero Max 7 achieved.

Nonetheless, residing in a terraced home in London, there are numerous networks close by, all interfering with the two.4GHz and 5GHz bands. 

I relocated an Eero 7 satellite tv for pc to my backyard workplace, the place there’s considerably much less interference. Right here, I noticed throughputs of 1297.55Mbit/s – a piece behind the Eero 7 Max however a lot sooner than any Wi-Fi 6 system that I’ve examined.

This highlights the difficulty of not having 6GHz: speeds are solely good if there’s comparatively little interference round you.

Remaining ideas

Attractively priced, the Eero 7 is quick when there’s no interference, however not as fast when there’s lots. For those who reside out within the nation with few wi-fi networks round you, this can be a low-cost and dependable mesh system; for many of us, it doesn’t provide rather more than a Wi-Fi 6 system and it’s higher to purchase one in all these or spend extra on a Wi-Fi 7 system with 6GHz networking.

Nonetheless, should you do have an Eero 7 Max system, and simply want an inexpensive node to bolt on to enhance protection in a single a part of your property the place you don’t want most speeds, the Eero 7 may go well with.

How we check

After we publish our opinions, you possibly can relaxation assured that they’re the results of “residing with” long run checks.

Residence Wi-Fi gadgets play a key half in controlling, a wise house ecosystem, or a variety of merchandise that – supposedly – all work in concord.

As a result of we’re testing good house package all day, on a regular basis, we all know what issues and the way a selected good controller compares to alternate options that you may additionally be contemplating.

Our opinions are complete, goal and truthful and, in fact, we’re by no means paid on to overview a tool.

Learn our information to how we check to be taught extra.

Eero 7: Specs