CRISP. Tech: Google’s Nest Wifi Mesh Router Review

The Future of Wireless Connectivity?

The humble wireless internet setup is the bane of most modern existences – annoying wi-fi keys, poor coverage and no end of router woes.

Tech titan Google has introduced a swift, seamless solution to resolve this in the Google Nest Wi-fi router – promising stronger connections, simpler set-up and an aesthetically pleasing device, all from just £149.

This mesh wi-fi set-up leads to wireless access in more rooms, automatic updates and beefed up security…without the troublesome connection woes of the past. Does it live up to expectations?

First impressions count for a lot – and the Nest router definitely makes life easier, as a single device covers a decent 120 sq. m. range, whilst the ‘points’ or extenders extend it by a good 100m each.

The points also cleverly double up as Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers, meaning music or audio can be piped through your house for a fraction of the cost of the usual wireless setup.

Installation

Installation is a breeze, but a couple of shortcomings rear their head once actually putting them in your humble abode.

These look unlike any other device in this category, coming in a fetching shade of white (whilst the satellite Points have a variety of hues) – perfect if you live in a show-home, but quickly becoming a magnet for sticky-fingered children and dust alike.

Chaining it from my Virgin router and its four ethernet sockets, I quickly discovered the Nest also has a just a single port…meaning that you have to make some tough choices about what gets connected.

However, it was a breath of fresh air to install and a world away from the cumbersome codes and actively hostile user experience of the likes of Netgear’s Orbi.

The very human language and intuitive user interface makes it a joy to use long after the initial setup.

Quick, reliable and easy to set up, speed tests all around my home which was barely served upstairs by the Orbi is consistently delivering speeds of 170+Mbps on my Virgin 200Mb package – more than rapid enough!

Decision Time

The final question is which one is right for you? The Nest Wifi on its own is £149, but an additional Point can run you £129, or an additional £90 if purchased as part of a Nest bundle.

It really is a matter of the size of the home that you need sorting with a mesh network – the second floor of my house was a deadzone with our stock router, but a Point based in a spare room completely obliterated the not-spots upstairs.

It’s a symbol of the connected home ecosystem that you can build up kit over time, but the Nest Wifi is definitely a must-have addition – for those wedded to the Google ecosystem – when it comes to beefing up your broadband connection.