Also remember: Wi-Fi systems are all about ease of use. They’re a snap to set up
and manage, they offer whole-house coverage via a series of attractive nodes,
and they provide seamless room-to-room roaming over a single network. If you
want total control over your network and require the best possible throughput
performance and connectivity options, stick with a traditional router solution.
But if you don’t want to deal with things like assigning radio bands and logging
in to different networks as you move throughout your home, a Wi-Fi system
makes sense.
Here are our top-rated Wi-Fi systems for a range of needs and budgets. (You
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GOOD FOR CONNECTING SMART HOME
DEVICES
TP-Link Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi System
$299.99 | EDITORS’ CHOICE Llllh
PROS: Easy to install. Solid throughput in testing.
Dedicated backhaul band. Built-in malware and virus
protection. Robust parental controls. Controls
numerous smart home devices. Alexa and IFTTT compatible.
CONS: ([SHQVLYH/DFNV=:DYHVXSSRUW&DQQRWVHSDUDWHUDGLREDQGV
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excellent performer that offers a robust feature set, including the ability to serve
as a home automation hub that controls numerous smart home devices.
OUR TOP PICK OVERALL
Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)
$449.99 | EDITORS’ CHOICE Llllh
PROS: Easy to install. Excellent performance.
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CONS: 3ULFH\6RPHDGYDQFHGVHWWLQJVUHTXLUHZHEFRQVROH
BOTTOM LINE:7KH$VXV=HQ:L)L$; ;7 LVDZKROHKRPH:L)LPHVK
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throughput in our testing and comes with tough parental controls, anti-malware
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