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Welcome to “Reviews inside tv,” where we take a closer look at the latest tech products to help you make informed decisions. Today, we’re looking at the ASUS ZenWiFi Whole-Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6E System (ET8 3PK). A powerful mesh network system designed to cover large homes, enhance your Wi-Fi experience, and deliver fast, stable internet across every corner of your space. But how well does it actually perform in real-world use? Let’s find out.
The ASUS ZenWiFi ET8 is a tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system designed to offer seamless, high-speed internet across large areas—up to 7,500 square feet, to be exact. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, bringing a new 6 GHz band into play alongside the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This new band is crucial because it provides additional bandwidth, meaning less congestion, faster speeds, and better performance for multiple devices at once.
Speaking of speed, the ZenWiFi ET8 can deliver up to 6600 mega bits per second across the three bands. That’s a lot of bandwidth, and it’s designed to ensure your devices can run without buffering or lag. It also features a new 6 GHz frequency band, which offers higher capacity, lower latency, and better performance in environments where interference from other devices is common. Essentially, this means faster, more reliable connections for demanding tasks like 4K streaming, gaming, and large file transfers.
One of the standout features of this system is the AiMesh technology. This allows you to expand your network by adding compatible ASUS routers, which can be managed through a single, unified app. With AiMesh, the ZenWiFi ET8 nodes communicate with each other seamlessly, ensuring that you get the best possible signal no matter where you are in the house.
The ZenWiFi ET8 also comes with a suite of security features, including AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro. This provides commercial-grade network security, protecting all your devices from threats like malware and hacking attempts. It includes WPA3 encryption, which is the latest and most secure Wi-Fi security protocol, along with advanced parental controls for managing your family’s internet access.
Now, let’s talk about real-world testing. Setting up the ZenWiFi ET8 was straightforward. With the help of the ASUS Router app, it took just a few minutes to get everything up and running. The app provides an easy, guided process, which is great for those who aren’t tech-savvy. The mesh system is designed to automatically optimize the network’s performance, so once it’s set up, you don’t have to worry about manually tweaking settings.
When it comes to performance, the ZenWiFi ET8 really shines. In testing, the system delivered a solid connection throughout a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with heavy usage. Multiple devices connected at once, including smartphones, laptops, and smart home devices, and we didn’t notice any slowdowns or drops in signal strength. Streaming 4K videos, video conferencing, and online gaming were all smooth experiences, even with multiple devices running at the same time.
The introduction of the 6 GHz band made a noticeable difference in stability. Traditional Wi-Fi systems rely on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which can get crowded, especially in homes with lots of devices. By shifting some of the load to the new 6 GHz band, the ZenWiFi ET8 avoided congestion, ensuring that performance stayed high even when several devices were active at once.
That said, there are a few areas where the ZenWiFi ET8 could be improved. While the system is excellent in terms of performance, the design of the units themselves could be a bit more discrete. The large size of the nodes means they may not fit as seamlessly into every home’s décor. Additionally, the price is on the higher side, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers.
When it comes to value for money, the ZenWiFi ET8 is certainly an investment, but it’s one that’s justified by its performance and feature set. At its price point, it competes with other high-end mesh systems from brands like Netgear and Google Nest, but the inclusion of the 6 GHz band and the comprehensive security features make it stand out. If you’re looking for a mesh Wi-Fi system that can handle a large number of devices and deliver high speeds across a big area, the ZenWiFi ET8 is definitely worth considering.
For those who might be looking at other options, the Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E and the Google Nest WiFi Pro are worth mentioning. The Orbi system also supports Wi-Fi 6E and offers similar coverage and speeds, but it’s priced a bit higher and may be overkill for smaller homes. The Google Nest WiFi Pro, on the other hand, is a more affordable alternative, but it lacks the same level of security features and customization options as the ASUS ZenWiFi ET8.
In terms of build quality, the ZenWiFi ET8 is solid, though its size and design may not suit everyone’s taste. The units are well-built and feel sturdy, but they do take up more space than some other systems on the market. The mesh network technology is robust, and with regular software updates, you can expect it to continue to perform well for years to come.
As for longevity, while there isn’t a long-term track record available yet, ASUS is known for producing durable products. Given that the ZenWiFi ET8 is built with the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology, it’s likely to remain relevant for several years, especially as more devices adopt this new standard.
When it comes to customer support, ASUS generally has a good reputation for responsive service. During testing, we didn’t need to reach out to them, but if past experiences are anything to go by, you can expect helpful and timely responses.
To sum it all up, the ASUS ZenWiFi Whole-Home Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System (ET8 3PK) is a powerful and feature-packed mesh Wi-Fi system that excels in providing fast, stable connections across large homes. The addition of the new 6 GHz band and AiMesh technology make it a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home Wi-Fi. While the design could be sleeker and the price a bit lower, the performance, security features, and ease of use make it a strong contender in the premium Wi-Fi system market. If you’re looking for a system that can handle a large number of devices and deliver top-notch speeds, the ZenWiFi ET8 is definitely worth a closer look.
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