Eero 6+ Mesh Wi-Fi System, Tested and Reviewed

In recent years, Amazon has become a mainstay for smart-home devices, including security systems, cameras, climate control, and everything in between. Adding to their already large selection of eero Wi-Fi routers, the eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi system from Amazon is another step forward in this trend of providing whole-home connectivity at an affordable price. However, does the eero 6+ have what it takes to rival the cutting-edge mesh Wi-Fi systems of today? We tested the eero 6+ based on its specs, setup, price, performance, and value to answer this question and let you know if it’s a good fit for your home.

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Our Eero 6+ Video Review

Prefer watching a video over reading an in-depth review? Check out our video review of the eero 6+ system below:

Walking Through Our Eero 6+ Experience

1. Eero 6+ Specs
2. Eero 6+ at First Glance: Stretching to Stand Out
3. Eero 6+ Installation: Quick and Simple
4. Eero 6+ Performance: Mediocre Speeds
5. Our Verdict: A Beginner’s Mesh Wi-Fi System

Eero 6+ Specs

Eero 6+ at First Glance: Stretching to Stand Out

As a current owner of the eero Pro 6 system, I am familiar with the eero brand of mesh Wi-Fi routers. And, admittedly, when I looked at the side-by-side between my current eero Pro 6 and the newer eero 6+ system, I was initially a bit underwhelmed. Compared to the eero Pro 6, the eero 6+ covers less square footage per router (1,500 square feet versus 2,000 square feet), features fewer radio frequencies (dual-band versus tri-band), supports a lower speed rating (AX3000 versus AX4200), and comes with less processing power (1.2 GHz dual-core versus 1.4 GHz quad-core).

However, even with these drawbacks, the eero 6+ still offers a substantial value proposition compared to the eero Pro 6 and other routers in the eero series. First, the eero 6+ is much cheaper than its sister eero Pro 6 and eero Pro 6E systems (hundreds of dollars cheaper, in fact). Second, the eero 6+ routers are around 30 percent smaller than the eero Pro series of routers, making them more aesthetically appealing and less obtrusive in your home decor. Furthermore, the eero 6+ also comes packed with the same gigabit Ethernet ports, Alexa integrations, and Zigbee and Thread smart-home device support that you get with the more expensive eero Pro models.

Then there are the technical differences. Even though the eero 6+ doesn’t come equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, it does have the 160 MHz channel support on the 5 GHz radio frequency that you’ll typically only get with more sophisticated (and expensive) mesh Wi-Fi systems like the Google Nest Wifi Pro or Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) series of routers. That means the eero 6+ can handle more devices and generate more speed per device than systems that only have the older 80 MHz channel width. Of course, this feature would be even better with tri-band radio frequencies (one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz radios), but you really can’t beat it for the price.

At first glance, the eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi system makes up for its lack of specs out of the box by providing a competitive price per router compared to its eero siblings. Its more streamlined design and inclusion of the 160 MHz channel are valuable additions to this series, providing more widespread appeal for families that choose it as their Wi-Fi solution.

Eero 6+ Installation: Quick and Simple

One of my favorite things about the Amazon eero series of routers is how easy they are to set up. I’ve tested numerous routers, and the setup process for some brands is as fun as (and as long as) a visit to the DMV. With the eero 6+, I was able to install the main router and the satellite devices in less than 20 minutes, which is lightning-fast in the realm of router setup times. In this aspect, Amazon’s emphasis on speed is evident (and appreciated).

Unboxing and Initial Setup

Setting up the eero 6+ in my home could not have been a smoother process. Since I was already using the eero Pro 6, the eero setup process was familiar to me. That said, you don’t really need prior knowledge of setting up an eero device because the setup process is so straightforward and easy. Even when I tested and reviewed the eero Pro 6 as an eero newbie, I found the process easy, and the same was true with the eero 6+ system.

The eero wifi system app (maybe not the greatest app name I’ve ever seen) guides you through the entire process, offering you directions for each step. In my case, I had the option to replace my current eero Pro 6 devices with the eero 6+ routers.

One thing I really liked about this process is that the app lets you label where you are setting up each device. That way, if you ever have issues with your router in the living room versus the one on the second floor, you know where to go. After following the guided steps, I was able to connect the new eero 6+ in around 10 minutes (even with some minor hiccups caused by yours truly).

As a previous eero user, I didn’t even have to set up a new Wi-Fi username and password, because it adopted the information from my previous device. Of course, you have that option, but I liked how eero makes the upgrade process simple and seamless. If you’re new to the eero brand, you’ll need to set up your Wi-Fi name and password, which can easily be completed in the eero app.

Once installed, the system must perform a software update. Honestly, it took longer for the eero 6+ to update the software than it did to install the router itself, so that was a little bit of a setback for such a quick initial setup process. Thankfully, future software updates are automatically performed to keep the system up to date with the latest safety features, and you can even set them for a time frame that won’t interrupt your internet experience.

Navigating the Mobile App

The eero wifi system app is extremely user-friendly and easy to navigate. Similar to other router apps, such as TP-Link’s Deco app, the eero app’s homepage shows all the devices connected to the network. You even have the option of adding the device to a profile to keep track of who is using which devices in the household, which is helpful for larger households with multiple users.

The app shows download and upload speeds throughout the week and allows you to run speed tests. However, the speed tests evaluate the system’s performance overall rather than throughout targeted areas in the home. For accurate speed tests to check performance in different rooms in your home, we recommend using a free internet speed test for the best results.

Much like my review of the eero Pro 6, the biggest downside of the eero 6+ system is the lack of built-in parental controls, VPN and advanced security features. If you want these premium features and more, you’ll have to pay for eero Plus, Amazon’s router subscription service, to get full functionality out of your mesh Wi-Fi system.

While other brands like TP-Link and ASUS offer these features without an additional cost, this requirement from Amazon hurts the eero brand in favor of trying to get an extra $9.99 per month out of your wallet. Of course, you can get this service at a discount for $99.99 when you pay annually, but that’s basically the cost of a whole new router. Overall, we just think this type of profiteering takes away from the overall value of the eero 6+ as a mesh Wi-Fi system.

That said, if you do get the eero Plus subscription, a couple of standout features may make it worth your while. With eero Internet Backup, you can pair a personal hotspot to your network to keep your internet going even when there is an outage — something we haven’t seen other brands offer. Also, we like the eero’s Wi-Fi scheduling and content filtering, which allow you to pause the internet and prevent your kids from accessing certain websites and apps. These are great additions — we just wish they weren’t behind a paywall.

Eero 6+ Performance: Mediocre Speeds

Once the eero 6+ was set up and ready to deliver internet speeds, I put it to the test. I placed the device in my living room, a central location in my home. I tested the connection using my iPhone and Spectrum gigabit internet connection.

Testing the Router

To test how the eero 6+ performed, I tested the connection’s internet speeds in various locations: next to the router, 15 feet from it, with a wall between me and the router, and upstairs in the farthest location from it. While our internal team tested the eero 6+ for our Best Wi-Fi Routers of 2024 page, testing it in my own two-story standalone home was a great opportunity to see if it performed any differently.

In general, much like our internal testing, I found the eero 6+ thrived when it was at the closest distances. All speed tests I did within 15 feet of the router performed well, with the best test reaching a download speed of 557 Mbps. This wasn’t surprising overall, as mesh Wi-Fi routers are designed to work well at closer distances.

However, as I moved farther away from the router and behind obstacles, the eero 6+ struggled to transmit faster speeds. From behind a wall on the same floor, I was only able to reach download speeds up to 324 Mbps — a 42 percent drop in effectiveness. On the second floor, my results continued to deteriorate, with my best download speed test reaching 230 Mbps. That said, upload speeds on the eero 6+ were relatively consistent (around 22 Mbps), which is pretty standard for a cable internet connection.

Overall, my test results were similar to that of our internal team. Since you don’t have the ability to connect directly to the 5 GHz frequency with the eero 6+ all the time, it shifts automatically to the 2.4 GHz frequency. That means the farther you get from it, the more likely you’re going to get the subpar frequency and diminished speeds. However, as a mesh Wi-Fi system, these results are actually OK. When I connected the entire eero 6+ system together, I experienced much faster speeds on the second level and in the far reaches of my home because the satellite routers were able to communicate with the base router, resulting in better speeds and connectivity all around.

Comparing to Competitors

I compared these speed results with my eero Pro 6 router and found my previous model actually performed better. When located close to the router, download speeds between the two different routers were consistent with one another. However, I was able to achieve better download speeds from behind a wall and upstairs with the eero Pro 6 router. It’s also worth noting that the speeds I achieved on the eero 6+ outperform the router provided by my ISP, Spectrum.

In general, the eero 6+ offers mediocre speeds that fall short compared to other similar routers. For example, I recently tested The TP-Link Deco S4 system and found that while the router had similar speeds close to the device, it outperformed the eero 6+ when moving farther away. The kicker there is that the Deco S4 series is almost one-third of the price of the eero 6+ system.

Moreover, when compared to Wi-Fi 6E systems like the Google Nest Wifi Pro routers that dominated our tests with modern devices, it’s clear that the eero 6+ just doesn’t have the power or throughput to reach the full potential of a gigabit internet connection. If you have an internet plan with speeds under 500 Mbps, then you probably won’t notice a major dip in performance with the eero 6+ system.

Our Verdict: A Beginner’s Mesh Wi-Fi System

Despite lacking some features and inconsistent speed results, the eero 6+ offered a similar experience to the eero Pro 6, all for a lower price. The added 160 MHz channel support and the sleek design of the eero 6+ make it an approachable and functional mesh Wi-Fi system. If you’re new to mesh Wi-Fi systems and you want to extend your Wi-Fi throughout your home, then the eero 6+ system could be a good fit for your household. However, if you want more speed out of your system (and you don’t mind a heftier price), we recommend considering the eero Pro 6E or another set of routers with Wi-Fi 6E support.

How We Assess Routers

In our router evaluations, we strive to maintain consistency by applying the same standards to each review. Our team of tech testers relies on the following factors to guide them through the assessment process.

• Specs: We thoroughly examine router components, focusing on wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, as well as the CPU and RAM specifications. This in-depth analysis enables us to assess whether a router meets current standards and compare it with other models.
• Setup: Unlike older models, modern routers need to be user-friendly and simple to set up. A quick and straightforward installation process allows you to start using your router without delay. Therefore, we evaluate each router based on how long it takes to set up and how complex the process is, with a strong emphasis on speed and ease. Additionally, we test the brand’s apps to assess how user-friendly they are and determine how they enhance the overall experience of owning and managing the router.
• Price: Every household has its own budget to consider, and routers can range in price from $50 to over $500. In our router reviews, we assess not only the up-front cost but also any additional expenses – such as accessories or subscriptions – needed to fully utilize the device. We compare prices across different brands and models, paying special attention to discounts and limited-time offers.
• Performance: Top-performing routers maximize your internet speed and accommodate various needs, from different home sizes to diverse activities and numerous connected devices. We conduct practical tests on each router, evaluating their performance across various distances and devices to assess how they function in everyday scenarios.
• Value: We determine a router’s overall value by evaluating factors such as price, performance, ease of installation, and technological features. Assessing value involves finding a balance. We anticipate better performance from higher-priced routers, while budget-friendly options may show lower speeds. Our top picks are those routers that offer excellent performance at an affordable price, providing a satisfying user experience long-term.