Nest WiFi vs Nest WiFi Pro: Should You Upgrade?
By Naila Syifa
Updated January 2024
Nest WiFi was often nominated as one of the best Wi-Fi mesh systems when it was first launched in 2019. However, with the release of Google's third-generation Nest WiFi Pro back in 2022, the Nest WiFi is now outdated. It's no longer even available for purchase on the Google Store.
If you own a Nest WiFi, you may want to consider upgrading to the Nest WiFi Pro. However, is it really worth upgrading? What are some aspects important for you to consider before making the decision to upgrade? Let's dive into the details and find out.
Key Takeaways
The main upgrade that the Nest WiFi Pro offers is the new 6GHz band support, which provides faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connections. However, if you don't have many devices that support the 6GHz band, the upgrade may not be necessary.
Google Nest WiFi
WiFi 5 Mesh System
✓ Dual-Band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
✓ Separate Router and Point
✓ Google Assistant Smart Speaker
✓ Backward Compatibility
Google Nest WiFi Pro
WiFi 6E Mesh System
✓ Tri-Band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz
✓ Interchangeable Router and Point
✓ Speed up to 5.4 Gbps
✓ Ethernet Backhaul
#1 Price
Google Nest WiFi Pro
The newer Google Nest WiFi Pro is considerably more expensive, costing around US$200 for 1-pack, US$300 for 2-pack, and US$400 for 3-pack.
Nest WiFi, on the other hand, is priced around US$169 for a router only, US$269 for a router and an extender, and US$349 for a router and two extenders.
Even though the Nest WiFi Pro may seem a bit expensive, it is actually quite a reasonable price for a Wi-Fi mesh router. When compared to a higher-end router, such as the Eero Pro 6E, the Nest WiFi Pro can even be considered a budget-friendly option perfect for entry-level users.
Read also: Nest WiFi Pro vs Eero Pro 6E: Which Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router is Best?
#2 Specs & Performance
Google Nest WiFi
The Nest WiFi Pro is the new kid on the block, offering faster speeds and better performance than the old Nest WiFi. It boasts a new WiFi 6E standard that supports the 6GHz band, giving you tri-band connectivity of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. In comparison, the Nest WiFi only provides dual-band connectivity, including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Google also claims that the Nest WiFi Pro can deliver speeds of up to 5.4 Gbps, which is around 2.5 times faster than the Nest WiFi with a combined-band speed of only 2.2 Gbps. The fast speed of the Nest WiFi Pro is ideal for households with many devices that require constant streaming and high-speed internet.
Both router models provide coverage for up to 2200 square feet, but each extender of the Nest WiFi (also called Point) only provides additional coverage for up to 1600 square feet, while each additional router of Nest WiFi Pro can cover up to 2200 square feet.
#3 Design
Google Nest WiFi Pro
The Nest WiFi and Nest WiFi Pro have similar designs, with the Nest WiFi Pro being slightly taller and slimmer in profile. Nest WiFi Pro is also available in the colors of Fog, Lemongrass, and Linen, in addition to the original Snow color of the Nest WiFi.
The Nest WiFi mesh system consists of a router and points as two separate devices, while the Nest WiFi Pro only consists of routers that are interchangeable with each other. This means, each device can be used as the main router or as an extender, giving you more flexibility in setting up your home network.
Both the Nest WiFi and Nest WiFi Pro routers feature two Ethernet ports that support up to 1 Gbps of speed, but the Nest WiFi Point comes with no Ethernet ports. An Ethernet port available in every Nest WiFi Pro device makes it possible for backhaul connections, which can improve network performance.
#4 Features
Google Nest WiFi Pro
The Nest WiFi and Nest WiFi Pro share a lot of common smart features. In the Google Home app, you can access many useful features such as creating a separate guest network and setting up parental controls including schedules, content filters, or pausing access. Both models also serve as Matter-enabled Thread Border Routers, which allow for seamless smart home integration and control.
One advantage that the Nest WiFi has over the Nest WiFi Pro is that each Point comes with a built-in Google Assistant smart speaker and microphone, which can be used to control your smart home devices, play music, get answers to your questions, and more. This feature is eliminated in the Nest WiFi Pro as most users don't place their mesh points in the areas where they want to use the smart speaker. However, if the smart speaker feature is still important to you, you may want to stick with the old Nest WiFi.
#5 Setup
Google Nest WiFi
Nest WiFi is widely celebrated for its backward compatibility, meaning that it can work with older devices like the first-generation Google WiFi. On the other hand, the Nest WiFi Pro is strictly compatible with only other Nest WiFi Pro devices. This means, if you already have the original Nest WiFi, you will have to start again from scratch and replace all your old devices with the Nest WiFi Pro, which can be costly.
However, the Nest WiFi Pro has an advantage with its Ethernet backhaul support. As each router features a dedicated Ethernet port, you can connect them using a wired connection for faster and more stable performance, which is not possible with the original Nest WiFi.
Nest WiFi vs Nest WiFi Pro
Final Thoughts
Google Nest WiFi Pro
Nest WiFi Pro is a great Wi-Fi mesh system that offers fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections with its new 6GHz band support. It has some edges over the old Nest WiFi, including faster speeds, wider coverage, support for Ethernet backhaul, and more flexibility in setting up your home network. However, it is more expensive and lacks the smart speaker feature previously available in the older Nest WiFi.
If you value all the new benefits that the Nest WiFi Pro has to offer, it might be worth upgrading to the Nest WiFi Pro. However, if you don't have many devices that support the 6GHz band, or if having a mesh point that also works as a smart speaker is important to you, it's best to stick with the original Nest WiFi.
If you like to read more about Wi-Fi Mesh Systems, check out our other relevant guides here:
Nest WiFi Pro vs Orbi AX6000
Eero Max 7 vs Eero Pro 6E
Nest WiFi Pro vs TP-Link Deco XE75
Asus ZenWiFi XT8 vs Orbi AX6000
Asus ZenWiFi XT8 vs Eero Pro 6
Asus ZenWiFi XT8 vs Nest WiFi Pro
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