There hasn’t been any brand new Google Nest Wifi product since the beginning of 2019 However, the rumor is that Google is about to roll out an upgrade of a significant size to its selection of mesh routers. And this time, the most recent Wi-Fi 6 speeds and technology will be included.
This information comes from an anonymous source who spoke to 9to5Google(opens in a new tab) that can generally be relied on for precise data. Also, it appears that the intelligent home networking system that Google offers will be made simpler to some degree.
The switch between wi-fi 5 (supported by the current lineup) to the Wi-Fi 6, could result in speeds that could increase as high as 9.6 Gbps from 3.5 Gbps as long as other connected devices are compatible with Wi-Fi 6.
The source couldn’t determine if the most recent Wi-Fi 6E standard will be supported by hardware.
Google Wifi vs Nest Wifi
In the US you can purchase the Nest Wifi bundle as well as a Google Wifi pack, a quite confusing situation. The two devices do not have Google Assistant support but do feature Ethernet ports built-in They’re all the same and can function as routers that connect to the internet as well as satellite nodes that expand an existing mesh network.
In the present Nest Wifi series, there are routers, and satellite nodes, which are distinct options. The situation is likely to change in this update, meaning that this Nest Wifi series will become more similar to that of the Google WiFi series (which last saw a revamp in the year 2020).
At the moment, we don’t have any specific date for the launch of the next generation of Nest Wifi products, even though we would have never thought that they’d be so distant from us.
They’re likely to be available in a range of colors, as the report suggests however it’s unclear when or if Google Assistant will be on the same team as before.
Analysis: Overdue for an upgrade
The first Google Wifi mesh networking system was first introduced in the year 2016 and was quite innovative for the time. The concept of having multiple devices scattered throughout the home to ensure that Wi-Fi coverage was all over was fairly new.
Since then, with the introduction of the more appealing Nest products, Google has really been outshined by its rivals. A mesh-based networking system such as that of the Amazon Eero 6 already has Wi-Fi 6 in it as an example and is just as simple and easy to use as the devices that Google offers.
On the other hand companies like Netgear and Linksys have been producing top-quality networking equipment which can cover large areas using superfast wireless. For instance, the Netgear Orbi Wireless 6 will cost significantly higher than Google Nest Wifi, but in the same way, it offers superior quality and features.
This is the kind of competition Google is facing and an upgrade to its mesh networking technology is much overdue. The release of Wi-Fi 6 could be an excellent start for the new devices, however, as always, pricing is likely to be the most important aspect.