Google Mesh vs. Ubiquiti: Which mesh router is best for you?
The common way of getting wifi into your home is by buying a router together with antennas and a modem. However, a mesh system uses many small routers that work together to cover a bigger area with wifi that can grow to meet the needs of your home users. The Google Mesh vs. Ubiquiti comparison is a great way to learn how the mesh system works.
I live in a medium-sized house with a basement so I don’t need that much coverage, but my router has a hard time getting a strong signal at the back corners downstairs. These wifi dead zones are very frustrating especially when I move from one room to the next. So I decided it’s time to upgrade to a mesh router, but with so many in the market, I was confused about which one is the best till I sported the Google Mesh vs. Ubiquiti comparison that made it easy to make a decision.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Google mesh and Ubiquiti?
Router model |
Google mesh |
Ubiquiti (Winner) |
Design |
Small cylinder shape |
Medium-shaped cubic box |
Coverage area |
1500 sq. feet |
20,000 sq. feet |
Mesh point antenna |
2×2 |
3×3 |
Speed |
2.4 GHz – 300 Mbps
5 GHz – 867 Mbps |
2.4 GHz – 450 Mbps
5 GHz – 1300 Mbps |
Google mesh vs. Ubiquiti: How do they differ?
Coverage
Both Google and Ubiquiti are wifi routers that come with separate packages with a very simple plug and play system. Each router has its wifi coverage area. Google wifi is a true mesh system where all its points communicate with each other to form one cohesive network. This mesh system uses many smaller routers working together to cover a bigger area with wifi. Each Google wifi router has a coverage of up to 1500 sq. feet and every added node will increase the coverage area by another 1500 sq. feet. When it comes to Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD, it’s a package that consists of a router and 2 MeshPoints and they can all cover a total of 20, 000 sq. feet.
Features
Google mesh uses the google wifi app that you download on your Android or iOS devices that have useful settings that allow you to pause internet to some devices for some time, help you to monitor your network and other connected devices, divert bandwidth to a certain device for some time, and many more. There are different features that you will find in both wifi routers. Ubiquiti has put a bit more focus on the security of your network both when you’re at home and away. It has various functions of its QoS feature that prioritizes traffic to certain devices and a VPN solution that uses your home router that creates a secure connection through the internet to your devices.
Speed or range
These two routers have very different speeds and they both cover different ranges within a given area. The Google mesh wifi router can provide high performance to every room as it operates its mesh system over existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bandwidths using the 802.11s mesh protocol. AmpliFi HD MeshPoints are a 3×3 wifi configuration for both channels which means they come out of the box in the default configuration already set and this offers great speeds and coverage to any device that you will connect to this router. However, the Google wifi unit operates as part of the ac1200 2×2 wave for the 2.4 GHz channel.
Design
The Google mesh is a small cylinder-shaped router with a white LED band that runs all round at the center. At the bottom, there are 2 Ethernet ports; the WAN and LAN ports and a USB-C port for the power. You will also find written at the bottom of the MAC address, setup code, setup network, and serial number. This package comes as a 3 pack system with 3 power adapters, a 16.5 feet Ethernet cable, and a quick start guide.
As for the Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD, it’s a package that contains a medium-sized cubic box with a large touchscreen that you can use for a quick setup. At the bottom, the router has a glowing white light that shows its status. The MeshPoints are bulky but flexible and consist of two separate parts that are joint with magnetism where one part is the power adapter that you plug to the wall socket and the other is while the other part is the wifi hardware that you can move at the joint.
Google mesh vs. Ubiquiti – A comparison review
Google mesh
- A new type of connected system for seamless WiFi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead...
- Replaces your current router, and works your modem and internet service. It’s compatible with major...
Google Wifi is a home wifi system that can deliver wifi speeds in a mesh because of consistent software updates and it’s compatible with newer hardware. Google wifi uses a mesh system where all points communicate with each other to form a unified network instead of all the devices reporting back to one device that acts as the router. This mesh wifi system uses the connected devices to spread the wifi signal further than your traditional router can do alone.
This mesh system blankets your home with one wireless network and this provides you with seamless transmissions no matter which room you’re in and at the same speed throughout your home. This Google wifi router can cover up to 1500 sq. feet and every node you add can add another 1500 sq. feet so you can use it to set up a network for your small apartment and the system can grow with multiple Google wifi points. You can also connect your wired devices to your Google wifi using the two Ethernet ports on the router. Depending on how large the area you want to cover is, you can opt to buy the individual Google wifi or go for the 3 pack and you can also add more if you need more coverage down the line.
The Google wifi is a small but sturdy router that can be a single unit or in 3 packs, not much larger than a face cream and it weighs about 12 ounces and measures no more than 4.17 x 2.70 inches. This is a lightweight device but it’s very stable so you don’t have to worry about hitting it off the shelf or table since it’s not tall enough, its weight is evenly distributed.
However, this router doesn’t have vent holes for air circulation which makes it more prone to overheating. This type of router will depend on passive cooling so it’s important to place it where there is proper airflow. Unlike other routers, you can’t mount it on the wall or ceiling, but you can position it anywhere in your home without worrying about space or the overall look of your room.
This Google wifi router is a simple small cylinder with a white LED band at the center which makes it one of the first routers to adopt a single LED approach. At the bottom part of the unit, two circular feet keep it stable and a curve-in area that holds the gigabit Ethernet ports; one for the wifi spot and the other for the LAN port, and a USB-C port for powering the unit.
To set up this Google wifi system, you’ll need to place this unit in the open where you can get a better signal, then connect one wifi point to the internet using a cable modem to the power source, then download the Google wifi app for your Android or iOS device to start the setup wizard.
Scan the QR code, select the router’s location, and then create a username and password for your wifi network. The Google wifi app has useful settings like continuous monitoring of your network and connected devices, prioritize bandwidth to one device for some time, pause internet access to some devices, control smart home devices, etc.
When it comes to performance, the Google wifi will provide high performance to every room. Google wifi is a dual-band wireless system that doesn’t use MU-MIMO technology but uses automatic band steering where it automatically moves the devices between the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands depending on the signal strength, bandwidth available, and other filters, and client steering where devices are automatically assigned to the best nearby router which allows for a seamless transition. If you use your laptop as the server and PC as the client then connect it to the 5 GHz band, at 5 feet you can measure speeds of 694 Mbps and at 15 feet it decreased to 603 Mbps, while on the 2.4 GHz band at 5 feet it had speeds of 88.2 Mbps and at 15 feet it had 83.1 Mbps.
Pros
- Great design that doesn’t occupy a lot of space
- Has a very easy setup
- Provides stable speeds and coverage
- Can create a mesh network
Cons
- Lacks a web interface
- Has only 2 Ethernet ports
Ubiquiti
- WHOLE HOME WiFi SYSTEM: Not Just a Wi-Fi router, it's a Wi-Fi system. The AmpliFi HD Kit includes a Wi-Fi...
- 802.11AC TECHNOLOGY FOR FASTER SPEEDS AND BETTER COVERAGE: AmpliFi HD is more than a wireless router:...
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use wifi system, Ubiquiti has a mesh wifi solution in its AmpliFi HD that will provide reliable wifi to your entire home. It has a high-density system that can cover up to 20,000 sq. feet. This router has a unique design both for the main router and nodes.
It’s a white boxy router with a soft-touch finish, an adjustable LED underflow, and a large touchscreen at the middle that is used for simple controls and for displaying the internet speeds or current time. Although it doesn’t have external antennas, it still performs well. The nodes or MeshPoints are designed in two parts but joined in the middle with a magnetic joint.
The bottom part is plugged into the socket while the top part acts as an antenna that you can direct towards the router. They’re aesthetically pleasing, but are a bit bulky to hang on your wall and if you can’t place them in the open because they will look out of place. At the back of the router, there is a WAN port that you can use to connect to your router and 4 gigabit LAN ports to connect to your wired devices.
There is also a USB-A port that isn’t used and a USB-C port for powering the device. The MeshPoints are already pre-programmed to work with the router so you just need to plug them in and your system is ready. However, this plug-in design might give you problems finding the right spot in your house to place the MeshPoints, but you don’t want to place them very far from or too close to your router.
The router and the MeshPoints are both dual-band 3×3 wifi 5 which means they can deliver speeds of 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The MeshPoints don’t have network ports so you can’t connect any wired devices to them or use network cables to connect to the hardware to give you a wired backhaul setup so a signal is lost. The AmpliFi mesh doesn’t use MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming or direct-to-client signal beamforming, but automatic band steering that allows you to select an SSID and the router selects the optimal bandwidth depending on the network traffic and availability.
Among the features, there is the QoS feature that uses a cloud-based gaming platform and when you select Latency, you optimize communication between some internet gaming servers and your gaming system to reduce network lag when you’re gaming online. With these settings, your throughput speed is at 100 Mbps, but for downloading large files, use the maximum speed in the throughput settings. Remember, that the wifi range and speed will depend on the hardware and environment.
Pros
- Provides excellent range and speeds
- Has 4 gigabit LAN ports on the router
- Has a large coverage area
- Stylish and sleek design
- Game-friendly QoS settings
Cons
- No wired backhaul options
- Doesn’t support MU-MIMO or beamforming
Conclusion
Google wifi mesh is a great option if you don’t have a special network or routing requirement and have a small area to cover. Its automatic wireless network gives it flexibility and potential throughput advantage over mesh routers. Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD is also a great mesh wifi system that can cover a very large area and provide you with excellent speeds.
Verdict: So, which is better Google mesh or Ubiquiti?
UbiquitiAmpliFi HD is the winner because it has an extended range and combined with consistent speeds across its mesh devices. You also have better control over each device that is connected to your router which helps to improve security and prevent rogue devices from being connected to your router.
FAQ
Does mesh wifi slow down?
In a mesh network, every link or hop between routers can drastically decrease the bandwidth because wireless links can only do one thing at a time. So when there is a long chain of mesh links the connection is slow from end to end.
Is mesh network worth it?
Mesh wifi can provide faster speeds, reliable, smoother, and greater wireless coverage in your home. They’re also easy to expand and allows you to build on your local network for your home.
