Linksys Velop Dual Band vs Google WI-FI- Choosing the best connection for your spac

When selecting a Wi-Fi network for either at your own home or in the office you ought to go for one that offers great internet speed and offers connectivity over a wide range. Additionally, user and pocket friendliness like Linksys VelopDual  Band or Google Wi-Fi are some of the best picks.

These two, Linksys Velop Dual Band and Google Wi-Fi are among the wireless mesh systems with the most popularity among many brands. They both strive enlarging their Wi-Fi network coverage area and keeping you connected regardless of your position in your given space. Such wireless mesh systems have been in use for some time now but it was not until recently that the prices became affordable for small businesses and household use.

For the Linksys Velop and Google Wi-Fi, they have many quality features to outshine their existing competitors to make the cut. For example, Linksys Velop boasts a 5GHz radio band. This is a big advantage as it allows more clients to connect to the network and adding to that it offers a way to manage any backhaul traffic. Even though the Google Wi-Fi lacks the tri-band feature, it offers the simplest interface and is also one of the most fairly priced device in mesh technology.

What are the differences between Linksys Velop Dual Band and Google Wi-Fi?

Model	Linksys Velop Dual Band (Winner)	Google WIFI
Coverage	4,500 square feet, more than 5 bedrooms	1 pack- 1,500 square feet and 3-pack- 4,500 square feet
Chipset	3 pack, Powerful Futureproof Mesh	Qualcomm Atheros (Quad-core) IPQ4019 chipset 4GB Flash memory, 512MB of RAM, DDR3 SDRAM 5 ports (4 Wi-Fi and 1 Bluetooth)
Speed  (Long range)	Combined 1,267Mbps (800Mbps+300Mbps)	Up to 1.2 Gbps
	See price	See price

Linksys Velop Dual Band vs Google Wi-Fi- How do they compare?

Set-up

For Google Wi-Fi it is typically easy to set it up once you have the guide with you. However, it does have its own imperfections because you can easily run into spots with errors. The spots are tricky areas where the manufacturers do not tell you exactly what to do but it should not be too hard to maneuver through. For example, the app will not ask you to plug in your router before opening the app but you should.

Unlike the Google Wi-Fi, manufacturers at Linksys made it possible for the Linksys Velop network to take you through each step. First, setting up will require you to unplug the modem first in order to solve any potential issues. It does not automatically connect to the network node on the first try but it for sure does let you know that you can find it in your Wi-Fi settings.

Software Features

For Linksys Velop, it has an app which has an appealing look as well also some great features. Its only drawback is that it is slow in connecting to nodes compared to Google Wi-Fi which is always instantly available. Nonetheless, the app offers you many options features like, it enables you to pause, schedule a pause or even block sites from different individual devices. You are also able to rename a device if it has been misnamed and you can get a push notification in the case of one node being disconnected or going off.

Regarding the software on Google Wi-Fi, it is a premium quality router. It is designed to keep up with latest technology. For example, it comes with an app that is intuitive and has family settings. It also has prioritization settings where you can choose which device should receive the most bandwidth. You can also monitor the bandwidth allocation in case you want to tweak it later on. While all this might sound technical, if you are familiar with any of Google’s applications, using this app will be really easy.

The software on Google Wi-Fi is also designed such that you can have multiple people in control over the Wi-Fi without even using the same account so long as they are in the same household as the router. All you have to do is add their Google account to the network. With “family Wi-Fi” you can group up devices and create different profiles.

Performance

With the mesh routers like that of Linksys, you can be assured of high performance. For example, using all routers together as expected, in total the 3 routers offer up to 107 Mbps. The set of three should also cover up to 4500 feet but at most times it only covers closer to 3500 feet.

With Google Wi-Fi, it only has a dual band of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz while for Linksys Velop has a total of 3 bands. When you add more devices the range of the network will increase but this can easily cause the speed to slow down because of fewer channels compared to Linksys Velop.

When tested against software like IX Chariot, the Linksys Velop Dual Band has the throughput speed of around 102Mbps when in close proximity. The Google Wi-Fi on the flips side is quite fast and has the throughput speed of 117.83Mbps when within 5 feet. The 5GHz band also delivers 118.67Mbps when connected device is within 13 feet/3.96 meters.

Design

Linksys Velop Band and Google Wi-Fi are strikingly different when you look at their design.

For the Google Wi-Fi, it is generally small, sturdy and does not attract any attention. It has small cylinders measuring 2” tall which helps it stay out of the way. This can be seen as an upgrade as compared to Linksys Velop. Google Wi-Fi is also fitted with 2 Ethernet ports on each side which equally means that if you have a three part system you will be left with 5 other ports for hubs, bridges and other accessories that you may like.

It also works with an LED light in order to know the status of the internet connectivity. A solid teal color will mean that it is online, an amber color would mean there’s no internet connection and a red one would show up if the device encounters an error.

For Linksys Velop on the other hand, the routers are almost three times taller than the Google Wi-Fi router. Its finishing is also not as refined as that in Google Wi-Fi. It also comes in 2 colors; either white or black. Like Google Wi-Fi, it also has a small LED light flashed out on the unit. It lights up blue during full functionality, a beeping red in case of a failure and a solid red when the system is completely down.

Linksys Velop Dual Band vs. Google Wi-Fi- Overview and Key Features

Linksys Velop Dual Band

Designed in a tall rectangular shape, Linksys Velop Band looks like a mini tower. It has a matte finish with ports are fitted at the bottom for proper ventilation. This can be seen from a triangular cut out. It also has an LED system that lets you know on the status of your network at all times.

Aside from its user-friendly interface, Linksys Velop also has other good quality features regarding its software. First, you are offered port forwarding, IPv6 support, WAN and DHCPIP reservations. You can also create a guest network with this name it whatever you would like and set its own password. With Linksys Velop you can prioritize devices allowing up to 3 devices at once. To add, there is the Alexa skill whereby you can be able to ask for your Wi-Fi credentials and do other voice controls remotely.

To add, it is fitted with a channel finder which optimizes your network and gets every device running on the correct node and channel. This is a nice feature, especially when you need a reset.

On the downside, there are no real-time bandwidth stats for connected devices. Hence, there is no way to track the total bandwidth usage even over a set period of time. You also can not create different profiles or group devices together to make connections easier. Yet another downer is that Linksys Velop created content filtering services which go for $50 while with Google Wi-Fi it is free and more efficient.

What we like

• Comes with the latest tri-band technology
• Easy set up as you are taken step by step through entire process
• Has a better overall performance

What we do not like

• Content filtering is only available at an additional price
• Quite tall, lanky and less portable
• Has wire mesh which can allow entry of dust

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Google Wi-Fi

Google Wi-Fi comes with an application which is simple but has great features to it. For instance, it allows you to pause all the devices at once if you like. In terms of protecting your children, there is a safe search feature which is great for kids. It also has the feature that allows you to prioritize a given device in order to get more Wi-Fi juice for a given set time.

With the Google Wi-Fi app you can control smart home devices. You can also see real time statics of the internet that has been used and also offers a great interface whereby you can see the total bandwidth usage either by days, weeks or months on either a per device basis or the total network. In case of any issues you can reboot the router and it will be up and working in 3 minutes only.

There is also the availability of IFTTT recipes which will allow automation throughout your system. Also this Wi-Fi can enable IPv6 and manage DHCPIP reservations through DNS and port settings. You are also able to create an entire new guest network.

For its outer design, Google Wi-Fi is compact sized and modern looking as well. It is also fitted with a nightlight which can be easily turned on and off through the application on your phone.

All in all there are some downsides to having this software like you are not able to use a VPN with this internet. Also, a Google account is mandatory for a complete set-up. There is also no guarantee that this given product will be in the market for a long period or get consistent updates as Google is known to have many projects on going and has history of pulling down devices from the market. This software also needs updates to its 2016 release.

Also, the Google Wi-Fi does not have places for good ventilation this can be a problem if used over a long period of time. Do keep in mind that these routers tend to perform very poorly if set close to the wall or on a shelf. It requires ample free space for its maximum efficiency.

What we like

• Fairly priced making it affordable for most people
• Small design with stylish finishing and nightlight to be blend with any room
• Offers free content filtering
• You can group devices and create profiles
• Easy to set up through the interface that is easy to follow

What we don’t like

• Does not come with a VPN server
• Only offers dual band technology
• Comes with no guarantee

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Conclusion

This article has reviewed two well-rated products in the market. Google Wi-Fi stands out when you look at its design, portability, and user-friendliness. In terms of overall performance, the Linksys Velop stands out as it boasts an additional 5GHz radio band together with several other significant features.

Verdict: Between Linksys Velop Dual Band and Google Wi-Fi, which one is better?

While they both have their perks, Linksys Velop Dual Band is the better device because of its high performance mesh system.

Frequently asked questions

1. How do you customize settings on your Linksys and Google Wi-Fi router?

For both Linksys and Google Wi-Fi, they come with their supporting apps that offer you a wide range of controls. For example, you can easily set up a guest network through their interfaces.

2. How does MU-MIMO technology work?

It works by ensuring multiple-users with multiple-input and multiple-output requirements are able to enjoy fast and stable connections throughout.