Luma vs. Amplifi – which mesh router network is the fastest for your requirements?
The process of choosing a mesh router might not involve many considerations to you, but it really is – you are putting in your money in choosing a wireless connectivity system, and you need to make sure it fulfills your needs.
There are plenty of mesh routers in the market today, and it can be challenging to select one when you are purchasing one. They are increasingly becoming popular in wireless technology, but not all of the options will work well for you. In this article, we look at two of these mesh routers, the Luma and Amplifi – and see which one works best in an overall sense.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Luma vs. Amplifi?
Luma |
Amplifi (Winner) |
|
Throughput speeds |
95 Mbps |
450 Mbps |
Range (maximum) |
998 square feet |
20,000 square feet |
Measurements (inches) |
4.6 x 4.6 x 1.2 |
3.9 x 3.9 x 3.9 |
Luma vs. Amplifi – How they compare
Appearance of the routers
The Amplifi uses a design that is not common to other routers, even for the Luma. The first distinct part of its appearance is the lack of external switches or antennas. In fact, the Amplifi looks more like a digital alarm clock than a typical router, and its measurements are about the same length. As all of them are 3.9 inches each, the design is very attractive and encourages you to show it off as often as you want. In addition to that, the touch screen that measures 1.6 inches will show you the date, time, and day.
The Amplifi underside section also includes a white ring rather than a series of LED lights you would find in numerous routers, and you can monitor the movements of data in and out of the router by tapping the screen. The router is also high performance, thanks to the use of 3×3 MU-MIMO technology, as well as including two mesh points to enhance the connectivity. These mesh points have a ball-and-socket design that will allow you to change their angles to boost the reception.
The Luma, on the other hand, takes on the form of a hexagonal design that is compact enough to hide away or showcase if you want to do so. Measuring 4.6 x 4.6 x 1.2 inches, it eases the setup process for you whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience in networking. Its coverage is quite limited though, as it stands at 998 square feet.
Setup process
The setup process is probably the best aspect about Amplifi routers, as it needs only a few minutes and is very easy – in the overall sense. In contrast to the Luma router, it will not ask you a ton of questions about your home either.
Both routers have an app, such as the Amplifi app (for both iOS and Android platforms), and it will allow you to gain some control. The main downside of the Amplifi app that is not present in the Luma app, is the lack of setup mechanisms if you want to do so in a Windows PC or Mac.
The Luma setup also includes an app that you can use to make your account and monitor the status of the routers, although you should note that it only operates in portrait mode. There are some aspects it will let you adjust as you use the network, an instance being the speeds of uploading and downloading data. However, it will not allow you to do much with the network, which is quite the disappointment if you are thinking of doing so or when you happen to be experienced in the sphere of wireless networking. If you are a first-time user of Wi-Finetworks though, it will not be much of a limitation to you.
Performance
When looking at both of these router options, you will quickly note that the Amplifi is the superior option; this is due to its ability of moving three data streams simultaneously, in contrast to the Luma that can only move one stream at a time. The improvement ofits efficiency is mainly from data beam forming, although it will not include the MU-MIMO technology to improve data management. This also boosts its coverage to about 20,000 square feet, blowing away the abilities of typical Wi-Fi routers.
The use of the different channels also leads to differing speeds. The 5GHz channel produces a speed of 1.3 Gbps, while the 2.4GHz channel produces a speed of 450 Mbps, while the total throughput to expect here is 1.75 Gbps. The combined throughput when you move to a 5-foot distance is 368.2 Mbps, and it drops to 230.9 Gbps when you move to 150 feet, which is really good even when you use it in a larger space and when you use broadband connections of 100 Mbps.
The Luma is only slightly different from the Amplifi, as it uses two technologies when managing traffic – beam forming, and MU-MIMO. The setup is that if a 2×2 router, and it delivers two lanes of data traffic, giving it a theoretical maximum throughput of 1.3 Gbps.
Luma vs. Amplifi – A comparison review
Luma router – Overview
- Fastest home on the block: Ultra-fast WiFi delivered to every square inch of your house. No dead zones....
- Serious security: All-day, every-day security automatically scans and neutralizes any virus or malware,...
Between the two routers, the Luma is the more expensive option between the two, and even though this is the case, it has its advantages lying else. It comes in a compact design, it is very easy to use and setup, and it forms reliable connections. It will allow you to set up your mesh networks easily and increase your home coverage, although it has a major drawback – it does not seem to have opportunities for extensive customization.
The routers will be in a compact size, and they do not have the same appearance as a typical router – even for the Amplifi. Their size also lets you hide them in a bookshelf, and they will fit in very well with other items in your house such as putting them on your table as they do not take up much space. In order to keep them in place, the package also includes power cords, and they have a single LED light that will indicate the router’s status in contrast to the numerous LED lights that most routers have.
You can use up to 10 Luma routers simultaneously to increase the range of the network, since individual routers have a very small range. This will mainly depend on the size of the home you are working with, as a smaller apartment can use one or two routers, and a bigger house can use at least three of them.
Pros
- Has quite reliable and good performance
- It is easy to setup and use
- It will provide you with plenty of chances to adjust parental controls
Cons
- Costly compared to most routers
- The individual routers have very short range
Amplifi router – Overview
- 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:...
While the Amplifi is not always the most affordable option you will find in the market, or the fastest one, it does get plenty of points for its easy setup process and reliable connections – even if you are a complete beginner when setting up the network. If you are among the many thinking about using a single router in your workspace or home, the Amplifi router will blow you away with its offerings.
Part of its package includes extenders, which you can set up and they will increase the range of individual routers (which are already quite big). When you buy the router, you will also get an input device that helps you to connect it to the modem, and the RJ45 gigabit design also includes four downstream LAN ports. Aside from that, the router will include a port of the USB 2.0 type, though the purpose for this port is still unclear (probably upcoming updates of the router will make it into a way of connecting an external drive or printer).
The main disadvantage that the Amplifi router has though is the lack of a QoS or firewall feature. This essentially means that you will not have a chance to improve your online security or control bandwidth priorities – if these are very important to you, it is better to look for other routers that can provide these aspects.
Pros
- Has a very simple setup process
- The mesh extenders included in the package are of a plug-in design
- The interface design is of a color touch screen
- Compact design of the router allows it to fit anywhere
Cons
- Very expensive
- It does not include desktop admin software options
- Lacks firewalls and QoS
Verdict: So which is the winner? The Luma or Amplifi?
While the variety of mesh router choices is numerous today, the Amplifiis our choice. This is due to the reliability of connections for individual routers, as well as the higher throughput and performance it offers if you live in a bigger space.
Frequently asked questions
How can I reset my Luma router?
You can reset it by inserting a pin in a reset port (you will find this at the back of the router). Hold this pin in place for 10 seconds, then remove the pin. The LED light will flash red within 10 seconds, and this will indicate that the reset is successful.
How can I maximize my internet connection when using an Amplifi router?
If it is possible, position the router at the center part or as close to this area of your home. You can place a Mesh Point on every side of the router itself, especially halfway between the areas of dead zones in your home and between the routers.
