Mesh vs Wired Access Point – Which ranks higher?
Being the two most popular router system versions, you will often have to choose between a Mesh System and a Wired Access Point. Which between the two is better?
When you are setting up your ideal office or home work area, a strong and stable Wi-Fi solution is one of the things you should look for. Between sending emails and having online conference calls, you especially need a Wi-Fi router that is up to task.
Mesh and Wired Access Points are largely the two options you could go for. For both, they are well-rated in the market. They deliver performance on speed tests and also offer wide coverage wherever you place them. Without a doubt, they both offer credible solutions to your connectivity needs. However, depending on your needs, there are a few factors that can help you narrow down which one works best for you in your office or home space.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Mesh and Wired Access Point?
Model |
Mesh |
Wired Access Point |
Production |
Varied designs depending on model and series |
Different category designs |
Affordability |
Wide range of prices High end prices |
Variety of prices |
Performance |
U.S. distributor |
U.S. distributor |
Mesh Vs. Wired Access Point – A look at how they differ
Production
Mesh Wi-Fi systems have certain production similarities that cut across the board. Most mesh systems are designed to be compatible with the latest Wi-Fi technology like Wi-Fi 6. They are also produced as a kit/package that replaces your traditional single router and any range extenders you may have had installed in your home.
Whether the mesh system is designed with dual-band or tri-band technology, they are all designed for fast wireless connections with minimal interruptions.
For wired access points, they are designed for huge capacity load balancing and role based access control. They come in a wide variety of designs like the compact sized Ubiquiti UAP line.
Wired access points can also be used in homes as well as complex environments like offices. For public locations with many users, wireless access points may be preferred.
Performance
You can gauge the performance of mesh Wi-Fi systems based on the coverage and speeds you get with each. Beyond the theoretical speeds given with each router, there is need to check on the practical performance for each. Mesh Wi-Fi systems generally provide fast speeds. For example, when tested on 300Mbps internet speeds, Google Nest Wi-Fi mesh can deliver more than 500Mbps.
Also keep in mind that Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems have a noticeably better performance compared to older generation models. To add, a 5-pack mesh system might be a tad overkill if you have a small-sized home or you do not have many devices connected to your network.
For households, going for a Mesh Wi-Fi system is the best bet. However, if you have an enterprise or business, consider going for Wired Access Points for even better performance in your property. This is because Mesh systems come jammed with all the features for good performance but the traditional Wired Access Point is guaranteed to give you stellar performance especially if you are concerned on the technical specs.
Mesh- Overview
Starting out in the mid 2010’s, Mesh Wi-Fi systems have quite revolutionized the connectivity industry. They came in to replace the need of a single router and range extenders. With a mesh Wi-Fi package, you are guaranteed wide coverage and stable, fast speeds without the need of additional units. For example, the Eero Mesh Pro comes as a 3-pack that has all you need for to blanket your home with stable Wi-Fi signals.
The crème-de la crème of mesh Wi-Fi systems have the same quality features. First, they all have the same basic structure and design. A mesh system usually entails the use of a single router, extra nodes and a range extender if need be.
Secondly, a mesh system should be able to offer coverage for even the largest homes and office spaces as well. It works by covering your whole area with additional nodes. You can be assured that all the dead zones or blind spots you may have had with a single router system. This is because the extra units come in handy to blanket your entire home for seamless and stable connections.
A mesh system therefore is quite necessary if you have a multi-story home or if your house was constructed with heavy materials like metals. It replaces the need of getting multiple extenders that may have connectivity issues. Yet another feature of mesh systems is that they offer fast and reliable speeds throughout your home. Keep in mind, having fast internet speeds to begin with will ultimately increase the performance you get with mesh systems.
TP-Link Deco Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System
- If you're looking to ditch your traditional router extender setup for a whole Home Wi-Fi system, put the...
- Better coverage than traditional Wi-Fi routers: Deco M5 uses 3 units working seamlessly to create a mesh...
With up to 5,500 square feet coverage, TP-Link Deco Mesh is a quality system that works as a replacement to your router or any extender you might have had installed in your house. This mesh system easily blankets your home with stable and reliable speeds. You also get to enjoy seamless roaming as you can have all your nodes under a single network name and password.
To add, this mesh system has a huge capacity of more than 100 devices connected to the network. This means that it works well for small business as well as large households for minimal buffering and lag.
This mesh system also comes with all the additional features like parental control options and anti-virus software. For example, it comes with Home Care that protects all your devices at no additional costs. It also works with Amazon’s Alexa for voice controls so that you can remotely manage your network from wherever you are.
If you are looking for better coverage and capacity, you will not go wrong with a Wi-Fi mesh system like TP-Link Deco M5.
Linksys Velop Mesh Wi-Fi system
- Apple HomeKit-Enabled
- Ideal for large, 5plus bedroom multi-story homes (up to 6,000 square feet)
Linksys Velop Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi system is a flexible kit that comes with all you expect from a mesh system. It is designed to offer coverage in your entire home regardless of the design and size. With all the nodes connected, you can expect stable and reliable signals throughout with minimal buffering and lags. You can also have all the units under a single network name and password so that you experience seamless roaming wherever you are in your house. It also gets rid of all dead-zones or ‘blind-spots’ in your area.
Linksys Velop Mesh is also intelligently designed to meet all your expectations. For example, it does its own organization as well healing in case of any mishaps. Its technology also means you can experience flawless Wi-Fi signals even when you engage in resource intensive tasks like online gaming and HD streaming.
In case you want more coverage with the Linksys Velop Mesh, you can get additional nodes that come in either black or white for color coordination.
To add, it has all the security features you need with the Linksys Shield. Additional accessories include parental control options where you can have the Wi-Fi paused on certain devices as well as filter out inappropriate content. The Linksys App also makes processes easier like installation and set-up.
Google Nest Wi-Fi
- Maximum Range : 2200 Sq Ft
- This product includes one router unit.
This is one of the most popular mesh Wi-Fi systems given all the impressive features it comes with. First, as all mesh systems ought to do, it eliminates the need of a router and range extender. It comes complete with all you need to blanket your entire home with stable Wi-Fi signals. From small homes to larger ones and even estates, Google Nest Wi-Fi is up to the task. Nest Wi-Fi also delivers on fast speeds to match. In fact, when put to the test, Nest Wi-Fi delivers peak throughout speeds of 653.2Mbps.
Regarding its structure and design, it measures 4.3 x 4.3 x 3.6 inches meaning it is quite compact sized and an easy blend with right about any room you place it in. It also comes with 4 antennas that are non-detachable and 2 Gigabit LAN ports for fast wired connections as well.
Other additional features include the Google Home smart speaker that is embedded in every extension. This means you can easily manage your router with just voice controls. For extended mesh coverage, you can get additional nodes.
Wired Access Point – Overview
A Wired Access Point refers to the feature that provides Wi-Fi connectivity to all your connected devices through an Ethernet cable to and fro the main router. While Mesh Wi-Fi systems do have a lot going for them, you might find yourself considering Wired Access Points because of the innumerable benefits that come with them. First, Wired Access Points generally require Ethernet connections to deliver on the speeds and functionality you would expect with a connectivity device. Ethernet ensures traffic backhaul so that you do not have to worry about interference or the range you are at.
Another quality feature with Wired Access Points is that they are reasonably priced and there is virtually no limit to the number of access points you can have. With Wired Access Points you also get: multiple SSIDs, traffic shaping, MAC address filtering and fast roaming as well.
Here is a look at some of the quality access points currently available in the market.
Unifi Cloud Key
- Ubiquiti Networks UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 Powerful Remote Cloud Management
- The UniFi Cloud Key Gen2 from Ubiquiti Networks allows you to configure your network quickly with a...
An affordable option, this product includes many features like outdoor access points and POE systems. It comes recommended for home use as well as in small to mid-sized offices. With less than 100 dollars, you can install this system to cover your entire home. It is also small sized with minimal noise as it does not have fans. This especially comes in handy for office spaces.
Zyxel Nebula
- ZyXEL Nebula cloud support switch
- 24-Port Gigabit with 4x Dual personality Gigabit RJ-45/SFP fiber ports for uplinks
This Nebula product is a hybrid of sorts as it gives you a taste of both wired and wireless access options. It is designed to be used for small business or in homes that have extensive requirements.
Some of its features include its dual-band antenna and POE (cloud managed or standalone). You also get fast combined speeds of up to 1.2Gbps.
Keep in mind that some of these quality features are closed off to people who have paid for it and over a specific period. However, if you do not require much out of your wired access point, you do not need to splurge on the additional features as using Nebula on a free license still comes with its perks.
Ubiquiti UAP
- Manage Your Networks from a Single Control Plane
- Intuitive and Robust Configuration, Control and Monitoring
The Ubiquiti UAP line of devices is one of the most popular Wired Access Point options. Each unit works through a wired Ethernet port that provides stable Wi-Fi signals through the entire area you have placed it in. Another pro of this router is that you do not have to worry about broadcast chatter or congestion as all you need to do is plug into a unit. Keep in mind that you need to have the Unifi controller app for installation and set-up. It is a quality option for home use as well as small businesses.
Now let’s compare two Mesh and Wired Access Point brand models.
Model |
TP Link Deco M5 Mesh Wi-Fi |
Unifi Cloud Key |
Design |
Qualcomm Atheros QCA8072 |
USG-PRO4 |
Range |
5,500 square feet |
2,000 square feet+ |
Capacity |
More than 100 devices |
Up to 50 devices |
Speeds |
400Mbps+867Mbps |
1100Mbps |
Dimensions |
4.7 x 4.7 x 1.3 inches |
6.00 x 3.00 x 1.50 inches |
Accessories |
Home Care, Alexa |
Remote Cloud Management |
Conclusion
This article has analyzed Mesh Wi-Fi systems and Wired Access Points. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are a sort of hybrid networking components that work together to blanket your home with reliable Wi-Fi signals. Simply put, it is a wireless system that works together for seamless roaming like TP Link Deco M5. Wired Access Points on the other hand also deliver on the coverage and fast speeds you need.
If you have to pick out one of these, consider going with Mesh Wi-Fi systems for your home. They ensure that even the largest of houses with heavy construction materials, still gets to experience fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections. However, if you are keen on maximum performance, go for a Wired Access Point.