Why I like it: When it comes to mesh routers, I’m generally looking for two things: strong performance and the ability to maintain it at long distances. The Orbi 870 checked both of these boxes. It ranked in the top five of any Wi-Fi 7 router for throughput, packet loss and jitter, and it spread that connection beautifully over the CNET lab when we paired it with a satellite router. At $700 for a two-pack, it’s not exactly cheap, but you won’t find many tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers for less.
Pros
- Minimal performance dropoff at long distances
- High throughput rate on all three bands
- Virtually no packet loss
- Best jitter score of any Wi-Fi 7 router
- Sleek design available in black and white
Cons
- On the expensive side
- No USB port
Why I like it: Netgear did incredibly well overall in our testing, and the Orbi 970 was in a class of its own, earning a CNET Lab Award for the fastest mesh system. Not only does it have the usual 2.4, 5 and 6GHz access you'll find with most Wi-Fi 7 routers -- it also adds in a second 5GHz backhaul that allows the satellites to communicate with each other seamlessly. It was slightly behind the fastest router we tested overall in throughput -- its Netgear cousin, the Nighthawk RS700S (not available as a mesh system) -- but it had the edge in both jitter and latency.
Pros
- Incredibly fast throughput scores on 5GHz and 6GHz bands
- Virtually no packet loss or jitter on any bands
- Adds a second 5GHz backhaul for communication with mesh satellites
- Excellent range
- Tall, sleek design offered in black and white
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Lower throughput scores on 2.4GHz band
Why I like it: Of the mesh systems under $300 that we tested, the Eero 7 was in a class of its own. It returned average throughput rates of 1277Mbps on the 5GHz band, which actually outperformed our pick for the best overall Wi-Fi router, the TP-Link Archer BE550. While it won’t get you access to the 6GHz band, it does have Multi-Link Operation, which allows devices to connect across multiple frequency bands at the same time.
Pros
- One of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems available
- Fastest dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system we tested
- Small router with a discreet, minimalist design
- Can combine with other Eero routers to create mesh system
Cons
- No 6GHz band
- Best suited for smaller homes or apartments
- Can’t install VPN directly on router
What is the best mesh Wi-Fi system overall in 2026?
The best mesh router overall is the Eero 6 Plus. The two-piece mesh system hits the sweet spot between value and performance. It supports Wi-Fi 6, and delivered fast speeds and excellent range in our tests -- all for under $200.
We've still got lots of routers and mesh systems we'd like to try out, the majority of which use Wi-Fi 6 technology. We've also seen plenty of new systems that support Wi-Fi 7, which promises to make even better use of that 6GHz band for smoother, faster connections. A few of those systems, including the Netgear Orbi 970 series and the Eero Max 7, have already come down in price (more on those a little further down the post).
Shop around and you'll find mesh routers from Eero, Netgear Orbi, Linksys, Nest and others that support Wi-Fi 6E, which means they can also access bandwidth in the 6GHz band.
Locating local internet providers
Prices on Wi-Fi routers fluctuate throughout the year, and I usually recommend waiting for a sale if you can. One of the best times to save on a mesh system is Amazon's Prime Day. You can see CNET's full list of Prime Day deals here.
Expect regular updates to this post as new Wi-Fi mesh routers make their way to market. For now, here are our picks for the top-tested systems you should consider if you're shopping for the best mesh Wi-Fi system options available now.
Locating local internet providers
What's new with mesh routers in 2026?
Wi-Fi 7 is the clear focus for router manufacturers in 2025. While two-piece mesh systems equipped with the latest Wi-Fi standard consistently cost over $500 last year, we’re starting to see them come down in price.
But I have noticed some blurred lines when it comes to promoting Wi-Fi 7 routers. The most important feature of Wi-Fi 7 is that it provides access to the ultrawide 6GHz band. However, many routers are being marketed as Wi-Fi 7 even though they’re “dual-band.” That means they only have access to the 2.4 and 5GHz bands -- the same ones that Wi-Fi 6 uses. These routers still have Wi-Fi 7 improvements like Multi-Link Operation and 4K QAM, but without 6GHz, their performance will be more like Wi-Fi 6 routers than tri-band Wi-Fi 7 models.
Still, not everyone needs Wi-Fi 7 just yet. Only the newest devices are even capable of taking advantage of Wi-Fi 7 routers, and very few people have the kind of bandwidth-hungry homes that require the elevated speeds that come with the most expensive mesh systems.
One sweet spot I’ve noticed lately: As Wi-Fi 7 routers have become more widely available, Wi-Fi 6E routers have come down significantly in price. These still give you access to the 6GHz band -- the key feature of Wi-Fi 7 -- but they don’t have all the bells and whistles. Still, if you want access to 6GHz at a discount, you can score some incredible deals on 6E mesh systems right now.
Mesh routers we're currently testing
We're constantly testing new mesh routers at CNET's lab, and you can expect to see some new picks in the near future. Here's what we're currently evaluating:
- Asus XT9: Asus has been a reliable performer in my years testing mesh routers, and I'm excited to get my hands on the XT9. At $335 for a two-pack, it's not exactly cheap. But Asus says it has a significant bump in throughput on the 5Ghz band compared to previous models, and I'm excited to see the results for myself.
- Eero 7 Max: The standalone version of this router was our pick for the best Wi-Fi 7 overall, and we have high expectations for the mesh version, too. It's on the pricey side at $800 for a two-pack, but its specs are incredibly promising.
- Netgear: We're testing an array of Netgear mesh systems right now, including the Orbi 970 ($1,500 for a two-pack), Orbi 870 ($1,000) and the Orbi 770 ($550). All of them are tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers, which typically run north of $500.
- TP-Link Deco BE63: We have a number of TP-Link mesh systems on the testing docket, but one of the most intriguing is the BE63. It's one of the cheapest tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers I've come across, at just $270 for a two-pack.
Looking for the fastest mesh router on the list? Look no further; it's the Asus ROG Rapture GT6, a Wi-Fi 6 mesh gaming router that costs $400 for a two-pack. In our controlled speed tests on a gigabit network, the GT6 finished with an overall average download speed across all distances of 809Mbps, along with an equally impressive average upload speed of 785Mbps. Nothing else we've tested has delivered speeds as fast as that, not even fancy Wi-Fi 6E systems that cost even more.
I liked the Eero Pro 6 as an upgrade pick, but the standard Eero 6 wasn't quite strong enough for me to recommend it. Flash forward to the release of the Eero 6 Plus. With a list price of $300 for a three-pack, it offers the same strong pitch as the Eero 6, a relatively affordable and easy-to-use three-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh setup, complete with a built-in Zigbee radio for connecting things like lights and locks with your network. Best of all, with a faster AX3000 design (up from AX1800 with the Eero 6) and support for full-width, 160MHz channels (up from 80MHz), the performance is significantly improved.
The AC1200 version of Netgear Orbi is a smaller, simpler version of the popular mesh system. It doesn't offer blazing-fast speeds, but the performance is consistent and it costs a lot less than other, fancier Orbi builds.
Netgear brought the cost down by sticking with Wi-Fi 5, ditching the built-in Alexa speaker that comes with the Orbi Voice and skipping the tri-band approach and the dedicated 5GHz backhaul band that other Orbi systems use to connect each device in the mesh. I wonder if Netgear missed an opportunity by not branding this system as "Orbi Lite."
For a mesh router upgrade that really feels like an upgrade, you'll want to look for these things: Wi-Fi 6 support and a tri-band design with the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. You'll also want a second 5GHz band that the system can use as a dedicated backhaul connection for wireless transmissions between the main router and the satellites. The problem is that tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers like that are typically expensive. Not too long ago, I commended Asus and Eero for bringing the cost of a two-piece system like that down to around $400.
Several years ago, Google Wifi became a breakout hit thanks to its easy setup and its ability to spread a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection throughout your home for all of your connected devices. Then, there was Nest Wifi, a second-gen follow-up that adds in faster internet speeds and a better-looking design, plus Google Assistant smart speakers built into each satellite extender. It was an immediate standout in our tests and our top-recommended mesh router prior to the arrival of Wi-Fi 6.