Does Mesh Wi-Fi Make Your Internet Faster?

A mesh Wi-Fi system is a wireless network made up of a primary Wi-Fi router and one or more "satellite" nodes that work together to improve internet connectivity over a larger area. It's commonly accepted that mesh Wi-Fi systems are better than regular routers, but that does not mean that it's a magical solution that will make your internet faster. The download speed listed on your internet service plan is the fastest your internet can ever be.

However, a Wi-Fi mesh system will help you attain that level of speed in more areas of your home. If you're in the same room as your router, then you should be able to measure a download speed that is very close to the number promised by your ISP. But if you're in a separate room from your router, the connection speed may decrease drastically. This is due to the distance a wireless signal must travel, as well as the walls and furniture obstructing it.

That's where a Wi-Fi mesh system comes in. You can connect to the nearest node, which communicates with the router via a dedicated "backhaul" connection. Backhaul is used specifically for this purpose, so it's not weighed down by all the signals travelling the usual channels. This means that, even though mesh Wi-Fi does not increase your maximum internet speed, it can give you a faster connection than you would otherwise have when you're far away from the main router.

A mesh Wi-Fi system can improve network consistency and reduce dead zones, but the high price might not be worth it for everyone. The major disadvantage of mesh Wi-Fi is that it can easily cost at least twice as much as a standalone router. If you're only having internet troubles in one particular area of your home or office, carefully consider whether you should buy a Wi-Fi mesh network or a range extender.

Wi-Fi extenders are simple devices that plug into a power outlet and boost your Wi-Fi signal over a short area. They tend to be much cheaper than a full-fledged mesh system, so it's a more prudent decision if you're only having a slow internet connection in one room. You'll likely notice faster internet compared to before, when the signal was barely reaching that part of your house.

If you invested in a mesh system and still feel like your Wi-Fi is slow, there are ways to improve internet speeds by adjusting the router or mesh nodes. If you're still on the fence about mesh Wi-Fi, take a look at the most reliable Wi-Fi mesh systems according to user reviews. These are some of the systems that are proven to help households maintain higher speeds and connect more devices to Wi-Fi at once.