eero 7 Review

Eero asserts that this mesh system is capable of supporting 120+ devices at once, and through our testing, we've found it's capable of handling a lot of streaming devices simultaneously. Its WiFi 7 capabilities ensure that those devices can send and receive data at astonishing speeds, especially if they're close to the main router. The defining feature of a mesh system is its nodes, though, so we put the eero 7 to the test by thoroughly evaluating how its connection holds up at the furthest distances of its long-range signal coverage.

Node Speed

When you set up a WiFi mesh system, one node will serve as the main router while the other nodes act as “extenders” that boost the signal range. At a certain distance, it becomes more optimal to connect to the extension nodes rather than the router itself. In the case of the eero 7, connecting to the router at close range can give you access to incredible throughput speeds. Compared to other mesh systems, though, the performance of the extension nodes leaves something to be desired.

Even at just 10 ft. from the node, the eero 7's gigabit capabilities fall to below 400 Mbps. This is still extremely fast and perfectly acceptable for the vast majority of tasks, but it's worth noting that several other mesh systems we tested maintained 400-700 Mbps speeds at this range, including those operating on the older WiFi 6 technology.

Ultimately, the node performance of the eero 7 will be excellent for most people. However, if the layout of your home or office demands that you be even further from the node, you might start to experience some problems. At 60 feet from the node, we clocked an average download speed of just 29 Mbps. This speed is just barely acceptable for streaming 4K videos on services like Netflix or YouTube, and it won't work well for most forms of competitive online gaming.

Range

The reason to buy a WiFi mesh system is so that you can extend your signal across a large range. The eero 7 does a commendable job of this by extending its coverage area to an impressive distance of 110 feet from the router. This makes it one of the longer-range mesh systems we tested, and it's perfectly suitable for large homes and even office buildings.

While the eero 7 system has a long range, we also noticed that the strength of its signal falls off somewhat dramatically over the course of that distance. By the time we reached the maximum distance of 110 feet, we were only able to reliably view 4K videos on a single device — attempting to stream high-resolution videos on a second device simultaneously resulted in constant buffering on one device or the other. Placing the node about 50-55 feet from the router can give you the best balance between range and usability, but you can also consider moving the node closer if you need to sacrifice distance for a better signal.

The above heatmaps show the signal range and strength of the eero 7 system across a large home. The main router was placed in the loft, and it's plain to see that the signal “heat” started to decrease even in the same room. An extension node was placed near the main floor kitchen. The signal was perfectly usable throughout the entire home, but there are many spots that are noticeably “cool,” particularly in the lower floor bedroom and along the extremities of the main floor.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The signal noticeably dampens through obstructions.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

As is common with most mesh systems, the signal drops outside of the home.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Router Speed

The raw router throughput is one of the most impressive things about the eero 7 system. If you situate your device within 10 feet of the router, you can get a download speed of 1,200+ Mbps. This lightning-fast connection is more than enough to satisfy even the most discerning hardcore gamers and career livestreamers. The speed eventually falls below 600 Mbps if you move 35 feet away from the router, but even still, it's more than quick enough for almost any online activity you can put it through.

Given that this system can deliver 1,200 Mbps over WiFi, it's a shame eero packages it with a Cat5e Ethernet cable. Plugging your device directly into the router will lead to a faster, more reliable connection, but in this case, it's technically possible to have a superior connection via wireless. A Cat5e cable can only support 1,000 Mbps (gigabit), so consider upgrading to a superior Cat6a cable if you want to enjoy the full benefits of a wired connection with the eero 7.

Ease of Setup

The eero 7 is an extremely simple system to set up, even compared to other eero products. We unboxed the product, set up the router and nodes, and configured the network for practical use within 10 minutes. Considering that some of the mesh systems we tested took 20+ minutes of complex software navigation, it's safe to say that the eero 7 is perfect for anyone who wants as little hassle as possible.

When setting up with system, there's no web interface you need to access nor are there any security settings you need to adjust yourself. Of course, this also means that there are no parental control settings available by default. If you want to manage what your kids can and cannot do on the network, you will have to pay for a subscription to eero's advanced security services.

Jitter and Latency

Having low packet loss (jitter) and low ping (latency) is a practical requirement for any modern router or WiFi mesh system, and the eero 7 is no exception. In fact, our tests showed extremely even performance — you can reliably expect stability under most conditions. However, we did notice a bit of jitter at the ends of the network, but nothing too noticeable.

Should You Buy the eero 7?

The eero 7 is the mesh system for you if you want to enjoy the cutting-edge speed and improved capabilities of WiFi 7, while also covering a large property in a consistent network. You can enjoy crazy-high download speeds of 1,200 Mbps or more if you're within 10 feet of the router, but keep in mind that you'll only see those speeds if you're getting that much bandwidth from your service provider in the first place. If your plan caps out at one gigabit (1,000 Mbps) or lower, it might make more sense to choose a different system. Overall, though, you can't go wrong with the eero 7 for handling any type of online activities.

What Other WiFi Mesh System Should You Consider?

If you're looking to embrace the future of WiFi 7 but not willing to pay a premium, the TP-Link Deco BE23 BE3600 is a very solid WiFi 7 system on a budget. Keep in mind that WiFi 7 is still a growing technology, so it's worth checking out some reliable WiFi 6 systems like the straightforward eero 6+ or the gaming-focused Asus ROG Rapture GT6 instead.