Nest Wifi
Developer | |
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Manufacturer | |
Type | Router |
Release date |
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System on a chip | |
CPU | Qualcomm |
Input | Smartphone |
Dimensions | [2]
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Mass |
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Website | store |
Nest Wifi, its predecessor the Google Wifi, and the Nest Wifi's successor, the Nest Wifi Pro, are a line of mesh-capable wireless routers and add-on points developed by Google as part of the Google Nest family of products. The first generation was announced on October 4, 2016, and released in the United States on December 5, 2016. The second generation, distinct in being released as two separate offerings, a "router" and "point", were announced at the Pixel 4 hardware event on October 15, 2019, and was released in the United States on November 4, 2019. The third generation was announced on October 4, 2022, two days prior to the Pixel 7 Fall 2022 event. This generation returned to a single model, doing away with the "router/point" variants, and was released in the United States on October 27, 2022.
The Nest Wifi aims to provide enhanced Wi-Fi coverage through the setup of multiple Nest Wifi devices in a home. Nest Wifi automatically switches between access points depending on signal strength.
History
First generation
Android Police reported in September 2016 that Google was preparing to introduce a mesh-capable wireless router with enhanced range, along with its October 4 date of announcement and US$129 price point.[3][4][5] Google Wifi was officially announced on October 4, 2016, with expected availability in the United States in December.[6][7][8] The device became available in the United States on December 5, 2016,[9] in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2017,[10][11][12] in Canada on April 28, 2017,[13][14] in France and Germany on June 26, 2017,[15][16] in Australia on July 20, 2017,[17] in Hong Kong and Singapore on August 30, 2017,[18][19][20] and in Philippines on June 26, 2018.[21]
The first generation Google Wifi features 802.11ac connectivity with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels, 2x2 antennas, and support for beamforming. It has two gigabit Ethernet ports, and contains a quad-core processor with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB flash memory. Wi-Fi access can be controlled through a companion mobile app.
In 2020, Google relaunched the first-generation Google Wifi, with minor hardware changes and at a lower price.[22]
Second generation
The second generation of the product was officially announced at the Pixel 4 hardware event on October 15, 2019, renamed as Google Nest Wifi as part of the company's shift towards its rebranding of all its smart home products to the Google Nest name. It adds a smart speaker equipped add-on point. Internally, a few changes were made, such as a quad-core 64-bit ARM CPU 1.4 GHz and a machine learning hardware engine for both the router and point, as well as IEEE 802.15.4 Thread support. The router has 1 GB RAM and 4 GB flash memory and supports AC2200 4x4 MU-MIMO whereas the point has 768 MB RAM and 512 MB flash memory and supports AC1200 2x2 MU-MIMO.
Feature comparison
Model | Introduced | Wifi Standard/ 802.11 type |
Ethernet Ports | Memory | Speaker | Thread support |
Matter support | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WAN | LAN | RAM | Flash | ||||||
First generation | |||||||||
Google Wifi | 2016 | AC1200 | Yes | Yes | 512 MB | 4 GB | No | — | No |
Second generation | |||||||||
Nest Wifi router | 2019 | AC2200 | Yes | Yes | 1 GB | 4 GB | No | Yes | Coming soon |
Nest Wifi point | 2019 | AC1200 | No | No | 768 MB | 512 MB | Yes | Coming soon | |
Third generation | |||||||||
Nest Wifi Pro | 2022 | AXE5400 | Yes | Yes | 1 GB | 4 GB | No | Yes | Yes |
Reception
Technology websites Engadget and CNET praised the device's ease of setup, design and speed, but criticized its lack of customizable options, such as no settings for MAC filtering, content filtering, or Dynamic DNS.[23][24] The Verge also praised its design and ease of use.[25]
See also
References
- ^ Higgins, Tim (December 13, 2016). "Google Wifi Reviewed". SmallNetBuilder. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Tech specs". Google Wifi Help. Google. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ Ruddock, David (September 23, 2016). "Exclusive: Google will introduce Google Wifi, a $129 home Wi-Fi router, on October 4th". Android Police. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Welch, Chris (September 23, 2016). "Google will reportedly launch a new Wi-Fi router similar to Eero on October 4th". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Ingraham, Nathan (September 23, 2016). "Google might introduce another WiFi router on October 4th". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Seifert, Dan (October 4, 2016). "Google's new Wifi routers are here to take on Eero". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Bright, Peter (October 4, 2016). "Google Wifi: Google's second attempt at a home router [Updated]". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Etherington, Darrell (October 4, 2016). "Google Wifi offers modular, customizable home networking". TechCrunch. AOL. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Amadeo, Ron (November 16, 2016). "You can now preorder Google Wifi, will ship December 5". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Brian, Matt (March 28, 2017). "Google Home and WiFi launch in the UK on April 6th". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Bright, Peter (March 28, 2017). "Google Wifi: Google's mesh router goes on sale in the UK on April 6". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ El Khoury, Rita (March 28, 2017). "Google Home and Wifi will launch in the UK on April 6 for £129 each". Android Police. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Etherington, Darrell (April 28, 2017). "Google Wifi now available in Canada". TechCrunch. AOL. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (April 28, 2017). "Google Wifi is now available in Canada". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ^ Hager, Ryne (June 26, 2017). "[Update: Now available in France and Germany] Google Wifi may be coming to France on Monday". Android Police. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Meyer, David (June 26, 2017). "Google Wifi: Now its home routers are firing up in Germany, France". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Gao, Richard (July 17, 2017). "Google Home and Wifi will launch in Australia on July 20th". Android Police. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ "Google, HKT launch advanced home Wi-fi system in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
- ^ "Google Wifi brings cheaper mesh networking to Asia". CNET. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
- ^ Ho, Victoria. "Google Wifi has come to Asia, 6 months after its debut in the U.S." Mashable. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
- ^ "Google Wifi arrives in the Philippines". June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Li, Abner (October 6, 2020). "New Google Wifi quietly relaunched starting at $99". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Trew, James (December 6, 2016). "Google WiFi review: A hassle-free router comes at a price". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Ngo, Dong (December 6, 2016). "Google Wifi review". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Seifert, Dan (December 6, 2016). "Google Wifi review: Wi-Fi that works". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.