Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh: Which One Should You Use?

Last updated on November 21st, 2024 at 09:20 pm

If you live in a home with various obstructions such as multiple appliances and thick walls, you might be struggling with poor Wi-Fi coverage. If that is the case, don’t worry. In this guide, you will discover whether Wi-Fi extenders or mesh Wi-Fi is better for expanding your home network.

Wi-Fi extenders (also called Wi-Fi repeaters or boosters) are devices that can extend the range of your Wi-Fi network. They work by receiving your wireless network signal and then duplicating it, which extends the range of your Wi-Fi. These devices are great for those who live in small homes.

Wi-Fi extenders are usually more budget-friendly than mesh routers and don’t need any additional equipment. They only require a power outlet to get them working, which makes them very easy to set up.

When you use a Wi-Fi extender, it will create a new broadcast name for your Wi-Fi network, with its own SSID and password. For example, if your Wi-Fi network is named TP-Link, your extender’s network will be TP-Link_EXT.

Your devices can connect to your extender’s network whenever you are far away from your original network’s location. The downside is that you will have to manually switch between different Wi-Fi networks whenever your signal drops. This can be troublesome if you’re using mobile devices around your home.

Wi-Fi extenders might cause extra congestion on your network, because of the way these devices constantly repeat your signal. Wi-Fi extenders also need to be placed in certain locations in your home. Otherwise, they won’t work as they are intended to. For best results, plug a Wi-Fi extender into an area that’s close enough to pick up the full strength of your router’s signal.

Mesh Wi-Fi is a cutting-edge networking system that uses a main hub to connect to your modem like a router and uses satellite hubs (also called nodes) that can be placed in many areas in your home. These satellite hubs extend the range of your home network using connecting with other hubs using a dedicated backhaul.

This is essentially a third network band that can be exclusively used for the satellite hubs. This means that no matter how many devices you connect to your Wi-Fi, your mesh system will not lose any precious bandwidth that can result in slower Wi-Fi speed.

Unlike Wi-Fi extenders, they only use one single Wi-Fi network, which makes it suitable for homes with many mobile devices. Regardless of where you are in your home, mesh Wi-Fi systems can provide your home having plenty of Wi-Fi coverage.

The reason this is possible is that mesh systems have the capability to intelligently move devices from one node to another. This allows you to always have access to the best possible signal.

Another advantage that mesh Wi-Fi systems provide is the ability to self-heal. If one of the satellite hubs fails, it will reroute the network traffic to the nearest working node. This allows the mesh Wi-Fi system to provide seamless, uninterruptible coverage.

Setting up mesh Wi-Fi systems is very easy. All you need to do is download an app for your mesh Wi-Fi system while your old router is plugged in. Once you plug the main hub into your modem, you can go into the mesh Wi-Fi app to get the main hub to start working. Afterward, repeat these steps with the other satellite hubs, and you’re done.

The downside to using mesh Wi-Fi is that they tend to be more expensive than Wi-Fi extenders. They can be more complicated than Wi-Fi extenders to set up, because these systems require you to replace your router in order for the mesh Wi-Fi to work properly. It may also be unnecessary to use a mesh Wi-Fi system if you live in an apartment or a small home.

If your home has many obstructions and dead Wi-Fi spots that can block your Wi-Fi signal, upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system is a great decision.

Whether Wi-Fi extenders or mesh systems are better depends on your situation and budget. If you live in a small home or apartment, don’t have a lot of devices in your home, and need a cost-effective solution to expand your signal, Wi-Fi extenders are a great option.

But if you live in a large home with multiple floors, use a lot of mobile devices, and want more reliable network performance, investing in a mesh Wi-Fi system may be the right choice for you.

Want to improve your Wi-Fi range? The TP-Link RE815X is an excellent option. This Wi-Fi extender comes with a dedicated 6 GHz band, which means that you’ll be able to enjoy smooth and reliable wireless performance while streaming, gaming, and downloading. With 4 high-performance amplifiers, you’ll be able to receive strong Wi-Fi signals, no matter how far you are out of your Wi-Fi router’s range. The RE815X comes with built-in access point mode, so if you have an available network line, you can turn this Wi-Fi extender into a tri-band wireless access point.

With OneMesh support, you can easily form a mesh network by connecting the RE815X to a OneMesh-compatible router. This means that you’ll be able to use a single Wi-Fi network to provide whole home coverage for all your devices. With the Tether app, you’ll be able to get the RE815X easily set up in no time. If you are looking for a Wi-Fi extender that can give you speedy performance without being difficult to install, the TP-Link RE815X is the best overall Wi-Fi extender you can buy.

If you want an affordable way to boost your Wi-Fi range, look no further than the TP-Link RE600X. This Wi-Fi adapter features two external antennas, which can deliver strong wireless signals to any hard-to-reach area your home has. Enjoy fast and stable downloading and streaming with Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1.8 Gbps. The RE600X is universally compatible with all Wi-Fi-enabled devices, so you don’t have to worry about your older devices not being able to take advantage of the extra Wi-Fi range.

The RE600X also comes with a gigabit Ethernet port, so you can give your laptops and desktops a stable networking connection. It has OneMesh support, so you can easily enable whole home Wi-Fi coverage if you have a OneMesh-compatible router. With the Tether app, setting up the RE600X is painless and stress-free. If you’re looking to expand your Wi-Fi range on a budget, the TP-Link RE600X is the best budget Wi-Fi extender for your needs.

If you want the latest and greatest mesh technology without compromising, the TP-Link Deco BE63 is for you. This mesh system can provide Wi-Fi 7 speeds up to 10 Gbps, so all your devices can stream, game, and download all at the same time at consistent high speed. With innovative 360-degree Wi-Fi coverage up to an enormous 7,600 sq. ft., you will receive excellent Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home. The BE63 uses AI-Roaming technology, which ensures that your Wi-Fi speed will always be reliably fast no matter what part of your home you use your devices in.

Need to use Ethernet? With four 2.5G WAN/LAN internet ports, your PC and gaming consoles will have the fastest and most stable network speeds possible. The BE63 is also easy to set up, thanks to the Deco app. This mesh system supports up to 200 concurrent devices, so you will never have to worry about losing precious bandwidth. Whether you are video conferencing, streaming 4K videos, or gaming online, the TP-Link Deco BE63 is the best overall Wi-Fi 7 mesh system available.

If you’re interested in a mesh Wi-Fi system that can provide you with fast and solid Wi-Fi 6E performance, the TP-Link Deco XE75 is an amazing choice. This mesh system allows you to use the ultrawide 6 GHz band, which can eliminate interference and congestion from older devices on the same network. With tri-band gigabit speeds up to 5.4 Gbps, your devices will experience amazing networking speed during downloading, gaming, and video calls.

The Deco XE75 can provide coverage up to 7,200 sq. ft., so your home can be immersed in strong Wi-Fi coverage. Still need more range? All you have to do is add another Deco node to expand your network coverage even further. With AI-driven mesh, your entire home will be surrounded by one large Wi-Fi network. This means you won’t need to switch between different networks manually. If you want your home network to have fast networking speeds without having to worry about Wi-Fi dead zones, the TP-Link Deco XE75 is the best Wi-Fi 6E mesh system you can buy.

The eero 6+ is a great option if you want an affordable way to set up mesh Wi-Fi in your home. It delivers excellent performance for the money, giving you reliable dual-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to a gigabit. It supports ODFMA and MU-MIMO, which can help improve the stability and speed of your Wi-Fi network. The eero 6+ comes built-in with a Zigbee smart home hub, which means that you can control Alexa-compatible lights, locks, plugs, and much more using the eero app.

The eero 6+ uses patented TrueMesh technology, which can improve your network reliability by optimizing itself based on the device that’s connected. Its sleek low-profile design makes it suitable for those in apartments or small homes who need more Wi-Fi range. The eero 6+ also comes with the latest WPA3 encryption, which can protect your household from security threats. With its affordability and ease of use, the eero 6+ is highly recommended if you need a mesh Wi-Fi system on a budget.

Want To Boost Your Computer’s Wi-Fi Speed? Read The Guide USB Vs PCI-E: Which Is Better For Wi-Fi? To Find Out Which Wi-Fi Adapter Is Better For Your PC