I replaced my high-end Wi-Fi 7 router with a more affordable option – and didn't regret it

I’ve been testing the Eero Pro 7 for two weeks, and the results have been surprising. I recently upgraded my home network with a pair of Eero Max 7s and one Eero Outdoor, which has been highly effective. I have a lot of connected devices, between 90 and 130 on any given day, between smart home devices, laptops, tablets, and streaming TVs. 

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My two Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro routers before the Eero Max 7s would suffer frustrating drops when handling 75 or more devices. This left us with unexpected “no internet connection” alerts throughout the day on our work computers, TVs, and handheld devices. Switching to a pair of Eero Max 7s immediately remedied this issue. 

When I began testing my two Eero Pro 7 units, I decided to disconnect the Eero Max 7 and Eero Outdoor for some time to see how they would perform independently.

The Eero Pro 7 can support more than 200 connected devices and features tri-band Wi-Fi 7 for larger homes with more connections than a standard home. Tri-band support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz opens a broader bandwidth for more simultaneous connections, with 6GHz in particular offering faster speeds and reduced congestion.

The magic of Eero lies in how effectively the network operates. Eero has optimized its TrueMesh system to connect to the best available band and most stable connection. According to Eero, the proprietary technology helps optimize coverage and is self-healing, so it can reroute traffic through remaining devices when one goes offline. 

To add parental controls, security, and network customization features, you must subscribe to Eero Plus, which costs $10 monthly or $100 yearly. 

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Ultimately, the two Eero Pro 7 mesh routers weren’t enough to handle my smart home setup, which has more complicated network requirements than the average home. I test smart home devices daily, so I’m always adding new devices to my network. 

While the Eero Pro 7 should be able to handle up to 200 devices, that bandwidth depends on the type of connected devices and their type of connection. 

You could likely connect dozens of smart bulbs to your Wi-Fi network, as they don’t create too much interference, and connect more demanding devices, like a gaming console or streaming device wired through your router’s Ethernet port. 

This type of strategic network management makes it easier for your mesh network to maintain consistency throughout the day without excessive interference and gets you closer to the device’s limitations. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Eero Pro 7 is perfect for midrange shoppers looking to upgrade a congested network to Wi-Fi 7 without many devices that create a lot of chatter. It performs even better when considering strategic planning for your home network and using wired connections for demanding connected devices through the two 2.5 GbE ports.

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This mesh router will deliver faster speeds and better congestion management than many routers on the market, including the entry-level Eero 7, so it’s sure to be an upgrade from almost any setup available now.

However, if you’re looking for more robust network support for a smart home with multi-gig speeds and Eero’s fastest Wi-Fi 7 performance, consider the Eero Max 7 as an alternative to the Pro 7.