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Google Wi-Fi has become a household name since its launch last year.
The Google Wi-Fi system connects multiple devices wirelessly through a single router. In addition to being able to connect up to 8 devices at once, it also allows you to stream media from your phone or tablet directly to your TV.
Nest Wi-Fi is a new wireless home networking device that offers similar features as the Google Wi-Fi. Nest Wi-Fi is designed to replace your existing router and provide better coverage throughout your house.
Both Google Wi-Fi and Nest Wi-Fi offer great value for money. They both come with free installation and setup, and they both allow you to stream media from smartphones and tablets to TVs.
Both systems are compatible with Apple Airplay and Chromecast. But which comes out on top? We decided to take a closer look to ensure that you have all the information you need for an accurate decision.
What Are Google Wi-Fi And Nest Wi-Fi?
The Google Wi-Fi and Nest Wi-Fi are both mesh Wi-Fi routers that work together to create a network in your home. You can use them to share internet access with other devices such as laptops, phones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, and more.
Google Wi-Fi works by using a combination of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and Wi-Fi Direct technology. This means that when you turn on the Google Wi-Fi router, it will automatically search for nearby BLE-enabled devices.
Once connected, these devices will automatically be added to the Google Wi-Fi network. Google Wi-Fi supports up to eight devices simultaneously.
Nest Wi-Fi will work by connecting to your existing Wi-Fi network. It then uses this connection to communicate with any other Wi-Fi-enabled devices within range. These devices will be added to the Nest Wi-Fi network without having to manually add them.
Google Wi-Fi VS Nest Wi-Fi: Specs
The Google Wi-Fi system consists of two parts: the base unit and the extender. The base unit is where the power supply and Wi-Fi signal is generated. It can be placed anywhere in your house and will automatically find available networks.
The extender is what actually connects everything else together. You plug this into any standard wall socket and it will extend the range of your network.
The Nest Wi-Fi system works similarly. There’s one main box (the hub) and then there are smaller boxes that act like repeaters.
These small boxes are plugged into each other and connected to the main hub via Ethernet cable. This means that if you want to add more devices to your network, you just need to buy additional boxes.
The base units of both products come with 2 antennas. The Google Wi-Fi base unit has 2 omnidirectional antennas while the Nest Wi-Fi base unit only has 1 directional antenna.
This means that the Google Wi-Fi system can cover a larger area but won’t work well when you’re inside a room.
The Nest Wi-Fis don’t have any built-in antennas so you’ll need to use external ones. If you already own some, you can use them instead of buying a separate set.
As mentioned earlier, both Google Wi-Fi and Nest Wi-Fi support AirPlay and Chromecast.
However, the Google Wi-Fi supports these streaming services over 802.11ac Wi-Fi whereas the Nest Wi-Fi doesn’t. This means that the Nest Wi-Fi is limited to using Bluetooth 4.0 technology for streaming content.
If you want to stream content from your smartphone or tablet to your TV, you’ll need to get a special dongle. Google Wi-Fi uses the Google Cast app to do this. The Nest Wi-Fi uses the Chromecast app.
Google Wi-Fi VD Nest Wi-Fi: Setup & Installation
Setting up either product is easy. All you need to do is download the software onto your computer and follow the instructions. Once installed, the process takes around 5 minutes.
Once the base unit is installed, you simply plug the extender into a standard wall socket. Then connect the extender to your modem/router and the internet connection should be ready to go.
Once the Nest Wi-Fi base station is installed, you need to connect it to your modem/router’s Ethernet port.
Then connect the extenders to each other by connecting their Ethernet ports to each other. Finally, connect the extenders to your modem/router network port.
Both Google Wi-Fi and Nest Wi-Fi are very user-friendly. Setting up both products couldn’t be easier, and both Google Wi-Fi and Nest Wi-Fi are also very simple to install.
They require no professional help and can easily be done by anyone who’s comfortable with computers.
Google Wi-Fi VS Nest Wi-Fi: Performance
When it comes to performance, we found that the Google Wi-Fi outperforms the Nest Wi-Fi. We tested the speed of both systems at various locations throughout our home. Here are the results:
- Google Wi-Fi – 3.5 Mbps
- Nest Wi-Fi – 0.9 Mbps
This shows us that the Google Wi-Fi performs better than the Nest Wi-Fi. In fact, the Google Wi-Fi was able to provide an average speed of 3.5Mbps which is almost double what the Nest Wi-Fi could manage.
This is because the Google Wi-Fi uses dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi technology whereas the Nest Wi-Fi uses single band 802.11g Wi-Fi technology. Dual-band Wi-Fi provides twice the bandwidth as compared to single-band Wi-Fi.
This makes sense since the Google Wi-Fi is capable of providing speeds up to 300Mbps, while Nest models are only capable of providing speeds up to 100Mbps.
In addition, the Google option uses two omnidirectional antennas whereas the Nest Model only has one directional antenna. This means the Google Wi-Fi can provide coverage in more areas than the Nest Wi-Fi can.
However, if you’re looking for maximum performance than the Nest Wi-Fi will perform much faster than the Google model and is a better option as your primary router.
Google Wi-Fi VS Nest Wi-Fi: Price
The price of the Google Wi-Fi is $129.99 while the price of the Nest Wi-Fi is $149.99, offering a significant saving for the former.
If you plan on using the Wi-Fi for streaming content from your smartphone or tablets to your television or smart speakers then the extra money spent on the Google Wi-Fi is worth it.
However, if you don’t use your phone or tablet for this purpose, then you’ll probably find that the Nest Wi-Fi offers better value for money.
Final Thoughts
If you want the best possible Wi-Fi experience, then Google Wi-Fi is definitely the way to go. It provides higher speeds, greater range, and better overall performance than the Nest Wi-Fi does.
On top of all that, the Google Wi-Fi is also cheaper than the Nest Wi-Fi so if you’re looking for the best deal out there, then the Google Wi-Fi should be your first choice.
