Forget Wi-Fi dead zones: here are 5 early Black Friday mesh router deals worth picking up

Although there are already plenty of early Black Friday deals to be had on laptops, TVs and other gadgets, upgrading to one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems could be an even better buy, especially ahead of the holidays.

Unlike with one of the best Wi-Fi routers, a mesh router or mesh Wi-Fi system can fill even the largest homes with a strong Wi-Fi signal. This means you won’t have to worry about switching networks with a Wi-Fi extender and you can have a strong internet connection in every room of your house as well as out in the backyard.

Here are a few of the best early Black Friday deals I’ve seen on the mesh routers we’ve reviewed. However, if you don’t see something you like below, keep checking back as I’ll be updating this guide frequently in the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Mesh router Black Friday deals — Quick links

1. TP-Link Deco XE 75 (three-pack): was $449 now $359 @ Amazon 
2. Eero 6+ (four-pack): was $440 now $286 @ Amazon
3. Asus ZenWiFi XT8 (two-pack): was $400 now $333 @ Amazon
4. Google Nest WiFi Pro (two-pack): was $299 now $265 @ Amazon
5. MeshForce M3 (two-pack): was $85 now $79 @ Amazon

Mesh router Black Friday deals: Best sales right now

Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7

When it comes to picking out your new mesh router, you might be wondering which Wi-Fi standard to go with, especially now that there are three different ones to choose from. While your budget will play a big factor, it’s also worth thinking about your current internet speeds and whether or not you’re going to want to upgrade sooner rather than later.

Released back in 2019, Wi-Fi 6 uses both the 2.4 and 5-gigahertz (GHz) bands to move data across your home. While the 5 GHz band is faster, the 2.4 GHz band has better range and is perfect for smart home devices like the best outdoor security cameras. 

Wi-Fi 6E on the other hand is newer but not the latest wireless standard following the launch of Wi-Fi 7–equipped routers earlier this year. Although this is more of an incremental upgrade, Wi-Fi 6E does have one major benefit over its predecessor. It adds a new 6 GHz band that’s blazing fast and easily reaches speeds over a gigabit per second. However, keep in mind, you will need to be close to your router to see these kinds of speeds.

Wi-Fi 7 is the latest and greatest wireless standard and as such, mesh routers that support it —  like the Orbi RBE973 and TP-Link Deco BE85 — are priced much higher. This is changing though and by next year, there will likely be quite a few more budget-friendly options to choose from. If you want a future-proof mesh Wi-Fi system now though and don’t want to have to upgrade anytime soon, getting a mesh router with Wi-Fi 7 could be worth it.

How to choose the best mesh router for your home

Whether you’re having your family over for the holidays or just want to get the most out of that new M3 MacBook Pro you’ve just unwrapped, there’s nothing quite like using a mesh router if you haven’t before. I upgraded to one last year and it’s completely changed how myself and my family stay connected while at home. 

If you are thinking about giving your home network a big upgrade with a new mesh Wi-Fi system, don’t forget to pair it with one of the best cable modems, especially if you want to break free from your ISP and stop paying those expensive monthly rental fees.

Regardless of which model of mesh router you pick up, you’re going to see a noticeable difference when it comes to your internet coverage. However, if you don’t plan accordingly, you may still end up with some Wi-Fi dead zones. Fortunately, this can always be fixed by adding extra satellites.

To save yourself some hassle though, it’s a good idea to know how many square feet your home or apartment is before you start shopping. Most mesh routers have a range of 2,000+ square feet and if you buy a two-pack, you’ll be able to cover 4,000 square feet with a strong Wi-Fi signal. 

You also want to take the design of your home into account and figure out where you want to place the main unit and its satellites. For instance, if you have interior walls made from brick or concrete or own a home with multiple floors, then you might need a three-pack instead. It’s also worth noting that some mesh routers work with your older devices, so you don’t have to get rid of them and can instead use them to build out your home network’s coverage further. Both Amazon’s eero and TP-Link’s Deco devices are compatible with older models for instance.

For those on a tight budget that don’t want to pay a lot to have reliable, whole-home Wi-Fi, also check out our guide on the best cheap mesh Wi-Fi systems which can all be had for less than $100.

If you are thinking about giving your home network a big upgrade with a new mesh Wi-Fi system, don’t forget to pair it with one of the best cable modems, especially if you want to break free from your ISP and stop paying those expensive monthly rental fees.