Mesh Wi-Fi systems for whole-home coverage.
The Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 comes in standard and Pro variants, differing only in their 5GHz and 6GHz band arrangement. Asus split them because countries like Singapore only permit the lower 6GHz-1 band. A look at this Wi-Fi 7 mesh router.
After more than five years on my first-generation eero, I upgraded to the Wi-Fi 6 eero Pro 6. I grabbed a discounted 3-pack for US$389, well below the usual US$599, shipped to Singapore via HopShopGo.
The Linksys Atlas is a new Wi-Fi mesh series following Velop, led by the Atlas Pro 6. This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router shares Velop's intelligent mesh tech, so you can mix nodes between the two.
The Linksys Velop MX4200 is the brand's second Wi-Fi 6 mesh router after the MX5300 I reviewed. Despite the lower model number, it's not really inferior, and the two are physically indistinguishable in looks and dimensions.
The Linksys Velop MX5300 Wi-Fi 6 launched in Singapore on 20th February 2020 for S$569, initially exclusive to Challenger and Hachi.tech. It's the third Velop mesh system, effectively the successor to the original tri-band Velop.
I upgrade my eero mesh network yearly, from the original 2017 unit to a Beacon in 2018. For 2019, I replaced the gateway node with an eero Pro, snagged for US$139 on Black Friday and shipped via HopShopGo.
The Synology Mesh Router MR2200ac launched in Singapore at S$199, with stock initially constrained. It can run as a standalone router covering about 185 square metres, or you can add more units to form a mesh network.
A key gripe with the Linksys Velop (Tri-Band) was its price, S$349 to S$749 across packs. The Linksys Velop (Dual-Band), launched 28th July 2018, solves that by being roughly half the price, making mesh Wi-Fi far more wallet-friendly.
The eero Beacon normally costs US$149, but a December 2017 sale dropped it to US$99 with the code BEACON99. I shipped it to Singapore via freight forwarder HopShopGo. My home Wi-Fi already runs on three wired first-generation eeros.
Google Wifi launched in Singapore on 31st August 2017 via a StarHub partnership, the first in Southeast Asia. You can get a three-pack bundle at S$15 a month over 24 months on selected StarHub plans, with no upfront cost.
The Aztech AIR-706P is Aztech's first mesh router, launched July 2017 at S$269. This budget router extends range by adding a second AIR-706P rather than an extender, though it's not a true mesh.
Google Wifi is now officially available in Singapore through a StarHub partnership, the first Southeast Asian launch. From 31st August 2017, a three-pack bundle costs S$15 a month over 24 months on selected StarHub plans.
The Linksys Velop is Linksys's first Wi-Fi mesh system, launched in Singapore on 12th April 2017, the second after Netgear Orbi. Like the eero I've used since January, mesh lets your whole home share a single SSID.
eero is a home Wi-Fi system built on a wireless mesh network. It isn't cheap: a single unit costs US$199, a 2-pack US$349, and a 3-pack US$499, but it promises uninterrupted whole-home coverage.