Google's new WiFi routers are cheaper than other systems, but not as good (GOOG)

I've had some time to test Google Wifi, Google's own vision of how we should connect our devices at home to the internet.

That vision is a "mesh" network, where you have multiple units that actively communicate with each other to provide a strong, fast WiFi signal throughout your home instead of a single WiFi router, which might not reach that deepest, darkest WiFi dead zone.

Up until the advent of mesh networking, most of us would use WiFi extenders to extend WiFi signals to our dead zones, but they're not very good. They cut our advertised internet speeds in half, and most require you to reconnect from main router to extender while moving around the house.

Most mesh WiFi systems are pretty expensive, but Google's is the cheapest by far.

So, how well does a home networking system from one of the most valuable names in tech work? See for yourself:

I got the 3-pack Google Wifi, which costs $299 and comes with three Google Wifi routers that you're meant to spread evenly throughout your home.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Each unit is designed to connect to each other to form a "mesh" network in your home, which covers your whole home in sweet, sweet WiFi. Mesh networks are much faster and more reliable than using traditional WiFi extenders, and they can switch the connection to different devices automatically, depending on the signal strength of your device.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

Since the Google Wifi units actually look good, and not like a tentacled robot, I didn't mind placing it somewhere where it's visible.

Google

Google gave its router a sleek look so you wouldn't be inclined to hide it in a closet, where WiFi signals could get dampened.

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