The Linksys Velop vs the Google Wi-Fi: Which Is a Better Wireless Mesh System?

The Linksys Velop and Google Wi-Fi are among the wireless mesh systems with the highest popularity. Both brands are striving to give you the best experience, by expanding their Wi-Fi coverage over a larger area, and continuously aiming to keep you connected regardless of your position in your home or office. Although wireless mesh systems have been around for some time, it wasn’t until recently that the price point became fair enough for small businesses / home owners to buy in.

It is ok to say that Linksys Velop and Google Wi-Fi are still testing the waters in the aspect of mesh systems, because Eero, Luma, and Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD pioneered its sales. In order for the Linksys Velop and Google Wi-Fi to outshine its already existing competitors, they had to come up with something that separates them from the pack. Another point to note is that ASUS is yet to release its wireless mesh system, and they have a lot of time to make it special.

The Linksys Velop boasts a 5GHz radio band. This is a major perk, as it allows more clients to connect. On top of that, the device presents an extra way to manage backhaul traffic. Conversely, Google tries to produce a conventional medicine that we are used to such as the Eero and Luma. Although the Google Wi-Fi lacks the tri-band feature, it brings the simplest interface and is amongst the most fairly priced device as far as mesh technology is concerned.

Our Linksys Velop vs Google Wi-Fi review will explore the design, hardware, features, as well as certain shortcomings.

Design:

If you place the Linksys Velop side by side with a Google Wi-Fi, you’d notice that they have two distinct designs, and also that they share very little or no design features. Firstly, you would notice that the size of the Linksys Velop towers above the Google Wi-Fi, measuring 3.1 inches in length and breadth, and weighs about 1.08 pounds, unlike the Google Wi-Fi that stands just 4.3 inches tall, with a 3.1-inch breadth, and a weight of about 12 ounces.

The Linksys Velop has a tall rectangular design which looks somewhat like the Mini-Tower. The outer layer is covered with a matte finish that doesn’t retain fingerprints. The ports are flushed on the bottom which can be seen from a triangular cut-out.

On the other hand, the Google Wi-Fi features a LED line which divides the device into two sides, though the light does not cover the entire device. The design appears to be sturdy and compact. And if the wires were unnoticeable, one could mistake this mesh system for another electronic device.

The Linksys Velop’s design is very obvious, and would be noticed wherever you place it in your home. However, this is not much of an issue for the Google Wi-Fi, since its design is way more moderate in design. The Linksys Velop has just one logo patched on one of its four sides, and while the Google Wi-Fi didn’t make any provision to control airflow, the Linksys Velop is equipped with several tiny vent holes. This may be a problem if you intend to use the Google Wi-Fi over a long period of time.

Owed to the simple and non-intrusive design of the Google Wi-Fi, it can fit into any part of your home. And because of its size, it takes up very little space as compared to the Linksys Velop. One has to spend a lot of time to come to a decision of where to place the Linksys in their homes, as it would require a place with very minimal traffic, probably the least, to avoid knocking it down,

A point to note is that the Google Wi-Fi is available as either a single unit, or a three-unit package. On the other hand, the Linksys Velop is available as a single unit, two units, or even a three-unit package.

The units of the Linksys Velop are similar to each other, this is also the same for the Google Wi-Fi.

The Linksys Velop and the Google Wi-Fi have a lot of differences as far as design, but they also share one thing: they both work with one LED to indicate the status of the network and devices. The Google Wi-Fi design features a circular LED which runs the all-round mesh device. A solid teal color indicates that the Google Wi-Fi is online; an amber color indicates the absence of an internet connection; a red color indicates when the device encounters an error; a solid blue indicates that the device is being reset to factory default settings. As for the Linksys, a small LED is flushed on top of the unit; a blue LED indicates full functionality; a beeping red LED indicates that there is no connection to the main unit; a solid red LED indicates that connection is totally down.

Without a doubt, both the Linksys and the Google Wi-Fi would easily fit into your living room. And considering that both devices feature two LAN ports, either of them will work just fine. However, as far as design, the Google Wi-Fi stands out and would be a great addition to your living room.

Hardware:

All Linksys Velop routers are built using the Qualcomm Atheros platform (IPQ 4019 MU- MIMO2X2 chipset) and all are equipped with 512MB of RAM and 4GB Samsung KLM4G1FEDPD flash storage. The 2.4GHz band shares the same Qualcomm IPQ 4019 chipset with the first 5GHz radio. Google, on the other hand, builds their system on the Qualcomm Atheros platform (the IPQ4019 chipset). Each point is equipped with 512MB of RAM and 4GB EMC flash memory/4 MB winbond 25Q64FV. Its 2.4GHz radio was the Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4019 chipset, while the single 5GHz radio works with the Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4019 chip. Both devices are designed to fit into a smart home setup but both lack the Zigbee functionality.

In terms of minimum data transfer rate, the Linksys Velop comes out strong. It boasts a rate of 400Mbps with a 2.4GHz radio, and with each of the 5GHz radios, it can get up to 867Mbps. The Google’s Wi-Fi transfer rate is 300Mbps when you use the 2.4GHz radio, and about 867Mbps with the 5GHz radio. Though both devices are built almost the same way, the Linksys Velop takes the crown due to its additional 5GHz radio band.

Features and Performance:

The primary purpose of both devices is to create a network capable of managing a good number of clients, all while letting them gain access from anywhere in their office or homes. These devices work with the first node, (which may be any other router) to gain internet connection, and then to create a wireless coverage. Also, a third node can be added to further expand the coverage, or you can add other units altogether. Every node is linked to one another, and shares data with other areas to refine the data flow and achieve minimal interference. This is in fact the biggest perk of owning a wireless mess system.

Besides the aforementioned, these devices also find the most effective route, and detect offline navigation paths, after which it re-routes the data through inline nodes.

On the other hand, every node that gets added to the network makes it a lot harder to manage backhaul traffic. And apart from this, there is also a latency problem. The Linksys Velop has an additional 5GHz radio which provides a partial solution to this. The Google Wi-Fi is just a dual-band system without any measures to minimize these issues.

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Setup and Interface:

Both the Google Wi-Fi and the Linksys Velop can be easily setup from a mobile app. After installing the app, you’re required to connect the first node to the internet, after which you’re provided with follow-up steps to complete the setup and personalize your system.

The setup process was a breeze with the Google Wi-Fi, but it proved a little difficult with the Linksys Velop, taking about 20 minutes to complete.

With regards to software features, the Linksys Velop is a more complete device as compared to Google’s Wi-Fi, which left out some key features like VPN-pass-through.

Conclusion:

The Google Wi-Fi takes it home in terms of design, portability, and user-friendliness. However, the Linksys Velop wins in all areas that involves overall performance as it boasts an additional 5GHz radio band and several other significant features.

From our Linksys Velop vs Google Wi-Fi review, the latter is a better buy if you are looking for great performance, but if you want a stylish mesh system with an incredibly easy setup and affordable price, then the Google Wi-Fi is the better option.