Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
It ’s not as tight as the new tri - band mesh routers that pop the question a consecrate web for data backhaul , but it is a solid value .
Best Prices Today: Ubiquiti Amplifi HD Mesh WiFi System
Note : This review is base on the carrying out of the Amplifi HD with Mac clients . If you ’d like to register a version with analysis base on execution with Windows clients , followthis link .
Ubiquiti Labs is a comparatively new histrion in the consumer router mart , but it ’s no babe in the woods . It ’s a division of Ubiquiti Networks , a well - regarded manufacturer of initiative and table service - supplier networking solution , and an other player in the interlock - networking market . The company announced its first consumer product back in May 2016 , but the modeling reviewed here is importantly adept than that one .
Ubiquiti Amplifi HD Mesh WiFi System
The Amplifi HD Mesh WiFi System ( $ 349 ) is the latest router designed to realise placement out in the open , versus being hidden in the closet . It consists of a dual - stria 802.11ac router that comes pre - paired with two 802.11ac engagement nodes ( Ubiquiti calls them “ meshpoints ” ) . The router is an attractive 4 - inch block with a orbitual ( 2 in in diameter ) color LCD touchscreen on its face , and a gigabit WAN port and four - port Gb switch in the back . There ’s also a USB port on the back , but it ’s currently dormant ( the ship’s company says it has future plan for the port , but did n’t provide any hints as to what those might be ) . There ’s a white light-emitting diode around the bottom border of the router , but you’re able to dip its brightness — or bend it off altogether — if you do n’t like the outcome . There ’s also a night mode fix that will turn the LED and the LCD off automatically .
The Ubiquiti Amplifi HD has a helpful touchscreen exhibit embedded in its face .
Is it worthy?
We ’ll put this review ’s conclusion here , for those who just want to know our bottom - cable opinion of the Amplifi HD . If you want to know the Immigration and Naturalization Service and out as to why we think this way of life , there are oodles of carrying into action chart and an in - depth treatment of this router ’s features and capacity further down .
This is a good time to be in the market for a Modern Wi - Fi router because there are so many good products to choose from . Is Ubiquiti ’s Amplifi one of them ? On the upside , it ’s very attractive and — perhaps more importantly — it has a four - port switch . It ’s easy to set up and its companion app is very well-situated to expend . The mesh connection it build render good coverage with three nodes — in fact , two nodes would probably be sufficient to cover my 2800 - straight - foot home . Amplifi HD is attractive from a monetary value perspective , with a three - node system priced at $ 50 less than Netgear ’s hub - and - satellite offering and $ 150 less than a three - lymph node Linksys Velop .
On the other handwriting , both the Linksys Velop and the Netgear Orbi delivered even higher performance than the Amplifi . And both the Velop ’s and the Orbi ’s mesh nodes support wire backhaul today , if you consider that an important feature article ( it is if you have lots of ethernet bead in your house , as rare as that might be ) . A two - node Velop organization cost slightly more ( street toll , that is ) than a three - node Amplifi , but it perform better in my home . The two - post Orbi beat the three - node Amplifi HD across the board , but it costs $ 50 more than either the Linksys or Ubiquiti arrangement .
A node of a different color
The router is different than any interlocking router we ’ve seen before — and not just because it ’s a square block . It operates one net on the 2.4GHz frequency band with a 3×3 radio ( three spatial streams in each direction ) offering throughput of up to 450Mbps . A second internet on the 5GHz oftenness dance band has a 3×3 radio offering throughput up to 1300Mbps . The Eero , Google Wifi , Linksys Velop , and Luma Surround WiFi are all 2×2 mesh routers . The Velop operates a third 2×2 internet on the 5GHz isthmus that ’s dedicate to datum backhaul . The hub - and - spokeNetgear Orbiis a 2×2 router with a third 4×4 meshwork on the 5GHz band that ’s dedicated to wireless datum backhaul from its wireless planet .
The Amplifi HD mesh guest are unlike anything else on the market as well : They secure directly into an AC vent and have 7 - column inch long enclosures that bestride on a magnetic Lucille Ball seize to the AC arranger . A stack of five blue light-emitting diode shine to confirm that the mesh node has connected with the router — the more light-emitting diode that beam , the stronger the joining . Signal durability is also displayed in the Amplifi app . The Lucille Ball allows the antenna to swivel in almost any direction , so you may fine tune up its reception in concert with the Amplifi smartphone app .
Google Wifi (three pack)
Let ’s say you dedicate however much meter it take to do that : What are the chances the antenna is go tostayin that place for more than a few twenty-four hour period — or even a few hours if the node is in any sort of dealings path ? Also , each node ’s two piece can also be completely detached — that could be a problem in households with odd toddlers , or clunky occupants , or rolling suitcases , or … . On the other paw , the mesh point wo n’t take up table or ledge space . It ’s also deserving noting that these internet nodes have three - prong plugs and require ground electrical outlet . This could be a problem if you live in an older base with only two - prong outlet .
The Amplifi ’s detachable antenna could be a life ring or a curse , calculate on your dwelling ’s surroundings .
Router placement
Ubiquiti Labs encourages buyers to place the router in the meat of your home , so that the mesh lymph gland can establish lineal connections with the router , versus placing the router at one extreme of your home and deploying the interlock nodes in a route so that data “ hop ” from one node to the next . In the literal world , most routers get deployed on a margin bulwark , because that ’s where the broadband gateway is locate .
Netgear Orbi Home WiFi System (RBK50)
When I test Wi - Fi router , I place the router on a board outside the press containing my home - campaign . But that way is on the far side of my firm and the location I place the client computer ( I test with both a personal computer and a Mac ) fan out from there . The Amplifi app nonetheless indicated that each connection node was connecting now to the router . Clients are automatically guide to the inviolable access point , whether that be the router or one of the mesh knob .
Perhaps even more useful than the presentation is this four - interface Gb replacement . The USB port is presently hibernating , but Ubiquiti has unspecified plans for it .
Unlike the interlocking nod the aforementioned competing organisation offer ( and the artificial satellite Orbis , in Netgear ’s frame-up ) , the Amplifi HD mesh node do n’t have any ethernet ports , so you ca n’t use a wired backhaul if your home is limit up that way And since most outlets are a few inches from the flooring , it could limit a mesh point ’s range .
One of the two locations in which I ’ve been testing meshwork router happens to be at antagonistic tiptop , because I have a wet legal profession in the center of my house and that ’s where I ’ve been post mesh nodes during benchmarking ( a rosy turn of outcome for Ubiquiti ) . The party does say , however , that it ’s run on a firmware update that will turn on the router to be commute into a mesh node . When that happens , youwillbe able-bodied to habituate hardwired ethernet for data backhaul . you’re able to already configure second and subsequent router to operate as wireless bridge , so that you’re able to add machine to your internet that ca n’t otherwise tie in wirelessly .
This floor architectural plan shows were the router is place up and the location of the four spots inside my home that I come in the clients during benchmarking .
Installation and setup
you’re able to perform the early induction gradation on a Mac with a vane web internet browser , but you ’ll need to habituate the Amplifi app — there are Android and iOS interlingual rendition — to finish . You ’ll also need the app to get to the nitty - spirited options , of which there are many . Router grind will be pleased — mostly . you’re able to get down to degree of detail such as which transmit each internet will use , you’re able to set up a guest internet with its own alone password , and there are provision for larboard - forward formula , but it does n’t allow you to assign one wireless guest higher priority over another .
The well - designed Amplifi app is prosperous to utilise and surfaces the nitty - gritty details of your Wi - Fi net .
you’re able to also make profiles base on hoi polloi , groups , or areas of your home ; allot networked devices to those profiles ; and then establish agenda for when those profiles are countenance to get at the internet . During defined “ subdued times , ” that profile will not be earmark access to the cyberspace . you’re able to create multiple quiet time for each visibility by twenty-four hours or group of day ( Monday between 7:00 am and 9:00 amandMonday between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm for example ; the same times Monday , Wednesday , and Friday ; assign times on Saturday and/or Sunday ; and so on ) .
This lineament is establish on a 24 - hour clock , and the user interface will obscure you at first coup d’oeil , but you ’ll quickly realize how clever it is . If you do n’t want to hassle with setting up profiles , you could easy “ pause ” any guest gimmick from get at the cyberspace . There also a clitoris that will temporarily stop internet access foreverydevice that ’s connected to the router ; that ’s a handy feature when you desire to accumulate the family for dinner or a discussion . One feature we did n’t find : Parental controls ( though that ’s not something we place high-pitched note value on ) .
Performance
Linksys Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi (three pack)
It takes a while to get to this performance chart with mesh router , because I first value the router ’s performance alone , without any additional nodes , in four locations inside my home . I then summate one guest and re - launch the benchmarks in those same four spots . If the manufacturer provides a third node , I double the testing with three node . In the case of the Amplifi HD , this chart demo that operating the router on its own might be o.k. if you go in a smaller quad . summate a second lymph node resulted in a significant increase in reportage in terms of square footage , but add that third node did n’t do much to improve things .
This chart shows how the Amplifi HD performed with just the router and then with one and two engagement nodes sum up in . The router and one node proved to be the gratifying spot in my nursing home .
At close range , with the MacBook Pro 9 metrical foot from the router with a clear line of sight , the Ubiquiti Amplifi without any planet node was faster than only two of the challenger it was liken to : the Eero WiFi system and the Securifi Almond 3 . The first - place - end Netgear Orbi was faster by more than 250Mbps .
When I move the client into the great elbow room , 33 understructure from the router with an insulated wall , some plywood console , and a figure of kitchen appliance in the signal way , the Amplifi HD moved into third place behind the Eero WiFi System and the Securifi Almond 3 , delivering TCP throughput of 195.1Mbps . Ubiquiti ’s router did a relatively dear job of penetrating the blockheaded walls of the home house , but now it choose a remote second place to the Google Wifi , delivering 36.9Mbps to the Google router ’s 62.9Mbps . The Amplifi HD finished third behind the Google Wifi and the Eero when the MacBook Pro was furthest from the router , 65 feet and split up by several wall , but the margins were closer . Bottom line : I would n’t recommend using this router by itself in a larger home .
bring one interlock node had a humble wallop on near - field performance , and it importantly increased TCP throughput when the client was in the sunshine elbow room , but competitors were faster at every mental testing location . The Linksys Velop , for instance , was more than four time quicker when the MacBook Pro was in the rest home dramaturgy , and the Netgear Orbi was nearly two - thirds faster when the client was in the sunlight room .
Most masses who bribe Ubiquiti ’s Amplifi HD will belike purchase the router with two meshing peak , as the package costs $ 60 less than grease one’s palms the constituent piecemeal . But I saw only low bulge in performance when I added a second web point to the equation ( three nodes in all , include the router ) . TCP throughput at secretive reach and to the great elbow room increased slightly , the base theatre number repeat , but my longest - range number in reality declined .
Now look at the chart below : The three - leaf node Linksys Velop place first in every test location , and by very wide security deposit in two of the four . What ’s more , the Velop mesh with just two nodes ( $ 349.99 at Amazon ) was also faster than the Amplifi HD operating with three .
In my final bench mark , I determine up three pairs of computers ( four Windows machines along with an iMac and a MacBook Pro ) and measure transmission control protocol throughput between while at the same time streaming 4 K television from the internet with a Roku Ultra prepare - top loge . The Amplifi , operating with the router and two mesh point , placed a distant third on this test , behind the Linksys Velop ( with three nodes ) and the Netgear Orbi ( with the router and one artificial satellite ) .
It ’s always interesting to see how much more throughput the Apple computers render on this run , because the MacBook Pro is one of the few laptops of any kind that is outfitted with a 3×3 802.11ac Wi - Fi adapter .
This benchmarks evaluates each router ’s wireless carrying out supporting three paired clients and a Roku Ultra stream 4 K television from the internet .
I wo n’t repeat everything I say about the Ubiquiti Amplifi HD in the “ Is it worthy ? ” section above . It ’s a good router , but it ’s not one of the expectant ones .
