๐
The matchup between the eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200 is an interesting one.
That's because it's not really a fight. Despite the fact these two share the same Wi-Fi specs, I'd pick the latter right away.
There are just too many things in the new eero that can be a deal-breaker, for me at least. That doesn't mean Linksys is the best mesh on the marketโit's not, not even close. But compared with the other guy, it's a no-brainer.
Let's take a closer look at these two.
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200: Similarities
One word: AX4200.
That's right. The Wi-Fi grade is about the one thing these two really have in common. Both are tri-band mesh routers with two different 5GHz bands (4x4 + 2x2) and one low-end 2.4GHz band (2x2).
You'll find the specifics in the hardware specs below, but the AX4200 designation means that neither supports the venerable 160MHz channel width.
As a result, at best, you'll get the 1.2Gbps negotiated speed out of them with Wi-Fi 6 clients. In fact, chances are high-end Wi-Fi 5 clients might enjoy faster speeds. Both support wired backhaul, which I always recommend if you want the best-performing mesh system out of them.
One final thing is both routers have a mobile app that requires a login account with the vendor. But they are of two different app approaches entirely.
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200: Hardware specifications
| Full Name | Amazon eero Pro 6 Tri-band AX4200 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router | Linksys Tri-Band AX4200 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router |
| Model | eero Pro 6 | MX4200 |
| Wi-Fi Designation | AX4200 | AX4200 |
| Mesh Availability | 3-pack (identical units) | 3-pack (identical units) |
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 5.3 x 2.1 inch (134.49 x 134.63 x 52.6 mm) | 4.5 x 4.5 x 9.6 inches (11.43 x 11.43 x 24.38 cm) |
| Weight | 1.49 lbs (676 g) | 2.5 lbs (1.33 kg) |
| 5GHz-1 Wi-Fi Specs | 4x4 Wi-Fi 6: up to 2404 Mbps | 4x4 Wi-Fi 6: up to 2404 Mbps |
| 5GHz-2 Wi-Fi Specs | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6: 1201 Mbps | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6: 1201 Mbps |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6: 574 Mbs | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6: 574 Mbs |
| Mesh Backhaul Band | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wired Backhaul Support | Yes | Yes |
| Channel Width Supported | 20Mhz, 40MHz, 80MHz | 20Mhz, 40MHz, 80MHz |
| Processor | 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU | 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU |
| Memory | 1GB RAM, 4GB Flash | 512MB RAM, 512MB Flash |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b |
| Wi-Fi Security | WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 | WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 |
| Mobile App | Eero | Linksys |
| Web User Interface | None | Yes |
| AP (Bridge) Mode | Yes | Yes |
| USB Port | None | 1x USB 3.0 |
| Gigabit Port | 2x Auto-Sensing | 1x WAN, 3x LAN |
| Link Aggregation | No | No |
| Multi-Gig Port | None | None |
| Dual-WAN | No | No |
| Suggest Retail Price | $229 (1-pack) $599.99 (3-pack) | $250 (1-pack), $499.99 (3-pack) |
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200: Differences
There are a lot of differences between these two.
First off, the design. The Linksys comes in a cylindrical shape looking like a smart speaker. The eero Pro 6, on the other hand, is somewhat square with rounded corners.
The Linksys is much larger, though with a slightly smaller footprint, and comes with four network ports and a USB port for its NAS features. The eero has just two network portsโthe minimum to qualify itself as a router.
On the inside, Linksys has a full web interface and a somewhat optional mobile appโyou can use just the web interface if you follow these tricks. The eero has no web interface. Its mobile app is the only tool for setup and ongoing management.
The Linksys comes with a standard set of network settings that includes the support for Dynamic DNS. The eero lacks a lot of common network options.
Both routers have spartan Wi-Fi customization for my taste. However, Linksys allows you to separate its bands into different networks and a few other things. The eero has zero Wi-Fi configuration.
Linksys has no home automation or online protection support, but it comes with QoS and Parental Control built-in.
The eero's protection and Parental Control features, part of eero Secure, require a monthly subscription. Its support for Zigbee requires a connection with an Amazon account, which increases users' privacy risks.
Note, though, that the Velop MX4200 also coerces users into linking their home network to a Linksys account, so it's not exactly rosy in terms of privacy. But, again, at least, you have the option not to do so. It's a matter of degrees here.
Amazon eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200: Ratings and performance
Amazon eero Pro 6's Rating
Pros
Easy to set up and use, especially for iPhone users
GooWi-FiFi speeds
Compact design
Comparatively affordable
Cons
Wi-Fi range could be better
Internet and login account required for setup and ongoing management
Minimum ports, no Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, or Multi-Gig
Online Protection and Parental Control require a monthly subscription
Home automation feature requires Amazon integration
No web interface, spartan Wi-Fi, and network settings
The eero app for Android is a bit buggy
These two performed quite differently in my testing.
As standalone routers, the Linksys clearly outdid the eero. However, in a mesh system, the eero Pro 6 satellite unit did slightly better. This was likely because of the way Linksys's dynamic backhaul band technology works, which, at times, can be similar to having no dedicated backhaul at all.
In all, though, both of these tri-band systems delivered speeds fast enough for a sub-Gigabit network. They are not really for a multi-gig era.
In terms of Wi-Fi coverage, the Linksys edged out the eero in my experience. It's hard to quantify this, but if your home is large, it's a safer choice to go with the Velop MX4200.
By the way, the Velop MX4200 can work as a mini NAS server with quite excellent performanceโit can host one external drive per hardware unit in a mesh system. The eero Pro 6, on the other hand, can't host an external storage device at all.
Linksys Velop MX12600's Rating
Pros
Reliable Wi-Fi with excellent coverage
Helpful mobile app, full web interface
Fast NAS speeds when hosting external drives
Comparatively affordable
Cons
No support for 160MHz channel bandwidth
Mobile app (and login account) required for initial mesh setup
Spartan Wi-Fi settings, modest feature set
No multi-gig network ports, Dual-WAN, or Link Aggregation
No setting backup/restore
eero Pro 6 vs. Linksys Velop MX4200: Which is a better choice?
Again, I'd take the Linksys in a heartbeat (that is if I had no other options.)
While both require a mobile app (and a login account), Linksys gives you the option of not using the app at all. You can't even set up or make changes to your eero Pro 6 without going through eero's server!
Furthermore, Linksys has a lot more network settings and features to offer right out of the box. And if you get a 3-pack, it's also significantly more affordable.
On the other hand, the eero Pro 6 is a pure pain in terms of features and settings. It's a bare minimum tri-band mesh router. And if you want any extra, you'll have to pay a monthly fee or open up your network to Amazon.
So in all, the eero seems more like a scheme to harvest user information, and its Wi-Fi aspect, no matter how viable or convenient, is just the means to achieve that goal. Yet, you have to pay for that.
Looking to compare other Wi-Fi solutions? Check them all out here.
Hi There,
Great article. When I was searching for a mesh system last month, I came to the same conclusion about the “privacy concerns” with a login account to access my router. I’ve been a Linksys user for about 15 years now. My first unit was a WRT. All my Linksys products worked well. So I obviously put Linksys on my short list for my search. I only saw your article after my Linksys MX2003 purchase. I temporarily installed the 3 nodes with wireless backhaul. I intend to connect them using wired backhaul. My question is: do I need to “daisy chain” the child nodes or can I connect each child node directly to the parent node? The answer will effect my ethernet cable decision. Thank You
You don’t need to daisy-chain them, Nick. You can put a switch in between or connect all the satellites to the router unit directly. More in this post. Good luck!
Gosh I wish I could agree with you. After reading more than one similar review about the the Linkys Velop system being so great, I decided to replace my Eero Pro system b/c 1. I pay for 1gb internet with Uverse and the Eero pro isnโt capable of passing that on throughout my house 2. Amazon bought them and I donโt care to invite those snoopy folks into my home full of 25+ wifi devices 3. if youโre an smart home user like myself, adding new or replacing old wifi devices is a nightmare on the Eero mesh system. Anyway, Iโm on about my 6th month with Linksys support b/c they canโt get it deliver speeds anywhere near what they advertise, both the signal and the speed constantly drop to almost nothing in my modest 2,000 sq ft one story home.
The Linksys sure is better than the eero. Neither is great great, compared with others, Todd. Check my reviews on them for more.
I’ve had quite the opposite experience and I’m afraid I’m only weeks away from scrapping the Linksys Velop and buying the Eero Pro 6 system. Scouring the internet desperately looking for other options which is how I came upon your article.
Read the reviews and other posts, Todd. Don’t looks for ways to validate what you already believe, you’ll end up in the same place you are now.
So Iโve scrapped my Eero pro and purchased a Linksys Velop b/c itโs advertises 1GB mesh wifi. The Linksys Velop is under performing the Eero Pro after 6 months of troubleshooting by level 1 &2 tech support, theyโve sent replacement nodes (b/c they also admit the system is under performing), I scour the Internet looking for solutions, come across your post and offer up that I have the opposite experience than the one you write and your response is that the Velop system is better, my experience and their own tech support are invalid and I should read more reviews? Yea, that should helpโฆ
Spend sometime on this website, it’ll help, Todd. Start with this post. But, of course, it’s up to you.
Hello Dong.
I intend to buy Linksys AX4200. I need six nodes in total for my complete network solution. Can i buy two 3pack units and use these six nodes as a complete setup or do I have to buy one 3pack unit and then buy three nodes separately to work as satellite units which will become more expensive.
Sorry if i sound too naive about networks, I am still learning.
Thanks,
BJ
You can buy two 3-pack, Badar, the hardware units are all the same. I’ve never used more than 3 nodes, though. You might need to run some network cables if you want to use that many.
Hi Dong,
I have Apple Time Capsue Iโm trying to replace. 2 floors, 2400 sf. Main, 1200 lower (finished daylight basement with media room). Less than 25 devices. Iโve browsed and read around your website, but due to my limitations, Iโm finding it hard to come to a conclusion. Whatโs a good mesh system that is secure in terms of the manufacturer having access to my data (eero, TP-links, etc.)? Also would having a VPN solve the exposed data problem? Thanks.
Al
I’d go with Asus if you care about your privacy, Alnoor. Check out one on this list. Also, check out this post to learn more about VPN.
Thanks! Much respect.
Al
Thanks Dong, for a great write up! One thing thats been for me to chalk up is whats the best mesh option for wired backhaul. Would be great if you can write an article listing the top options for wired backhaul (I know you have one but the list is small – would be nice to include all of the other routers and rank them)
Check out this post, Hemanth. I can’t “rank” them since that depends on a particular situation. Anyone who says they can rank them for everyone is a liar. ๐
Trash writeup all around. You donโt like Eero. We get it. Terrible article.
You seem to like the eero, Jim. I get it. Can you elaborate on “trash” and “terrible”?
He sounded like a Trump supporter! All name-calling, no proof. Lol. I’m surprised you even bothered answering him, Dong! Helpful arcticle, as always.
Thanks, Lisa. No comment on what Jim sounded like. And I do welcome constructive criticism. ๐
Thank you Dong for an informative article and not falling for Lisa’s “name calling”. We don’t need that added to this conversation.
Sure, Bob. And I think by “Lisa” you meant “Jim”. ๐
No, I meant Lisa who was also trash talking in her response to Jim’s trash talking. She doesn’t know Jim is a Trump supporter… It was simply “name calling” and adding negativity to an otherwise great article.
You got a point there, Bob.
Thank you! I just ordered the Linksys after some research and a reasonable price at Costco. Always great to know I made a solid, if not quite cutting edge, choice.
Sure, Liz! Cheers! ๐