Linksys Velop dual-band vs. tri-band: Which should you buy?

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Linksys Velop dual-band vs. tri-ring: Which should you buy?

Anybody here at Windows Key relies on a stable, reliable net connectedness to run across deadlines, and we're always testing new products to encounter what works all-time, including both the dual-band and tri-band Linksys Velop mesh systems. If you're wondering what is best for yous, we tin assistance.

Better for most people

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi

Amend for heavy traffic

Linksys Velop tri-band mesh Wi-Fi

The dual-ring Linksys Velop mesh arrangement is considerably cheaper than the tri-band version, and information technology should suit near standard homes that meet average net traffic. However, if wired backhaul isn't an option, you volition see decreased speeds due to but ane 5GHz radio available.

From $110 at Amazon

Pros

• Significantly cheaper price
• Can get-go with one node and expand as needed
• Iii-pack can cover up to 4,500 square feet
• Easy setup and management
• Supports Ethernet backhaul

Cons

• Not ideal for large spaces with many people
• Wireless backhaul will cause performance drops

The tri-band Linksys Velop mesh organization costs more than the dual-band version, just for large homes with many people vying for bandwidth, information technology should be the become-to option. If wired backhaul isn't an option, the extra 5GHz radio is crucial for maintaining optimal speeds for your continued devices.

From $197 at Amazon

Pros

• Can start with one node and expand
• Supports Ethernet backhaul
• Three-pack tin cover up to 6,000 square feet
• Simple setup and management
• Better suited for heavy traffic and large spaces

Cons

• Considerably more expensive
• Might exist overkill for standard employ scenarios

If you were to set up the tri-band and dual-band Velop nodes next to each other, y'all wouldn't likely exist able to see much of a difference other than that the latter's nodes are a bit shorter. They however come with ii Ethernet ports each, setup is near the same (which is about as painless equally it gets cheers to a streamlined app), the quad-core processor (CPU) inside operates at the same 716MHz frequency, and nodes are completely interchangeable within a network. You lot can as well combine dual-band and tri-ring nodes for a seriously sweet wireless setup.

Both systems offer MU-MIMO capabilities for improve data delivery, and both systems tin can handle the spectrum of 802.11a/b/thou/n/ac devices. It's easy to ready one of these nodes down somewhere and let it blend into the groundwork, though each does require an external power source. Once set up, both the tri-band and dual-ring models should operate on their own without hassle, at to the lowest degree until you lot demand to change a setting or reorganize the network layout.

Linksys Velop dual-ring vs. tri-band tech specs

	Linksys Velop dual-band	Linksys Velop tri-band
Wi-Fi speed	AC1300 (867Mbps + 400Mbps) per node	AC2200 (867Mbps + 867Mbps + 400Mbps) per node
Network standards	802.11a/b/thousand/northward/air-conditioning	802.11a/b/chiliad/northward/ac
Wi-Fi radios	2.4GHz and 5GHz	2.4GHz and dual 5GHz
Bluetooth	four.0	four.0
Processor	716MHz quad-core	716MHz quad-core
Ports	Two Gigabit Ethernet per node	Ii Gigabit Ethernet per node

Linksys Velop platonic usage

The tri-band Velop is classed as an AC6600 device, but that'due south if yous add up all three nodes. The theoretical speed per node is AC2200, thanks to two 5GHz bands at 867Mbps each and one 2.4GHz band at 400Mbps.

Why have two 5GHz bands? More people these days demand higher speeds for their devices to stream, download, and game, so one 5GHz band can get clogged upwardly quickly if you're in a home with a lot of other people, especially if you're relying on wireless backhaul — which effectively eats up almost one-half of your bandwidth — to relay data back to the main router.

The dual-ring Velop is classed as an AC3900 device, but that's again only if you lot add together up all 3 nodes. Theoretical speed per node is instead AC1300, with ane 5GHz band at 867Mbps and one 2.4GHz ring at 400Mbps. If you're living alone or with one or 2 other people who are regular internet users, a dual-band Velop is no doubt all yous're going to need, especially if you can take advantage of wired backhaul to keep the 5GHz radio articulate.

You lot don't want to only consider who's using the Velop on this side; you also have to consider the speed of the internet yous're paying for from your Internet access provider (ISP). Linksys claims that the tri-band Velop is best suited for plans that deliver up to 300Mbps ― dual 5GHz bands deliver the higher speed to more data-hungry devices at once ― whereas the dual-band Velop is best suited for plans delivering up to 100Mbps.

You don't want to overspend, and so if your internet is tedious right out of the wall, the dual-band system probably makes more sense. If you lot call up ane day you'll be upgrading your Isp programme to something much speedier, you lot might consider the tri-band Velop. Yet, at that place's some other factor to add to the equation: coverage.

Linksys Velop coverage

Due to the tri-band Velop having twice equally many antennas that tin employ beamforming engineering to deliver a better signal farther away, you should realistically exist able to cover an expanse somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet with 3 nodes. If you're living in a large home with five or more bedrooms, the tri-ring Velop might make more sense no matter your basic cyberspace speed.

On the other hand, the dual-band Velop with three agile nodes is better suited to covering somewhere betwixt four,000 and 4,500 square feet, which is yet respectable. If you have a modest apartment or condo, the dual-band arrangement is no incertitude platonic, though it can also definitely evidence its worth in a standard home.

Keep in listen that both systems can likewise be had in single and two-packs. This cuts down on the price, simply it also cuts down on the range of coverage. If you, for instance, have a lot of people in one room constantly clogging up a single 5GHz ring, the two-pack tri-band Velop would probably make sense, delivering higher speeds to more devices without having to cover such a large area. Actress Velop nodes tin can exist added at any time, so, as another example, if you're living in a pocket-size apartment, you tin can pick upwardly a single dual-band node now and aggrandize your setup subsequently.

Linksys Velop price

Finally, 1 of the biggest deciding factors between these ii products volition be the price. For a three-node, tri-band Velop setup, you're looking at spending almost $400. That'due south a lot of dough to spend on Wi-Fi, especially compared to the three-node, dual-band Velop'due south toll of about $233.

If you want to start with just one node and work your way upwards, a unmarried dual-band Velop costs well-nigh $110, whereas a single tri-ring Velop node costs near $197. Considering you can use the dual- and tri-ring nodes together in the same network, you can always showtime out with budget in mind and aggrandize equally the needs ascend.

The dual-band Velop is a nifty pick for most homes

If y'all're living in an average-sized home with about three or four people connecting devices, the dual-ring Velop should be able to handle the traffic needs with ease. Wireless backhaul volition touch on 5GHz radio speeds, but you tin can connect with Ethernet for wired backhaul for better performance. It'southward also significantly cheaper than the tri-band option, and y'all can starting time with 1 node and work your way up as needed.

Amend for most people

Linksys Velop dual-ring mesh Wi-Fi

Ideal for boilerplate homes and traffic

The dual-band Velop is the better choice if you're not living in a huge space filled with people vying for bandwidth, and information technology'southward considerably cheaper than the tri-band model. Consider going with wired backhaul for all-time results.

The tri-band Velop is better for large homes

If you have a large space full of people that needs to be blanketed in reliable Wi-Fi, the tri-band Velop is no incertitude worth the extra cost. Cheers to 2 5GHz radios, wireless backhaul won't significantly touch on performance, yet you can notwithstanding connect with Ethernet for wired backhaul, leaving both 5GHz radios for devices. Similar the dual-ring option, you can start with ane node and add hardware every bit needed.

Better for heavy traffic

Linksys Velop tri-band mesh Wi-Fi

Platonic for large homes and to a higher place-average traffic

If you're concerned about reaching every corner of a large infinite and take a large group of people all continued at in one case, the tri-band Velop is the improve choice. It might price more, but it will exist worth it in the long run.

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Cale Hunt

Cale Chase is a staff author at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, equally well as the emerging world of VR. He is an gorging PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing virtually tech.

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