Nest Wifi announced at Made by Google 2019

Enlarge / Google Nest Wifi debuts at Made by Google 2019 event. (credit: Jim Salter)

Google debuted its Nest Wifi-replacement for the original Google Wifi-today at Made by Google 2019. Details were sparse, but the device appears to effectively be the original Google Wifi hardware in an updated chassis-which Google hopes you'll find attractive enough not to hide away in a cabinet-with the addition of an onboard smart speaker. Google did claim that Nest Wifi delivers "up to two times the speed" and "25% more coverage" but with no technical detail, it's difficult to expect much concrete out of that.

There was no mention of Wi-Fi 6 support or anything else notable on the actual Wi-Fi front, but the addition of Google Assistant and a smart speaker in both the Nest Wifi Router and Nest-Wifi Point (satellite nodes) means fewer devices necessary for those who want to audibly command Wi-Fi setups, e.g. "OK Google, pause the Wi-Fi." Frustrated parents can also give commands like "OK Google, pause the Wi-Fi for "childname" without impacting the rest of the network.

Google says that a two-piece Nest Wifi kit-one Nest Router and one Nest Point-should cover up to 3,800 square feet and 85% of homes. This claim, like most arbitrary claims of Wi-Fi coverage with no real detail, should be taken with several grains of salt.

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