Month: October 2024

Categories
News

Apple prepares to unveil new M4-powered Mac Mini with compact design

When the Mac Mini was first introduced in early 2005, it was pitched as a compact “stripped-down” desktop — and the most affordable Mac in Apple’s lineup. Steve Jobs referred to it as a “BYODKM” system: you’d bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse, and the Mini would provide a dependable computing experience with all the benefits of macOS.

The Mac Mini has carried on ever since. There have been periods where the Mini has been sidelined and ignored by Apple for long stretches of time. But the debut of Apple Silicon gave it a new lease on life. Even if the overall design didn’t change much in the transition from Intel to Apple’s in-house chips, the Mini’s potential soared.

But now, that design is about to change. And if the rumors prove accurate, it’s going to be a radical makeover. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the M4-powered Mac Mini will shrink in size so significantly that its footprint will resemble that of an Apple TV. The new Mac Mini will be anything but a stripped-down Mac.

Instead, it’ll likely be the most visually impressive example yet of what Apple is capable of in this new era, where the incredible efficiency of its chips allows for all sorts of hardware designs that were technically unfeasible a handful of years ago. 

Gurman has said that the 2024 Mac Mini — at least the M4 Pro variant — will include a total of five USB-C ports, with two on the front of the machine.It’ll still have an HDMI port for those of you who’ve integrated Apple’s smallest Mac into your home theater setups. USB-A is said to be a goner, but… it’s time.

Within the Mac family, the Mini still holds an important spot. The iMac is the visual stunner; the MacBook Pro delivers tremendous power on the go; and the Mac Pro and Mac Studio are both geared at professionals and creatives. But the Mini remains the line’s unassuming overperformer at a compelling price for anyone who wants a Mac that “just works.”

No matter its size, the Mini’s BYODKM remains one of its best attributes. Apple might not be planning a 27-inch iMac, but we’re about to have an astonishingly compact desktop that can be paired with any screen you want. And the software outlook is also excellent: the revamped Mini arrives shortly after macOS Sequoia, which added useful features like iPhone mirroring and (long overdue) window tiling.

As of now, the Studio easily wins out in CPU and GPU performance, and it has other bonuses, like an SD card slot and faster ethernet. I’d expect those advantages to remain true whenever the M4 model arrives.

Categories
News

Google Could Bring Quick Settings Tile Categories to your Android 16

Google released Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 some days ago. It’s not uncommon for QPR betas to contain information about a forthcoming Android release, as Google likes to start working on its software releases pretty early. Similarly, we learned recently that Android 16 could introduce a significantly redesigned Quick Settings panel, which, per recent reporting, could also pick up categories to discover tiles more easily. A follow-up report has revealed that this upcoming Quick Settings revamp could have another big feature addition on the cards — resizable tiles.

To be clear, Quick Settings tiles aren’t resizable by default in the most recent Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 release, so don’t bother trying to resize them on your Pixel. However, if you enable the in-development Quick Settings panel in Beta 3, then they are resizable. All you have to do to resize them is to tap on any tile while in the editor view and then drag the dot left or right to shrink or expand it. Tiles can be either 1×1 or 2×1 in size, allowing you to fit as little as 8 or as many as 16 tiles in a single page. You can resize any tile, even ones provided by third-party apps, though obviously not every tile will have a useful description when it’s expanded.

Resizing individual Quick Settings tiles will require users to navigate to the editor view via the pencil icon in the bottom right of the panel. From here, just long-press the tile you want to shrink/expand and adjust the size accordingly. 

Rahman warns that since the ability to resize the Quick Settings tiles is still in its infancy, there’s no certainty it will debut with Android 16 next year, as Google may decide to scrap it from the final release. However, the updated Quick Settings panel will probably make the cut, given the amount of work that has gone into it so far.

There’s been plenty of reporting on Android 16 already, including news that Google may release it by the second quarter of 2025.

Categories
Guide

When should you replace your smartphone battery?

If your cell phone can barely make it to lunchtime without a recharge, you may be tempted to buy a new one. But consider springing for a new battery instead.As long as the phone is in good shape—no cracked screen, for instance—replacing the battery can make the device work like brand-new.

Most smartphones come with non-removable batteries, so replacing one has gotten a lot more time-consuming and, in some cases, more expensive. It’s not something you should do on your own unless you have experience repairing phones, as you could make the problem worse. It can be a day-long project where you must disassemble your phone — in newer models, you even have to detach the screen from all of its sensors and wires. Now begs the question, when do you need to replace a phone battery?

How long does an Android phone battery last?

Much like the battery in your car, your Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone battery will degrade over time. Typically, your phone battery is good for 2 to 3 years, or even longer if you take good care of your device.

Signs your phone battery needs to be replaced

If you’re worried your phone’s battery is damaged or not working at its best, we’ve got you covered. Here are the signs to look out for.

Your phone is slow to respond

Does your phone respond more slowly than it used to? Do apps take longer to launch? If your phone is sluggish—even when it’s mostly or fully charged—you may need a new battery.

Your battery doesn’t hold a charge

If your phone won’t charge to 100%, drains quickly after you’ve charged it, or shuts down unexpectedly on a full charge, it’s probably time to replace the battery.

Likewise, if you have to charge your Android more than once a day or if it only works when it’s plugged in, it’s may be time for a new battery.

Your phone heats up while charging

Are you wondering how to tell if your phone battery is damaged? Check to see whether your phone gets hot while it’s charging. You can also take a look at your phone screen or case to see whether it’s warped: If it is, you may have a swollen battery, which could be dangerous. The safest option is to take your device to a tech repair pro and replace it right away.

How to check your Android phone battery health

Most Android phone models have a battery usage setting where you can check battery health.
Go toSettings > Batteryto check your current battery level.
From there the steps vary by device, but look for an option like Battery Usage to get more information, like which apps are using the most power.

If you’ve tried these steps and still need a little help,get the best batteries for your business and professional needs here atBatteryone.co. Get in touch with us today for all your battery needs. 

Categories
News

Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 forecasted to lag behind Apple and Qualcomm

Now that the most important specifications of the Google Tensor G5 and Tensor G6 have been leaked, Google’s internal performance forecasts reveal how the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro will perform in comparison to rivals from Apple, MediaTek and Qualcomm.

Earlier this week, a source revealed documents,that next year’s Tensor G5 and 2026’s Tensor G6 would be dropping a nanometer and be the first completely designed internally by Google. The new TSMC-built 3nm chips should be both faster and more efficient than the 4nm Samsung-manufactured ones in the Pixel 9 series. This finally helps Google’s chip catch up a little to the Apple A18 processor and Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Google apparently expects that the Tensor G5 of the Pixel 10 series and the Tensor G6 of the Pixel 11 series will not be able to keep up with the flagship chips from MediaTek, Qualcomm and Apple at the time of launch, at least as far as performance in Geekbench is concerned. The exact figures should be viewed as very rough guidelines at best, as it is simply too early for benchmark results from prototypes.

The forecast makes sense in view of the leaked specs, as the Google Tensor G5 is said to be equipped with an ARM Cortex-X4 super core, just like the Tensor G4, meaning that single-thread performance will hardly increase. However, since the new chip has five instead of just three performance cores, which are more modern Cortex-A725 instead of Cortex-A720, it is hardly surprising that the multi-thread performance is expected to increase by around 30%.

The Tensor G6 will ultimately do away with efficiency cores altogether and instead combine a new ARM Cortex-X930 super core with six Cortex-A730 performance cores, which should lead to around 15% higher single-thread performance and around 11% stronger multi-core performance compared to the Tensor G5. If this forecast is anywhere near accurate, customers can look forward to a considerable performance upgrade with the Pixel 10, even if Google cannot catch up with the competition.

Categories
Guide

How to Revive Your Old Computer

Getting the latest and greatest computers doesn’t always make sense today. Unless you’re heavily into software engineering, 4K video editing, or gaming, a 4-5-year-old computers is usually powerful enough to be your daily driver.

Often, people abandon failing computers that could otherwise be revived with a little extra investment in replaceable parts. Old computers, especially when given strategic upgrades, can be effective for low-intensity activities such as web browsing, word processing, presentations, email, etc. A backup machine can also be handy if your primary computer fails. Refurbished or revived computers may also be highly beneficial for families with older or younger members that need a system for email or schoolwork.

 Cleaning Your Old Computer

A good place to start when reviving an older computer is to simply clean it up. Build-up of dust and grime can impede the smooth operation of internal components, such as fans or heatsinks. If you decide to clean your system, you should first turn it off and unplug it. Clean the case, external components, and peripherals with a microfiber cloth, using 70% isopropyl alcohol to 30% distilled water in a spray bottle.

Start cleaning your old keyboard by turning it upside down and shaking out any debris that has accumulated, before proceeding with the alcohol spray. Avoid using a regular cleaning cloth on any exposed components, or anything that might be near one, no matter how dusty, as static can cause irreparable damage to electronic components and if a fiber from the cloth were to snag a component, it could tear it off rendering the system unusable. Use compressed air to clean the interior of your computer’s case, especially PC or laptop fans. Make sure to keep the can upright while cleaning so that you don’t blast the system with refrigerant liquid. While this liquid might not ruin the system, you’ll want to wait for any liquid that came out to evaporate from the system components. Even newly installed components can struggle to perform at their best when their fans are clogged and failing to keep them cool. After you’ve thoroughly cleaned your system and you’ve let any errant liquid spray evaporate, you can plug it back in and attempt to power on. You should also boot it and test that all the existing components are still in working order: fans, memory, storage, motherboard, and peripherals such as speakers, USB ports, optical drives etc.

How to upgrade your computer

Moving parts in any computer are failure prone. Fans and hard disk drives (HDDs) are often the first to fail.Batteries(such as in laptops) are another hazard, as they can chemically or physically break down with age.

Replacing an entire motherboard can be prohibitively complex and pricey, akin to buying a whole new PC as it will probably need all new components. Processors typically aren’t the bottlenecks for basic computing needs and, depending on the age of your PC, it may also not be practical to change the processor for a more contemporary one, as motherboard chipsets are only compatible with certain CPUs generations, which may no longer be available. However, RAM is an easy, relatively inexpensive, and proven upgrade that will boost an old PC or laptop’s performance. Legacy RAM technology tends to remain available longer than components like processors.

Reformatting or replacing storage

As hard drives are often the first component to fail in older computers, the inclination to replace your system’s HDD with an SSD can be a smart option for those seeking to improve an old computer’s performance. However, if you have essential files you would like to preserve, back them up and/or migrate them over to a USB drive or external drive before you reformat or replace the storage.

If you choose not to upgrade or expand your computer’s storage options, it’s a good idea to free up around 20GB of storage space, to facilitate the smooth running of the system. You should also get rid of unwanted apps that might appear during startup but are unnecessary for general system use. These startup apps can significantly slow down your machine, especially if it is old and lacking capable hardware. Any apps that are never or infrequently used can be safely deleted from the system. It is always a good idea to empty the Recycle Bin (or Trash) when you have finished deleting unwanted files.

Reinstall Your Operating System

For security and efficiency, it is wise to update your old computer’s operating system as a stage in its revival. Download patches for Windows and macOS from the Microsoft and Apple websites. macOS upgrades are free, while updating to Windows 10 or 11 from 8 usually costs $139. However, the OS can still be used without paying, it will just have fewer features available.

Systems already running Windows 10 are easy to contemporize, so long as there are no major hardware problems. The best way to update a mothballed computer is to reinstall Windows entirely, which will mean the new installation will be entirely up to date on security and application updates. Microsoft has a guide on how to do this on its website. If you opt not to reinstall your OS, you will need to update your drivers. There is driver update software that can auto scan and update your drivers, which may run into fewer problems than manual attempts to bridge the gap.

Microsoft has a PC Health Check app that can identify if your revived PC is able to run Windows 11. Computers sold after 2017 should have the necessary hardware. Other computers might still have Windows 8 or even 7, both of which are no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore not secure against malware that newer versions of Windows are protected against.

Mac users can easily reinstall macOS by holding Command + R during bootup to enter recovery mode. Here, the newest version of macOS compatible with your Mac will install, including security patches.

If the computer is for a student, installing ChromeOS might be a good option. Chromebooks are commonly used in schools and the ChromeOS Flex has advantages over Windows and macOS for older computers. It’s more intuitive for students who are primarily Chromebook users.

Final thought

This covers the basics.Even with these upgrades a system might struggle with high-intensity tasks such as video and image editing, gaming, and CAD design.But we hope we’ve saved you a few money by letting you keep your old PC around a bit longer. 

Categories
News

7 years of Android updates might become the new norm thanks to Google’s LGRF plan

There has been a quiet shift in the last couple of years with Android devices as new phone updates have been extended. For years, it was risky to keep an Android phone longer than two or three years because it wasn’t guaranteed that it would continue to receive operating system and security updates beyond that.But Google and Samsung are changing that.

Mountain View-based Google was first to officially extend support for its flagships in 2023, announcing that the Pixel 8 series will have seven years of guaranteed Android OS and security updates until October 2030. What was surprising was that Google extended the same support to its mid-range Pixel 8a as well, marking a major change in our expectations of the tech giant.

Samsung followed suit by announcing seven years of OS and security updates for the S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra, with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 gaining the same support.

These changes are part of a long-gestating program created by Google in 2020 called “Google Requirements Freeze” (GRF). That program enables chip makers, like Qualcomm, to support multiple operating system versions on a single SoC, which means that manufacturers do not need to update software for at least three versions of Android.

What is different about LGRF?

LGRF essentially allows the same chipset vendor-side software to be repurposed for seven Android version updates, up from three. This means that a device that launches with Android 15 can potentially receive updates up to Android 22 (if the naming scheme remains consistent) without requiring significant software commitments from the chip vendor’s side.

Under the program, for the first three years, the vendor’s software will remain frozen, though OEMs will need to update the Linux kernel after three years in order to receive Google’s certification, ensuring timely security patches. Qualcomm’s recently-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite is the first chipset under LRGF.

While the program does have obvious benefits, like longer lifespans for a larger subset of devices, it has drawbacks and limitations too. For example, one limitation in place is that OEMs can not ship a device with an Android version that is four updates ahead of its chip’s original vendor software. For example, Snapdragon 8 Elite’s vendor software, designed for Android 15, can not be directly used on a device that is launching with Android 19. This is to prevent manufacturers from shipping devices that would only benefit from three OS updates.

Categories
News

This Apple Watch Series 10 advanced display tec might make your iPhone better

A new supply-chain report notes that the Apple Watch Series 10 advanced display technology is expected to be adopted in future iPhones.

Apple’s trickle-down approach means that the Apple Watch always gets the most advanced display tech first before it later rolls out to other devices, and the S10 tech is likely to be later used for iPhones – but not next year …

Apple Watch S10 advanced display tech

On the flagship Apple Watch Series 10, LTPO3 enables Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles and improve battery efficiency.  As a result, the display is 40% brighter than on the previous model, theApple WatchSeries 9, which employed LTPO2. The newer technology also allows for a faster refresh rate when the watch is in always-on mode.

From a technical standpoint, LTPO2 uses two switching TFTs (thin-film transistors), while LTPO3 uses a more efficient oxide-based version. It can directly control the current to emit light from the display’s OLED element.

The LTPO3 feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 is reported to enhance battery efficiency; however, it does not appear to extend battery life. The Apple Watch Series 10 offers a battery life of up to 18 hours between charges, similar to other models in the series. Whether LTPO3 will yield similar or improved results on future iPhones remains to be seen.

Likely to be used in future iPhones

The Elec reports that supply-chain observers expect LTPO3 to be used in future iPhones, to further boost battery life.

The core of LTPO3, which was first applied to Apple Watch 10 this year, is that the drive TFT was changed from the existing LTPS to oxide. The drive TFT directly controls the current to emit light on the OLED device.

The industry is paying attention to the possibility that LTPO3 will also be applied to Apple iPhone in the future. Apple first applied LTPO OLED to Apple Watch 4 in 2018 and then applied LTPO OLED to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup in 2021.

The iPhone 16 Pro series uses LTPO2, which isn’t expected to change in the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro series. Therefore, the earliest we may see LTPO3 on iPhones could be with the iPhone 18 in 2026.

Categories
Guide

A Huge Guide to Improve Battery Life

Smartphones continue to get faster, and every update comes with a host of new features that promise to make your life easier. But this technology can also sap your battery life, causing you frustration.

Battery life is going to massively differ between people due to what apps are being used – something as simple as browsing the internet can hit the battery more than video consumption, and any kind of gaming will kill the battery even quicker. 

If your Android is draining faster than normal, don’t panic.This post is here giving a detailed list of what can be changed to improve battery life. 

Software Updates

Keeping up-to-date is always a good idea for features, security fixes and bug fixes, and if you’re having battery problems, it could be because you’re on an older firmware. To see if you have the latest version:

  1. TapSettings > Software update > Check for new update(on some Android devices, this will appear asSettings > System > System update > Check for update).
  2. TapOK.
  3. If your operating system is up to date, “Current software is up to date” will display. If a new update is available, follow the instructions to install.

Settings to Help Battery Life

All of these settings can be found in the Settings app (from app draw or from notifications panel). Disabling these settings helps battery life unless stated otherwise.

Switch to mobile data 

Your device periodically checks if Wi-Fi can be found, and if it can’t, mobile data is turned on. With this disabled, mobile data will need to be manually turned on when your Wi-Fi slows/drops.

Wi-Fi power saving mode

Looks for patterns in Wi-Fi usage to learn when it’s best to turn on Wi-Fi power saving. I’d suggest trying this yourself and seeing if it affects your everday usage (as it can in some cases).

Bluetooth 

Bluetooth can use a large amount of energy, especially when it’s constantly syncing to devices like watches, earphones and speakers that trade large amounts of data. Disable this if you don’t use Bluetooth devices, and if you do, it isn’t a large enough battery sink to worry about.

NFC 

This will check for NFC/contactless payment points whenever the screen is on. Leaving this turned off, and simply turning it on when needed is simple and can save a tiny amount of energy.

5G

5G can be very power-hungry – under the right circumstances it can drain 20% more than other bands. Below is a detailed explanation of 5G and why it can be a battery drain under certain conditions. If you do not use 5G at all, disable it – set your network mode to LTE/3G/2G if possible – this will not change your data speeds and may help with battery life. If you do use 5G, please read below!

  1. There are two deployment types of 5G – Stand Alone (SA) and Non-Stand Alone (NSA). SA deployments handle calls, texts and data single-handedly without needing any other network band active. NSA deployments cannot handle calls, texts and data without another network band being active at the same time. NSA 5G therefore needs to maintain a 4G/LTE/3G connection alongside the 5G connection for higher data speeds. As of writing, there are no large-scale SA deployments. The vast, vast majority of currently avalaible 5G is NSA. In use, this will drain your battery ~20% faster than when just using 4G/LTE/3G.
  2. Connection strength and reliability also play a large role with battery life. As 5G is still an emerging technology, overall coverage is far worse than other bands, which can cause your data connection to constantly switch between multiple bands while also always seeking 4G/LTE/3G for a stronger connection. This can play a large role in 5G killing your battery quicker.

Wireless emergency alerts 

These are sent out about severe weather warnings and amber alerts, as well as also being used to send location information to emergency services. This is an important service that should be left on if supported in your area. If it isn’t used in your country, or your country uses SMS instead, you can disable this feature for an imperceptible battery save.

Dark mode

Dark mode changes all Android menus and supporting apps to a dark version – meaning mostly white backgrounds change to black/grey backgrounds. OLED screens turn off pixels completely when black – meaning little to no power draw from these pixels – whereas pixels showing white is a large battery draw over the same period of time.

Additionally:Most browsers support a dark mode independently of OS settings and therefore need changing in their respective settings to be turned on/off. Browser dark modes can save massive amounts of battery at the cost of making most webpages look… strange.

Motion Smoothness and Eye Comfort Shield

Motion smoothness:Most Smartphones supports 120Hz displays which can be a large battery drainer. Although it’s adaptive (meaning it can change based on what is needed – from 120Hz all the way down to 10Hz), it still drains more power than in standard mode (60Hz). I spoke earlier about striking a good balance between battery and features – and in my opinion, 120Hz is well worth the extra battery usage.

Eye comfort shield:Eye Comfort Shield isn’t for everyone as it both limits blue light and uses warmer colours. Setting this can make things look yellow-tinted, but can help with eye fatigue, sleep, and most importantly for this list, battery life.

Power saving mode

As mentioned above, this is the power saving mode that often gets confused with adaptive power saving. This will automatically be turned on and off when adaptive power saving finds it best, or this setting instead can be left on at all times if preferred.

Protect your phone from extreme temperatures

Whether you’re on the go or staying in, make sure to avoid leaving your phone in very hot or cold environments. Being in extreme temperatures can not only drain your phone battery but also cause it to overheat and explode, putting your safety at risk. Try to store your phone in an area between 68° and 86° Fahrenheit.

Make sure your phone has service

While this may seem like a no-brainer, double-check to make sure your phone has service. If your Android is constantly searching for a signal, it can drain your battery quickly. 

Check whether your battery is at the end of its life cycle

If none of the above steps works, it could be because your Android phone’s battery is on its way out. Get the best batteries for your business and professional needs here atBatteryone.co. Get in touch with us today for all your battery needs. 

Categories
News

Huawei HarmonyOS Next With AI-the new version of its Android rival

Huawei has announced its latest operating system (OS) in China which has been developed independently of Android. Dubbed HarmonyOS Next, it does not leverage Google’s Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code, which is adopted by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for developing Android skins for their devices. Instead, it is built on the Hongmeng kernel and system architecture, as per the company. HarmonyOS Next brings new home and lock screen customisation options, features powered by artificial intelligence (AI), and faster animations and app launch speeds.

HarmonyOS Next is set to power the current and future generations of Huawei devices in China for now, though a global release was confirmed previously. It will work across a broad range of devices ranging from smartphones to wearables, smart home devices and car cockpits.

HarmonyOS Next Features

Huawei’s new OS brings new ways to customise the home and lock screens. It borrows certain design elements from Harmony OS – the company’s Android skin. This includes app arrangements, widgets, a notification bar and the control centre. It features a new physical light engine which is claimed to make the interaction smoother and has a new wallpaper feature which recognises the object in the image and suggests a suitable composition.

A major component of HarmonyOS Next is the inclusion of AI, embedded in its core, from the kernel system to apps. It leverages an AI agent dubbed Celia, built on the company’s proprietary Pangu large language model (LLM). The agent can also take advantage of third-party cloud-based AI models to provide enhanced services. Thus, the OS is capable of providing personalised content and smart services based on different scenarios. It also features a built-in system-level AI assistant that has high-level understanding and interaction capabilities. Its capabilities include on-screen content awareness, contextual understanding, document analysis and summarisation, and a Circle-to-Search-like functionality.

Huawei says HarmonyOS Next has over 15,000 apps and more will arrive soon. It is also claimed to result in 30 percent better system-wide fluency and an increase of up to 1.5GB in system memory. Leveraging the new star shield security architecture, the OS has nuclear-level system-wide security, as per the company.

Categories
News

Eero just announced a new outdoor mesh extender -that covers 15,000 square feet, and it’s tough enough to weather any storm

Whether you’re a remote worker who enjoys a morning coffee on your deck or a business owner running a cafe in a busy college town, getting reliable Wi-Fi outdoors can be challenging. While some users have gotten creative with their weatherproof Wi-Fi solutions, Eero is now launching what may be the answer for many: the Eero Outdoor 7.


Besides killing Wi-Fi dead zones, one of the main reasons to upgrade to one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems is so that you can extend your home network out into your garage or even into your backyard. However, to achieve something like this, you often have to get crafty with the placement of your mesh router nodes or satellites.


Over the years, eero’s customers have come up with all sorts of different ways from weatherproof boxes to outdoor closets to using a pole and rubber bands to bring their mesh networks outside. But with the eero Outdoor 7, they can easily and securely mount a weatherproof mesh device on stucco, vinyl, wood or fiber cement walls without all that hassle.


Since weather conditions can be quite extreme in different parts of the world, eero tested the eero Outdoor 7 in the heat of Arizona, inside a commercial refrigerator, on beaches and even in a tunnel with 100 MPH winds to simulate a Category 1 or even a Category 2 hurricane. The device itself can operate in temperatures ranging from -40F to 130F.


As with the eero Max 7 and the other devices on our list of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers, the eero Outdoor 7 supports the latest wireless standard. With Wi-Fi 7 on board, you can get multi-gig wireless speeds of up to 2.1 gigabits per second (Gbps). It also acts as a smart home hub so that you can connect Thread, Zigbee and Matter devices.


Even if you have an older eero device like the eero 6+ or the eero Pro 6E, you can still add the eero Outdoor 7 to your mesh network. This is because unlike with mesh routers from Netgear or Google, all eero devices are compatible with each other and can be used together on the same network.

Adding the eero Outdoor 7 to your mesh network

As is often the case with more advanced home networking gear, the eero Outdoor 7 doesn’t have an AC plug. Instead, it uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) for both connectivity and power. If your home is wired for Ethernet and you already have an eero PoE Gateway, you’re good to go and you just need to plug in the eero Outdoor 7 to an exterior Ethernet outlet.

What if your home isn’t wired for Ethernet though? Don’t worry as eero is also releasing a 30W Outdoor PoE+ power adapter. This lets you plug the Outdoor 7 into any outdoor AC outlet and have it wirelessly connect to your eero network.

With an Outdoor 7 installed and set up, you can extend the range of your eero mesh network by up to 15,000 square feet. While most mesh routers have a range of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet per satellite, this is because they’re meant to be used inside where they have to push a strong wireless signal through walls while dealing with interference from the rest of the electronic devices in your home and this is especially true with large appliances like your refrigerator. Since the Outdoor 7 is designed to be used outside though, it has a much wider coverage range.

A single Outdoor 7 is more than enough for most single family homes. However, if you have a larger property like a farm or even a business, you can use multiple Outdoor 7 devices to set up a point-to-point connection with even more range. For instance, eero’s testers used the Outdoor 7 to get Wi-Fi coverage all the way from a beach house to the shoreline.

The eero Outdoor 7 will cost $349 when it launches in the U.S. on November 13. However, there will also be a bundle that incluudes eero’s 30W Outdoor PoE+ adapter for $399. Eero is planning to launch the device in Canada too before making it available in the other 24 countries where it operates at a later date.

If you want to learn more, please visit: Batteryone.co/blogs