Last year at CES, Linksys announced its first mesh Wi-Fi system, called 'Velop.' The main selling point was tri-band 2x2 802.11ac connectivity, resulting in no latency loss between the main router and the other nodes. However, the system was rather expensive; a 3-pack would cost you $500. Linksys has now released a cheaper dual-band version, designed to directly compete with the Google Wifi and other consumer mesh systems.

The dual-band system features AC 2x2 802.11ac Wave 2 with MU-MIMO radio configuration, boasting a combined speed of up to 1,300 Mbps. Setup and management is performed through the mobile app, and if you already have the tri-band Velop system, you can add dual-band nodes to extend coverage. If you have an Echo or other Alexa-equipped device, you can also ask Velop to enable or disable the guest network.

I'm in the process of reviewing the new Velop system, and so far I'm liking it. The 1-pack (AC1300) is 9.99, the 2-pack (AC2600) is 9.99, and the 3-pack (AC3900) is 9.99. You can pre-order it starting today, and it will go on sale at all major retailers on May 15.

PRESS RELEASE