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9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: 'Infinite' VR, 2022 Smartwatches, Elden Ring and more
9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: 'Infinite' VR, 2022 Smartwatches, Elden Ring and more
VR brings a third dimension to computing. Strap on a headset, and you're not just looking at something, you're surrounded by it. There's a real sense of depth and volume and immersion. You are as good as there.
One outstanding example of that is a virtual reality installation called The Infinite, which puts you inside the International Space Station and enables you to gaze down on Earth from orbit. CNET's Joan Solsman has tried it out, and has some thoughts, too, on how that sort of location-based VR compares with wearing an Oculus headset in your living room. She also talked with two astronauts who can attest to how vivid an experience The Infinite is: "When the lights came up in the film and around me was the space station that I remembered as my home, I wasn't ready," said Christina Koch. "I wasn't ready to have to say goodbye again."
Those stories are among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss.
Stepping into a massive, virtual International Space Station is like slipping into the ISS' living memory.
Felix & Paul
A more durable Apple Watch, Google's long-rumored Pixel Watch and the first Wear OS Fitbit smartwatch might launch this year.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Commentary: It makes no sense.
FromSoftware / Namco Bandai Games
Location-based virtual reality fell derelict in the pandemic. Now, with in-person experiences reviving, it's where you'll touch the metaverse's future.
Jaap Buitendijk
Loop is a DIY automated insulin delivery system with more customization and features than FDA-approved systems on the market.
Justin Eastzer/CNET
Commentary: I was sick of Wordle spinoffs, but I'll be devouring a Waffle every day.
Wafflegame.net
Commentary: Mergers can come with price hikes, but $15 per month is already expensive enough.
The same quadcopters you can buy at Amazon are on the front lines of the battle for Ukraine.
AeroVironment
Yes, we can put sensors in clothes -- but there still isn't a great reason you can't use a smartwatch instead.
9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More
9 Great Reads From CNET This Week: iOS 16, Metaverse, Ms. Marvel and More
This week brought us Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, when the maker of Macs and iPhones shares details of coming changes to the software that runs those and other devices. WWDC is on the geeky side, but it's also pretty clear what's in store for everyone who uses Apple products.
We found out, for instance, about iOS 16, coming to iPhones later this year with features like an updated lock screen heavy on customization; Apple Pay Later, which splits the cost of a purchase across four payments; and Safety Check, designed to help people at risk of abuse. We got a peek at MacOS Ventura, along with a redesigned MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook Pro, both of which will pack the new M2 chip. And we learned about WatchOS 9 and iPadOS 16, too.
Our stories about WWDC came to you among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that also appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don't want to miss.
Commentary: Apple's changes to the iPhone lock screen are a bigger deal than you think.
James Martin/CNET
Commentary: Moderating social media is hard. Moderating the metaverse will be harder.
Getty/Xinhua News Agency
As tech's reach grows, companies are taking on a new, very personal, set of issues.
Screenshot/CNET
Here's why people freeze in place and have waking nightmares.
OsakaWayne Studios
The new MCU series about a Pakistani Muslim-American superhero shows just how far Hollywood has come.
Disney Plus
I don't recommend it.
Ben White
Initial analysis of the samples from asteroid Ryugu show the rock could change our understanding of the early solar system.
JAXA/Akihiro Ikeshita
Commentary: WatchOS 9's new running features could pair nicely with the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Google, Apple, and Microsoft expect passkeys can completely replace passwords. Apple support arrives in iOS 16 and MacOS Ventura.
Apple
§
This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.
What's happening
Apple's WatchOS 9 update will bring new athletic performance metrics to the Apple Watch, among other key improvements to health and fitness tracking.
Why it matters
The update could be setting the stage for the rumored rugged Apple Watch expected to debut this year.
What's next
Apple will launch WatchOS 9 in the fall, possibly alongside three new Apple Watch models.
If WatchOS 9 serves as any indication, the Apple Watch's future is all about health and fitness. That message was front and center in June when Apple unveiled the new software, which is now available in beta ahead of its fall launch.
The update will bring more sports-performance tracking metrics (especially for runners), deeper sleep monitoring and tools for logging medication. It's impossible to know what to expect until Apple announces its next smartwatch (or smartwatches). But WatchOS 9's focus on athletic training seemingly sets the stage for the rumored Apple Watch Explorer Edition, which we might see later this year.
Read more: This Stylish, Luxury Hybrid Watch (Almost) Made Me Ditch My Apple Watch
It also suggests Apple wants its smartwatch to appeal to pro athletes, casual exercise enthusiasts and those who need to monitor cardiac health all at the same time. The next crop of Apple Watches rumored for the fall will likely come with new hardware to better support that vision -- hopefully with better battery life, too.
WatchOS 9's workout features would be a great for an Explorer Edition Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 7
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Apple sprinkled a bunch of new workout tools and metrics throughout WatchOS 9. These include new running data points like stride length and ground contact time, the ability to track heart rate zones, interval training, a multisport workout type for triathlons and kickboard detection for swimmers. The announcement also comes after Apple made improvements to the Apple Watch's cycling detection last year.
Only Apple knows what's in store for the future. But it feels like no coincidence that this update is coming as Apple is expected to launch a rugged Apple Watch designed for extreme sports this fall. Bloomberg reports an Apple Watch with extra impact resistance similar to Casio's G-Shock watches could be in the works. The watch is sometimes referred to as the Explorer Edition internally and may have a rubberized casing for additional durability, the report said. The device would reportedly be marketed as an alternative option for athletes and hikers alongside the standard Series 8 and next-generation Apple Watch SE.
Read more: iOS 16's Lock Screen Upgrades Make the iPhone More Like a Smartwatch
The Apple Watch already has plenty to offer fitness buffs, with many workout choices, activity goals and reminders, heart rate notifications and metrics like VO2 max and elevation. But until WatchOS 9 arrives, the Apple Watch will lack running-specific features that athletes might find useful. Garmin's running watches, for example, include tools like training programs for specific types of races, pace guidance and running metrics like cadence and stride length, among other features that vary by the model.
The Apple Watch is already the world's most popular smartwatch with 36.1% of global shipments in the first quarter of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research. With the new measurements geared toward runners coming in WatchOS 9, Apple could further solidify its grip on the market by appealing to the more niche competitive sports audience.
Even with the new features in WatchOS 9, the Apple Watch still won't offer quite as much feedback for runners as some specialized watches. But the new software certainly brings the Apple Watch closer than ever before.
What else WatchOS 9 might tell us about the Apple Watch's future
The Apple Watch's new Sleep Stages feature in WatchOS 9
Screenshot/CNET
Apple's emphasis on fitness was at the heart of its WatchOS 9 announcement. But some of the software's other updates might also suggest Apple's future direction. For example, the company did more on sleep tracking by introducing Sleep Stages, a feature that analyzes the amount of time spent in various phases of slumber. Apple is playing catch-up in this regard; rival fitness trackers from Fitbit, Oura and Samsung have supported this feature for years.
Apple's expansion in sleep tracking indicates it expects Apple Watches to be worn overnight more frequently. That makes me believe Apple could be planning some type of improvement to the Apple Watch's battery life, although there's no way to know for sure until the company reveals its next watch.
Apple says its smartwatch can last for 18 hours on a single charge, and anecdotally I typically get about one to two days out of it before it needs a power boost. The Apple Watch's battery life hasn't changed meaningfully in years, but Apple has worked around this by implementing faster charging speeds with the Series 6 and 7.
Apple will likely continue down this path rather than dramatically improving the watch's battery life. But there's also a chance Apple could introduce a new low-power mode with more functionality than the watch's current power reserve feature, says Bloomberg. It was supposed to launch with WatchOS 9, according to the report, although Apple didn't mention a new low-power option during Monday's event.
Considering that battery life has been one of the Apple Watch's persistent criticisms -- and not to mention Bloomberg's reliable track record -- I wouldn't be surprised to see this capability arrive in the future. And remember: Apple introduced new WatchOS 8 features for cyclists alongside the Apple Watch Series 7 during its fall product event in 2021. So there's a chance Apple could have more software features to announce later this year.
WatchOS 9 also provides another signal that Apple is expanding its efforts in general health and wellness. A new feature called AFib History will allow those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to access more information about their condition, such as an estimate of how often their heart rhythm is showing signs of A-fib. Another highlight in WatchOS 9 is the ability to track prescriptions and receive medication reminders.
These updates indicate Apple sees its watch as a tool for tracking bodily changes over time that can be shared with physicians. And if reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal prove accurate, Apple will take that idea a step further by adding a temperature sensor to the Series 8.
Many of the Apple Watch's major turning points have historically been tied to new hardware releases. The Series 3, for example, was the first model to support cellular connectivity, making the Apple Watch feel like a stand-alone product rather than an iPhone companion. The Series 4 brought ECG monitoring and fall detection, broadening the Apple Watch's role as a health device.
WatchOS 9 isn't as big of a leap forward as those launches. But it will bring functionality that could be crucial in Apple's mission to make the Apple Watch the ultimate health and fitness device. And that's very telling of Apple's immediate and long term plans for the Apple Watch.
Not sure if your PC is compatible with Windows 11? Here's how to check
Not sure if your PC is compatible with Windows 11? Here's how to check
Windows 11 dropped in October (here's our full Windows 11 review), and with it came significant compatibility questions. Uncertainty regarding compatibility has been common among PC users since this summer when Microsoft unveiled its first major Windows OS upgrade in six years. Fortunately, Windows 11 should work with most PCs, according to a company blog post. That said, though Windows 11's release date already came and went, certain compatible devices won't necessarily get the upgrade yet -- Microsoft set a target for mid-2022 before every Windows 10 device can download and install Windows 11.
Annoyingly, Microsoft's own tool for determining device compatibility -- the PC Health Check app -- wasn't up to par when Microsoft first announced Windows 11 (there were reports it didn't give people enough information about why their devices weren't compatible), so the company temporarily removed the app. But Microsoft's PC Health Check is now back online and in working order. The app will tell you if your computer meets the requirements to run Windows 11 -- and if your PC doesn't, the tool will tell you why and provide links for more support.
But that's not the only way to check if your device will work with the free Windows 11 update. Read on for all of your options for checking Windows 11 device compatibility. With the Windows 11 release date finally past (remember, however, that it'll be a staggered rollout), it's a good idea to check your own computer. If your device doesn't meet eligibility requirements, you may need to replace your PC by 2025 as Microsoft will phase out Windows 10 over the next several years.
Read more:Should you buy a new Windows laptop now, or wait for Windows 11?
Option 1: Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see if your computer can run Windows 11
Follow these steps to test whether your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11.
1. Download Microsoft's PC Health Check. Open the file, agree to the terms of service and click Install. Make sure the box is checked that says Open PC Health Check, and click Finish.
Here's what you'll see after running the updated Microsoft PC Health Check app if your device is not compatible with Windows 11.
Microsoft
2. The app home page that pops up says, "PC health at a glance." At the top, a box reads, "Introducing Windows 11." Click Check now.
If your machine isn't compatible, you'll get a message that says, "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements," with more information below.
If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free. The official Windows 11 release date was Oct. 5, but Microsoft is planning a staggered rollout, and many devices will not see the upgrade until 2022.
Option 2: Try the WhyNotWin11 app to check Windows 11 compatibility
An open-source app called WhyNotWin11 is a good alternative to the PC Health Check app. The Github app, created by a developer not affiliated with Microsoft, has a less friendly interface, but it should give you more information and go into more detail about various potential compatibility issues. Here's more information from TechRadar on how to use it to determine your own device's compatibility with Windows 11.
Option 3: Check Microsoft's list of system specifications for Windows 11
To determine if your current PC will be able to run Windows 11, you can check out this list of system specifications on Microsoft's website, or in the chart below. If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free when it becomes available.
What are the system requirements to run Windows 11?
Here's the full list of system requirements for Windows 11, including at least 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally.
Windows 11 requirements
Spec
Requirement
Processor
1GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
RAM
4GB
Storage
64GB or larger storage device
System firmware
UEFI, Secure Boot-capable
TPM
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card
Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display
HD (720p) display greater than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet connection and Microsoft account
For Windows 11 Home edition: internet connectivity; Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use. For all Windows 11 editions: Internet access to perform updates and to download and use some features; Microsoft account for some features
WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone
WhatsApp Status: Everything you need to know about the Snapchat clone
WhatsApp is rolling out a new Status feature to all users. Instead of the text-only status that lets people know whether you're busy or available to chat, the new Status feature uses photos, text, emojis and sketches to show what you're doing. If that sounds familiar, it could be because it appears to be inspired by Snapchat.
And unlike Snapchat and Instagram, WhatsApp can protect your Status updates with end-to-end encryption.
Here's what you need to know about the new feature.
When will I get the Status feature?
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
When your account gets access to Status, you won't have to download or install an app update from the App Store or Play Store -- it'll just show up.
You'll know if you have access to Status on iOS when the Contacts tab gets replaced with a camera icon (see photo above), and the far-left tab reads "Status." Android users will see a new Camera icon to the left of the Chats tab, next to a new Status tab.
Who can see my Status?
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
WhatsApp includes privacy settings, giving you complete control over who sees your Status. By default, only your contacts can view your Status, but the privacy settings let you change that.
With the Status tab selected on an iPhone, tap on Privacy. Android users, tap the menu button > Status Privacy.
You are given three options:
My Contacts: All of your WhatsApp contacts can view your Status.
My Contacts Except...: Select the people you don't want to show your Status to. This still shares your Status with the rest of your Contact list.
Only Share With..: Select only with the contacts you want to show your Status to.
If you change your privacy settings after uploading a Status, keep in mind the new settings will only impact future updates.
Viewing your friends' Statuses is a lot like Snapchat
If you already use Snapchat Stories or Instagram Stories, then you'll feel right at home with Status. Here are the basics:
To view a Status uploaded by your friend, open the Status tab. A list of friends who've shared a Status will fill in.
Touch the screen to pause a Status, giving you more time to view it, tap to skip through a Status, or swipe left to go to the next person.
Swipe up on a status to reply to the the Status you are currently viewing.
...And so is updating your Status
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
WhatsApp Status includes all the familiar features of Snapchat and Instagram Stories -- stickers, text captions, drawings and more. Here's how to update your Status:
To add a photo or video to your WhatsApp Status, open the app and tap the camera icon. Take a photo or video, or pick one from your camera roll.
You can draw, write and place emojis on the photo. There's also an option to add a caption that will be shown on the bottom of the photo or video as your contacts watch it.
Finally, tap the paper airplane icon. You can either send your Status directly to a friend, as a photo or video within a conversation thread, or you can tap My Status at the top of the list to update your Status.
Videos can go longer than 10 seconds
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Instead of limiting your video status updates to just 10 seconds (like Snapchat), videos you record and share as a Status can be as long as 45 seconds.
And you can upload GIFs!
In the year 2017, supporting animated images, or GIFs, in an app is a requirement. As such, WhatsApp Status will accept GIFs you've saved to your camera roll or photos app. Select a GIF, trim it down if you need to, and share just as you would a regular, boring, photo or video.
Your Status will remain active for 24 hours, after which it disappears.
Sadly, there doesn't appear to be a way to save a Status to your phone. Whatever you capture and create in WhatsApp is limited to WhatsApp.
Find out who's viewing your Status
A view counter is placed at the bottom of your screen, showing you how many people have watched or looked at your status. You can swipe up on the screen to view a list of contact names who have viewed your Status.
You can get away with screenshots
Unlike Snapchat, WhatsApp does not alert you when a contact takes a screenshot of your Status. In other words, be conscious of exactly what you are sharing to your Status, just because it disappears from your Status after 24 hours doesn't mean no one saved a copy.
Check out our complete guide to Instagram Stories.
Snapchat's Spectacles are now available for purchase online. Here's our review.
Motorola mh7603 mesh router review a discount wi fi 6 setup wizard motorola mh7603 mesh router review a discount wi fi 6 setup office motorola mh7603 mesh router review a discount window motorola mh7603 mesh router vs normal router motorola mh7603 mesh router with a cable modem motorola mesh routers motorola mesh wifi motorola mesh networking
Motorola MH7603 mesh router review: A discount Wi-Fi 6 setup that falls short
Motorola MH7603 mesh router review: A discount Wi-Fi 6 setup that falls short
Like
Easy app-based controls
About as affordable as 3-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh setups get
Don't Like
Poor routing compromises Wi-Fi 6 speed gains
No alternative to the app for setup and system management
At this point, the majority of newly released Wi-Fi devices support 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, the wireless standard's newest and fastest generation. You'll need a compatible router in order to put those faster speeds to work at home, but fortunately, you've got lots of Wi-Fi 6 router options from a fairly wide range of manufacturers.
Motorola is in that mix after releasing new Wi-Fi 6 home networking hardware last year, and among the new devices, you'll find a three-piece mesh router with full support for Wi-Fi 6 and an asking price of just $239. That's $40 less than you'll pay for a three-piece Eero 6 system, $60 less than a three-piece Netgear Nighthawk system, and more than $100 less than a three-piece Nest Wifi setup, which doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 at all.
Ry Crist/CNET
That's a decent bargain for anyone looking to make the upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 in a large home, where a mesh setup with two extenders instead of one would be ideal. However, the system did a poor job of routing my connection during my at-home tests, and frequently sent my signal through an extender when it shouldn't have, which slowed things down. There also isn't any alternative to the app when it comes to setup or system management, which isn't ideal if you're concerned about data collection. This is still a stable, workable mesh system at an attractive price, but I think most households will want to shop around before buying in.
Each device in the system is identical and interchangeable, and features two Ethernet jacks.
Ry Crist/CNET
Setup and design
With a basic-looking, all-white plastic design featuring a single indicator light and a subtle Motorola logo etched up top, the MH7603 is far from the most interesting-looking mesh system on the market. Still, it's unobtrusive enough to blend in with most home decor, and the build doesn't feel overly cheap.
About as big as a cereal bowl, each device in the system is identical and interchangeable, so you can use any of them as the main router for your network and the other two as satellite extenders placed elsewhere around the home. Turn them around, and you'll find two Ethernet jacks on each device, along with a USB-C jack that you'll use to plug the things into power. Like a lot of entry-level mesh systems, you won't find any standard USB ports at all.
The Motosync app walks you through the setup process on your Android or iOS device. I had my network up and running in about 10 minutes.
Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET
To set the system up, you'll need to download Motorola's Motosync app on your Android or iOS device. It's a well-designed app that does a very good job of walking you through the setup process, which requires you to scan a QR code on the bottom of one of the devices to set up the router before adding the extenders to the network. Though I admittedly only tested the system with a single extender in my home, setup was wrapped up within 10 minutes.
The Motosync app incorrectly labeled the devices on my network as threats and couldn't offer much information about them.
Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET
Once the network is up and running, the app offers the usual mix of features for managing your network. You can see which devices are currently connected, run a quick speed test, activate parental controls or the guest network or monitor potential threats to your connection.
Specifically, the app will alert you if an unidentified device joins your network, though it seems a bit sensitive. After I finished setup, the app erroneously listed every device on the network as an unidentified potential threat, complete with an ominous skull and crossbones icon. Additionally, the app wasn't able to offer much information about those devices at all, with no autodetection of manufacturer or device type metadata. It's a pretty minor quibble, but I could see it all adding up to unnecessary confusion and concern for networking novices.
Privacy considerations
One other note about that app: It isn't made by Motorola. Instead, the app (and all of the software powering Motorola's home networking hardware) is the exclusive product of a New Hampshire-based company called Minim that specializes in "intelligent connectivity products that dependably connect people to the information they need and the people they love."
It always gives me pause when a router manufacturer turns to another company for its home networking software instead of designing its own because it can mean you now have two companies' worth of privacy policies and service agreements to read through in order to get a sense of what's going on with your data. That's unrealistic for most people.
The section of Minim's privacy policy for California residents outlines the types of personal data collected when you use the Motosync app. Among other things, that data includes your search history and your financial account records.
Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET
Minim tells CNET it doesn't share any user data with Motorola, and the Minim privacy policy is relatively straightforward. It's more or less in line with what I've seen from other companies. That said, being in line with the rest of the industry means that Minim is definitely collecting data, including personal data such as your name, email address, phone number and device identifiers. A lot of that goes toward network optimization and threat detection, but some of it is used for direct marketing purposes, like emailing customers about a third-party product if their data suggests it would be relevant to them.
According to a separate section of the policy for residents of California, where disclosure laws are more strict, Minim gets more specific and acknowledges that it collects but does not sell various categories of personal data, including information about past purchases and usage habits, "inferential information" about your behavior and preferences and online information like your browsing history, your search history and your service interaction history. Minim acknowledges that it collects employment history and financial information, as well, though the company says that neither one is used for marketing purposes.
As for the third parties Minim shares data with, the list includes unnamed vendors and contractors as well as internet service providers that lease Motorola networking hardware to their customers. That data is encrypted both in rest and in transit, and retained for 30 days, the company says.
"Our Privacy Policy does allow for data captured from consumer activity on the Minim and Motosync apps and on Motorola hardware to be kept for a maximum of 30 days," a Minim spokesperson said. "This is because we wanted to enable ISP customers, depending on their support department tracking and reporting requirements, to have access to subscriber data for that period. Notably, specific website/service (DNS) activity and user profiles are not visible to the ISP."
In fairness, you'll find similar data disclosures in the privacy policies of other manufacturers, including TP-Link, Netgear and Asus, but Minim seems to be casting a wider net than most. For instance, most manufacturers use your IP address to track your rough location for marketing and analytics purposes, but Minim uses your device's mobile GPS coordinates to pull that info, as well.
Head to the Motosync app's settings and tap "Revoke data consent" if you'd like to opt out of data collection.
Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET
"When a customer uses our mobile application, Minim and MTRLC LLC may collect and store information about the customer's location by converting his or her IP address into a rough geo-location or by accessing the customer mobile device's GPS coordinates," the policy reads. "Minim and MTRLC LLC may use location information to improve and personalize our services for customers. If customer does not want us to collect location information, he or she may disable that feature on the mobile device."
The other problem with all of this is that Motorola doesn't offer an alternative to the app, with no instructions for web-based router setup or management in the in-box quickstart guide. A quick glance at the terms of service tells you why:
"In order to use the Service, Subscribers must download and use a mobile application," the Minim terms read. "In order to download and use the mobile application, Subscribers agree to certain contractual terms of use."
On the plus side, you can opt out of data collection entirely. To do so, go to the settings section of the Motosync app and tap "Revoke data consent." Doing so will automatically draft an email to the company requesting to opt out of data collection.
Represented by the green bars in this chart, the Motorola MH7603 wasn't a standout in our speed tests.
Ry Crist/CNET
Performance and speed
In terms of speed, the MH7603 was a middling performer among mesh routers. In my home, a 1,300-square-foot, shotgun-style house in Louisville with a 300Mbps fiber internet connection, the MH7603 returned an overall average download speed of 219Mbps, averaged across five spots throughout the house (you can read more about how I test Wi-Fi routers by clicking here).
An average of 219Mbps is lower than you might expect, but right in line with other dual-band, AX1800 mesh routers I've tested, including the Netgear Nighthawk mesh router (218Mbps) and the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini (207Mbps). Like those other basic Wi-Fi 6 systems, the MH7603 saw its average fall because of poor routing -- specifically, it had a habit of routing my connection through an extender when connecting directly with the main router would have been faster.
Speeds were fine when I'd connect at close range to the main router, in the living room (green), but speeds were much lower whenever my connection started in the back of the house (yellow), closer to an extender.
Ry Crist/CNET
To account for that in my data, I run two separate sets of speed tests with every mesh router I review. For the first, I connect to the network while I'm in the living room, the same room as the main router, and then I work back toward the opposite end of the house. For the second set of tests, I reverse it and start my connection in my home's back bathroom at the back of my house, near the extender.
In both cases, the system should be smart enough to figure out when the extender is and is not necessary, but the MH7603 struggled at that task, which showed up in the numbers. In the first set of front-to-back tests, my average, close-range download speed in the living room was a lofty 370Mbps, which is about as fast as things get with my connection. But when I'd start my connection near the extender and then move into the living room, that average speed fell all the way to 244Mbps. That's because at several points the system was still routing my connection through the extender.
Faulty routing like that compromises performance because it means that your connection is often making an extra and unnecessary jump on its way to the cloud. Compare Motorola's overall average of 219Mbps in my home with the overall average for Google's Nest Wifi, a mesh router with no support for Wi-Fi 6 at all. That system is slower and less advanced than what Motorola's offering, but it does a much better job of routing your connection, and finished with an overall average of 222Mbps -- higher than the MH7603. Motorola's poor routing is essentially wiping away the Wi-Fi 6 speed gains.
For better performance from a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router, your best bet is to go with a tri-band model, with an additional 5GHz band that serves as a dedicated backhaul connection between the router and its satellites. The fastest we've tested is the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi, but it's too expensive for most at $700 for a two-pack. Fortunately, the TP-Link Deco W7200 is right behind it, performance-wise, and only costs $230 for a two-pack if you can catch it in stock at Walmart. For now, that system still sits in the top spot on my list of the best mesh routers we've tested.
Ry Crist/CNET
The verdict
The Motorola MH7603 mesh router is easy to use and capable of delivering fast speeds, but it's also prone to slowing things down with poor routing, and that makes it a fairly mediocre pick among entry-level Wi-Fi 6 systems.
Superior options include the aforementioned TP-Link Deco W7200, which only comes with one extender but makes up for it with outstanding tri-band performance, as well as the pricier Asus ZenWifi XD6, which is the top-performing dual-band mesh system I've tested to date. I'd even prefer a solid Wi-Fi 5 system like the Google Nest Wifi over the MH7603 thanks to the noticeably better routing. Bottom line: If you're going to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, then I think you want more of an upgrade than this.
Correction, Feb. 1: This review has been updated to reflect that Minim is the exclusive owner of the Motorola brand license for home networking and home security products.
