Linksys Atlas Wifi 6 Mesh System Full Review and Test Results

The Linksys Atlas Wifi 6 Mesh System is a robust and reliable networking solution that's designed to provide seamless coverage for large homes and offices. It's a tri-band system, which means it uses three separate bands to distribute traffic and reduce congestion.

With a maximum speed of 6.2 Gbps, the Linksys Atlas Wifi 6 Mesh System is fast enough to handle even the most demanding applications. It's also equipped with 12 high-gain antennas, which help to extend its range and ensure that you stay connected even in the most remote areas of your home or office.

The system is incredibly easy to set up, thanks to its user-friendly app and intuitive interface. Simply download the app, follow the prompts, and you'll be up and running in no time.

Consider reading: How to Set up Linksys Wifi Extender for Xfinity

The Linksys Atlas Wi-Fi 6 mesh system has some impressive features, but let's get into the specifics.

The system supports 6 GHz band channels, starting at channel 33 and incrementing by 4 up to channel 229, which is the same range as the Hydra Pro.

Related reading: What Wifi Channel

One notable thing about the 6 GHz band is that it's not dedicated to backhaul, but rather uses "dynamic backhaul technology" that can switch between the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands for the best connection.

The 6 GHz radio also supports 160 MHz channel bandwidth if you leave its Channel Width setting on Auto.

The Linksys Atlas Wi-Fi 6 mesh system has 4 streams on each of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, and 3 Wi-Fi radios, including a Qualcomm QCN9074 4 stream 6E radio.

Here are the details on the system's radios:

The system also has a 5 GbE port, but no 2.5G or 10 GbE port, and a Qualcomm Networking Pro 1210 Quad Core CPU at 2.2 GHz.

Suggestion: 6 1 2 Speakers Fit 6 3 4

The Linksys Atlas 6 Pro's performance is impressive, with a top speed of excellent, thanks to its support for 160MHz channel width.

It's possible to get close to gigabit speed when using a device with Wi-Fi 6 or 6E, so long as it has 2 x 2 MIMO support. I saw a peak speed of 910Mbps in the same room as the main node.

The performance loss when connected via one of the other nodes is marginal.

However, the range per node isn't the greatest, but is still acceptable.

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The Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system delivers exceptional range on both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. This is evident from our testing, where we found that the video started buffering at 100 feet on the 2.4 GHz band.

Its performance on the 5 GHz channel is even more impressive, with the video staying stable until we reached 160 feet. This kind of range is perfect for large backyards where coverage can be a challenge.

For your interest: 6 3 4 Speakers Fit 6 1 2

When testing the range of each mesh system, we moved away from the router in 10-foot increments to see when the video started to buffer.

On the 2.4 GHz band, the video started buffering at 100 feet, which is an impressive feat.

The 5 GHz channel performed even better, with the video staying connected until we reached 160 feet away from the router.

This exceptional range makes it ideal for someone with a large backyard who wants to stay connected.

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Mesh Capacity is crucial for a smooth mesh network experience.

The ideal throughput result for a two-node mesh should be 500 Mbps, while a three-node mesh should achieve 750 Mbps.

Limiting each STA's throughput to 250 Mbps is a good approach to avoid overloading the 5 GHz channel.

The Atlas Max failed to achieve the expected throughput, with a 750 Mbps result being one of the better outcomes.

A throughput jump around 60 seconds in the test is due to both Hop1 and Hop2 node STAs disassociating, with Hop2 never recovering.

The Atlas Max's 90th percentile latencies are not great, with 320 ms for the root node and 768 ms for Hop 1.

The Orbi 6, on the other hand, performed exceptionally well in this test, with latency mostly between 10 and 20 ms for both STAs.

The backhaul latency is included in the Hop 1 latency, which is why it's higher compared to the root node.

The Linksys Atlas Max 6E's multiband throughput is a key feature of this Wi-Fi 6 mesh system. It's designed to handle simultaneous traffic on multiple bands, including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

The Atlas Max has an advantage on both bands at the root mesh node, with higher throughput compared to the NETGEAR Orbi 6. This is evident in the benchmark results, where the Atlas Max shows higher throughput on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios.

However, as we move to the Hop 1 node, the backhaul performance becomes a concern. The Linksys' throughput craters on the 5 GHz radio, and the total throughput is lower compared to the NETGEAR.

Here's a comparison of the throughput change for each band, referenced to Root throughput, for 2.4 and 5 GHz:

On 5 GHz, the Linksys' throughput is around 3X lower than the NETGEAR's, and its Hop 1 loss is 30% higher. This suggests that the Atlas Max's backhaul management could be improved.

It's worth noting that the Atlas Max's Hop 2 throughput is significantly lower than the NETGEAR's, indicating a potential issue with the system's ability to maintain throughput over multiple hops.

The Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system is incredibly easy to set up. You can complete the process in no time thanks to the Linksys Smart WiFi app, which guides you through every step.

The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, making it accessible to most users. Once you plug in the first node's power supply and turn it on, you can connect to it via Wi-Fi and follow the app's instructions.

You'll need to create a new network name (SSID) and Wi-Fi password, which you can do in just a few minutes. The app will also prompt you to switch on your modem if it's not already on.

The setup process is surprisingly quick and easy, thanks to the app's step-by-step instructions. You can even use the same network name and password as your current router if you want to.

Here are the basic steps to set up the Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system:

The app itself is very user-friendly, with all functions clearly labeled and easy to navigate. You can even create family member profiles to have unique settings for specific individuals.

The Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system has some great features. It offers good speeds and coverage, making it a reliable choice for your home network.

One of the standout advantages of this system is its competitively priced option, which makes it more accessible to a wider range of users.

The Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system also supports Ethernet backhaul, which can provide a more stable connection in certain situations.

Here are some key pros of the Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system:

In some cases, the system's high peak speeds can provide a noticeable boost to your internet experience.

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 has some great features that make it a top choice for WiFi mesh systems. It offers good speeds and coverage, making it a reliable option for homes and offices.

This system is also competitively priced, which is a major plus for those on a budget. It's worth noting that the prices of WiFi mesh systems can vary greatly, so it's great to see that the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is priced fairly.

Worth a look: Linksys Velop Pro 6e Wifi Mesh System

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 also supports Ethernet backhaul, which is a feature that's often overlooked but is actually quite useful. It allows you to connect devices directly to the router using an Ethernet cable, which can be a big boost to your network's performance.

Here are some of the key features of the Linksys Atlas Pro 6:

Additionally, the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 has plenty of wired network ports, which is a great feature for those who need to connect multiple devices to their network.

The Atlas 6 mesh Wi-Fi system has some drawbacks to consider. It lacks a dedicated wireless backhaul, which can impact its performance in larger homes or with many devices connected.

One of the key limitations of the Atlas 6 is its basic parental controls. This means that while you can set some basic restrictions, you won't have access to more advanced features that some users may need.

Here are the specific cons of the Atlas 6 in a nutshell:

The lack of a dedicated wireless backhaul is a notable omission, especially compared to more expensive tri-band mesh Wi-Fi systems.

The Linksys Atlas 6 mesh system is available for purchase in both the US and UK. You can buy it directly from Linksys in the US, with prices starting at $149.99 for a single node.

In the US, Amazon was selling the Atlas 6 in single, two-pack, and three-pack bundles for $150.19, $299.00, and $349.99 respectively. Tech America was also selling it, with slightly lower prices for single and two-pack bundles.

You can find the Atlas 6 on Linksys's site in the UK, but you can't buy it directly from them. However, you can find it on other online retailers like Ebuyer, Amazon UK, and CCL Online.

Here are some prices for the Atlas 6 in the UK:

The Atlas 6 Pro starts at $299 / £249 for a two-pack, which is good for 5400 square feet / 500m² and for 60+ devices.

The Linksys Atlas WiFi 6 mesh system delivers a fast and secure network throughout your entire home.

The system is equipped with MU-MIMO and OFDMA, giving you more connectivity for all your smart devices.

The Atlas Max and Orbi 6 have latencies in the low 20 ms range, with the Linksys at 22.6 ms and the NETGEAR at 23.7; a negligible difference.

The system has three WAN/LAN ports for connection to ethernet backhaul or hardwired devices.

The intuitive app includes in-depth parental controls and QoS, making setup and management a breeze.

The Atlas Max’ throughput is slightly below the NETGEAR, but not by much, and wired throughput testing is pretty boring until manufacturers include > 1 GbE ports on both WAN and LAN.

The Linksys Atlas 6 Pro is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable mesh system. It's fast, easy to use, and stylish, making it a great option for home use.

The system's range is acceptable, but it's not the best for covering large areas. If you don't need to spread out the nodes too far, it's an excellent buy.

The two-unit package is a great value, especially considering its affordability.