Pros: The packaging is attractive and well put together, no wasted space. Inside were two flat ethernet cables, the power cable and a basic instruction manual (really nothing more is needed).

Setup with a Nexus 5 was easy. Getting the device up and running took no time at all.

The wireless coverage and performance over what it replaced (a very old WRT54G) were fantastic.

The app as of the time of this writing is competent enough for your non-techy type. After following the setup process, the additional things you can do is setup a guest network, adjust DNS settings (default is ISP + Google public), WAN settings, Enable\Disable UPnP, DHCP reservations, and Port forwarding. Beyond that you can adjust the brightness of the LED ring, add nick names to devices on the network, add additional managers (people who can edit settings, will need a google account), run a speed test and diagnostic report. You can do all of this even remotely. You can also get usage data which is nice.

Cons: As many have said, the singe LAN port isn't the greatest. For homes that employ a lot of wifi devices (laptops, tablets, smart phones, etc.) those will benefit from the great Wifi. But not everything should run on Wifi (such as gaming, streaming to the internet, or NAS).

The lack of a web interface could be forgiven if they made a desktop client of some sort. Requiring the phone app just doesn't seem like enough. You cannot modify your DHCP settings at all. That may not be important, to many.

There is an option to make the Wifi password visible (in the app) so you can share it with guests. But it's just clear text which is slow and error prone in some cases. The option for a QR wifi code (which android understands) would be a nice feature

The power plug wasn't designed well. It looks sort of like the apple power brick for the laptops. They did it so they could ship international plugs with it and you just slide in what you need. But how often are people traveling with their router!? I feel they could have still did the international part, but moved the brick more "in the middle". A 1 foot, 90 degree plug that accepts the adapters heads would have been better.

Other Thoughts: I recommended this to my Mom who bought it. I'm fairly confident she won't have issues with it. And even if she does have issues, I don't have to try walking her through whatever over the phone, so long as it has internet I can just access it via the app.

I've been impressed with the software features they've released since launch but I'd like to see more. If this thing had a VPN server I'd buy one for myself in a heartbeat.

It's a wireless router and you get what you pay for. With more and more devices being wifi, investing in a decent router is a good idea.

Pros: 2-21-2016 UPDATE:

The OnHub has gone through several firmware updates and now has the capabilities to nickname devices on your network. The other gigantic update... GUEST NETWORK!!!

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First impressions (before powering up and setting up):
Good looking, I like the design. It passed the wife’s test: says that our previous router, the TP-LINK Archer C8 looked like a white grasshopper (with it’s three antennas on top, spread at different angles); while the OnHub looks like it should be right where it is, on our desk in our home office.

Powering up and setting up:
Very easy setup! If it wasn’t UNDER five minutes, it was dang close to five. Download the app, “Google On” from the Play Store. Plug in all of your cables. Wait for the ring to pulse. Open the app. Follow the instructions… it’s that simple.

Use:
You still get advanced settings through the Google On app used to administrate the OnHub… Advanced Networking includes: DNS (was set to Automatic… Googles DNS servers), WAN (DHCP, Static IP, PPPoE), Extended Settings (in Advanced Networking) gets your Stat IP addresses, Port forwarding, and UPnP.

It’s very cool that you can see what devices are connected to your OnHub network (in the Google On app) AND how much bandwidth they are utilizing.

Cons: None of these are super deal-breakers, more like hyper-critical nit-picks:

First impressions (before powering up and setting up):
Only one LAN port… I got around this by adding a 5 port gigabit switch in our home office (Brother all-in-one needs a wired connection, so does our office workstation = 2 ports). It’s not so bad, because there’s a work-around, but after spending $200 on a wireless router, you’ve got to spend another $30 to fix the one LAN port issue.

Powering up and setting up:
Had to re-arrange plugs on my power strip...the provided power adapter is a little “wide”.

Only indicator(s) are the “mood” ring on the top of the router.

Use:
I can’t help but notice that it will not give me traffic statistics for my wired clients. All of their information shows up… Device Name, Status (Connected to OnHub), IP Address, and MAC address… all the while Download and Upload activity are “Unknown”.

Overnight, after setting up the OnHub… it changed wifi channels: now using ch. 11 for 2.4Ghz and ch. 39 for 5Ghz. I know it does this based on all of the other wifi networks in your neighborhood… but now my signal strengths have dropped an average of 10dB on both bands. It’d be best if it gave the user a choice… let Google do everything… or let me choose what channels I want to use. Heck, I’d even let Google suggest channels… just give me the dang choice!

Other:
I haven’t found a way to give my devices custom nicknames… so my wife’s iPad shows up as “iPad”... luckily we only have one of those, but we both have Galaxy S5s… and they both show up as “Android device”. It’d be nice to call our Blu Ray player “Living Room Blu Ray” instead of just “Panasonic” as it currently appears. (This was the same case with the D-Link DGL-5500… among all of its other shortcomings).

The OnHub can ONLY be administered from the Google On app… if you navigate to the router gateway… it brings up a page that says “Welcome. Download the Google On app to get started. If you already have the app, open it to access network settings and find help.” Further down the page is another message: “OnHub Status: Online OnHub is online. Open the Google On app to access more information.” I guess the web UI either a. isn’t coming at all in future firmware updates, USE THE DANG APP! b. Might be coming later in a firmware update, but USE THE DANG APP! or c. Probably coming later in a firmware update. Trust me, I like the app… but it’d be nice to get a web UI too, but I guess that might be too advanced a maneuver for the folks looking to purchase an OnHub in the first place.

Broadcasts one SSID for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz… I usually segment my devices based on what is the maximum wifi spec they can achieve. We have two 1st generation Chromecasts (2.4Ghz only) that I like to keep separated on the 2.4Ghz band, while our Galaxy S5’s, iPads, and everything else gets separated on the 5GHz band. Maybe that’s just crazy… but the OnHub doing this for me is a little un

Other Thoughts: Packaging and Un-boxing:
Very “Apple” like packaging… what you would expect to get when purchasing a $200 wireless router.

Comes with:
OnHub router
2 ethernet cables (flat)
1 AC power adapter
Color code card
“setup instructions” printed on the inside of the lid

Powering up and setting up:
IT MAKES NOISES!!! Pairs with a “song” and then makes more noises when it’s “building your network."

Wrap-Up:
There are plenty of other AC routers that don’t tip the price-point scale at around $200. First, let’s recap the good:
- Setup is a BREEZE… short of plugging the cables in for you, anyone could be up and running within minutes
- Sleek design… it looks good and you won’t want to hide it away.
- Great bandwidth monitoring from the app… you can see who’s connected and how much bandwidth they are pulling (at least wireless clients). You can also prioritize a single client for a specific amount of time.

Now for the not so good:
- Only one LAN port… I got around this by adding a 5 port gigabit switch in our home office (Brother all-in-one needs a wired connection, so does our office workstation = 2 ports). It’s not so bad, because there’s a work-around, but after spending $200 on a wireless router, you’ve got to spend another $30 to fix the one LAN port issue.
- Can only be administered through the Google On app… not a huge deal… but it would be nice to get the same info that the app has, but in a web UI.
- Can’t nickname your devices… this is nothing new, as I’ve said before, I experienced this before with a D-Link DGL-5500… things can get confusing if you have multiple phones and / or tablets of the same operating system (my wife and I both have Galaxy S5’s and both show up as “Android device”).
- Broadcasts one SSID for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz… I usually segment my devices based on what is the maximum wifi spec they can achieve. We have two 1st generation Chromecasts (2.4Ghz only) that I like to keep separated on the 2.4Ghz band, while our Galaxy S5’s, iPads, and everything else gets separated on the 5GHz band. Maybe that’s just crazy… but the OnHub doing this for me is a little uncomfortable (it often places devices that can utilize the 5Ghz band on the 2.4Ghz, so then they only get 2.4Ghz speeds).

Buy it because: it looks good and is easy as pie. Also Google has said they’re going to keep it fresh with firmware updates every once in awhile (...to enable new features?!?!); you’re sort of investing in it now and hopefully down the road it will do more. I feel like parents or grandparents could handle this without any issues.

Skip it because: there’s only one LAN port, can only be administered through the Google On app., can’t nickname devices, Broadcasts one SSID for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands, lacks advanced networking features of other more affordable routers. Not for advanced users… yet.

Pros: - Looks much nicer than other routers.
- The lights are well done in my opinion.
- Well built and sturdy. If feels solid and no squeaks or rattles when you move it around.
- Using the app to control it is very easy and is much easier than most routers for the average user
- Never owned a router that as easy to set up and get all my devices connected to
- Well packaged, simple instructions though see cons
- I have not experienced any hiccups with this router in the few months I have been using it. Very impressive.

Cons: - Instructions don't clearly tell you to take of the outer cylinder much less how. Trying to take it off the first time was difficult do to packaging plastic on the inner cylinder and I was worried I was going to break it.
- Limited features but that is clear when you buy it. No surprises. Some features are promised to come with updates. Would have been nice to have them at release rather than hope they actually come
- Would still have appreciated more functionality with the USB port and a second port.
- Only 1 Ethernet port
- High price for the performance

Other Thoughts: - Almost gave 3 eggs but considering it was an easy setup (minus the cylinder) and have had not needed to touch it since, I gave it 4 eggs.
- Range is good but range is not the reason to spend ~$200 on this router but you don't' have to worry about it being a flaw. I like that it automatically picks the best channel and in testing it usually picks the right one for my apt.
- Lack of ports is necessary evil to get the clean look and keep everything simple but you could always plug this into another router or switch if you wanted.

Pros: • Well built and solid feel. Not going to get knocked off the desk by accident.

• It serves its purpose for younger non-techies, although it is not as intuitive as it could be. My parents for example still couldn't set it up. I don't think anything will or should need to be designed for that category of user (Seniors) to set up networks.


• USB 3 port.

• App driven – Everyone uses a smartphone and or tablet now - see also Cons.

• Decent range – keep it up on a desk, or somewhere higher for best results.

• Front facing 2.4 GHz Antenna so you can enhance range in a certain direction.

Cons: • Limited ports. Can also be seen as a pro for style points. Most homes would benefit from the standard 4 ports you get with most routers. It may have added a little clutter for those needing them, but most will now need to add a switch, which is a worse alternative. Even if you didn’t need multiple ports, the cost factor to include them should not be much.

• App driven – Why not have ability to configure from a PC also?

• I see some of the toned down features as a con only because it appears the marketers designed this and didn’t consult with the techs much. The techs probably just shook their heads as they were pigeon-holed into this design.

Other Thoughts: Not a cheap alternative, but elegance has a price/value. So view as Pro or Con based on your needs.

My experience makes it tough to see this with fresh eyes. It’s cool and simple. Can’t call that a con when that was the idea. Marketing wanted to dumb it down to this extent. So be it. The OnHub is just not my cup of tea.

Pros: Wow, this router has a ton of features, works really well, and looks good all at the same time.

Its fun to use the phone app to monitor and adjust the activity on your network. I was surprised to see that I regularly have 15+ devices active on my network!

I've been using it three weeks and it has been absolutely trouble free (zero dropped signals, zero resets needed, etc).

While I have not formally benchmarked the router speed, the connection in my garage has gone from blocky buffered video to smooth HD video.

I've used networking equipment since the early nineties. Over the last decade, TP-Link has emerged as my favorite brand. They seem to consistently have every feature I want, no unnecessary features, everything is integrated really well, and the performance is solid. This unit is no exception.

Cons: My biggest gripe is with the packaging. When you receive the unit, there is a clear plastic sheet installed over the ports. There are no instructions explaining how to remove it, and its not intuitive. I struggled trying to use the plugs with the sheet installed, then struggled trying to trim holes into it, before finally turning to the web for help. After turning to a web search, I read that you can twist off the outer shell of the router to remove the plastic sheet. It was unpleasant. They should put a sticker on the unit, or instructions in the box, which explains how to twist off the shell and remove that plastic sheet.

It's a bit pricey. You could get a router with 80% as many features and performance for 50% the cost (I guess that's typical of high end products...).

Other Thoughts: Using the phone app, you can temporarily make one device on the network a "priority device." This is a very cool idea, and I was excited to try it. But after some testing, I realized that there is so much bandwidth that my network never needs this feature. I am never close to bottle-necking at the router. This feature may be better for small businesses or large families, my two person household couldn't tax the network enough to need it.

Pros: Stylish, certainly not something you feel you need to hide or camouflage with another device or tuck away behind something nicer looking. If you need an easy to set up router, look no farther. By far this was the easiest router set up that I have ever experienced. It promises a great deal of future features and with the hardware it all ready utilizes it seems like it is nearly ready. The range on this router far out performs some of the better routers that I have used in the past. Its ability to actively seek out the channel with the clearest signal is a time saving feature and ensures the best quality signal.

Cons: As I stated, it has a great deal of promise for future features but, as it is it is simply not a finished product. Only time will tell if its developers are serious about taking it from a good product to a great one.

Other Thoughts: This will certainly be a router that anyone that needs the easiest one to set up should seek out. A quick download of the app from Google Play will get you connected in short order.

Pros: Stylish and modern.
No visible antennas.
Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz.
The router is cylindrical in shape. Conveniently, on the bottom of the cylinder important information is printed which you may wish to write down for reference when setting up:
setup network name
setup code
serial number (shown as s/n )
help website address: g.co/on-support
help phone number: 844-442-3693

The inside lid of the box shows simple steps: get the app, etc.

Cons: There's no mention of accessories but the box clearly feels like it's not empty after removing the router. Inside the box the lower half lifts up to reveal more boxes.

One box contains 2 ethernet cables and the other box contains a power supply.

The instructions make no mention of how to remove the cylindrical outer cover of the router for easy access to connections for power, ethernet, and USB port. Nor do they mention removing the clear plastic sheet around inner cylinder. I've worked with a variety of routers so it was no problem to figure out these simple steps. But, i was left wondering how easy it would be for a beginner who purchased the router on the promise of easy setup. Out of interest, i showed it to a neighbor who is handy with a cellphone and a laptop. She puzzled over how to connect the cables through the small aperture at the bottom of the cover for a couple of minutes.
Then she asked if the cover is supposed to come off and i said yes. She attempted to lift the cover off without success, and then tried gently twisting the cover, again without success. When i told her to twist harder the cover unlatched and came right off. She did not regard this as being easy to use.

When i followed instructions for actual setup there was another snag. The router would not partner up with the modem (a standard Motorola DOCSIS 3 model). As per the instructions (kudos to the instructions for mentioning this might happen) i power cycled the modem and waited while it rebooted. This took about a minute during which time the OnHub router timed out or went to sleep. Once the modem was fully rebooted i power cycled the router and its blue light began to blink again and played a tune through its built-in speaker. A musical router - how cute! Another minute or so of steps and it was up and running.

There's only one ethernet jack for a computer or VOIP device and one USB 3.0 port for a printer or external hard drive, but not both. If you need to connect more stuff then you'll need to spend another $20 or $30 for an unmanaged ethernet switch. This rather defeats the purpose of having a neat, stylish router.

Wi-fi speeds are a mixed bag. The 5.0GHz band provided fast performance in my test location which is outside of the room where the router is located, across an open entry hall, then 30 feet down a hallway to the far side of a bedroom. The 2.4GHz band was mediocre. It seemed like it was using the old Wireless-g band. We have a TP-Link AC-1900 router which costs considerably less than this one and it has 4 ethernet ports + 2 USB ports. It also has much better speed on the 2.4GHz band.

The most annoying thing is that inserting this router as the hub of our home network messed up our file and printer sharing. After investigating the problem i still can't determine why it happened. When using other routers, even different brands, we have never experienced this before.

Other Thoughts: If you want to make a fashion statement and nearly all your phones, tablets, computers, etc. use Wi-fi all the time then this modern looking device with no ugly antennas sticking up in the air may be a good choice. Otherwise, choose a router with better dual-band performance and better connections.

Speed Test results taken on a Lenovo Y500 laptop in a different room about 30 feet away down a hallway. The 2.4GHz test is done on built-in Intel N2230 wi-fi adapter. The 5.0GHz test is done on a TP-Link AC-1200 USB Wi-fi adapter "stick".
Test was repeated to verify results.
2.4GHz speed test:
TP-Link OnHub:
ping-14ms
down-41.73Mbps
up-6.04Mbps

TP-Link Archer C9:
ping-12ms
down-84.31Mbps
up-6.19Mbps

5.0GHz speed test:
TP-Link OnHub:
ping-16ms
down-88.62Mbps
up-6.03

TP-Link Archer C9:
ping-16ms
down-86.62Mbps
up-5.99Mbps

Pros: I tested the TP-LINK - Google OnHub Dual-Band Wireless AC1900 Gigabit Router. I received the blue colored model for my testing. One thing I really like about this router is its appearance; gone are the ugly antennas sticking out that make other routers look like something out of B-rated science fiction movie. The OnHub has 13 internal WIFI antennas in total. Six for the low band, six for the high band and one for detecting and correcting local WIFI congestion. Some of the outstanding features include:

WIFI-AC1900 2.4/5.0 GHz Dual band support

An Easy Smart Phone Setup App

The App supports both Android & Mac Smart Phones

13 Internal WIFI Antennas

Memory: 4GB of eMMC, 1GB DDR3L, 8 MB NOR

USB 3.0* Support

Gigabit Ethernet LAN Support

Bluetooth Smart Ready

Built-in 3-Watt Audio Speaker

Trusted Platform Module - Infineon SLB 9615

ZigBee local wireless mesh networking support*

Accepts other decorative outer covers

To install the OnHub: Begin by connecting the WAN and power cables, then download the OnHub installation App to either an Android, or a Mac Smart Phone. For an Android phone simply visit the Google App store. The App will request the usual onerous permissions to detect your location, snoop your phone's directory, Etc. After agreeing to these requests and entering your desired WIFI password the OnHub App will prompt you to hold your phone near the OnHub's top mounted speaker. The OnHub then communicates with your phone using audio signals that sound similar an old fashioned dial-up modem. The OnHub also has an LED light ring near the top that glows different colors depending on its current status. Red and amber both indicate problems, while a soft blue/green glow signals that all-is-well.

The Android App also has an Internet benchmark speed test and an advanced features setup menu. The App can be used to set one of your portable devices as a preferred WIFI device for a specified period of time. This would be useful if you wanted to view a movie on a tablet without interruptions from other nearby WIFI devices. You can also control the LED brightness, view the OnHub's current status, any connected devices, trigger a restart, or perform a factory reset to the OnHub, all via the remote control phone App. Firmware and software updates are also handled by the phone App's intelligent user interface.

Cons: *It's not a finished product. The USB 3.0 port does nothing, the ZigBee support is turned off, will Google add voice control commands?, Etc. This also begs the question will it ever be completed? Google worked with TP-Link and Asus to co-develop the OnHub hardware. They plan to turn-on additional features via future firmware/software updates. That's nice, but Google has a long history of starting new projects and then abandoning them before they are ever completed. I would caution potential OnHub buyers to weigh spending $200.00 for an OnHub router until after Google and TP-Link turn-on more of the promised features and show they are truly committed to this new router platform technology.

I had a problem getting the outer blue cover off of my OnHub so I could access the wiring jacks. No setup directions are provided in the box and you have to get the outer cover off in order to access the: WAN, LAN and power jacks. Google and TP-Link's OnHub websites were not much help either. I finally found a tear-down site that showed the OnHub with its cover removed. I was able to discern by the photos that it uses a bayonet locking mechanism. Pushing down and turning counter-clockwise real-hard finally broke the stubborn cover loose from its mounts. After that it was a cinch to hookup.

Given its size and cost: the lack of a hard drive bay, SD card slot, or a working USB 3.0 port for connecting an external hard drive or a networked printer; I subtracted half an egg from the OnHub. The unit is large enough it would be nice if it had a hidden bay that you could slip in either an: SD, SSD, M.2, or an mSATA card to provide centralized NAS storage similar to a Mac Airport router.

If you own: a Windows home server, a NAS server, or hard-wired Ethernet connected printer(s) in your SOHO that require fixed IP addresses, there is presently no way to assign a fixed IP range for these networked devices. They are normally assigned a fixed IP address above or below the normal DHCP range. There is also no way to specify a Windows workgroup name for your LAN. These are both oversights that are going to limit the real-world SOHO uses for an On-Hub in a Windows based peer to peer networking environment. Hopefully these and other shortfalls can be addressed in a future software update for the OnHub.

Other Thoughts: A lot of reviewers have complained about the fact the OnHub only has one Ethernet LAN jack. I really don't have an issue with that. Many users already own an Ethernet switch, or an existing 4-port router in their home or office that could be pressed into service. So simply run a patch cable from the OnHub's Ethernet out jack to a LAN switch located in an out of the way location, or inside a cabinet where all the wires are all kept out-of-site. The 4-ports provided on most routers are too few to be of much use anyways. I have a 16-port gigabit switch located in my den, where it and its connected wiring spaghetti are all kept mostly out-of-sight. I think that Google is on the right track here. I was able to place the OnHub out in the open in my family room, where it was closer to where we actually use our portable WIFI devices and provides better overall WIFI reception.

As an EggExpert I have tested a lot of high-end AC routers in the past few years and the OnHub has so far provided the fastest, strongest, most consistent WIFI-AC connections to our various laptops, tablets and smart phones, as compared to any other router I have tested to-date. I ran the OnHub concurrently with another $200 WIFI-AC router. When I pull into my driveway after work, my Android phone automatically seeks out and connects to the stronger OnHub WIFI signal. My wife has noticed that her Android based Nexus-7 tablet now has a more stable Internet connection via the OnHub. Our previous AC router would cause the signal strength indicator to continually rise and fall and constantly drop connections to her tablet. The OnHub feels more like being connected to a hard-wired Ethernet connection than it does to WIFI. The OnHub automatically optimizes and determines the best frequency band and channel to use for a given WIFI device connected to it
.
If you are a power-user, I guarantee that you will be totally frustrated with the OnHub's lack of an onboard web site and the associated myriad of settings, that you would normally be able to tweak via your desktop or laptop browser. I subtracted another half an egg for this missing feature. Hopefully Google will add a built-in web site at a future date. Also if you don't have access to an Android or Mac smart phone you should take a pass on buying an OnHub. On the other-hand if you are a new-user, a technophobe, or Mac user, I can highly recommend the Google OnHub for its setup simplicity, fast WIFI connections and ease-of-use. If you are interested in using the USB 3.0 port for NAS storage, or the ZigBee home automation, or the Smart Bluetooth features, I would hold-off purchasing an OnHub until after Google activates these and other promised future software features. Highly recommended; provided the reader is aware of the device's current feature limitations.

Pros: I wasn't sure what to epxect from the TGR1900. One of the more troubling aspects of using a router is actually setting it up and installing it. Thankfully, this process is easier than ever with the OnHub. Simply plug it in, and use the app on your mobile device to click through the installation and you're done!

The interface is snappy, responsive, intuitive, and very easy to follow. It's a great convenience to be able to find everything you're looking for right away, nothing gets lost or misplaced in the UI. Similarly, the layout and organization of features is very well implemented so my hat is off to Google, of course, for an astouding interface design. I was also very impressed with the traffic shaping feature, I've seen it implemented before in many other routers but never quite as clean as this. A complete list of all connected devices with proper labels, along with their bandwidth usage and a shaping graph make it a breeze to track which device is using the most bandwidth. You can easily control each device's allocated bandwidth with this feature, if nothing else, it provides an extensive look at how your internet is being utilized.

Cons: The biggest and most glaring problem is the lack of Ethernet ports. The TGR1900 comes with a single Gigabit port. The router is being advertised as a wireless in-home solution, so perhaps they are expecting their customers to have no use for the extra ports? It's difficult to say what they were thinking, being forced to use an external switch for the TGR1900 is just ridiculous. Anyone running more than a single desktop PC in their home will be alienated by this router.

Bluetooth is currently not implemented, another huge drawback. Hopefully this will get sorted out in the future with a firmware update.

For advanced users, there are many missing options for IP/Network controls, including customizing IP, security/firewall, and more. It seems overly-simplified in several key areas. It is possible for advanced menus and a simplified UI to co-exist, unfortunately that didn't happen with the TGR1900. There's a distinct lack of control with this router, and if you're the kind of user who demands strict insight over your network, you won't find it here.

And the last caveat: No browser-based firmware page. Everything has to be done via the app.

Other Thoughts: So who is this router for? Well, I would say any non-tech savvy family, with one (or fewer) desktop PCs, would be perfectly satisified with the OnHub. If your household has a strong focus on wireless accessibility, and you don't require comprehensive control over your network, the OnHub will work perfectly. It's lacking a bit of value due to its steep price, but sometimes you have to pay the extra price for convenience. Just beware of this router's shortcomings, it's strong points, and what your needs are.

Pros: I was very interested to get this to review as I do think Google can make some good products. Out of the box, setup was easy to a point (see cons for a couple of setup issues I encountered). I have had it on for a couple of weeks and have only had one issue with the device itself (my ISP went out and I had to power cycle both the modem and the OnHub). Signal quality is great across my apartment. I am getting full bars even 2 rooms away from it with 2 walls in between in and my device. The app, while simple, has an actual use to see what is on your network, how much data each device is using on your network and also to see if your network is up and running. The last feature is very neat to have as I have a HTPC at home that remains on 24/7 that is running Plex and it needs to be connected to the internet for me to access my media…having that feature to check the status of the OnHub away from home makes it nice to see if I might be having an issue with my ISP. The adjustable LED is great because if you want to have this device in a room that also serves as a bedroom you can turn it off so that it won’t disturb others while sleeping. Has a USB 3.0 port for some reason (see cons). The speed through this device is pretty good as I get my ISP’s full rated download speed almost everywhere in my apartment.

Cons: While having the elegant design of an apple device, it comes with a premium price tag as well. Overall this device still has a lot of downfalls that faces it. A lot of it revolves around the software for the device not fully being developed. Others are design choices. First off, out of the box I had no instructions on how to setup the device nor any instructions on how to take the shell off to reveal the LAN/WAN and power ports. I had to look at a couple youtube videos on how to finally get the shell off. Once off and all the ports plugged in and it turned on I ran into another problem with me having to power-cycle the modem. Not really a big deal but many of the other routers i have reviewed have been able to setup without needing the power-cycle of the modem. The phone app is used to setup everything and while it is simple, I feel it lacks a lot of features some power users might want (adding VPN, making port changes…etc). Not sure why but 2 days in it had an issue and I needed to power-cycle the OnHub to get the internet to work. Haven’t had any issues since though. One BIG issue that I saw with the device is it lacks the 3 extra ethernet ports that you get with almost any other router…many will find this a big downfall in this device as you might have a NAS or HTPC Server or Ethernet connect printer to connect. If you buy this device and need more ports you will definitely need to get a switch to bring internet to your other devices. Another issue I noticed is powerline networking seems to be limited in this device. I have a powerline connected PC (my gaming rig) that used to get 25 Mbps down (my ISP is 60 Mbps down)…when I connected this router to my Netgear switch and sends the single to my powerline jack, that went down to 10 Mbps for some reason. I cannot seem to determine why. The device comes with a speaker that other than the setup noises it produces I cannot seem to determine what other use it is for. I cannot play anything to the speaker. The USB 3.0 port is the same thing. I connected a couple things to it (a printer and an external HDD) but doesn’t seem to provide any function at this point. Want to all mount this? Not possible…this device is purely to sit on your shelf or near your modem (wherever that might be).

Other Thoughts: Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this device to anyone CURRENTLY. TP Link and Google need to do a lot to make this a really great device, but currently the software is limited. There are design downfalls as well, but I can look past them if they could get this device to do what other routers in this one’s price range can do. What really would have sold me on this device is if they could have add a feature for it to work like the Echo, but for Google and also be a great router as well. I just think this was a very bad decision on Google and TP Link’s part to release this with out more development done. Sure, they can always add more with updates to the router in the future, but for now, people who buy this are probably feeling like they are getting robbed of some core router features that should have been included.