Amplifi Alien Announcement
Amplifi is back with a whole new system. Amplifi Alien is the company's first router to not only support gigabit speeds, but WiFi 6.
The unit itself is a break from Amplifi's current "small box" routers. It's a tall black cylinder with an ample touchscreen on the front of the device. In a marketplace where the tendency is to make routers that blend with decor, it's an interesting choice. There are also four ethernet ports in the back, making me think that this device may have more in common with Ubiquiti's Dream Machine. That device, made by Amplifi's parent company, is also a tall cylindrical router with four ethernet ports. That's a good thing. If Amplifi is using that professional/prosumer hardware as the base to build their own offerings, then Alien's performance should be impressive.
Amplifi Alien, front and back
The Amplifi Alien offers 8x8 MIMO connectivity (that means it can handle eight simultaneous streams of traffic into and out of the router). With four antennas, it should be able to cover most homes with ease. If you have a larger home or a tricky setup, you can pair another Alien in mesh mode.
If you're lucky enough to have gigabit internet service from your ISP, Amplifi Alien will be able to deliver the full complement of speed to your home. And while WiFi 6 is a bit of a hype point at the moment (it's really only effective when every device in a home is enabled with the tech), it's nice to see Amplifi building in future tech today.
All of this comes with Amplifi's best-in-class app. They promise a 1-minute setup in their press materials and I fully expect them to deliver (this is the company that gave us an "Instant" internet option after all). I've found Amplifi's software to be a dream to use. It's responsive, informative, and speedy. Especially now that Google has cluttered up their wireless offering by making it part of the Google Home app, there isn't a networking solution out there that's easier to use.
I'll be getting hands-on with Amplifi Alien later this month, so I'll have further impressions then. Can more antennas and a powerful base unit cover the same area reliably as a good mesh networking system? Will setup really be just 1-minute? And, most importantly, does WiFi 6 really make a difference when it comes to the average home network?
If you want to find out the answers yourself, head over to Amplifi's website. The Alien is now available for $379.
