eero PoE 6 AP Review: The Amazon Gateway’s Much-Needed Wi-Fi Companion

There's nothing new about the Amazon eero PoE 6 other than it's from a company that, before this, only made wireless mesh systems. It's the first eero Wi-Fi broadcaster that's all about wiring.

As a standard dual-band Wi-Fi 6 PoE access point, this new hardware will work with any router. However, considering the hefty price tag of $299.99, there's no point in getting it unless you've already gotten the Amazon eero Gateway.

The two complete each other and, in a small way, help make sense of their overpriced combined cost of $1,000.

That said, this quick review supplements my take on the Amazon eero Gateway. Make sure you've read that before continuing.

Amazon eero PoE 6: A typical access point that’s not so typical

Out of the box, the Amazon eero PoE 6 is a compact PoE access point.

On the Wi-Fi front, it's modest, supporting dual-band 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 with up to 2400Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz.

The AP does come with a 2.5GBASE-T Multi-Gig PoE port, which means it can deliver its top Wi-Fi speed instead of being limited to Gigabit in some of its peers.

There's also a non-PoE Gigabit LAN port that can be used for a wired client, though chances are that this port will not be used at all, considering the eero PoE 6 is designed to be mounted on a ceiling (or a wall).

There's also a USB-C power port, but the AP doesn't include a power adapter or PoE injector. If you don't already have a PoE switch, you'll have to spend some extra to get it up and running.

But again, you shouldn't get it if you don't already have the Amazon eero PoE Gateway. That's similar to how the U6 Enterprise best fits the UDM-SE.

Since I compared the Amazon eero PoE Gateway to the UDM-SE, I'll compare the eero PoE 6 access point to the U6 Enterprise.

The table below shows the differences between the two and helps you understand how the new eero access point is overpriced—just like the case of the Gateway router.

Hardware specifications: Amazon eero PoE 6 vs. Ubiquiti U6 Enterprise

Model	T01001	U6 Enterprise
Name	Amazon eero PoE 6 Access Point	Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point
Wi-Fi Standards	Dual-band AX3000	Tri-band AXE11000
1st Band 2.4GHz (channel width)	2x2 AX Up to 600Mbps (20/40MHz)
2nd Band 5GHz (channel width)	2x2 AX Up to 2400Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)	4x4 AX Up to 4800Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
3rd Band 6GHz (channel width)	None	4x4 AXE Up to 4800Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
Backward Compatibility	802.11ac/n/g/a/b
Power over Ethernet  (PoE)	802.3af (PoE)	802.3at (PoE+)
Power Consumption	15W	22W
Network Port (auto-sensing)	1x 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig PoE, 1x Gigabit
Security	WPA, WPA2, WPA3
Local Managed	No	No
Cloud-Managed (web interface)	no	Yes (free)
Mobile App	eero (free with optional eero Plus subscription)	UniFi (free)
Mode	Access Point
Dimensions  (W x D x H)	Ø6.45 x 1.7" (Ø163.8 x 43 mm)	Ø7.76 x 1.38" (Ø197 x 35 mm)
Weight	1.04 lbs (473g)	1.01 lbs (460 g)
LED	Flashing white light	Color-changing (White/blue) LED
US Retail Cost (at launch)	$299.99	$290

Amazon eero PoE 6 access point: No local web interface, simple setup

The Amazon eero PoE 6 is a standalone access point. You must connect it to an existing network via a network cable, as with any PoE device. Access points are generally not meant for a fully wireless setup.

Like the case of the U6, the Eero Pro 6 doesn't have a local web user interface. To set it up, you'll need to use the eero app, and the process is similar to setting up any eero mesh system.

You first run the app, sign in with an eero account, and follow the onscreen instructions to add the access point to the network.

Now, there are three scenarios to consider.

First, if you use the AP with a third-party router, you'll need to get a PoE injector, a power adapter, or a PoE switch before you can power it up.

After that, you'll need to continue to use the eero app to manage it. In this case, note two things I experienced in my trial:

1. The eero app treats the AP like any other eero router. Specifically, it will create a separate network on top of the existing one—you'll get a double NAT. Consequently, devices connected to the eero Pro 6 will be isolated from the main network. To fix this, you need to turn the AP into bridge mode.
2. The Amazon eero PoE 6 doesn't work with all existing standard PoE switches as it's supposed to. Out of the switches I've tested, it worked with all except the Zyxel XS1930-12HP, which shares the same PoE++ standard as the Amazon eero PoE Gateway. It was a bit strange, but it could have been a fluke.

The second scenario is when you already have an eero network. In this case, you still need a PoE powering solution, as mentioned above, but the management is generally seamless.

And finally, the last scenario, also recommended, is when you have a network hosted by an Amazon eero PoE Gateway. In this case, the eero PoE 6 will work exactly as intended. All you need to do is connect it to one of the Gateway's PoE ports, and it'll add Wi-Fi to the router, turning the whole network into a mesh system. Add more units if you need to expand the coverage.

Lots of eero Plus nags

No matter your scenario, you'll likely run into many popups nagging you to opt for eero Plus, which costs $9.99/month (or $99.99/year).

I noted that the Amazon eero PoE 6 won't allow you to customize its Wi-Fi radios until you do so.

Again, this practice is so off-putting and is one of the reasons it's hard for me to recommend eero in general.

Amazon eero PoE Gateway: Excellent throughputs, but the range could be better

For this review, I tested the Amazon eero PoE 6 with the Gateway, and the AP delivers excellent performance—for its middling Wi-Fi specs—as you'll note in the charts below.

This kind of performance was likely thanks to its 2.5Gbps PoE port. It's one of a few Wi-Fi 6 access points with this port. Most Wi-Fi 6 APs come with a Gigabit port—the Multi-Gig 2.5Gbps port didn't become mainstream until Wi-Fi 6E hardware.

The access point also passed my 3-day stress test with no disconnection. It proved to be reliable.

On the downside, it wasn't perfect, either. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

First, the AP's range is rather limited. In my experience, its 5Ghz band starts losing a bar from just 40 feet away. That said, you should expect each unit to deliver around 1800 ft² (167 m²) coverage—your mileage will vary.

Secondly, most of the time, devices are initially connected to the AP's 2.4GHz band for a while before moving to the 5GHz band.

And finally, the eero PoE 6 can get rather warm. It is not as hot as the eero PoE Gateway, but hotter than many other Wi-Fi 6 access points I have tested. Heat and electronics are never a good combination.

Conclusion

If you already have the Amazon eero PoE Gateway and want to add Wi-Fi to it, the Amazon eero PoE 6 access point is a must-buy.

The two complete each other to create a seamless and ease-to-use Wi-Fi system that works well enough to make their combo cost a bit less outrageous.

If you don't want to use the Gateway—and if so, I don't blame you—go with another access point. Most are more affordable and don't nag you to pay a subscription to get all they offer.