Thanks to the FCC and a source, we now know new Wi-Fi 6 eero devices are about to hit the market. The 802.11ax “eero 6” comes three flavors:
eero Pro 6
eero 6 gateway
eero 6 extender
The eero Pro 6 (product packaging above) continues the line’s aesthetic, merging elements of the original eero design and footprint with the the lower-end cupcake’s sloped top surface. Based on the joint filing and FCC regulatory photo, the eero 6 hub and access point could share the same enclosure (goodbye Beacon form factor?)… but we only have one bottom view to go on – and this bottom differs from the Pro.
Beyond supporting standards like WPA3 and being backwards compatible with WiFi 5 devices, signs suggest not only does the eero 6 interoperate with various models in the line, but will also coexist with prior eero hardware. But an open question surrounds the RF radio found within the eero 6 gateway and eero Pro 6. Second gen eero hardware supports Thread, currently of limited value, yet the paperwork they submitted to the FCC specifically lists “Zigbee”. Sadly, I have doubts straight-up Zigbee support will be provided to us for lightbulb linkage, and the like, as with Echo Plus. Instead, I suspect they’ll be leaving things as-is while waiting to see if the Project Connected Home over IP alliance bears fruit… in which case the 802.15.4 could be repurposed, along with resident BLE, for broad smart home connectivity. In the interim, the eero 6 line will remain an Apple HomeKit-capable platform with an Alexa Skill and ability to share wireless network details among Amazon devices, to boot.