Choice = good. More choice = better?

[aublumberg]

Bit surprised how many different new devices are coming out for WiFi 7 ... I count at least 6+ models in the ZenWiFi range alone: BQ16 / BQ16 Pro (ok can count as one, different target geographic markets), BT10, BT8, BT6, BD5, BD4 (the only one with a black colour option).

https://www.asus.com/networking-iot...s/filter?Category=Whole-Home-Mesh-WiFi-System

Another 9+ in the non-ZenWiFi range: BE98 / BE98 Pro, BE25000, BE19000, BE96U, BE92U, BE88U, BE86U, BE58U, BE3600.

That's a lot of SKUs to supply chain manage, firmware develop / support / patch, explain the difference to customers etc. etc.

 

[jzchen]

If you're discomforted by this amount, do not hop over to TP-Link's website, where even different Versions of the same model may get different firmware. (My friend complained about that and I noted they'd have way too many models if they needed a different model based on firmware variance as well)...

 

[TheLostSwede]

If you're discomforted by this amount, do not hop over to TP-Link's website, where even different Versions of the same model may get different firmware. (My friend complained about that and I noted they'd have way too many models if they needed a different model based on firmware variance as well)...

TP-Link even have different firmwares for different hardware revisions of their routers, so the same model name can have 5-6 different revisions, with the early ones having been discontinued five years ago and the models still on sale might've been discontinued three years ago and stopped getting firmware updates two years ago, but you wouldn't know without checking the hardware revision on the packaging. Sometimes they even retain an old model name for a new model with a new housing.

 

[jzchen]

Very true @TheLostSwede. They not only have many models but various hidden models based on Version number. The good news is they have a duplicate SN/Ver # sticker on the boxes (at least here in USA retail supply), which helps customers determine whether an item is old or new.

I'm excited to see more products but this is just not the direction I was hoping for, which is more bandwidth. I hope with WiFi 8 manufacturers start with lower bandwidth models and incrementally increase, vs sell buggy high end models, disgruntling higher paying loyal customers, then lower end models later...

 

[Tech9]

Bit surprised how many different new devices are coming out

Market flooding with variations of similar hardware devices with similar manufacturing cost, but offered on different price. When you go to the store 80% of everything you see there is TP-Link and Asus. The chances to get home TP-Link or Asus device are higher. Good for the business, support can wait.