Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next: a combination powerline and Wi-Fi kit for tackling Wi-Fi deadspots

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next one-minute review

Devolo’s range of Magic PowerLine adaptors is aptly named, as PowerLine technology has always seemed like magic to me.

That allows powerline adaptors to provide a wired network connection in rooms that a conventional Wi-Fi router or range extender might not be able to reach.

Devolo has long been a leader in powerline technology, but its current range of ‘Magic 2’ adaptors also throw in some extra Wi-Fi features as well. The adaptors use powerline to provide a wired connection in any room, but the Magic 2 adaptors can also transmit a Wi-Fi signal as well, allowing you to go wireless even in rooms that normally suffer from an annoying Wi-Fi ‘deadspot’.

The latest addition to Devolo’s range is the ‘Magic 2 WiFi 6 next’. That’s a clumsy, clunky name, but it provides fast, reliable wired and wireless connections that may be perfect for many homes and offices – including the back office in my own building that my normal office router struggles to reach.

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Price & release date

• How much does it cost? £409.99/ €469.00
• When is it available: Now
• Where can you get it: UK, EU

Devolo’s product names can be a bit confusing, so it’s important to make sure you buy the correct model. There’s an older model still on sale called the Magic 2 WiFi next, which used Wi-Fi 5. The first model to adopt Wi-Fi 6 was called Magic 2 WiFi 6, and that’s still available as well. The new model that we review here also uses Wi-Fi 6 but is faster than its predecessor, so it’s called the ‘Magic 2 WiFi 6 next’. So watch out for ‘WiFi 6 next’ if you want to buy the latest model.

There are also a number of different options available for the new Magic 2 WiFi 6 next. There’s a Starter Kit that includes two PowerLine adaptors, priced at £239.99, but we tested the Multiroom Kit that provides three adaptors for £409.99.

You can also buy a single add-on adaptor to extend an existing Devolo network for £179.99. That’s fairly expensive, as the Magic 2 range combines both PowerLine and Wi-Fi connectivity, but if you do have some sort of Wi-Fi deadspot in your home or office, then it may be worth paying a bit extra to get a reliable network connection that extends throughout the whole building.

The bad news, though, is that the Germany-based Devolo focuses primarily on its home market in Europe. Its products are sometimes available from online retailers in other regions, but you’ll need to check that the product’s power supply is suitable for use in your particular region.

• Value: 4/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Specs

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Design

• Simple, compact design
• Adaptors plug straight into mains power sockets
• Electrical passthrough socket on each adaptor

The Multiroom Kit that I review here includes three Magic 2 adaptors that look very similar, but they work in slightly different ways. All three adaptors are simple white, rectangular units that plug straight into a mains power socket (with two- or three-pin plugs available for most European countries).

Each adaptor also has an electrical ‘passthrough’ socket on the front, which allows you to plug other electrical devices into the Magic 2 adaptor so that you don’t lose the use of that power socket.

However, the first adaptor – referred to as the ‘Magic LAN’ – is slightly smaller than the other two, and has to be plugged into a mains power socket close to your existing broadband router. There’s a single Ethernet port on the top panel of this adaptor, which allows you to connect it to your broadband router using the Ethernet cable that is included in the box. This first adaptor simply provides the main powerline connection so that your network data can be transmitted over your mains wiring.

The other two adaptors – referred to as ‘Magic WiFi’ – can be plugged into a mains socket in any room that suffers from weak Wi-Fi. This allows them to receive network data over the mains wiring, and each of these adaptors has two Ethernet ports on the top to provide a wired connection for computers and other devices.

But, of course, many recent computers and mobile devices now lack an Ethernet port, so the Magic WiFi adaptors also house four internal antenna – hence their larger size – that can transmit a Wi-Fi signal as well. This allows you to connect computers or mobile devices to the Magic WiFi adaptors via Wi-Fi, and the adaptors can then transmit your network data to your broadband router using their powerline connection.

My only complaint here is that placing the Ethernet ports on the top of the adaptors looks a bit untidy, as it leaves you with Ethernet cables sticking straight up into the air. Placing the ports on the base instead would be tidier, allowing you to run the cables down onto the floor to keep them out of sight.

• Design: 4/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Features

• Combines Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity
• App combines 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands
• Unhelpful documentation

The Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next kit supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands, with a top speed of 3.0Gbps, while the primary powerline connection over your mains network runs at 2.4Gbps. And, as mentioned, the two larger adaptors also provide two Ethernet ports each to provide a wired connection when required.

Setting up the initial powerline connection is straightforward enough, as the Magic 2 adaptors automatically connect to each other over the mains network in order to provide a wired network connection.

However, using the Wi-Fi features of the two Magic 2 adaptors proved a little tricky – mainly because the text in Devolo’s app and QuickStart guide is poorly written and confusing.

When you’re getting started, for instance, the app repeatedly refers to ‘Unknown WiFi’ rather than simply telling you the default name of the new Wi-Fi network created by your adaptors.

I’m used to using powerline adaptors, so I was able to guess my way through the process of setting up the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next in my back office.

However, new users who don’t have much experience of network settings and powerline adaptors could easily become confused here, so Devolo needs to clarify its instructions for first-time users.

But, thankfully, once that’s done the Magic 2 adaptors work well, and the app automatically combines the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands into a single network, and uses ‘bandsteering’ to automatically connect your computers and other devices to whichever band provides the best performance in that location.

• Features: 3/5

Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next review: Performance

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 at 3.0Gbps
• PowerLine at 2.4Gbps
• 2x Gigabit Ethernet

As I mentioned, the PowerLine connection provided by the Magic 2 adaptors runs at 2.4Gbps, while the Wi-Fi connection steps up to 3.6Gbps. Those speeds are pretty modest compared to the latest Wi-Fi 7 routers and range extenders, but powerline products are primarily designed to provide a good, reliable network connection rather than focusing on pure speed.

That’s exactly what I need in my back office, where the poor Wi-Fi from my office router means that I already have to rely on powerline adaptors to provide a wired network connection.

Those adaptors are a few years old, though, and can only manage a speed of around 100Mbps for both Steam downloads and the Ookla Speedtest. That’s adequate for email and web browsing in my office, but it’s still well below the maximum 150Mbps available with my office broadband.

My old powerline adaptors don’t have the additional Wi-Fi features provided by the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next either, so I was eager to find out if Devolo could give me a good Wi-Fi connection in that office as well.

Starting with a simple wired Ethernet connection, the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next had no trouble hitting the full 150Mbps for Steam downloads and the Ookla SpeedTest. And, as I unplugged the Ethernet cables and switched to a Wi-Fi connection instead, I was pleased to find that those speeds remained stable, smoothly running at 150Mbps and finally giving me a decent Wi-Fi connection in that office at long last.

Many people may find that a less expensive range extender helps to improve their Wi-Fi in a basement or upstairs bedroom. And, of course, there are less expensive PowerLine kits available as well, which don’t have the additional Wi-Fi features of the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next. But, if you need PowerLine to fix an annoying Wi-Fi deadspot, and you want the extra convenience of a Wi-Fi connection as well, then a ‘best of both worlds’ powerline kit such as the Magic 2 WiFi 6 next can really earn its keep.

• Performance: 4/5

Should I buy the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 next?

Buy it if…