Devolo WiFi 7 Mesh BE6500: an affordable mesh Wi-Fi system let down by its app

Devolo WiFi 7 Mesh BE6500: one-minute review

Devolo is best known for its range of PowerLine adaptors and range extenders but, as the name suggests, its new WiFi 7 Mesh BE6500 steps up to provide a full mesh Wi-Fi system for homes that need to extend their Wi-Fi coverage beyond the range of a single conventional router.

Wi-Fi 7 has been around for a few years now, but high-end tri-band routers that support the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz frequency bands are still quite expensive.

So, like a number of Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems that we’ve seen recently, the BE6500 keeps its price down by offering just dual-band Wi-Fi instead. However, it takes a slightly different approach from many of its dual-band rivals by giving you a choice about which frequency bands you can use.

You can opt to use the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands together to ensure compatibility with older devices that only support Wi-Fi 5 or 6. Alternatively, you can switch to using 2.4GHz and the faster 6.0GHz band for newer computers and mobile devices that support Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7.

That’s a good option for future-proofing your home network, as it will let you use the BE6500 with older computers and mobile devices while still providing an upgrade path for newer devices you may buy in the future.

Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500: Price & release date

• Released in May 2026
• Available in EU and UK
• Three-pack costs £369.99/€399.90

Devolo products are widely available within the UK and Europe, but the company doesn’t currently operate in the US.

The Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500 is available as a two-pack containing two BE6500 routers for £249.99/€269.90. Devolo doesn’t quote the precise area covered by that two-pack option, merely saying that it is suitable for ‘small-to-medium’ homes.

However, I tested the three-pack option for ‘larger’ homes, which costs £369.99/€399.90. If required, you can further extend your mesh network by buying additional BE6500 routers, costing £129.99/€149.90 each. Those prices are very competitive when compared to rivals in a similar price range, such as Amazon’s Eero 7 and the Netgear Orbi 373, which only support dual-band Wi-Fi 7 on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands.

• Value score: 4/5

Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500: Specs

Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500: Design

• Compact design
• Four Ethernet ports per router
• Setup is a bit fussy

The BE6500 routers are neatly designed, with each plain white unit standing 175mm high, 118mm wide and 72mm deep, so they will fit comfortably onto any convenient table or shelf.

The routers look identical, with four Ethernet ports located on the side, including a 2.5Gbps port for high-speed broadband connections and three 1Gb ports to provide a local (LAN) connection for devices, such as a games console or PC, that may work better with a lag-free wired connection.

However, one of the routers is labelled as the ‘Controller’, and this router will need to be connected to your existing broadband router or modem in order to use its internet connection.

Setting up the Controller router is fairly straightforward, as Devolo’s Home Network app for iOS/Android allows you to simply scan a QR code to connect to the Controller. However, adding the other two routers – referred to as ‘Extensions’ – requires a little more effort.

The app tells you to plug both of the Extension routers into a mains power supply close to the Controller, but it can only connect one Extension to your network at a time. This means that you have to go through the process of connecting the first Extension to your network, and then unplug it so that you can move it to another location, and then repeat the same process for the second Extension.

We’ve seen other mesh Wi-Fi systems that can automatically connect multiple routers in order to create your new network for you, so Devolo could do more to simplify the initial set-up process.

• Design score: 4/5

Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500: Features

• App is a bit confusing
• Some features are enabled via a browser

The setup process was also unclear how to choose the frequency bands that are used for your new network.

The app doesn’t ask which frequencies you would like to use, but after randomly tapping buttons within the app for a while I did find a mention of the fact that the network was using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands.

However, there was no option within the app to switch to the 6.0GHz band instead, so I had to connect a laptop to the Devolo network using the default 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, and then use a web browser to view more detailed network settings.

And, again, after some more random button tapping, I did find an option that allowed me to switch to using the 2.4GHz and 6.0GHz bands instead. The browser interface also includes other features, such as a QoS option – Quality Of Service – that allows you to prioritise tasks such as gaming or streaming video.

That’s not a very user-friendly approach though, and may well be confusing for people who aren’t used to configuring their network via a web browser interface, so Devolo needs to make its app more straightforward for new users.

• Features score: 4/5

Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500: Performance

The BE6500 could certainly be more user-friendly, but I can’t fault its performance, and the three-pack system that I tested worked a treat for tackling the Wi-Fi deadspot that I have in an office towards the back of my building.

Devices in the same room as my normal broadband router can generally achieve the full 150Mbps available with my office broadband service both for Steam downloads and the Ookla Speed Test.

My aging router struggles to reach that back office though, so I have to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired network connection.

I placed one of the BE6500 Extension routers in that office, with the second placed roughly halfway between the back office and the main Controller router. Steam downloads did slow down a little initially, when using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, dipping to 130Mbps as I walked along the corridor with my laptop, but quickly recovered to hit 150Mbps once more.

That pattern was repeated with the Ookla Speed Test as well. Performance was even better when I switched to using the 2.4GHz and 6.0GHz bands, with the BE6500 trio maintaining a smooth 150Mbps throughout my tests.

Some people might prefer a true tri-band router or mesh system that allows you to use the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands simultaneously. That will be more expensive though, and if you need an affordable Wi-Fi upgrade that can cover a larger home with reliable Wi-Fi, then the BE6500 is good value for money.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Devolo Wi-Fi 7 Mesh BE6500?

Buy it if…