- Google is rolling out an update for the Nest Wifi router ahead of the US router ban.
- The ban has not gone into effect, but could significantly reduce router options
- The Nest Wifi router is a solid option, but we think Asus and Netgear are better options
Google has decided to move forward with its next firmware update for the Nest Wifi router and Nest Wifi point despite the latest ban on Wifi routers made outside the US.
The update was spotted by 9to5Google, who shared that the company updated the changelog entry on April 24 with “stability and security vulnerability fixes.” According to the outlet, the Nest Wifi router now runs software version 14150.883.231 and the Nest Wifi point has version 1.56.3.497142; the latter works as a Google Home speaker.
This is the first software update for the Google Nest Wifi point since May 2025, while the most recent update for the Next Wifi router was released in October 2024, meaning its April 2026 update marks exactly a year and a half since the last one.
Article continues below.
In March, Google released a new update to the Nest Wifi Pro to improve mesh stability, security, and performance, but this came before the FCC announced a ban on “consumer routers” that are “produced in foreign countries,” according to its ruling.
While the ban hasn’t gone into effect yet, it could present quite a problem for consumers, since a vast majority of Wifi routers are manufactured outside the US, even those from American tech giants like Google. Over time, this will make purchasing US-made Wifi routers even more difficult for two reasons: the first is that there aren’t many US-made routers on the market anyway, and the second is growing user demand, which would ultimately put more pressure on companies to produce new models to keep up.
However, as it stands, the Google Nest Wifi router is still safe to buy and use now, while the ban is still up in the air. When it comes to the best Wifi routers, the Nest Wifi router isn’t among them, but that being said, each of our favorites is made outside of the US.
The top spot goes to the TP-Link Deco BE63, a solid model with free content filters for parents, while the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 remains our top premium pick due to its high-speed wired connections, making it perfect for gaming enthusiasts. Even the Netgear Orbi 373 is a reliable, affordable option that’s easy to set up, but even though Netgear is an American company, its products are manufactured overseas.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
