Google explains why it opted to use Wi-Fi 5 for the Nest Wifi

The two most notable things about the new Nest Wifi is that it comes with a built-in smart speaker and digital assistant in all its nodes and that it uses Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6. Google defends this option by saying that there isn't that big of a real-world difference between the two, especially with the majority of consumer devices still stuck on older protocols.

Nest Wifi Product Manager Chris Chan told VentureBeat, "You do see a lot of routers with Wi-Fi 6 built in, but it charges quite a bit of a premium in order to get that, and in fact, you need to have Wi-Fi 6-compatible other devices in order for it to be a faster experience." Google isn't the first to go this route with its Wi-Fi router, though. Amazon's new Eero models are also still using Wi-Fi chipsets.