I tested MSI’s Roamii BE Pro mesh router and it’s a fast and affordable way to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7

Tom's Guide Verdict MSI takes a big step towards satisfying demanding home networkers with its tri-band mesh Roamii BE Pro’s ability to deliver good performance, range and security software. Too bad, you can only buy them two at a time. Pros +Built-in security software +Extra cooling technology +Wall mounting brackets included +Affordable high-speed tri-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity Cons -Lacks AFC -Not available in single or three-packs- Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. MSI Roamii BE Pro: SpecsWi-Fi specification: BE11000 (802.11be)Number of antennas/removable: 6/NoPorts: One 2.5 Gbps WAN input, three 2.5 Gbps LAN, USB 3.0Processor speed: Quad-core 1.5GHzWi-Fi chip: Qualcomm IPQ5322Peak 802.11be performance: 1.89 Gbps (at 15 feet)Maximum range: 110 feetSize: 9.9 x 4.7 x 4.3 inchesEstimated annual electricity cost: $27.60 (for router and one satellite)MSI has updated its Roamii BE Lite mesh platform for peak performance with the Roamii BE Pro by employing the 6GHz transmission band and many of Wi-Fi 7’s best tricks to speed the flow of data. Its nanocarbon coated heat fins keep the units from overheating while the BE Pro ups the mesh hardware’s top speed and network security stance. The mesh set comes with the bonus of well-designed wall brackets for easy mounting.Unfortunately, you can only get Romai BE Pro units, like Noah’s ark, two at a time. But, at half the price of other tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh gear, the Roamii BE Pro is a cheap thrill that has the power to turn a home into a Wi-Fi palace.My MSI Roami BE Pro review will help you decide if this is the best mesh Wi-Fi system for your home along with one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers for those who haven’t upgraded to the latest wireless standard yet.Latest Videos FromTom's GuideMSI Roamii BE Pro review: Pricing and availabilityFollowing on the heels of the inexpensive dual-band Roamii BE Lite, MSI’s tri-band Roamii BE Pro stays true to its predecessor’s value-oriented roots but isn’t available on its own or in a three-pack. MSI sells $280 Roamii BE Pro two-packs versus the Roamii BE Lite’s $200. A single Netgear Orbi 770 node sells for $300.The Roamii BE Pro pair is rated to cover 6,000 square feet, about equal with the Orbi 770 pair’s 5,500 square feet.MSI Roamii BE Pro review: DesignIn the spirit of creative destruction, MSI has rewritten its Wi-Fi rulebook with its economical Roamii BE Pro mesh kit. At half what competitors’ charge for mesh units, the Roamii BE Pro outdoes the BE Lite’s “meh” performance with higher data speeds, extra range and handy wall brackets. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)At 9.9 x 4.7 x 4.3 inches, the white triangular Roamii BE Pro towers are slightly taller than the BE Lite units but smaller than the bulbous Orbi 770 oval devices. The big “7” inscribed on its side describes its Wi-Fi rating and MSI provides matching plastic wall brackets that make the units seem to float in space.Tom's Guide: Direct to Your InboxGet instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.For most, the Roamii BE Pro will be well connected with a 2.5 Gbps input and three 2.5 Gbps downstream wired networking connections. The well-networked among us might miss an additional port, though. Still, the Roamii BE Pro’s USB Type A port can make the contents of a storage device available across a network; the Orbi 770 can’t do this. Neither the BE Pro nor Orbi 770 can provide internet backup service with a mobile phone during a broadband blackout, something several Asus routers do. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)There’s a small LED that glows white up front when online, but flashes if there’s a connection problem and turns orange when offline. The LEDs underneath can show any of 10 flashy patterns but offer nothing to indicate performance. Thankfully, it can be turned off.Based on Qualcomm’s IPQ5322 Wi-Fi 7 platform, the system’s 1.5GHz quadcore processor can connect 200 devices – overkill for the typical digital household. Its six internal antennas produce a spherical transmission pattern to connect over the 2.4, 5.0- and 6GHz bands for a theoretical throughput of 10.975 Gbps, just about matching the Orbi 770’s potential. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The mesh devices have 320MHz data channels, 4K Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and Multi-Link Operations (MLO) but Automated Frequency Control (AFC) for maximizing its 6GHz transmission strength. Its optimized passive cooling uses ultra-efficient black nanocarbon-coated heat sinks that pull heat away from its components. The top vent hit a peak temperature of 108 degrees Fahrenheit during testing. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The Roamii BE Pro can protect as a Virtual Private Network server. Plus, MSI’s FortiSecu online defenses use Trend Micro software, for everything from parental control software to defenses against recent exploits. Unlike competitors, there are no subscription fees for updates.Its three-year warranty beats mesh sets at double its price and MSI promises personalized technical support for the product’s life, not just 90-days. The support site includes new firmware and MSI’s 76-page manual to help with the VPN server.MSI Roamii BE Pro review: PerformanceA big step up from the MSI Roamii BE Lite, the BE Pro pair still couldn’t fill my 3,500 square foot home with Wi-Fi. Likely a third (and obligatory fourth) unit would have helped. Based on results from Keysight’s IxChariot networking benchmark set to mimic 10 data-hungry users and an HP Envy X360 test machine, the Roamii BE Pro was surprisingly powerful. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)With 15 feet of Cat 7 cabling connecting the router and test system, the benchmark reading of 3.711 Gbps makes it perfect for those with multi-gig data plans. It was short of the TP-Link Archer GE800 at 4.449 Gbps of wired throughput, however. Its 2.299 Gbps close-up Wi-Fi test result was just as impressive and 20% ahead of the more expensive Orbi 770’s 1.920 Gbps.At the real-world wireless distance of 15 feet, the Roamii BE Pro delivered 1.885 Gbps, nearly double the BE Lite’s 970.3 Mbps but equivalent to the eero Pro 7 at 1.905 Gbps. Bottom line: it should satisfy a data-hungry connected family. Swipe to scroll horizontally MSI Roamii BE Pro eero Pro 7 Netgear Orbi 770 TP-Link Deco BE85 MSI Roamii BE Lite 15 feet 1.885 Gbps 1.905 Gbps 1.721 Gbps 1.736 Gbps 970.3 Mbps 50 feet 815.2 Mbps 994.4 Mbps 391.1 Mbps 790.4 Mbps 470.5 Mbps 75 feet 197.9 Mbps 234.7 Mbps 199.2 Mbps 179.2 Mbps 172.8 Mbps 90 feet 66.3 Mbps 20.8 Mbps 54.2 Mbps 42.6 Mbps 46.7 Mbps Its 815.2 Mbps of throughput at 50 feet was among the best in class and only outdone by the eero Pro 7’s 994.4 Mbps. At 75 feet, the Roamii BE Pro moved 197.9 Mbps, putting it roughly level with the Orbi 770’s 199.2 Mbps but behind the eero Pro 7’s 234.7 Mbps.At the terminal distance of 90 feet, it registered 66.3 Mbps, leading the field, including mesh kits costing twice as much. It performed well on our wall penetration test where the signal is sent across a 25-foot room and through a wall. The Roamii BE Pro moved 1.280 Mbps, just off the Orbi 770’s 1.318 Gbps. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)With a range of 110 feet, it is a mesh set that should fill a modest sized home with fast data and linked well with its mesh node set up a floor above the host router. With the test system 40 feet away, the network moved 642.0 Mbps, handily beating the Orbi 770’s 404.4 Mbps.Over two weeks of daily use, the Roamii BE Pro doled out data for 4K video, gaming, heavy downloads and everyday emails. Along the way, the router and node used 9.4 and 8.6 watts, translating into an annual electricity bill of $27.60 if they’re left on 24/7 and you pay the national average electricity of 17.5 cents per kilowatt hour. It’s spot on with the eero Pro 7’s $27.90 under the same conditions.MSI Roamii BE Pro review: SetupOut of the box, the Roamii BE Pro units are identical. I picked one as the host router and the other as the network’s node and set them up using MSI’s Router 2.0 app with my Samsung Galaxy S25 phone; there are versions for both iOS and Android. Alternatively, I could have set it up using “msirouter.login” and a browser. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)After snapping the QR code underneath, I added my network name, admin password and answered two challenge questions. I was in, added the node upstairs and ran a firmware update. I was done in 15 minutes.Roamii BE Pro review: ConfigurationLike the installation, monitoring and configuration changes can be done through the app or the device’s browser interface. The app’s Dashboard screen shows how many Roamii devices are online, up- and download speeds and offers a WiFi Share QR code for a trusted friend or if you rent out a property. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)Below are tabs for Security and Parental while Advanced includes LED Management for selecting the lighting effect or turning it off. There’s no brightness control, though. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The Roamii BE Pro’s similar browser-based dashboard has IP details, number of clients and processor usage gauge. Its traffic analyzer is great for viewing the data flow. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)MSI Roamii BE Pro review: Verdict MSI’s Roamii BE Pro takes a big networking step forward with a sharp design aesthetic and its ability to efficiently move data around a small to midsized house. Its security is thorough and the Roamii BE Pro’s 2.5 Gbps networking connections should satisfy most digital families, although a fourth port would have been appreciated.With performance that led the pack at times, it lacks Automated Frequency Control to push this further. The Roamii BE Pro’s stratospheric throughput is all the more amazing considering its down-to-earth price. At $280 for two Roamii BE Pro devices, it’s not a bad idea to get an extra two-pack and have nodes to fill in dead zones. Afterall, it’s cheap enough. Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear power plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. The former editor-in-chief of Mobile Computing and Communications, Nadel is the recipient of the TransPacific Writing Award. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.