A Wi-Fi extender, also known as a range extender, is a device that amplifies and rebroadcasts the Wi-Fi signal from your router to extend its range. This means that the Wi-Fi extender relies on your router’s network name and password and simply repeats the signal to extend coverage. Wi-Fi extenders can be useful in smaller spaces or where there are only a few dead spots, but they have limited range and capacity. They can also create multiple networks with different names and passwords, which can be confusing for users.
On the other hand, a Mesh-network uses multiple nodes or access points to create a single, seamless Wi-Fi network that covers a larger area. Each node in the mesh network communicates with the others to provide coverage and to ensure a strong and reliable signal throughout the entire network. Mesh networks are designed to be scalable, so you can add more nodes as needed to expand coverage. They can also prioritize traffic and provide better overall performance compared to Wi-Fi extenders.