Google unveils $220 Asus OnHub router with Wave Control feature for boosting Wi-Fi speed

This summer, Google unveiled a new wireless router to simplify how we’re connected to the Internet. The company originally teamed up with manufacturer TP-Link for its first-generation device, but today it’s expanding to add another partnership, this time with Asus.

With the Asus OnHub, the product is mostly the same as its TP-Link cousin, but there are some improvements, including the introduction of Wave Control, which allows you to adjust the Wi-Fi speed just by waving your hand across the top of the device. The goal is to let you adjust how much bandwidth is too much in certain rooms of your home — do you need to have faster Internet in your kitchen when you’re going to spend more of your time in the living room?

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1829027,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,","session":"D"}']

Google said that in the next week, it’ll be rolling out the first software update for these new routers, complete with a smart antenna algorithm that’ll better select the “best combination of antennas to direct Wi-Fi to your devices, based on their location and orientation.” The company said all its OnHub routers will automatically receive this update when the network is quiet, so no additional work should be needed on your part.

Preorders for this new router option begin this week in the U.S. only — it’ll cost you $219.99. If you’re in the U.S. or Canada, you could opt for the TP-Link version for a little less: $199.99.