Which TP Link Deco mesh is best? No matter whether you have a large single-storey home, or a smaller one with several floors, a mesh system will be a huge upgrade. And if you discover you need more nodes, you can usually buy them individually and add them to the system using the companion app on your phone. Millions of people continue to work from home, relying on Zoom and other video conferencing apps to keep in touch with colleagues and clients. Which TP Link mesh WiFI system should you buy? Get details in TP Link Deco mesh comparison?
TP Link Deco mesh price comparison
- TP-Link Deco W7200 @ $229
- TP-Link Mesh System (Deco XE75) 2pcs @ $299.99
- TP-Link Deco M5 3 packs @ $149.99
- TP-Link WiFi 6 Dec X60 2 packs @ 215.95
Please note that price is indicative only which may vary based on stock and promotions.
Find best alternatives of TP Link Deco mesh price comparison
| Mesh Wi-Fi system | Price | Range | Wi-Fi 6? |
| Asus AiMesh AX6100 | $300 | 5,500 sq.ft. | Yes |
| Google Nest Wifi | $215 | 4,400 sq.ft. | No |
| Linksys Atlas Max 6E | $1200 | 9,000 sq.ft. | Yes |
| Netgear Orbi AX6000 | $690 | 5,000 sq.ft. | Yes |
| Netgear Orbi Pro Mini AX1800 | $170 | 4,000 sq.ft. | Yes |
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How many nodes do I need to choose?
In general, a single node will cover between 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of living space. If you own a smaller house or live in a small apartment, having a single node will be fine. But depending on the construction of your home, adding a second node to a small space could be beneficial.
Larger homes will likely need three or more nodes to extend the coverage to the garage and outdoor spaces, and you can add even more nodes to your network between what’s available in three-pack bundles. Three nodes are generally recommended for homes with more than 4,000 square feet.
In particular, if you’re running IoT devices, like a smart doorbell, having a second node near the door may be useful, as it can be difficult for Wi-Fi signals to penetrate the thick construction of your front door.
TP Link Deco mesh comparison
| Our Picks | Netgear Orbi RBKE963 WiFi 6E Mesh System | TP-Link Deco W7200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System | Google Nest Wifi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Specification | 802.11axe | 802.11ax | 802.11ac |
| Number of Bands | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| AC Speed | AX11000 | AX3600 | AC2200 |
| Number of Antennas | 12 | 10 | 6 |
| Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port) | 4 on router, 4 on node | 1 on router, 2 on satellites | 1 on base unit |
| Security | WPA2, WPA3 | WPA2, WPA3 | WPA, WPA2, WPS, WPA3 |
| Coverage Area | 9000 sq ft | 5500 sq ft | 3800 sq ft |
| Number of Nodes | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Which TP Link Deco mesh is best?
TP-Link Deco W7200 mesh router
Pros
- Incredible performance for the price
- Easy setup, with satellites that join the mesh as soon as you plug them in
- Tri-band design and support for Wi-Fi 6 at an outstanding value
Cons
- Bulky, somewhat bland-looking design
- Incoming wired speeds capped at 1Gbps
- Product name insinuates much faster speeds than the system is actually capable of
The two Deco devices are identical, so you can use either one as the main router or as an extender. Together, the two can cover up to 5,500 square feet. These are AX3600 devices, with the “AX” designating support for Wi-Fi 6 and the “3600” designating the combined top speeds of each of the system’s three bands. You can only connect to one band at a time, so the true top speed isn’t 3,600Mbps, but rather, 1,802Mbps, which is the top speed of the faster of the two 5GHz bands. With the W7200 moniker, TP-Link is basically doubling down by multiplying the already misleading 3600 part of the speed rating by the number of routers in the box.
TP-Link Deco XE75
Specs
- Wi-Fi Technology: Tri-Band IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E)
- Frequency: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Signal Rate: 2402 Mbps (6GHz), 2402 Mbps (5GHz), 574 Mbps(2.4GHz)
- Features: MU-MIMO, OFDMA,QoS, beamforming, WPA3
You don’t need to blow your budget completely out of the water to get your home set up with a powerful mesh network. Often, the biggest barrier is the high cost of multiple nodes, but the TP-Link Deco XE75 makes it much more attainable. You can grab a two-pack for under $300. And, if you’re worried that the lower cost means lost capabilities, don’t be, this system still offers Wi-Fi 6E, high speeds, loads of coverage, and powerful features.
Once you spread out the TP-Link Deco XE75 units around your home, you get broad coverage that prevents Wi-Fi dead spots. This system offers up tri-band Wifi with the new 6Hz band allowing you to use it as a powerful dedicated backhaul between nodes for an extra stable connection or to connect your Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices. It’s also packing OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology, so communication with your computers, phones, and smart home devices is faster and more dependable, and it allows for better communication between each node in the mesh network. You can even assign your favorite devices to have the fastest connection in your home. Speaking of home, most people should be good with just the two nodes, as they cover 5,500 square feet of space.
TP-Link Deco M9 Plus
Specs
- Number of Antennas/Removable: 8/No
- Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac/Tri-Band
- Ports: Two 1Gbps LAN, USB (“reserved”)
- Peak Throughput: 570.5Mbps
- Size: 6.0 by 6.0 by 1.5 inches
Pros
- Home Automation connections
- Simple, straight-forward setup
- Network security software
Cons
- Need to use TP-Link Deco app
With a quick setup process and the ability to offer whole-home Wi-Fi connection while controlling all sorts of smart home devices, TP-Link’s Deco M9 Plus Smart Home Mesh Wi-Fi System (sold in a three pack) can almost do it all. The Deco M9 Plus uses a trio of compact extensions that are easy to hide or mount on the wall and can cover up to 6,500 square feet with a strong wireless signal.
Built-in conveniences like security — including intrusion prevention, a malicious-content filter and infected-device quarantine — make it easy to manage your home network, but we did find the overall performance to be mediocre when the system had to deal with walls and ceilings.
While it lacks top performance, the Deco M9 Plus is still the best mesh Wi-Fi kit to get if you care more about a simple setup procedure than about top speed. And while each Deco unit has a built-in USB port, it’s not enabled (yet), so there’s no way to connect USB devices like printers and storage.
TP-Link Deco P9
- Pros
- Uses Wi-Fi & powerline networking
- Good parental controls
- Cons
- Not the fastest speeds
It’s easy to set up, has a well-designed and feature-packed app and can offer fantastic coverage. That’s because, unlike most other mesh systems, the Deco P9 uses a combination of mesh Wi-Fi and Powerline networking which uses your home’s mains wiring to provide a reliable connection even through thick walls, which is something other systems can’t do much about.
It’s a dual-band system in terms of Wi-Fi, but technically it’s tri-band because it can use Powerline for so-called ‘back haul’, which is the communication between the mesh units.
While it was originally available in a set of three offering up to 6000 square feet of coverage, TP-Link has since launched a two-unit set ideal for smaller homes.
If you want a mesh Wi-Fi system that doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi for the units to communicate with each other, the Deco P9 is ideal.
TP-Link Deco X20
Specs
- Wi-Fi Spec: Wi-Fi 6/Dual-band
- Number of Antennas/Removable: 4/No
- Ports: 1 WAN Gigabit Ethernet, 1 LAN Gigabit Ethernet
- Throughput: 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz)/1201 Mbps (5 GHz)
- Size: 4.33 x 4.33 x 4.49 inches
Cons
- Small router and satellites
- Inexpensive
- Excellent range
- Extra security
Cons
Inexpensive, small and easy to set up, TP-Link’s Deco X20 mesh networking kit is a cheap thrill that can help fill a home with Wi-Fi 6 data while protecting a family’s identities with an extra layer of online security.
If you want mesh capability and Wi-Fi 6, the TP-Link Deco X20 is the best budget option for covering larger homes with better speed and capability than any older 802.11ac system can match. Selling in a 3-pack of matching units, the Deco X20 covers up to 5,800 square feet, and can manage up to 150 separate connected devices.
With dual-band connectivity and two gigabit wired connections on each node, the Deco X20 offers great coverage and connectivity with easy setup and management. TP-Link gives you all the tools you need in the accompanying Deco app, which lets you set up your network quickly and control the individual features of the network with illustrated, easy-to-navigate menus. It also protects, with WPA3 encryption and a lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare security and antivirus included with the set.
TP-Link Deco M5
Specs
- Speed: 802.11ac 5GHz down: 76.69 Mbps
- Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit ports per Deco M5 unit, 1 x USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 4.2
- Included mesh nodes: 1-3
- Features: Quad-core CPU, MU-MIMO ready, Router-based antivirus, Alexa compatibility
Pros
- Incredible value
- Easy to configure
Cons
- Slower than competitors
If you’re looking for a way to spread Wi-Fi throughout your home without having to spend a lot of dough, then look into the TP-Link Deco M5. It’s not as speedy as some of the other best mesh Wi-Fi routers on this list, but if you’re not too concerned about getting the maximum theoretical throughput, which you probably won’t be able to take full advantage of anyway, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Setup, similar to the other devices here, is a breeze, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The TP-Link Deco M5 is among the best wireless mesh routers for those who don’t want to get too technical.
TP-Link Deco X60
- Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-Band AX3000 IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- Frequency: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
- Signal Rate: 2,402Mbps (5GHz), 574Mbps (2.4GHz)
- Features: MU-MIMO, OFDMA,QoS, beamforming, WPA3
You want your Wi-Fi to go fast, but you also want it to be sure your connection is secure, and the TP-Link Deco X60 mesh system does both. When it comes to security, you can set up your network with the latest WPA3 encryption. And, the TP-Link Deco X60 has its own HomeCare Antivirus network security tool, which includes a Malicious Site Checker, Port Intrusion Prevention, and Infected Device Isolation, and can provide notifications and logs. Now, this comes standard and includes a lifetime subscription, so you don’t have to worry about paying for these features down the road. A separate guest network can be created for visitors to use. Plus, it’s easy to ensure your kids stay safe online with a suite of parental controls.
On the speed side of the fence, the Deco X60 system runs dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with a 5GHz network that has 2,402Mbps of throughput. Now, that might be even more than your internet provider can put to use, but some of it will help each Deco X60 unit communicate with one another. Meanwhile, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and beamforming will keep the connections to your phone, computer, and other devices stable and speedy. This two-unit system should have your whole home covered with a range of 5,000 square feet and the ability to connect to 110 devices.
TP Link Deco mesh Alternative
Google Nest WiFi – Mesh with built-in smart speaker
- Pros
- Slick hardware and app
- Google Assistant built in
- Cons
- Expensive
- Not Wi-Fi 6
The current version of Google’s mesh Wi-Fi system has evolved quite considerably. The main unit (and additional ‘points’) are also smart speakers with the Google Assistant, so this mesh system will save you if you were planning to buy one or more Google Nest speakers, along with using fewer mains outlets and you have fewer devices littered around your home.
If there’s a disappointment it’s that the kit doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, but Nest WiFi is plenty fast enough for the average home and will improve signal around even smaller house vs a regular router.
Of course, you also get great Google software which makes the whole process simple and easy to use. Not only it is a breeze to get set up, but the features are accessible and helpful including a guest network, priority devices and parental controls. You can even pause the network with your voice via the Google Assistant.
