TP-Link Deco XE70 Pro AXE4900 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh WiFi System - 2.5G WAN/LAN Ports, 4.9 Gbps Wi-Fi 5,500 Sq. Ft Coverage, Connect up to 200 Devices, 6 GHz Band, 2-Pack

7/21/2025 initial thoughts. I bought the 3-pack but added one more unit for inside -- I'm sure 3 is plenty in most 2600 sf homes. But ours has a lot of angles & when the signal passes through too many walls, it degrades fast. I also bought another outdoor water-resistant unit for outside, so the signal to cameras is strong; we can also use Wi-Fi anywhere further away from the house. Even with all that, the Deco system is still less than cheapest Orbi system. Yes, it will cost you some money -- you can add more nodes later if you find really bad dead spots. The Deco units (Deco is TP-Link's brand name for this system) are easy to install too. I used Microsoft Co-Pilot to help me make decisions on where to install and the settings. Very helpful. The Deco phone app is best for setting up the nodes -- you can carry your phone with you while you do it. Make sure your phone is connected to the Wi-Fi. It is very straight forward and does most of the work. If will ask you to set up an online Deco account so that will carry all of your settings. First get one unit up and running so it will become your base. All the units are the same, so the phone app will guide you to set up the base. You are going to use this first Deco unit as the router home base. Then connect this base unit to the output port on your existing modem. Some modems have 2G ports -- use that one if not already taken, to connect the Deco to your modem. Gives you the fastest transfer rate between modem and router. FYI, an Xfinity acts both as modem and router. If you have any service (AT&T, Charter, etc) providing one device that does both modem and router duties, you'll need to do the following for a simple setup. You'll set this combo unit to "BRIDGE MODE". It will turn off Wi-Fi in the combo unit and reduces conflicts between devices. In my case, I use Xfinity. I think you can make this change through the Xfinity phone app. If not and you have some basic skills, login into the router interface directly (default IP is 10.0.0.1) and select BRIDGE mode. Now your gateway is only a modem, not a router. At this point, ANYTHING YOU PLUG IN will plug into the Deco router (unless you are a techie running more than one router). Now install and use the SpeedTest app on your phone to check for HIGHEST signal strength in the rest of your house. That's where you want to place other units, so they can talk to each other. A few feet in any direction can also make a big difference. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH TO USE SpeedTest (or other similar app) to find THE FASTEST other points in your house. Mapping this first saves a lot of headaches. TEST & TEST & TEST again. Test high points in the room (even near the ceiling) and test low! It's not even the same speed in the same space when you check high vs low. I think they recommend high spots BUT I did find a couple of chest level locations. The Deco app may have an automated speed testing feature for this, but I opted to use something I already knew. Also, make sure you have a power outlet near these placement points. I am really particular and like the cords hidden. Sometimes it's hard to get both a great signal and hiding the power plug. After placing the units and getting them online, I turned on "6G BACKHAUL" in the Deco units (that may not be the exact name) if it's not already turned on. The 6G frequency will be used almost exclusively for the Deco units to talk to each other -- leads to no interference from other devices. Most people do not have 6G or 7G devices yet. So you can TURN OFF the Wi-Fi SSID broadcast for 6G. Again, use ChatGPT, Copilot or whatever AI to help you find stuff in the Deco router. These changes are easily made in the Deco app once you find the right page. The app is better than the webpage, in my opinion. You can carry your phone around the house. Finally, do yourself a favor if you want ethernet (hard wired) connections at any of the nodes and have more than 2 wired devices to plug in at any node. Buy UNMANAGED network switches to plug into the ethernet ports on any of the Deco units -- all of the Deco units are the same. I have a switch in my office for the computer, printers, a few other devices that I wanted wired. Wired offers THE FASTEST speeds but really isn't necessary (I have 1200Mbps down / 40Mbps up -- YES, the up speed is low but that's all Xfinity home users get right now). Three ethernet ports on a Deco unit is not enough in some cases. Right now, I don't use the ethernet ports on any of the Deco satellites. Hope this helps. This Deco router is FAR SUPERIOR to the decade-old router it replaced. It costs a lot more than basic routers but was still cheaper than Orbi and is giving me full use of the speeds for which I'm paying. Good luck.

The Deco XE75 Pro has been excellent. Setup was quick, the app is straightforward, and the coverage is strong and consistent across the house. Devices stay connected without drops, and speeds are solid even in formerly weak spots. It handles multiple users and smart home devices without a problem. It also works better than the Deco WiFi 7 in my experience, delivering more reliable performance overall. The range stays strong even about 50 feet away from the Deco unit, though in my experience it barely covers my 2000 sq ft townhome. Overall, it works great and does exactly what it promises, but coverage may vary depending on layout.

Setup was a breeze — everything connected quickly and without hassle. Performance has been excellent, with speeds matching the advertised rates during real-world use. The system feels stable and responsive. The only downside is that the built-in speed test in the app isn’t very reliable, so it’s best to use an external test for accurate results. Overall, a solid performer and great value. (Update) The system worked perfectly for the first month, but then it suddenly started experiencing intermittent internet connection drops. I attempted to resolve the issue by performing multiple reboots and even resetting the system to its factory defaults, but unfortunately, none of these troubleshooting steps were successful. As a result, I have returned the unit.

I upgraded to the XE70 Pro from a much older, first generation Wifi 5 system. The older system couldn't even give me an accurate speed test on my new 1GB fiber internet connection. This set completely solved that issue and the Wifi 5 speeds are a night and day difference between the old and new. For this, I'm delighted with the power and range. Wifi 6, not so much. Unless you're in the room with a node, or maybe right on the other side of the wall, your Wifi 6 speeds may be slower than 5. This is not unexpected since range is a known issue with Wifi 6 and isn't the fault of this product. Also, if you have a lot of IoT devices this has an option for a dedicated IoT network. This works as expected and my IoT devices (about 60 of them) are living on this network perfectly. The setup was very simple with the mesh nodes finding the base easily. When I attached ethernet cables via my switch so that I'd gain the advantage of ethernet backhaul from the nodes, it just worked, automatically switching over from Wifi links. Impressive. Here is why I took one star off: I hate managing things like this through a phone. If you try to go to the web interface on a computer there is virtually nothing you can do. It is a barren wasteland. TP-Link needs to fix this because I was shocked at the lack of this ability. I know this is possible: my daughter has the $20 TP-Link C54 in her apartment and you can literally do EVERYTHING with a web browser in it, so why not here? For this price point I'd expect that functionality.

I purchased this system because the BGW320-500 modem/router that AT&T provides with their fiber internet didn't provide good enough Wi-Fi coverage, among other issues. I put the main unit near the AT&T router and spread the other two satellite units in the living room and the master bedroom. This meant the three TP-Link units were well distributed throughout my home. Immediately we went from spotty Wi-Fi performance to excellent coverage and speeds everywhere in my house, even the back bedrooms which before had hardly worked at all. The setup is very easy, with great instructions that guide you through the process. The speeds of downloading and uploading doubled right after installation. What is really great is the interface to the units which is easy to use, and was working fine right out of the box, but it provides access to many features that can be tweaked as you wish. The satellite mesh units can be connected via Wi-Fi or ethernet for better speeds. I have them connected via Wi-Fi and it works well. The streaming units (Roku and Apple TV) connected easily and we get great streaming performance to our 4k TVs. All the IoT devices (refrigerator, coffee maker, dishwasher, Apple Pod, Atmos speakers, etc) connect fine and operate flawlessly. It required some work to get the AT&T BGW320-500 into "passthrough mode", as AT&T does not provide the ability to have the unit operate in "bridge mode" which allows all Wi-Fi and other functions to be handled by a better unit like this TP-Link product. I had to do quite a bit of Googling and reading guides and forums where other users had worked out all the settings that need to be adjusted on the AT&T BGW320-500 to get it to work well with this unit (or any unit, for that matter). Luckily there is a robust user's forum on the TP-Link website where a collection of gearheads documented the procedure to get things working well. Once I got that all worked out, I got the full 1 gigabit speed I'm paying for and it operates flawlessly (even after a power outage, it all came back up working fine). My family (and others that have stayed with us over the holiday) have really enjoyed the much better Wi-Fi coverage and speeds this unit has afforded. I have my Synology NAS (running my Plex server) connected via ethernet to this unit, as is my MacBook Pro, because I get better speeds that way (as my 2018 MacBook Pro does not have Wi-Fi 6e capabilities). However, the Wi-Fi speeds to my newer PC laptop (and my wife's newer MacBook Pro) which does have Wi-Fi 6 matches the upload and download speeds of my hardwired ethernet connection to my MacBook Pro. So, if you're looking for better coverage or speeds, I can recommend this product wholeheartedly. It's definitely one of the best mesh router products out there, easy to set up and easy to use.

I had the non-Pro version of this and traded out of it to get the PRO version with the 2.5Gbe ports since I recently upgraded to 1GB+ internet at home. This works and works well, I easily get over 1GB throughput on my Mac Mini via the wireless connection using just the 5Ghz band. Pros are that it is dead simple to setup and use and works flawlessly out of the box. Cons are that it is NOT for tinkerers which I am one but I just wanted a simple device that did its job without getting in the way. You can't mess with the knobs and dials like some other wireless devices but what you do need is there typically. If you are considering this vs other devices here are the biggest reasons to get this: - mGig / 2.5Gbps ethernet ports - you'll need this to go beyond 1GB if your internet provider supports it. Most modern cable modems now have mGig ports that support 2.5Gbps speeds. You can, if you have the ability, tie these 2.5Gbps ports together to get a wired backhaul if it is necessary but it may not be. (see next point) - Tri-Band with 2.4Ghz/5Ghz AND 6Ghz channels. If you can, use the 6Ghz channel exclusively as your backhaul between the wireless devices especially if you only have two of them. This 6Ghz back channel will give you blazing fast speeds between the primary router device and the remote device. I'm not certain how well this works with more than two devices as you'll then be sharing the channel between three or more meshed units vs one but it'll still be more efficient than a dual band device. - ALL DEVICES THE SAME - I want to have all devices the same in case one goes bad or you need to swap them. There are other mesh devices out there but some have a ROUTER and then SATELLITE devices. This does NOT do this. Every device can stand alone as a router on its own or simply mesh itself together and be used for wireless only. It is a simple thing but you don't need to think about which is which nor worry should your ROUTER die and you have no internet connection. - Wired bridging between devices - Multiple ports allow you to plug in wired devices or another wired switch (which is what I do) and run several wired devices off one remote meshed connection that then backhauls via the bridge to the device active as the router. This works without even thinking about it. Plug it in and go. - It is FAST! - as I said - 1GB+ on Wifi 6e connection Mac mini - Nearly get that with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. At this point I've owned two different sets of these and the old non-Pro unit is at another family members home and working flawlessly. There are regular updates. TP-LINK as the brand could be the achilles heel. I'm aware of the talk about the Chinese brand and the lack of trust there along with some vulnerabilities with other products they make. You'll need to make your own decisions there. Final note - I have NO experience with their add-on products. How the premium services they sell work is unknown to me.

(**4 month UPDATE at end**)I was concerned that this system may require more technical skills than I have to set up, but I was wrong. I'm 64 years old, just average computer skills, and had these 3 Decos set up in ~15 minutes - and most of that was downloading the app, making your account, passwords, etc. I have Mediacom as my internet provider, and a Hisense router/modem combo. The TP Link Deco was literally 'plug and play', with simple step by step instructions. I had read reviews where you may have to do something to 'bridge' or (unbridge?) your router (to get higher internet speeds I suppose) but I only had to plug one of the TPLink Decos into my modem and that was it. I placed the other two Deco units in other rooms, plugged them in and the 'main' TP unit recognized them. As you connect your devices to the TP Link network the Deco with the best signal automatically picks them up (assuming you have more than 1 Deco unit). On the TP app you can see which Deco unit your device connected to. I had no issues with my existing router/modem or internet provider/service, nothing to change or set, etc. I get around 850 mbps download and ~40 up on my cell when it's on the TP Link wifi network, and everything in my house and all outside cameras all now have a very good to excellent signal (the total area of my house is at least 3,500 sq. ft.). I suppose people with more tech skills than I could make adjustments to their router to get even higher speeds, but the coverage and speeds I get are more than enough for streaming movies, PlayStation games, cameras, and numerous other devices. I got this because I've recently installed a few security floodlight cameras around my house, and had a poor signal on the ones at the rear of the house. Now all cameras have a good signal, and I have a wifi signal in my garage where before I had none. *There's also a "WiFi Toolkit" app that you can download on your phone that allows you to very easily check your wifi signal easily all around your house, so you can use that to determine where to place a camera or, if you are limited on where you can place a camera this app will tell you if your signal is sufficient at that location. That app can save you a lot of time and trouble, to show if your device will have a sufficient signal before you mount or install it. Very handy app. Everything in my house (around 22+ devices - cell phones, iPad, PlayStation, robot vacuums, TVs, Alexa, smart lights, etc.) connected easily to the TP Link wifi. You just have to go to each device’s settings and change its wifi network to the TP Link network. I've only had the system for about two weeks now, but so far, it's been perfect. **4 month Update: I’m happy to say that everything still works great, no issues. Anytime I add (or replace) a device I just choose the TP Network and it connects, no problems. I have several different devices from different manufacturers- Simplisafe alarm, Ring and Tapo floodlight cameras, Kasa and Govee lights/devices, PlayStation, Alexa, Shark, and Roku TV - and everything connects and works great with no problems.

A difficult review to write, so as not to be misinterpreted. The Deco is a GOOD mesh system. Not superb, not even great in some aspects and features, but good, even very good (with comments). For background, I've set up home mesh systems with LinkSys, NetGear (Orbi) and ASUS previously. My current mesh system for this review includes 6 Deco XE75 Pro units (router + 5 satellites - more on that later) in a 3-story, 7k-ish sq ft home (wood and brick), plus outside and garage coverage for robot mowers, lights and cameras, with approximately 100 connected devices, on and off, on a Gigabit network. So not a small or even average network. The Deco competes with the prior systems mentioned. It's not the fastest, or the easiest to set up, or the most stable. It doesn't have the best app, or the best form-factor for the individual units. It's not the most intuitive to use. It's not the best looking interface for the user. So why, you ask, 4 stars? It IS the least expensive, equivalent mesh set up by far. It IS one of the most configurable - for the average user. And it IS fast - not the fastest - that crown goes to the Orbi (although NetGear's is the least stable in my experience). And just marginally faster than the ASUS WiFi 6 system. But fast - and adequately fast, everywhere, with no dead spots and sufficient coverage. Leading to the other observation. The Deco system will not cover your home with just 3 units if you have a large (6-7k sq ft or more) or complex home, in spite of advertising claims. It will - but not with anywhere close to the maximum speeds of your router. It just won't. Three units will cover a 4-5,000 sq foot home well, depending. So if you want full speed in your garage, or yard, or an isolated basement in a larger multi-story home, plan on buying another unit - or two. A bargain, but short of what TP-Link claims. Two units will probably cover a one-story flat floor plan with standard construction of 2-3,000 sq ft or less very well. For a small apartment as well, with possibly even just a router. So no real negatives as far as coverage - you just need enough nodes, and they're easy enough to add if your far signal is weak, and less expensive than additions for other systems. One significant positive - and negative - is configurability of the system. The app permits a fair range of ability to tweak and adjust the network, close to some of the other systems (ASUS is better, Orbi is superior). It just does it through a non-intuitive, sometimes cumbersome, and complex interface that may confuse even experienced users. And feedback from the app is less than informative, and often alarming - the system will pop up randomly with "can't find Deco" when it's just updating firmware, or forget the system manager (you) until you reinstall yourself. All the nodes will disconnect for some seconds, or minutes (in the app), but to all appearances remain connected just according to the green external LED and actual connectivity. So stability can be - at least in my brief use - not confidence-inspiring, although to be fair I haven't experienced any lengthy disconnects. Yet. But the app, and consequently your ability to manage your network on the fly, is a significant weak spot in this system. Coupled with the fact that it has no web interface - it's the app or nothing, unlike any of the other systems. Three stars - or less - for the app. The good news is that it is more or less a "set-and-forget" system once you get past the setup chore, and if you don't constantly fiddle with your network it appears to be again fairly stable and can be left on its own. Speeds are more than adequate for a 1G system, with downloads (usually) 600 Mbps and over even at the far reaches of your network, far from the router (with enough nodes), and approaching or at the full1G at the source. Setup was particularly challenging, probably because of the "unfinished" feel of the software, and the fact it took the best part of the afternoon to get the software to even recognize that an ethernet cable was connected - I'd rate it at the bottom as far as the systems mentioned for the average user (by comparison I had all of the other systems set up, installed and running within an hour). I consequently don't recommend this mesh system for first-timers, or inexperienced installers - which is paradoxical because more experienced users might like a better management interface and more ability to fine-tune the network. TP-Link does have available chat support, but of course you need an Internet (or mobile) connection to use it. Setup is probably the other big negative for this system, but you need to get through that to actually use the network. Software updates may improve that, so guarded optimism. As far as the app, other than the flexibility to modify and customize the network, it's probably at the bottom of the pack as well as far as user interface and intuitive design, another reason for inexperienced users to have pause. I'd rate software for mesh systems with ASUS first, then NetGear, LinkSys, and Deco in the caboose. Again, updates can improve that. Overall, the Deco system is a fast, stable (so far), bargain-priced mesh system worth considering if you have some confidence in your ability to navigate a quirky setup, to reach out to support, don't fiddle with the app a lot and are prepared to expand if needed. And don't mind a less polished or dependable user interface. I can recommend it with the above comments and observations.