Deco uses its custom algorithms to automate the connections on your network, ensuring the strongest possible signals at all times. Uses of WiFi 6 and other features including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM, and BSS Color require clients to also support the corresponding features. Setup and manage your network anytime and anywhere on the user-friendly TP-Link Deco app. In just three easy steps your entire home can be blanketed in strong and reliable WiFi. multicoloured LED set into the base that glows various hues to let you know when something’s amiss.

Deco whole home mesh Wi-Fi is designed to deliver a huge boost in coverage, speed, and total capacity. Get on the latest mesh Wi-Fi to enjoy the future network that loads faster and connects more. The Deco app also works as a smart-home hub, offering one-touch controls for TP-Link’s Kasa appliances, plus integrations with Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings. I suspect most people already have this covered through the Alexa or Google Home apps but the simple automations could be useful, allowing you to set network events as triggers for IoT actions.

To test the X50’s performance, I set up the system in my own home, with one node connected to the main internet line in the study and the other two in the adjoining bedroom and downstairs living room. Then I connected a laptop to the 5GHz network, carried it around various rooms and measured read and write speeds to an Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro NAS appliance connected to one of the gigabit Ethernet ports on the primary Deco station.

Wi-Fi settings are a little basic, with the TP-Link Deco X50-5G setting its own 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels automatically. Wi-Fi settings also include a guest network. Armed with AI-Driven Mesh, Deco X50delivers smart WiFi that follows you wherever you are, without interruption. It automatically learns your network environment, client quality, and user behaviors. Sophisticated algorithms account for various factors so that Deco X50provides ideal mesh WiFi, unique to your home. Walk through your home and enjoy seamless streaming at the fastest possible speeds.*And the Deco design has its strengths. Upload speeds aren’t bad at all, while the HomeShield and smart appliance integrations add usefulness. Three Ethernet ports per unit is a welcome provision too. TP-Link Mesh Technology dynamically chooses the best route and band for your connections and applications, guaranteeing a fast Wi-Fi no matter where you are in the home. This makes the system a lot more affordable than tri-band systems such as TP-Link’s Deco X90 but it also means there’s less bandwidth available overall. Is it a smart economy? HomeShield includes the Free Basic Plan. Fees apply for the Pro Plan. Visit tp-link.com/homeshield for more information.

Looking a little like a fancy vase thanks to its plastic case wrapping around the side, the TP-Link Deco X50-5G is a neat and relatively compact router. It’s a touch light on Ethernet ports, with only two Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port at the rear. The dual-band Wi-Fi and powerline work together to transmit data between Deco units. The total network speed is greatly improved compared with using Wi-Fi only.As with the other X50 products, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE is an AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 device. It has a 5GHz band rated at a maximum of 2402Mbit/s and a 2.4GHz band rated at 574Mbit/s. I connected my TP-Link Deco X50-PoE to an X50-5G. TP-Link has one of the best apps going, and some of the best features. While many router manufacturers require you to pay for parental controls, such as with the Eero 6 Plus, TP-Link bundles generous free controls. Easily create a profile for each family member and set custom time limits and online time allowances. Assign devices to profiles so rules extend to individual devices as well as family members.

Clients need to support 802.11k/v/r and may require additional set up. Performance may vary depending on the client’s device. Deco units work together to form one unified network with a single network name. Your phone or tablet automatically connects to the fastest Deco as you move through your home. The switching takes less than 0.3 second and is smooth and unnoticeable, creating a truly seamless online experience. The TP-Link Deco X50-5G is an AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 system. Its 5GHz band runs at a maximum speed of 2402Mbit/s and its 2.4GHz band at a maximum of 574Mbit/s. That’s relatively mid-range by today’s standards.A powerful router in its own right, this model can be used with any other Deco devices, not just X50 versions, as part of a mesh system, giving you options if you need to boost its signal. Design and features Deco X50-PoE has flexible installation to meet various demand scenarios. Place it on a tabletop or install it on a ceiling or wall with our adaptive accessories. Actual 5G downlink speeds vary between households. Factors affecting 5G speeds include the internet service level, real-time network capacity, equipment and client limitations, and environmental factors.