The Nokia X20 would be a fine phone for its price, if it wasn’t for how competitive the premium-mid-range market segment has become - as it stands, the phone doesn’t have the features or specs to really compete with its rivals. As the name suggests, mesh systems are also designed to support multiple nodes, which can be deployed in a “daisy-chain” configuration, rather than each one needing a direct connection to the router. This makes it easy to extend a wireless connection over a huge area by simply placing nodes at regular intervals around your home or workplace. Will a mesh system work with my router? The darker green areas on the map indicate the strongest signal measurements, and lighter green and yellow areas show a weaker signal. The circles represent the location of the router and the satellite node. As shown on the heat map, the Deco AX20 system does a good job of delivering a relatively strong signal to the entire house and the garage. An Affordable Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System Although Wi-Fi 6 routers and mesh systems started out at almost ridiculous prices, recent months have seen prices fall, particularly with the launch of mode budget systems such as this, the TP-Link Deco X20.

As with the camera performance, though, the low score could be a result of our early production unit, and perhaps software optimizations could bump that 1,529 a little higher. Stay tuned for our full review to see. As with other TP-Link mesh systems, the X20 is controlled via the TP-Link Deco app. This takes you through the initial configuration getting the primary satellite working, before taking you through configuring any other satellites. Other things we liked about the system include the fact that there are four Gigabit Ethernet ports on each unit and that these are located on the rear rather than on the base of the units, making them easier to access. There are basic parental controls here, too, however we didn’t like the way the web interface was laid out. Key specs – Nodes (as reviewed): 2; Claimed coverage: 372m²; Maximum nodes supported: Not stated; 2.4GHz speed: 600Mbits/sec; 5GHz speed: 1,200Mbits/sec; MIMO channels: 2×2; Ethernet ports: 3 x GbE (router), 2 x GbE (satellite); Guest network: Yes; Parental controls: No; Works with Alexa: Yes; IPv6: Not stated; Custom IP range: Not stated; Client IP reservation: Not stated; Port forwarding: Not stated; 2.4GHz/5GHz band splitting: No; Warranty: 1yr The TP-Link Deco X20 may not be the fastest mesh system out there, but it offers relatively good coverage and comes with some nice features including lifetime parental controls and anti-malware software that will help keep your clients and network safe. Moreover, TP-Link’s Deco mobile app allows you to install and manage the system easily using your phone, making it a solid option for covering your home with Wi-Fi 6 on a budget.

Unlocked 4G Connections Everywhere*

On another damp note, the Nokia X20’s screen is a bit inconsistent when it comes to colour accuracy. With an average Delta E of 3.69 in my tests, the phone’s IPS panel was all over the place, with oversaturated dark blue and green tones, and dull-looking reds. The Deco X20 satellite node scored 449Mbps on the close-proximity test, compared with the TP-Link Deco X60's 521Mbp and the Linksys Velop AX4200's 667Mbps. The Asus ZenWiFi XT8 took top honors with a speed of 675Mbps. HomeShield includes the Free Basic Plan. Fees apply for the Pro Plan. Visittp-link/homeshieldfor more information. Use of Wi-Fi 6 and other features including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM, and BSS Color require clients to also support the corresponding features. The Halo H80X is a fantastic debut from TP-Link’s value-oriented Mercusys brand – a full-featured Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for an irresistible price.

Alas, the phone’s night mode is a bit on the weak side, with major loss of detail when the darkness starts to creep in, and a fair old sprinkling of visual noise. Likewise, the 5MP ultrawide camera isn’t great, with the end result looking more like a watercolour painting – and not the type you’d like to hang on your wall, either. If you really care about getting the newest version of Android as soon as possible, you might be able to ignore that verdict - HMD Global’s three-year promise is really great, as you’ll be receiving software updates far longer than most other phones.

Wi-Fi 6 mesh networking for less

The 2-day battery testing was conducted using a real life usage test by HMD Global. The test included active usage of a device for 5 hours per day with a new battery. Usage included e.g. gaming, video streaming, calling, sending sms, browsing and using apps (such as social media, news, navigation and music). The test was conducted with normal device settings in a lit indoor environment. The device was left on standby overnight. The Deco X20 is a dual-band system supporting 2×2 MIMO, which helps to keep the costs down, but since WiFi 6 is designed to share bandwidth more efficiently across multiple connections, this shouldn’t be a huge problem. There are some welcome software features too, including a simple firewall, a QoS setting that lets you prioritise specific devices, and time limits for kids’ devices. It’s a compact, simple and effective wireless solution and, if you shop around, you may well find it for a bargain price.