Seamless AI-Driven Mesh –Intelligently learns your network environment to provide the ideal WiFi unique to your home. ‡ The compact TP-Link Deco X50-PoE is much smaller than other members of the X50 family and, indeed, other Deco products that I have reviewed in the past. This is a device that’s built to blend in and keep out of the way. 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. 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. 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.

Furthermore, two external antenna ports allow external antenna access which can receive 5G/4G signals more effectively, resulting in improved 5G/4G performance. Mesh systems might be the best way to get a strong Wi-Fi signal where you need it, but the boxes can look ugly strewn around the house. TP-Link Mesh means Deco units work together to form one unified network. Your phone or tablet automatically connects to the fastest Deco as you move through your home, creating a truly seamless WiFi experience. ‡ 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.* multicoloured LED set into the base that glows various hues to let you know when something’s amiss.Use of WiFi 6 and other features including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM, HE160 and BSS Color require clients to also support the corresponding features. The 160 MHz bandwidth may be unavailable in the 5 GHz band in some regions/countries due to regulatory restrictions. 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 With massive MIMO, optimized OFDM, and more, 5G technologies brings fast responsive network connections to tomorrow’s mobile devices, with only 1 ms latency. Enjoy your online streaming, gaming, and AR / VR without congestion. § 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.

Unlike traditional smart hubs, TP-Link Mesh Technology provides whole-home IoT coverage with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee integrated into a single system.Enjoy the magic of your smart home in every room with TP-Link Mesh Technology. Say goodbye to countless hubs. Cellular speeds will depend on your location. I can get around 25Mbit/s when running on 4G, although I’ve got over 100Mbit/s in areas with a 5G connection. Performance Deco uses its custom algorithms to automate the connections on your network, ensuring the strongest possible signals at all times.Although TP-Link sells an X50 mesh system as a bundle, it has since branched out to add a range of X50 products that do something different.

At the regular price, the obvious alternative is the Linksys Atlas Pro 6. That’s a very competitive option, as it only costs a tenner more, and offers faster overall coverage.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. 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. All WAN/LAN ports will operate as either WAN or LAN ports. Only one port can serve as a WAN port at a time. 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. The system claims a throughput of up to 574Mbits/sec on the 2.4GHz band and 2.4Gbits/sec on the 5GHz band. Premium meshes and routers often promise double that rate, although that doesn’t mean they’re literally twice as fast. A fat 160MHz channel width helps the Deco system overcome physical obstacles and interference from other networks.

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. Here are the speeds I saw, along with those achieved in the same tests by some of the rival meshes mentioned above: 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.Although it is an X50 product, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE will work with any existing Deco system, so it’s not just for people buying from scratch. 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. 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. Uses of WiFi 6 and other features including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM, and BSS Color require clients to also support the corresponding features. Configuration is through the TP-Link Deco app. This makes it supremely easy to install the router: just follow the wizard through, and the app connects to the router, sets up the internet connection and prompts you to create a secure network.