TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-Pack) for $800: The Deco BE85 was TP-Link’s first Wi-Fi 7 mesh. As the flagship, it offers unrivaled performance, with double the bandwidth of the more affordable BE63 listed above. Each router boasts four auto-sensing WAN/LAN Ethernet ports, two 10-Gbps ports (one is an SFP combo), two 2.5-Gbps ports, and a USB 3.0 port. It delivered wide coverage and excellent performance in my tests, but unless you have a very fast multi-gig internet connection and loads of Wi-Fi 7 devices, it will be overkill for your home.
Netgear Orbi 970 (2-Pack) for $1,437: There’s no denying that the tri-band Wi-Fi 7 Netgear Orbi 970 is an impressive quad-band mesh. It proved extremely fast and reliable, offers plenty of high-speed Ethernet ports, and delivers truly expansive coverage. The accessible app includes comprehensive security (free for the first year). I did have a few teething troubles, but the astronomical price is really what prevents me from recommending this mesh. You can get similar performance for less. You must also pay extra for full parental controls, now a separate subscription from the security software. Only folks with large houses, multi-gig connections, and deep pockets should consider this mesh.
Linksys Velop Pro 6E (2-Pack) for $300: Once up and running, this tri-band (2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz) Wi-Fi 6E system offers impressive range and decent speeds. It is competitively priced with quite a few dips in cost (don’t pay full price), comes with basic parental controls, and offers handy features like device prioritization and a guest network. But I had a terrible time with the installation. The app continually failed partway through the process, and I had to factory reset the routers. Even then, it took multiple attempts to add the nodes. It’s also not backward compatible with older Velop “Intelligent Mesh” systems, because this is a “Cognitive Mesh” system.
TP-Link XE200 (2-Pack) for $450: This tri-band mesh system (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) scored some of the fastest speeds I have seen, offered consistently wide coverage, and blew away all the competition at close range. I downloaded a 50-GB game in 20 minutes and didn’t encounter any issues during testing. As it uses the 6-GHz band for backhaul, you have to think about placement and try to keep routers in sight of each other and within 50 feet (or better, connect them via Ethernet cable). The app is simple and offers most of the features you will want, but there’s no internet speed test, and you need subscriptions for real-time security and proper parental controls. While the XE200 is better than the XE70 Pro above, the reason it appears down here is the price. It’s simply too expensive for most folks, though it has seen some deep discounts recently, so keep an eye out for deals.
TP-Link Deco X50 PoE (3-Pack) for $300: This inconspicuous puck-sized router can be wall- or ceiling-mounted for rooms where a mesh with wireless backhaul just won’t cut it. You must run an Ethernet cable to the router, but because it supports PoE, the cable delivers power too. This dual-band router (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) has a 2.5-Gbps WAN port and a 1-gigabit LAN port and can cover up to 2,500 square feet.
Gryphon AX (2-Pack) for $499: After some trouble setting up this tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system, I found it performed well and coped with multiple streams and devices without complaint. The app is a little glitchy, but it boasts comprehensive parental controls. If you want enhanced security, ad blocking, and the option to route traffic through your router when you or your family are out of the home—which allows for 24/7 monitoring of your kids’ online activities—you need to purchase Gryphon’s Premium plan for an extra $8 per month or $90 per year. But unless you require that level of oversight, this system is just too expensive, and it didn’t match our top pick for speed or coverage.
TP-Link Deco X50 4G for £197 and Deco X50 5G for £280: These routers operate just like regular dual-band routers (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), but they also have Nano SIM card slots for folks who live in areas with fast mobile networks, want some fallback option for patchy internet service, or need Wi-Fi temporarily or somewhere they can’t put in a fixed line. Setup is simple, they feature TP-Link’s subscription services for security and parental controls, and each unit has one 2.5-Gbps WAN, two gigabit LANs, and two external antenna ports. The performance will depend on your local mobile network, and you need an external antenna to get the best speeds. Testing with a gigabit internet connection, they proved fast and reliable and can cover up to 2,500 square feet. They are only available in the UK and Europe for now.
Mesh Systems We Don’t Recommend
They can’t all be winners. These are the mesh systems I had trouble with or can’t recommend for one reason or another.
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