If youre reading this, its probably since youre in the market for a mesh router, or youre curious about them. You arent alone. The pandemic-borne work-from-home age pressed our home networks to the limitation, and mesh routers that utilize several devices to spread a more reliable Wi-Fi signal from space to space will use the clearest, most visible home networking boost in the majority of families. Add in the arrival of faster Wi-Fi 6 speeds, and its no marvel numerous people are seeking to make the upgrade.Upgrading to a mesh router with support for that new Wi-Fi 6 requirement would look like the sensible option, however the tri-band designs with their own dedicated backhaul channel that actually seem like an upgrade are typically pricey (like, a number of automobile payments costly). In 2020, I was applauding Asus and Eero for bringing the expense of full-featured, tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers down to around $400 approximately– a good action in the best instructions, but still too much for a lot of folks.Then came the TP-Link Deco W7200. With a tri-band design that separates the system traffic from your own traffic (which is crucial if you want to get the most out of a mesh router), plus full support for Wi-Fi 6, the W7200 checks all of packages that I d be trying to find in a mesh router upgrade if it were me buying. And after that theres the cost: $229 for a two-piece setup. Thats less than Nest Wifi, a three-year-old dual-band system that doesnt support Wi-Fi 6 at all. Consider me totally whelmed.
LikeIncredible efficiency for the priceEasy setup, with satellites that sign up with the mesh as quickly as you plug them inTri-band style and assistance for Wi-Fi 6 at an impressive value
Dont LikeBulky, somewhat bland-looking designIncoming wired speeds topped at 1GbpsNot the fastest choice for a gigabit network
The W7200 handled to outshine other tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers that cost a lot more, consisting of the AX6600 variation of the Arris Surfboard Max and Amazons Eero Pro 6. It could not quite keep up with fancier, more costly mesh routers when I checked it on a blazing-fast gigabit network, however on a slower, 300Mbps network thats a lot closer to the typical web speed in the US, it kept right up with routers like those. That consists of the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi mesh router, a high-grade system that offers in a 2-pack for $700.
Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET
ImpressionsThe TP-Link Deco W7200 sticks to the same, basic design as TP-Links previous Deco gadgets, many of which are round or puck-shaped pieces of white plastic. They arent unsightly, but they arent precisely attractive, either– Ive seen inexpensive, no-name routers from the deal bin that look more inspired. TP-Link pitches that theyre developed to mix effortlessly into your homes decor, however the bulky, bland-looking build may lead some owners to stash them in closets or behind TVs, where they wont perform too. Its a fairly minor quibble, but a more distinct, aesthetically minded style would have gone a long way here.The devices themselves are quite plain-looking, and youll only discover two Ethernet jacks on the back of each one.
Ry Crist/CNET
If the very first impression fails, its the 2nd impressions, which youll form as you set the system up, that save the day. For beginners, the Deco app is a clean, tidy-looking interface that makes simple work of guiding you through the setup procedure– but my favorite bit comes once youve set the very first gadget up as your main router and the time comes to add in the 2nd gadget as a satellite extender. Simply plug the thing in. Itll immediately find its way onto the mesh and start increasing your signal, no network scans, QR codes, IP addresses, button presses or taps in an app needed.The 2 Deco devices are identical, so you can utilize either one as the main router or as an extender. Together, the two can cover up to 5,500 square feet, TP-Link states, though I d advise budgeting one Deco device per 2,000 square feet for a more powerful connection at range. And dont let the W7200 branding fool you– these are AX3600 gadgets, with the “AX” designating assistance for Wi-Fi 6 and the “3600” designating the combined leading speeds of each of the systems three bands. You can just connect to one band at a time, so the true leading speed isnt 3,600 Mbps, but rather, 1,802 Mbps, which is the top speed of the faster of the two 5GHz bands (and bear in mind, thats a theoretical optimum based on lab-based tests, so your real-world speeds will be a lot lower). With the W7200 name, TP-Link is essentially doubling down on the embellishment by increasing the already deceptive 3600 part of the speed ranking by the number of routers in the box. Thats patently ludicrous, but I digress.
Now playing:
Enjoy this:
Which Router Upgrade Is Right for You?
9:01
Youll need one of those jacks to link the main router to your modem, so if you have several wise home dongles, media streamers, gaming consoles or other devices that need or would benefit from a wired connection to your network, you might need to select up an Ethernet splitter. Still, a growing number of mesh routers these days are dropping the USB port, and some mesh routers dont have Ethernet jacks on the extenders at all, so it could be worse.Ill also note that all of those Ethernet jacks top the inbound wired speeds at 1Gbps. For now, youll still require to spring for a system such as the Asus ZenWifi XT8 if you want multi-gig Ethernet jacks equipped for connections like those.On a 300Mbps fiber network, the Deco W7200 (red) completed my speed tests in a close 2nd to the top-performing Netgear Orbi AX6000 system, which costs more than three times as much.
Ry Crist/CNET
The Deco W7200 (red) surpassed that number in every space I evaluated in, and finished in a very close second to our top performing mesh router to date, the AX6000 version of Netgear Orbi (blue). That system costs more than three times as much as the Deco W7200.On top of that, the Deco surpassed 2 other tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers that cost more, the Eero Pro 6 and the AX6600 version of the Arris Surfboard Max. And, with its tri-band design, the W7200 leaves most dual-band systems that lack a dedicated backhaul in the dust, including the initial Eero 6 and TP-Links own Deco X20.This chart shows the private results of each speed test I ran with the W7200, and the results were extremely constant.
Ry Crist/CNET
I would likewise anticipate the Deco W7200 to easily outperform the dual-band version of the Netgear Nighthawk fit together router and likewise Nest Wifi, which does not support Wi-Fi 6 at all. That stated, I tested both of those systems before upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 testing equipment here at house, so Ill conserve the direct, numerical contrasts up until Ive had an opportunity to re-test them.Average speeds are all well and good, however if you truly desire to comprehend how a mesh router is performing, you need to dig a little much deeper. Even then, the difference made little to no distinction in the quality of my connection.It didnt matter if I started my connection close to the router and moved away (green) or if I connected far from the router and moved more detailed (yellow).
Ry Crist/CNET
That general consistency includes screening rounds where I began my connection close to the router (in the living space) and then worked towards the back of the home, and likewise an equivalent number of testing rounds where I did the opposite, connecting far from the router (in the back bathroom) and working towards the front. Wi-Fi 6 is backward compatible, so the W7200 and other Wi-Fi 6 routers like it can still connect with older devices like that, but those gadgets will not be able to take benefit of the new functions that make Wi-Fi 6 faster and more efficient. In some cases, that can mean that speeds from a Wi-Fi 6 router to your Wi-Fi 5 devices will be as much as 30% slower than the speeds youll see on a Wi-Fi 6 device.With the W7200, nevertheless, the distinction was minimal.
Ry Crist/CNET
Not the fastest pick for a gigabit networkIn 2022, I retested the Deco W7200 on a gigabit network (specifically, a fiber network with max download speeds of 940Mbps and max upload speeds of 880Mbps). Checked across the entire house, the Deco W7200 ended up with typical download speeds of 403Mbps and average upload speeds of 379Mbps, with close range wireless download speeds about five feet from the router averaging in at 584Mbps. Routers like those stay the true upgrade choices for a gigabit network, where your connection comes with adequate bandwidth for high-powered designs to actually shine.
Chris Monroe/CNET
The verdictMesh routers guarantee a quickly, dependable connection throughout the bulk, if not the entirety of your home. The TP-Link Deco W7200 makes complete use of Wi-Fi 6 and a tri-band style to deliver on that pledge, with efficiency thats about as solid as Ive seen from a mesh router. At $229 for a two-pack, it offers exceptional value. The only router Ive checked that beats it in my tests outright costs more than three times as much.The W7200 is an excellent system if your home is lucky enough to have a dedicated fiber connection with accelerate to a gigabit, but if youre dealing with download speeds of 100Mbps or less, then the W7200 is most likely more than you require today. That stated, the W7200 truly does not cost that much more than the budget plan systems you might consider in its place, which makes it simple to suggest for simply about everyone. Its a strong top pick in the mesh classification, and one that isnt likely to fall up until the competition figures out how to use worth thats as strong as this.
With a tri-band style that separates the system traffic from your own traffic (which is key if you desire to get the most out of a mesh router), plus complete assistance for Wi-Fi 6, the W7200 checks all of the boxes that I d be looking for in a mesh router upgrade if it were me buying. It couldnt rather keep up with fancier, more pricey mesh routers when I evaluated it on a blazing-fast gigabit network, but on a slower, 300Mbps network thats a lot closer to the typical internet speed in the United States, it kept right up with routers like those. Still, a growing number of mesh routers these days are dumping the USB port, and some mesh routers dont have Ethernet jacks on the extenders at all, so it might be worse.Ill also note that all of those Ethernet jacks cap the inbound wired speeds at 1Gbps. Even then, the variance made little to no difference in the quality of my connection.It didnt matter if I started my connection close to the router and moved away (green) or if I linked far from the router and moved closer (yellow). That total consistency includes screening rounds where I started my connection close to the router (in the living room) and then worked towards the back of the home, and likewise an equivalent number of testing rounds where I did the opposite, linking far from the router (in the back bathroom) and working towards the front.