I rarely write product reviews, but the TP-Link AX3000 (Deco X55 Pro) mesh system has been so impressive that I felt compelled to recommend it. It’s not only simple and stylish, seamlessly blending into my home decor, but its performance is outstanding. No modem is needed; I directly connected my fiber, and everything worked perfectly right out of the gate. The setup process was incredibly straightforward, thanks to the intuitive app, and it effectively eliminated all dead zones in my house. Now, my entire home enjoys fast, seamless Wi-Fi coverage. The updates are easily managed through the app, and the extender's status is clearly indicated by a very simple yet effective color light system—no guessing required. Given its sleek design, ease of use, and excellent performance, I highly recommend the TP-Link AX3000 (Deco X55 Pro) to anyone looking to upgrade their Wi-Fi system!

Thanks to Prime Day it was time for me to finally upgrade my home network. I was looking for a reasonably priced WiFi-6 mesh system with 3 stations (1 main + 2 satellites), at least AX3000 speeds, and a price tag of up to $300. It came down to two choices: the Eero 6+ and what I chose instead, the TP-Link Deco X55. Both systems had similar specs, but I liked how the TP-Link Deco had 3x Gigabit ethernet ports per satellite (the Eeeros have just 2). That meant I could wire each satellite in a daisy-chain configuration for a wired backhaul AND connect the 3rd ethernet plug to the gigabit switches I had at each satellite location. This meant that all of my hard-wired devices could stay hardwired, while adding mesh WiFi at full speeds (no bandwidth reserved for transmission thanks to the backhaul). Installation was quick and easy - I simply turned off my cable modem, disconnected my previous router, installed one of the Deco X55's in its place (in my bedroom), and turned everything back on. After downloading the TP-Link Deco app I had an internet connection set up and good to go in less than 5 minutes! Once that was working, I added the other two Deco's into the mix - one in the living room and one in the family room - with all three forming an almost perfect triangle for whole-home coverage. In less than 15 minutes after opening the box, I had a fast, Wifi-6 mesh system in my home. I had been using an older AC1900 router for almost 10 years now and back then it was just fine - but with more and more smart home devices being added to my home, it no longer was enough. I have a medium-sized amount of smart home devices (around 50 devices including hubs) and on occasion, I'd experience signal dropouts on some of the farther cameras, and other devices would sporadically go offline/online at random. With the X55 mesh installed, all of my issues disappeared! My smart cameras used to show a signal strength of between 80% (indoor cameras) down to around 55% (outdoor cameras). With the TP-Link Deco mesh in place, the signal strength changed to 100% indoor and 95% outdoor - a major improvement for sure. Pulling up live and recorded footage from the outdoor camera is so much quicker now. All of the other indoor smart devices I have all show 98-100% signal strength. Needless to say, this was a definite upgrade! As for my rating, I give it a solid 4-stars. There are a few small details that keep me from giving it a full 5-stars: some missing features that I had with my old router. One of them is being able to bulk reserve IPs by entering them into the app beforehand; with the TP-Link Deco, the device has to be connected to the network FIRST (with whatever DHCP IP address the Deco gives it), then you have to go into the app to reserve it with a static IP. I would rather have the more common table where you just enter each Mac address, static IP, and device name and it's done. Another missing feature is being able to have at least 2 separate SSIDs (not including a guest SSID). With the Deco you can only have one main SSID and one isolated guest SSID. Finally, to see some speed numbers I ran speed tests using both fast.com and speedtest.com, and the day before installing the mesh system I had an average internet speed of around ~260Mbps. The day after I installed the TP-Link mesh system my speeds went up to well over 490Mbps! Downloading is a lot faster, and streaming is super snappy as well. So in the end, I am very happy with my purchase of the TP-Link Deco X55 Wifi6 mesh system. Aside from the small feature complaints above, everything is awesome! I no longer have devices going offline/online. My internet speed has almost doubled (my old router was the bottleneck!) and streaming seems quicker as well. If you are looking for a mesh system to upgrade your current home network to the current WiFi6 standards, I would say that this is definitely a good buy! ------------ EDIT 02.18.2024: TP-Link Improvements Are Awesome! TP-Link has been steadily pushing out Deco firmware and app updates, and my -1 star complaint no longer exists thanks to two added features that completely address my complaints: - CUSTOM IP RESERVATIONS First, I don't have to play the game of connecting a new device, letting the Deco assign a DHCP address to it, then having to go back into the app to manually change the reserved IP. Now I can go straight into the Deco app and under the "Address Reservation" tab I can now select "Custom"; this brings me to a page where I can manually type in a MAC address AND the local IP address that I want to assign to it - without having to connect the device first. - SEPARATE IoT NETWORK My other complaint was that I only had the option to have two SSIDs - one main and one guest network. I wanted to be able to configure another SSID specifically so I could group all of my Smarthome devices, and after a couple of firmware updates later TP-Link not only gave me that option, but an even better one: they added a dedicated Iot (Internt of Things) network! Not only does this group my sparthome devices separate from my main network, but it also restricts communications between networks so that the IoT devices stay isolated. This is exactly the feature I wanted them to add during my initial review. - VPN COMPATIBILITY TP-Link has also added the option to use a VPN (server or client) directly through the router, as opposed to having to VPN each individual device manually. Furthermore, the VPN can be assigned to the network in two ways: either all devices (every device connected to the mesh will go through the VPN) or I can select specific MAC addresses that must pass through the VPN before reaching the Internet (tI chose option #2). With this I can make sure that certain devices that like to "call home" can only do so through the VPN, helping to protect my network and privacy. All in all, TP-Link has done a great job at supporting these devices, and their ability to add additional features over time have made me feel confident to revise my initial review now give this system a worthy 5 stars!

This unit is simply a high-flying performance star that was easy to set up. It came with everything you need to set up the mesh and includes handsome transmitters, a booklet, phone-based controls, and remarkable reliability in the signal strength. You can simply set one up with cat-5 cable and use it to transmit to the others to form a mesh. I does not require you to run cat-5 cable to each so you can have the others stand-alone wirelessly. The set-up was only marred by the phone app telling me my phone wasn't connected to the network - but it was as I confirmed by going to my phone's settings page for wifi. So I ignored that mistaken message and proceeded and have not had any problems. It's been on a day now and the signal strength permits streaming of video to any device in the house - no choppiness or lag. Definitely worth the price for better connection that is vastly improved over my router and wifi extender. I now removed the extender as it serves no real purpose. And no, the two systems did not interfere with each other. I kept the modem's router functioning and found no conflict with that either. I use Spectrum for my ISP and an Arris modem-router.

I really like this system, which is why I only took off 1 star. It was easy to set up and connect the 3 nodes. The app was good and provided useful information. I could also access it with a web browser. It took care of all the dead/weak spots in my 3 story home. I like the design of the cylinder routers with no gaudy external antennas. The problem was that I work from home using a VPN to connect to a server at work. I could connect with my work laptop no problem but when I ran speed tests, I had no upload speed/traffic. After multiple tests I didn't get traffic down or up. I reconnect my 10-year old Asus RT-N66U router and instantly connect to the work VPN with great download/upload speeds. I worked with tech support via email. They emailed me after the weekend and told me to upgrade to version 1.5.1 which fell under the Hardware version 1.0, this deco was HW version 1.6 - so I had to email again since the instructions said not to load firmware that is not under your HW revision or you could damage the router and void your warranty. I get an email the next day from tech support telling me that HW 1.0 and 1.6 are the same and it was okay (even though the firmware is listed separately for HW Rev 1.0 and 1.6). I performed the upload to 1.5.1 and it went well. I connected to my work VPN and the first speed test worked. I was on the guest network at 2.4G so I changed my connection the main network at 5G and tested again, and it did not pass traffic. I went back to 2.4G and it still wouldn't pass traffic. This is when I decided this was not going to work for me, so I put in a return today and will be buying a router that I know will work since it is what my co-worker uses. In the meantime, My old Asus is solid, though I have some low signal areas and it's not quite as fast. I'm really sorry this didn't work out - if I wasn't using VPN I would have never know there was an issue and I would have been very happy with this system.

The TP-Link Deco AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System has significantly improved my home network. Covering up to 4500 square feet, it replaces traditional routers and extenders with seamless coverage and fast speeds. Each unit features 3 Gigabit ports and supports Ethernet backhaul for reliable connectivity. Setup was simple, and the system delivers stable WiFi throughout my home, even in areas that previously had weak signals. It's a robust solution for modern connectivity needs, offering excellent performance and ease of use. Highly recommended for anyone looking to upgrade their home WiFi network.

TP-Link makes great products and this was not exception. Out of the box installation was easy, management and reporting are great, and speed is as expected. It has great coverage, and just works! The phone app is also super easy to use for all skill levels.

Highly recommended upgrade for those looking to increase their wireless speeds with several connected devices. I thought it wouldn't be much of an improvement over my DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem/router + Wifi extender, which appeared to be significantly throttling my bandwidth, but mesh Wifi is in fact different and more effective at extending range and providing speed consistency throughout the home. Why I purchased: I decided to try a mesh network as we were having some issues with streaming video quality, such as blurry/pixilated picture on our streaming TV, or buffering/loading on tablets or other devices playing video. A couple suspected reasons for these bandwidth issues were ethernet connected computer(s), use of a Wifi extender, and/or a Wifi security camera at the extent of the Wifi signal range that were reducing the connection quality of the other devices mentioned. Improvements after installing: One main issue I was seeing was an outdoor security camera that had a weak signal was having trouble staying connected. On my smartphone, I also had trouble staying connected to my Wifi when standing next to the camera outside. After installing this system, I have a strong signal throughout the house and near this camera, and speed tests indicate a much faster connection speed than before. There was a +50 Mbps jump in the upstairs far corner of the house. The security camera also remained connected much more reliably. I thought that it wouldn't be possible to still get a great signal across the house, figuring there was no way connecting through a satellite would provide any kind of decent speed, but it does! My understanding is that the software for this system is able to appropriately manage consistency of connections (through all connection points), so there is in fact an advanced capability over older routers to keep speeds high regardless of distance from the main router. Setup: Installing this system took less than 10 minutes to be fully up and running - very easy plug-and-play. May take 20 or 30 minutes for someone not as savvy.. but between the app and the automatic connections between the routers, it couldn't have been easier, and very difficult to mess up. Simply connect an ethernet cable from your modem to the main router (each of the 3 units is the same), connect the power cable, then download the app on your smartphone. In the app, after some brief setup steps (includes creating an account), the main step is to connect to the router through the on-screen prompts. From there, you can name your wireless network and password. Connecting the other 2 satellite routers: Place them within a reasonable distance from the main router (~20-30 feet/1-2 rooms away), then plug in to power. Wait ~2 minutes and done! The whole system was live and wirelessly connected through the main router. I couldn't believe it. In my relatively square-shaped house with the main router on one far side, I was able to place the 3 routers in a triangular pattern, where both satellites are about equal distance from the main router in the middle of the house (about 20 feet each). If your router is in the middle of your home, you may want to place the satellites at either end. I believe a daisy chain (main router at one end like I have, then 2 satellites in a line across the house) is also an option for larger, more expansive homes to maximize the range. I didn't test the daisy chain, but I'd expect diminishing speed at the far end (although one may be surprised based on my observations so far with the management of the traffic at farther distances). While at the far end of my house and running a speed test, I can't tell that I'm not connected to my main router as the speed is still very good. The daisy chain may slightly differ, but can't say for sure. 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz networks: Wait, you don't need to set up 2 different networks?? The app basically eliminates all complexity over traditional router setup apps, making the setup choices totally accessible for anyone of any networking skill level. In the app, there is an option to broadcast 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz only, or 5 GHz only. I remained on the first option as I needed support for 2.4 GHz-only devices. Otherwise, 5 GHz would be fine and preferred for everything (supports faster speeds). Apparently, the single network name/password automatically creates a dual band setup, if choosing both. Devices that connect apparently are favored to the optimal band - frankly, I don't know the details there, but would assume 5 GHz connects first over 2.4, unless only compatible with 2.4. Refurbished vs. New: No difference here. If you want to save a little money, refurbished is a good option for you. The box came with everything in it including an ethernet cable as if it were new. As far as condition, there were a few scuffs on the units, but nothing terrible. I could almost rub off any blemishes. I'm not looking at them anyway. Overall, highly recommended for those looking to make the leap to a mesh network, or debating whether mesh is just all hype (it's not with this system).

I live in a 3 story condo with shared neighbor walls on both sides. The wireless interference is pretty crazy around here. When I read that these three Deco X-55 base units could be used as backhaul, it got me thinking. My condo is pre-wired throughout the three floors, so maximum backhaul wireless connection only works as expected if your home is pre-wired like this. It may still work for you even if you do not have pre-wired network, but if your home has crazy interference the backhaul may not work as you expect it. The three base units would have to share wireless strength, so keep that in mind. My three base units stated that they are made in Vietnam. The app is nicely designed, easy to use and read. Follow the instructions and search on their website if you have any questions. There are a few negatives or enhancements that I wish they would included in the product. 1. The router features are mainly accessible through the mobile app ONLY. They give you a "reason" why it is only available on the mobile, so you can read that on their website. You are able to log into the account from a PC, but the features available to you from PC browser access is much more limited. I still believe it should not have been limited to just mobile app. 2. In the app, it is great at showing the upload and download of each hardware device. However, it does not show the TOTAL upload and download of the device in a range. So, if the device is actively upload/download data then you can see it LIVE. If you wish to analyze how much data that specific device has passed through over a given time, then the app does not provide that information. This is more like an enhancement that I would request to add, but there are other manufacturers who actually offer that kind of statistic. 3. The app has a problem incorrectly recognizing or incorrectly "labeling" a device. I had like 6 devices at one point in time labeled as iRobot Corporation. I only have one iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner. I had to block 5 of them thinking there was something fishy/shady about those devices. Later I found out that this is caused due to the random hardware addresses. Seems like some devices offer the capability to hide/spoof hardware addresses (MAC) to protect the device on public wifi connections. This confuses the Deco X-55 router, so I guess it decided to pick my iRobot Corportation since it looked like it might be that device? I had to go through the process of finding out some devices could not connect and then match their MAC addresses to the blocked devices on my Deco mobile app. To fix that kind of issue, they say to disable Random hardware addresses feature, but I'm not sure if that's worth it if you need to take those devices and connect publicly in the future. What I have done is identify those device and just renamed them in the Deco app. I still have 3 "iRobot Corporation" devices that I have not yet figured out where they are from because no other devices I am currently using is having any internet problems. 4. The wireless (WIFI) subnet mask for the MAIN devices and the GUEST NETWORK are the SAME! 192.123.123.xxx are assigned to both MAIN and GUEST networks. I'm not sure why, but I assumed it would have been different. The reason why is because my two backhaul base units that are daisy chained behind the main base that's connected to the internet provider router have different subnet masks if you hardwire them. Maybe I did not connect them properly, for example, I need to connect the hardwire network directly to the 2nd and 3rd Deco base units then from there connect everything out from them? That doesn't much make sense, since this only seems to be affecting WIRELESS devices, not hard wired devices. All the wireless devices are just "joined" to the Deco unit, I don't get to choose from the app which base unit it can connect to (for example, select initial wireless connection to base 1 instead of base 3). You could force a wireless connection to stay with a specific base (only force to stay connected to base 3 and not base 1), but this is AFTER it has successfully connected to the wireless network. I don't have any issues for devices that is physically located at a location to pick the correct base to connect. For example my smart doorbell connect to the closest Deco base without me having to do anything. In general Deco does a pretty good job identifying what manufacture of the hardware that is connected wirelessly to the router. The incorrect labeling of some devices is something you will have to monitor and correct pretty quickly or else you may think it's a rogue device and end up blocking it in the list. This is a review of the Deco X-55 WIFI 6, so it's not the latest and greatest chips. My worst oldest wifi device that I used to test the speed I think is the Samsung AT8 tablet 32 GB. It's a terrible device that I hate and would not give to my worst enemy to use. That being said, I still use it since I paid for it and no use to throw it away. It allows me to watch streaming but requires me to reboot it once a while to stream properly. I don't use it for anything else. The internet speed test was more than sufficient at 280+ Mbps down and 290+ Mbps up. For reference, this device prior to the Deco router installation was only able to do average 10+ Mbps down and 3+ Mbps up... quite often the WIFI quality wasn't even that good. Deco X-55 allows you to reboot the base from the app, shows the signal strength for each device, which base those devices are connected to, if the devices are connected hardwire or wireless (my old router could not label wired and wireless devices properly so this Deco is a plus on that feature), upgrade/update firmware from the app, rename devices, block devices. Oh, I should be doing this soon, but the Deco also allows you to configure ISOLATION for your devices connected to your main router. This still allows it to reach out to the internet and talk to other devices in the household, but it does not allow it to transfer data between devices. Overall, recommended device. Plenty of fancy features to toggle and easy to use. The price is just nice enough for my pocket too, and I do not believe I will need anything more than WIFI 6 speed right now. So, it is not future proof, but when I have money to upgrade my other home devices to take advantage of 6e or 7, I will see how much it cost for a new router in the years to come.

We really needed a Mesh system! I was getting .17 Mbps (that’s POINT 17) in my office from Wi-Fi prior to installing this system. Now I get +/- 350 Mbps on a 300 Mbps internet plan from Spectrum. I have wired my house with CAT 5e and CAT 6 riser wire and use an old, but still current, D-Link DGS-1024D 24-port Gigabit switch. I quickly found out my switch doesn’t support backhaul so I bought a NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet unmanaged Switch (GS305) that supports backhaul. I ran a cable from my modem to the Main Deco then one cable from the Main Deco to the 24-port switch and another cable from the Main Deco to the 5-port switch. I then connected the satellite Deco’s to the 5-port NETGEAR switch. I’m really glad the Deco’s have three Ethernet ports as all three are being used on the Main Deco. This worked great everywhere except in the kitchen (see floor plan). I was getting +/- 150 Mbps in the kitchen which is better than anything we ever got from Spectrum Wi-Fi but I knew it could be better so I bought a 4th Deco and installed it in the kitchen. This Mesh system solved so many problems we were having with Echo devices losing internet connections, phones not being able to send photos, watching movies on my tablet, choppy videos from our CCTV cameras, no Wi-Fi outside the house, and more. Setup was a breeze except changing the Wi-Fi on 30’ish smart devices and phones we have. I intended to name the Deco Wi-Fi the same as my old Spectrum so I wouldn’t have to go through setting up all our smart devices but I mistakenly included a space in the name. I recommend naming your Deco and password the same as your current Wi-Fi and turning off your current Wi-Fi. This should make setting up your smart devices and phones unnecessary. I hope you found this review helpful.

In a world where a strong and reliable Wi-Fi connection is paramount, the TP-Link Deco AX3000 stands tall as a beacon of connectivity, effortlessly blanketing my 140-square-meter apartment with its powerful signal. This review encapsulates why the Deco AX3000 deserves its place as a frontrunner in the realm of mesh Wi-Fi systems, highlighting its exceptional signal coverage and unbeatable cost-effectiveness. As a Brazilian, I brought a mash system to Brazil, even though it's not sold locally. I'm quite satisfied with the features it offers and with the complete automation of my home. Having a reliable network is crucial to ensure the effective operation of all devices. Signal Coverage: 5/5 One of the most impressive feats of the TP-Link Deco AX3000 is its ability to deliver consistent, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout every nook and cranny of my home. From the living room to the farthest corner of the bedroom, the Deco AX3000 ensures a strong and stable connection, eliminating dead zones with remarkable efficiency. Streaming 4K videos, gaming online, or video conferencing – no task is too demanding for this powerhouse of a mesh system. Performance: 5/5 Equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, the Deco AX3000 not only provides extensive coverage but also delivers lightning-fast speeds and low latency. Whether I'm downloading large files or engaging in bandwidth-intensive activities, the Deco AX3000 consistently exceeds expectations, offering a seamless online experience for all connected devices. With support for up to 150 devices, it effortlessly handles the demands of a modern smart home without breaking a sweat. Ease of Setup: 5/5 Setting up the Deco AX3000 is a breeze, thanks to the intuitive Deco app. In just a few simple steps, I was able to configure and optimize my mesh network to suit my specific needs. The app provides comprehensive control over network settings, allowing me to prioritize devices, set up parental controls, and monitor network traffic with ease. Whether you're a tech novice or a seasoned enthusiast, the Deco AX3000 makes the setup process hassle-free. Cost-Effectiveness: 5/5 Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the TP-Link Deco AX3000 is its exceptional affordability. Despite offering premium features and performance that rival more expensive competitors, the Deco AX3000 comes at a fraction of the cost, making it an unbeatable value for budget-conscious consumers. With the Deco AX3000, you get top-tier performance without having to break the bank, making it a wise investment for any home or small business. Final Verdict: In conclusion, the TP-Link Deco AX3000 is a true standout in the world of mesh Wi-Fi systems, offering unparalleled signal coverage, blazing-fast speeds, and unbeatable affordability. Whether you're looking to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones, upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, or simply enhance your online experience, the Deco AX3000 delivers on all fronts. With its stellar performance and budget-friendly price tag, it's a clear winner in my book. Highly recommended!