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TP-Link Archer AX18 vs TP-Link Deco X10

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems at a similar price

The TP-Link Archer AX18 scores 5.7/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco X10 at 5.2/10.

The TP-Link Archer AX18 leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, wired ports and value.

The TP-Link Deco X10 leads on coverage.

They score the same on software and security.

Archer AX18

TP-Link Archer AX18

5.7/10verdict: good, not the best

The Archer AX18 suits people who want a plain Wi-Fi 6 router for a small to average home on a gigabit connection or slower. It covers the basics: WPA3, guest network, parental controls and automatic firmware updates. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs multi-gig ports, a VPN server, VLANs or a mesh system.

Typically about £50.21 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Deco X10

TP-Link Deco X10

5.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The Deco X10 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for households that want simple, app-led setup and broad coverage. It suits homes with modest wired needs and moderate wireless loads. Buyers who want faster-than-gigabit ports or a tri-band design should look at other systems.

Typically about £153.89 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link Archer AX18TP-Link Deco X10
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/105/10
Software and security25%6/106/10
Wired ports20%5/104/10
Coverage15%5/106/10
Value15%6/105/10
Overall5.7/105.2/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Archer AX18TP-Link Deco X10
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), backward compatible with 11a/b/g/n/ac/ax802.11a/n/ac/ax on 5 GHz and 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz; mesh protocols 802.11k/v/r; WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3
Bands and speed classDual-band: 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (11ax) and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (11n)Dual-band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (AX1500; rated 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz)
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)No dedicated WAN port; each unit has two Gigabit Ethernet ports that auto-sense WAN/LAN
LAN ports3x Gigabit LANTwo Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit, shared with WAN
Mesh nodes in the box1 router; no extra nodes (not sold as a kit)Packs of 1, 2 or 3 units; the 3-pack has three units
Rated coveragenot listedUp to 5,600 ft² (520 m²) for the 3-pack, 3,900 ft² for the 2-pack and 2,100 ft² for the 1-pack (US page); India page gives 3,900 ft² / 360 m²
Security and VPN featuresnot listedWPA3, SPI firewall, blocklist, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz guest networks, parental controls, QoS, port forwarding, IPv6, TP-Link DDNS, IPTV, local and remote management; VPN client and server added in US firmware 1.3.0

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Archer AX18

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with WPA3-Personal support
  • + Guest network, parental controls and access control included
  • + Firmware listings run into September 2026
  • − Gigabit-only wired ports, no 2.5GbE
  • − Dual-band only, with no 6 GHz
  • − No VPN server, and VLAN support not published

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or 10GbE wired ports
  • Anyone needing a router-hosted VPN server or published VLAN support
  • Households needing mesh nodes or a published coverage rating for a large home
Read the full TP-Link Archer AX18 review ›

TP-Link Deco X10

  • + Manufacturer rates the 3-pack for up to 5,600 ft²
  • + Owners report easy app setup and smooth roaming
  • + Guest networks, WPA3 and regular firmware releases
  • − Gigabit ports only, two per unit, shared with WAN
  • − Dual-band only; owners report shared backhaul limits under load
  • − Advanced HomeShield features reportedly need a paid subscription

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
  • Households with heavy simultaneous traffic who want tri-band or 6 GHz
  • Anyone who wants advanced security features without a possible subscription
Read the full TP-Link Deco X10 review ›

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