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TP-Link Archer AX18 vs TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

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 S7 (3-pack) at 5.3/10.

The TP-Link Archer AX18 leads on software and security and value.

The TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack) leads on coverage.

They score the same on wi-Fi standard and bands and wired ports.

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

TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

5.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The Deco S7 3-pack suits people who want whole-home Wi-Fi 5 coverage across a larger property, with guest networks, parental controls and QoS listed. It fits homes running gigabit-class connections and a moderate number of devices over dual-band Wi-Fi. It is less suited to anyone who wants newer Wi-Fi standards, multi-gig wired ports or a long support runway.

Typically about £127.49 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 S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/106/10
Software and security25%6/104/10
Wired ports20%5/105/10
Coverage15%5/107/10
Value15%6/105/10
Overall5.7/105.3/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Archer AX18TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), backward compatible with 11a/b/g/n/ac/axWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed classDual-band: 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (11ax) and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (11n)Dual-band AC1900: 5 GHz 1300 Mbps, 2.4 GHz 600 Mbps, 3x3 MU-MIMO
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)not listed
LAN ports3x Gigabit LAN3x Gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports per unit
Mesh nodes in the box1 router; no extra nodes (not sold as a kit)3
Rated coveragenot listedUp to 5,600 sq ft for the 3-pack
Security and VPN featuresnot listedSPI firewall, access control, parental controls, QoS, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz guest networks, VLAN, IPv4/IPv6, port forwarding, TP-Link DDNS, WPA-Personal and WPA2-Personal

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Archer AX18

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with WPA3-Personal support
  • + Guest network, parental controls and access control included
  • − 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 S7 (3-pack)

  • + Three nodes rated for up to 5,600 sq ft
  • + Three Gigabit ports on every unit
  • + Guest networks and VLAN are listed
  • − Wi-Fi 5 dual-band only, with no 6 GHz band
  • − UK product page carries an End of Life heading
  • − Security listed as WPA and WPA2 Personal only

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want WPA3 or a Wi-Fi 6, 6E or Wi-Fi 7 mesh
  • Anyone needing 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
  • People who want a product with a clear long-term support outlook
Read the full TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack) review ›

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