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MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router 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 MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco X10 at 5.2/10.

The MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, software and security, wired ports and value.

The TP-Link Deco X10 leads on coverage.

The biggest difference is value, where the MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router scores 8/10 to the TP-Link Deco X10's 5/10.

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The MERCUSYS MR80X suits people who want a low-cost Wi-Fi 6 router for a small home with a gigabit connection. It covers the basics well, with guest networks, a VPN server and WPA3 listed. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs multi-gig ports, a wide-coverage mesh out of the box or lots of wired devices.

Typically about £34.99 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

CriterionWeightMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Deco X10
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/105/10
Software and security25%7/106/10
Wired ports20%5/104/10
Coverage15%5/106/10
Value15%8/105/10
Overall6.2/105.2/10

Specifications

SpecMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Deco X10
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), compatible with 11ac/a/b/g/n802.11a/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: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 160 MHz channels, 1024-QAM; marketed as AX3000Dual-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 LAN (datasheet; V6 page lists 5x, so revision-dependent)Two Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit, shared with WAN
Mesh nodes in the box0 extra nodes (single router, no nodes in box)Packs of 1, 2 or 3 units; the 3-pack has three units
Rated coverageNo manufacturer-rated area; four 5 dBi fixed omni antennas and beamformingUp 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 featuresWPA3-SAE (needs client support), WPA/WPA2 Enterprise, SPI firewall, IP/MAC binding, 2.4 and 5 GHz guest networks, OpenVPN/PPTP/L2TP/IPsec server and clients, parental controls, QoS, IPTV tag VLAN, IPv6, Smart ConnectWPA3, 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

MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with 160 MHz channels and 1024-QAM
  • + VPN server and clients plus guest networks on both bands
  • + Owners describe it as very affordable and stable
  • − Gigabit-only ports, with three LAN ports on the datasheet
  • − No manufacturer-rated coverage area and no nodes in the box
  • − Owners report no repeater mode and no wall-mount holes

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or 10GbE wired ports
  • People who need many wired connections without adding a switch
  • Owners of larger homes who want a mesh kit with nodes in the box
Read the full MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router 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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