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MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router vs TP-Link Deco BE26 (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 Deco BE26 (3-pack) scores 6.6/10 overall, ahead of the MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router at 6.2/10.

The MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router leads on software and security and value.

The TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, wired ports and coverage.

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

TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)

TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)

6.6/10verdict: buy

The TP-Link Deco BE26 3-pack is for households that want Wi-Fi 7 mesh across a larger home. It suits people with a multi-gig internet connection or a few wired devices who want 2.5 Gbps ports on every unit. It is a better fit for home users who want built-in parental controls and security tools than for admins who need advanced network segmentation.

Typically about £299.99 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/107/10
Software and security25%7/106/10
Wired ports20%5/107/10
Coverage15%5/107/10
Value15%8/106/10
Overall6.2/106.6/10

Specifications

SpecMERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 RouterTP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), compatible with 11ac/a/b/g/nWi-Fi 7 (802.11be), speeds up to 5000 Mbps
Bands and speed classDual-band: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 160 MHz channels, 1024-QAM; marketed as AX3000Dual-band: 4324 Mbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)Two 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit
LAN ports3x Gigabit LAN (datasheet; V6 page lists 5x, so revision-dependent)No dedicated LAN port; the two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit can act as LAN ports
Mesh nodes in the box0 extra nodes (single router, no nodes in box)3
Rated coverageNo manufacturer-rated area; four 5 dBi fixed omni antennas and beamformingnot listed
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 ConnectHomeShield network protection, parental controls, IoT security, guest network, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall and device blocklist

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 BE26 (3-pack)

  • + Wi-Fi 7 with three nodes included
  • + Two 2.5 Gbps ports on every unit
  • + EU V1 firmware adds DoT/DoH and internet backup
  • − Dual-band only, with 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
  • − No dedicated LAN port on any unit
  • − Listed features centre on home controls, not advanced networking

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system
  • Admins who need VLANs or a VPN server on the router
  • Anyone wiring many devices to each node
Read the full TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) review ›

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