MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router vs TP-Link Deco BE9300 (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 BE9300 (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 BE9300 (3-pack) leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, wired ports and coverage.

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) scores 9/10 to the MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router's 5/10.

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

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

TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)

6.6/10verdict: buy

The Deco BE9300 three-pack is for households that want a Wi-Fi 7 mesh with plenty of fast wired ports on every unit. It suits people who will run Ethernet to desktops, consoles or storage in several rooms. It is less suited to anyone who wants deep manual control of the network or full security features without a subscription.

Typically about £439 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router	TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	8/10
Software and security	25%	7/10	4/10
Wired ports	20%	5/10	9/10
Coverage	15%	5/10	6/10
Value	15%	8/10	6/10
Overall		6.2/10	6.6/10

Specifications

Spec	MERCUSYS MR80X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router	TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), compatible with 11ac/a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)
Bands and speed class	Dual-band: 2402 Mbps (5 GHz) + 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 160 MHz channels, 1024-QAM; marketed as AX3000	Tri-band 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz; signal rates 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2882 Mbps (5 GHz), 5765 Mbps (6 GHz)
WAN port	1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)	4 x 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit; one port can be WAN at a time
LAN ports	3x Gigabit LAN (datasheet; V6 page lists 5x, so revision-dependent)	The same 4 x 2.5 Gbps ports per unit can be used as LAN; one can serve as wired backhaul between units
Mesh nodes in the box	0 extra nodes (single router, no nodes in box)	3
Rated coverage	No manufacturer-rated area; four 5 dBi fixed omni antennas and beamforming	not listed
Security and VPN features	WPA3-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 Connect	WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall, device blocklist, separate 2.4/5/6 GHz guest networks, IoT network, MLO network, Parental Controls, QoS, Network Protection, remote management, Online Upgrade firmware updates

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 BE9300 (3-pack)

+ Wi-Fi 7 tri-band with a 6 GHz band
+ Four 2.5 Gbps ports on every unit
+ Wired backhaul between units is supported
− Full parental controls and IoT security need a paid plan
− No locally hosted web interface
− Limited QoS and traffic features

Skip it if:

Buyers who want full parental controls and IoT security without a subscription
Anyone who wants a local web interface and detailed QoS or traffic control
Buyers who need a built-in VPN server

Read the full TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) review ›

More comparisons

Compare all Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems · Best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems