Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

TP-Link Deco X10 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 TP-Link Deco X10 at 5.2/10.

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

They score the same on software and security.

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) scores 7/10 to the TP-Link Deco X10's 4/10.

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

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

CriterionWeightTP-Link Deco X10TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%5/107/10
Software and security25%6/106/10
Wired ports20%4/107/10
Coverage15%6/107/10
Value15%5/106/10
Overall5.2/106.6/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Deco X10TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard802.11a/n/ac/ax on 5 GHz and 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz; mesh protocols 802.11k/v/r; WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), speeds up to 5000 Mbps
Bands and speed classDual-band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (AX1500; rated 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz)Dual-band: 4324 Mbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
WAN portNo dedicated WAN port; each unit has two Gigabit Ethernet ports that auto-sense WAN/LANTwo 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit
LAN portsTwo Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit, shared with WANNo dedicated LAN port; the two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit can act as LAN ports
Mesh nodes in the boxPacks of 1, 2 or 3 units; the 3-pack has three units3
Rated coverageUp 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 m²not listed
Security and VPN featuresWPA3, 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 1.3.0HomeShield network protection, parental controls, IoT security, guest network, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall and device blocklist

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

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 ›

More comparisons

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