eero 6+ 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 eero 6+ at 4.2/10.

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

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) scores 7/10 to the eero 6+'s 3/10.

eero 6+

4.2/10verdict: skip

The eero 6+ is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router for a home that wants smart home control built into the router. It suits buyers who connect few wired devices and mainly want wireless coverage. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs several wired ports, network segmentation or free content filtering.

Typically about £139.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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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

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	eero 6+	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	5/10	7/10
Software and security	25%	4/10	6/10
Wired ports	20%	3/10	7/10
Coverage	15%	5/10	7/10
Value	15%	4/10	6/10
Overall		4.2/10	6.6/10

Specifications

Spec	eero 6+	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), AX3000 rating, 2x2 antenna array	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), speeds up to 5000 Mbps
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 on each band, 160 MHz channels on 5 GHz	Dual-band: 4324 Mbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
WAN port	Two auto-sensing gigabit (1 GbE) Ethernet ports for WAN and/or LAN	Two 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit
LAN ports	Shared with the WAN ports; the two 1 GbE ports can be used as LAN; no separate LAN port count published	No dedicated LAN port; the two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit can act as LAN ports
Mesh nodes in the box	1 eero 6+ in the single-unit box; 2-pack and 3-pack sold	3
Rated coverage	Up to 1,500 sq ft per router; up to 4,500 sq ft with a 3-pack	not listed
Security and VPN features	Zigbee, Thread and Matter controller; Alexa support; automatic channel selection	HomeShield network protection, parental controls, IoT security, guest network, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall and device blocklist

Strengths and weaknesses

eero 6+

+ Thread, Zigbee and Matter controller built in
+ 160 MHz channels on 5 GHz
+ Rated for up to 4,500 sq ft with a 3-pack
− Only two gigabit ports, shared between WAN and LAN
− No 6 GHz band; dual-band only
− Content filters and ad blocking need a paid plan

Skip it if:

Homelabbers who need several wired gigabit or multi-gig ports
Admins who need VLANs, guest networks or a VPN server
Buyers who want content filtering without a subscription

Read the full eero 6+ 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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