eero Pro 6E vs TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems at a similar price

The eero Pro 6E scores 5.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack) at 4.6/10.

The eero Pro 6E leads on wi-Fi standard and bands and wired ports.

The TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack) leads on coverage and value.

They score the same on software and security.

The biggest difference is wi-Fi standard and bands, where the eero Pro 6E scores 7/10 to the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)'s 4/10.

eero Pro 6E

5.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The eero Pro 6E is for households that want a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E mesh system. It suits people with a modest number of wired devices and a single fast line into the home. It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants a VPN server, many Ethernet ports or a documented VLAN setup.

Typically about £336.99 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 E4 (3-pack)

4.6/10verdict: skip

The Deco E4 3-pack is for households that want Wi-Fi spread across a large home from three units on a broadband line of modest speed. It suits people who mostly connect over Wi-Fi and have few wired devices. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants gigabit wired ports, Wi-Fi 6 or a built-in VPN server.

Typically about £109 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 Pro 6E	TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	7/10	4/10
Software and security	25%	5/10	5/10
Wired ports	20%	4/10	2/10
Coverage	15%	6/10	7/10
Value	15%	5/10	6/10
Overall		5.4/10	4.6/10

Specifications

Spec	eero Pro 6E	TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6E tri-band 802.11ax, 2:2:2, with 160 MHz channels in 5 GHz and 6 GHz	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz, 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed class	2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; signal rates 867 Mbps (5 GHz) and 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
WAN port	1 x 2.5 GbE auto-sensing (WAN or LAN)	2 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN ports per unit, auto-sensing
LAN ports	1 x Gigabit Ethernet auto-sensing (WAN or LAN)	No dedicated LAN port; the two 10/100 Mbps ports on each unit serve as WAN or LAN
Mesh nodes in the box	1, 2 or 3 units depending on pack (1-, 2- and 3-pack)	3
Rated coverage	Up to 2,000 sq ft per unit; up to 6,000 sq ft for a 3-pack	Up to 4,000 sq ft for the 3-pack (test-based, not guaranteed)
Security and VPN features	Profiles, WPA3, WPA2, TLS v1.2+, VPN passthrough, IPv6, NAT, UPnP, port forwarding, DHCP, static IP, cloud connectivity	SPI firewall, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (no WPA3 listed), guest networks on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, parental controls, QoS, port forwarding, VLAN, IPv6; no VPN server listed

Strengths and weaknesses

eero Pro 6E

+ Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E with 6 GHz and 160 MHz channels
+ 2.5GbE port that works as either WAN or LAN
+ Rated up to 6,000 sq ft in a 3-pack
− Only two Ethernet ports per unit
− VPN passthrough only, no VPN server

Skip it if:

Homelabbers who need a built-in VPN server or documented VLANs
Buyers with several wired devices who want many LAN ports per unit
Anyone whose devices lack 6E support and who wants no 6 GHz band

Read the full eero Pro 6E review ›

TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)

+ Three units rated for up to 4,000 sq ft
+ Guest networks on both bands, plus VLAN and QoS
+ High retailer ratings from owners
− Ethernet ports are 10/100 Mbps only
− Wi-Fi 5 dual-band, with no WPA3 listed
− No VPN server listed

Skip it if:

Buyers with wired NAS, servers or desktops who need gigabit Ethernet
Anyone who wants Wi-Fi 6 or newer for a fast broadband line
Users who need WPA3 or a built-in VPN server

Read the full TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack) review ›

More comparisons

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