GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000 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 GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000 scores 6.7/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) at 6.6/10.

The GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000 leads on software and security, wired ports and value.

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

GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000

6.7/10verdict: buy

The Flint 2 is for homelabbers and sysadmins who want a configurable single router with fast VPN throughput. It suits people who are comfortable with OpenWrt-style settings and want 2.5G wired ports. Beginners and anyone covering a large or multi-storey home with one unit should read the owner feedback first.

Typically about £152.99 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

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	7/10
Software and security	25%	7/10	6/10
Wired ports	20%	8/10	7/10
Coverage	15%	5/10	7/10
Value	15%	7/10	6/10
Overall		6.7/10	6.6/10

Specifications

Spec	GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), speeds up to 5000 Mbps
Bands and speed class	Dual-band: 1148Mbps (2.4GHz), 4804Mbps (5GHz)	Dual-band: 4324 Mbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
WAN port	1 x WAN (2.5G), 1 x WAN/LAN (2.5G)	Two 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit
LAN ports	4 x LAN (1G), plus one flexible 2.5G WAN/LAN port	No dedicated LAN port; the two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit can act as LAN ports
Mesh nodes in the box	1 router, 0 mesh nodes	3
Security and VPN features	not listed	HomeShield network protection, parental controls, IoT security, guest network, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall and device blocklist

Strengths and weaknesses

GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000

+ Two 2.5G ports, one WAN and one flexible WAN/LAN
+ WireGuard rated up to 900Mbps; can also act as a VPN server
+ Owners report quiet running and draw of around 13 to 16 watts
− Owners describe a steep learning curve for beginners
− Runs warm under high WireGuard load, with no passive cooling
− Single unit with no mesh nodes; patchy coverage in multi-storey homes

Skip it if:

Beginners who want a simple app-led setup
Owners of large or multi-storey homes needing several mesh nodes
Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 with a 6GHz band

Read the full GL.iNet Flint 2 GL-MT6000 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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