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TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 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 TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router at 5.9/10.

The TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 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 wi-Fi standard and bands, where the TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) scores 8/10 to the TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router's 5/10.

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The Archer C6 is for anyone replacing an ageing router with a single dual-band Wi-Fi 5 unit and four Gigabit LAN ports. It suits buyers who want a simple setup and a decent feature list, including guest networks, WPA3 and a VPN server. It is a poor fit if you need Wi-Fi 6, multi-gigabit ports or a rated coverage figure.

Typically about £43.78 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 BE9300 (3-pack)

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 (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 Archer C6 AC1200 RouterTP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%5/108/10
Software and security25%7/104/10
Wired ports20%6/109/10
Coverage15%4/106/10
Value15%7/106/10
Overall5.9/106.6/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 RouterTP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g on 2.4 GHz)Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)
Bands and speed classDual-band AC1200: 867 Mbps on 5 GHz, 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (the same page also gives 400 Mbps for 2.4 GHz, a conflict on the manufacturer page)Tri-band 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz; signal rates 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2882 Mbps (5 GHz), 5765 Mbps (6 GHz)
WAN port1x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)4 x 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit; one port can be WAN at a time
LAN ports4x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)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 box0 (one router in the box)3
Security and VPN featuresSPI firewall, access control, IP and MAC binding, guest networks (one 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz), VPN server (OpenVPN, PPTP), VPN client (OpenVPN, PPTP, WireGuard), WPA/WPA2/WPA3, parental controlsWPA/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

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

  • + WPA3, guest networks and VPN server included
  • + Four Gigabit LAN ports plus Gigabit WAN
  • + Owners report simple setup and good value
  • − No rated coverage figure published
  • − No USB port, according to owners
  • − Several hardware revisions share the same name

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6 or newer
  • Anyone needing 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
  • People who need a USB port for storage or printer sharing
Read the full TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 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 ›

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