TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack) vs TP-Link Deco S7 (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 S7 (3-pack) at 5.3/10.

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

They score the same on coverage.

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

TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

5.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The Deco S7 3-pack suits people who want whole-home Wi-Fi 5 coverage across a larger property, with guest networks, parental controls and QoS listed. It fits homes running gigabit-class connections and a moderate number of devices over dual-band Wi-Fi. It is less suited to anyone who wants newer Wi-Fi standards, multi-gig wired ports or a long support runway.

Typically about £127.49 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	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)	TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	7/10	6/10
Software and security	25%	6/10	4/10
Wired ports	20%	7/10	5/10
Coverage	15%	7/10	7/10
Value	15%	6/10	5/10
Overall		6.6/10	5.3/10

Specifications

Spec	TP-Link Deco BE26 (3-pack)	TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), speeds up to 5000 Mbps	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed class	Dual-band: 4324 Mbps on 5 GHz and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz	Dual-band AC1900: 5 GHz 1300 Mbps, 2.4 GHz 600 Mbps, 3x3 MU-MIMO
WAN port	Two 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit	not listed
LAN ports	No dedicated LAN port; the two auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit can act as LAN ports	3x Gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports per unit
Mesh nodes in the box	3	3
Rated coverage	not listed	Up to 5,600 sq ft for the 3-pack
Security and VPN features	HomeShield network protection, parental controls, IoT security, guest network, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 encryption, firewall and device blocklist	SPI firewall, access control, parental controls, QoS, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz guest networks, VLAN, IPv4/IPv6, port forwarding, TP-Link DDNS, WPA-Personal and WPA2-Personal

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

+ Three nodes rated for up to 5,600 sq ft
+ Three Gigabit ports on every unit
+ Guest networks and VLAN are listed
− Wi-Fi 5 dual-band only, with no 6 GHz band
− UK product page carries an End of Life heading
− Security listed as WPA and WPA2 Personal only

Skip it if:

Buyers who want WPA3 or a Wi-Fi 6, 6E or Wi-Fi 7 mesh
Anyone needing 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
People who want a product with a clear long-term support outlook

Read the full TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack) review ›

More comparisons

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