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TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) 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 TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) scores 6.6/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack) at 4.6/10.

The TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) leads on wi-Fi standard and bands and wired ports.

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

They score the same on value.

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the TP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack) scores 9/10 to the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)'s 2/10.

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

TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)

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 (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 Deco BE9300 (3-pack)TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%8/104/10
Software and security25%4/105/10
Wired ports20%9/102/10
Coverage15%6/107/10
Value15%6/106/10
Overall6.6/104.6/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Deco BE9300 (3-pack)TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz, 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed classTri-band 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz; signal rates 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2882 Mbps (5 GHz), 5765 Mbps (6 GHz)Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; signal rates 867 Mbps (5 GHz) and 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
WAN port4 x 2.5 Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN ports per unit; one port can be WAN at a time2 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN ports per unit, auto-sensing
LAN portsThe same 4 x 2.5 Gbps ports per unit can be used as LAN; one can serve as wired backhaul between unitsNo dedicated LAN port; the two 10/100 Mbps ports on each unit serve as WAN or LAN
Mesh nodes in the box33
Rated coveragenot listedUp to 4,000 sq ft for the 3-pack (test-based, not guaranteed)
Security and VPN featuresWPA/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 updatesSPI 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

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 ›

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 ›

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