Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

TP-Link Deco E4 (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 S7 (3-pack) scores 5.3/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack) at 4.6/10.

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

The TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack) leads on wi-Fi standard and bands and wired ports.

They score the same on coverage.

The biggest difference is wired ports, where the TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack) scores 5/10 to the TP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)'s 2/10.

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

TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)

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 (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 E4 (3-pack)TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%4/106/10
Software and security25%5/104/10
Wired ports20%2/105/10
Coverage15%7/107/10
Value15%6/105/10
Overall4.6/105.3/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Deco E4 (3-pack)TP-Link Deco S7 (3-pack)
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz, 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz)Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed classDual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; signal rates 867 Mbps (5 GHz) and 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz)Dual-band AC1900: 5 GHz 1300 Mbps, 2.4 GHz 600 Mbps, 3x3 MU-MIMO
WAN port2 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN ports per unit, auto-sensingnot listed
LAN portsNo dedicated LAN port; the two 10/100 Mbps ports on each unit serve as WAN or LAN3x Gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports per unit
Mesh nodes in the box33
Rated coverageUp to 4,000 sq ft for the 3-pack (test-based, not guaranteed)Up to 5,600 sq ft for the 3-pack
Security and VPN featuresSPI 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 listedSPI 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 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 ›

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