TP-Link - Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System with Multi-Gig (3-Pack) - White

I've been using a Deco Mesh system for quite awhile, having received an AX 4300 Pro set for review a little over a year ago. I loved that set, although I used it in AP mode so I could retain some parental control features that came with my AT&T fiber gateway. When given a chance to review the new BE16000 set, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and switch to using full router mode and explore some of the extra features that TP Link builds into the HomeShield program. First up I wanted to review the hardware and speeds. From a design perspective, I really like the cylindrical design of the Deco APs and that has continued over from the older set I've been using. The Wifi 7 units are... huge... though. Around twice the size of my older Wifi 6 APs. For the most part this doesn't matter (and I expect it increases the range as it allows for larger antennas) but one unit in my house was on a high shelf that didn't fit the new 7 device, so I had to rethink things. The BE16000 units fix one of the biggest issues I had with my older set, and that's the inclusion of 4 2.5GbE ports which allowed me to get rid of the 2.5GbE switch I was using as a backbone for my setup. Now I can wire the units to the main router directly and that should improve the speed and reliability of my network. Wifi speeds on 6ghz seem to be roughly the same as 5ghz when using Wifi 6 clients - I'm easily exceeding 1gbit on a single client in both upload and download speeds. I'll attach some screenshots to this review where I simultaneously launched speed tests on my phone and laptop, and speeds were well over 1gbit (and actually upload approached 2gbit/s combined!). Range has also slightly improved as now my wifi connected christmas lights in the front yard are more reliable, so that's a plus too. On the software side, I am really, really impressed with what TP Link has done here. I'm a bit of an IT nerd and until I switched to multi gig fiber I was using a home built pfSense router, so I have been reticent to try "consumer grade" gear that would require bypassing my carrier provided equipment. TP Link's Deco app is fantastic, though. By far the least annoying home grade software controls for any IT equipment I've used. I want to call attention to some of the highlights in list form: 1) Sometime this year they added the "IoT" network capability and it is AWESOME. With this I was able to specify an SSID which uses only WPA2 and 2.4ghz to handle all those devices that are hard to set up on a 5ghz mesh system. This was an incredibly smart idea from TP Link. It's not a VLAN, so it doesn't improve security for your network, but it does make it easier to set up your smart home stuff. 2) On your both your main SSID and IoT networks, it's easy to configure clients to prefer an AP, band, or to disable mesh connections. That's awesome. I have a few devices that are "right on the line" between two APs and this makes it super easy to force them to stay connected to a single node. 3) While I haven't tried the advanced security features, the parental controls are AWESOME! Seriously, my carrier tries to charge $7/month for parental controls that TP Link includes for free in the Deco app, and TP Link's _inexpensive_ paid subscription for advanced controls includes forced SafeSearch and Youtube Restricted mode along with a few other features. I love it! I was able to configure several URLs to be blocked on my network which allowed me to block Minecraft public servers while still allowing my kids to play multiplayer in our realm or on friends' private servers. Just an awesome feature and I'm happily a paid subscriber now. In terms of cost savings, I had previously tried services like Circle that charged a hundred bucks per year to give me features that Deco does for less than a third of that price. 4) The capability to configure both VPN client and server at the router level is awesome. While I haven't tried it yet, it seems possible to configure an OpenVPN server on your network and then have a family member connect their Decos to your network with the VPN client settings available in the Deco app. That would give you the ability to share a media server across networks. Likewise, I love having a VPN server built into the router as it allows me to know I'm browsing safely when I'm away from home. Great features. The only nitpick that I really have for the Deco setup is the subnetting for the Guest network. I wish you could configure more settings here. I have a single device on my network (a washing machine) with a known firmware issue that requires it to be set up with a static IP on the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet with client isolation turned on. I had previously used my carrier gateway to sort of hack this capability into my network, and I've come up with an alternative for now since the Deco router guest network doesn't let me tweak this. Kind of a limited use case so I doubt TP Link will devote any resources to this in the future. But one can dream. Over the last year plus I've happily recommended Deco to anyone who's asked about mesh wifi, and the BE16000 just improves on an existing great product with the new Wifi 7 features. Can't wait to get some Wifi 7 clients to really make use of the speed available. Kudos to TP Link for a class leading product.

----- SUMMARY ----- Verdict: The TP-Link Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System is a solid option for those who want a fast, reliable, and future-proof Wi-Fi network. It uses the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, which provides faster speeds, lower latency, and higher capacity than previous standards. The coverage is also excellent, even in large homes, thanks to the AI-driven mesh technology. The mobile app gives you total control over your Wi-Fi network, and you can even use it to set up parental controls and security features. The only downsides I can think of are that some of the security and parental control features require a subscription, and the price of this system is a bit high. However, if you want the best Wi-Fi experience possible, I think it'd be a worthy investment. Pros: - Uses Wi-Fi 7, the newest and fastest standard available - Provides faster Wi-Fi with lower latency and higher capacity - Great coverage, even in large homes - Uses AI to provide a fast and seamless connection - Easy to set up and use - Mobile app gives you total control over your Wi-Fi network Cons: - Some security and parental control features require a subscription - High price ----- DETAILS ----- Setup & Design: After I opened the box for the TP-Link Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System, I had it set up in no time. The TP-Link Deco app really impressed me. It walks you through the setup process, and it went perfectly for me. The app also has a bunch of other Wi-Fi management features. I'll get into those later. The TP-Link Deco BE16000 routers are pretty big, standing at a little over nine inches tall and five inches wide. They’re bigger than the product photos make them seem, but they’re packed with tech and power. I like that they’re easy to place anywhere in my home and they have a modern, appealing design. Each router has four 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, one USB 2.0 port, a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, and a reset button. They also each have their own power adapters that plug into the back, so they don’t have to be physically tethered to each other. Performance & Features: If you need a mesh Wi-Fi system that gives you the fastest possible speeds across a large area, the TP-Link Deco BE16000 is the way to go. It uses Wi-Fi 7, the newest and fastest standard available. I wanted to improve my home's Wi-Fi network and future-proof it, and the TP-Link Deco BE16000 is perfect for that. There's a lot to know about Wi-Fi 7, but I'll keep this review focused on the TP-Link Deco BE16000 system. Basically, it provides faster Wi-Fi with lower latency and higher capacity. The lower latency means smoother online gaming and video streaming, while the higher capacity lets you connect more devices without slowing down your Wi-Fi. I have a lot of devices in my house, and many of them are always connected to Wi-Fi. Before I switched to the TP-Link Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System, I noticed some slowdowns when most of my devices were in use. That's not a problem anymore. In fact, the network on each device is noticeably faster. I also noticed a big improvement in coverage. I have a multi-story house, and I now have a strong, reliable connection no matter where I am. Even areas that my previous Wi-Fi system couldn't reach, like my front and back porch and my garage, now have great connections. This is important to me because I'm building out a Wi-Fi-connected security system. The TP-Link Deco BE16000 uses AI to provide you with a fast and seamless connection as you move around your house. It works way better than a router and range extender setup. A range extender setup can provide whole-home Wi-Fi, but you might notice connection drops on portable devices like phones and tablets as they switch connections. The TP-Link Deco BE16000 system does this much more efficiently with its AI-driven mesh. It also learns about the network environment, like the placement of your devices and walls, to create the best mesh Wi-Fi solution for your home. After testing the TP-Link Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System with lots of devices and simultaneous network-intensive activities like streaming and online gaming, I can confidently say that it can handle anything you throw at it. The only thing that could slow it down is your internet service provider. You'll want a high-speed plan to get the most out of the TP-Link Deco BE16000. Mobile App: The TP-Link Deco app gives you total control over your Wi-Fi network from the palm of your hand. The app has a clean and easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to see your network status, connected devices, and notifications. You can also use the app to set up a guest network or a VPN, prioritize devices, and use parental controls to restrict online time and content. Unfortunately, some security and parental control features require a subscription. This is a bummer, especially considering the high price of the TP-Link Deco BE16000 Quad-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System. Despite this, the TP-Link Deco app is a great companion to the mesh router system and helps you get the most out of your home Wi-Fi network. ----- WHAT’S IN THE BOX ----- 3 x Deco BE16000 Routers 3 x Power Adapters 1 x Ethernet cable 1 x Quick Installation Guide

This is an amazing router that combines ease of use with some embedded prosumer/enterprise-level functionality. It's as easy as you want it to be or as complicated as you prefer. Whether you're an avid user of all things "tech" or an entry-level novice user, this thing will have you covered. It's simple and stylish while packed with tons of functionality. Setting it up takes minutes after plugging it into your modem and connecting to power. You'll be instructed to connect using the mobile app. There is some web UI functionality, but it's currently limited to a network overview: IP, current speeds, clients, upgrade information, and SSID names with passwords. There is a section on the TP-Link website stating the web UI will be expanded over time, closer to that of other models, but nothing at the time of writing. A few taps on your screen to create an SSID, enter a WiFi password, and add an admin password for the router's UI, and you are ready to go. For the novice user, this may be where you would like to leave off. For the more advanced user, or the user who wishes to gain more control over their networked devices, you may wish to proceed to more advanced settings such as VLANs. Features Between this specific model and many of the newer TP-Link routers, the web UI is no different—except for the fact that you can't make many edits to the network as of now. By default, the router has several radio toggles for different networks, including the standard Guest network, the IoT (Internet of Things) network, the 6GHz network, and the newer MLO network. Each toggle adds several additional functions, such as enabling specific bands for that network (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). The guest network adds functions such as bandwidth metering and band selection (2, 5, or 6 GHz). In a separate toggle are your, now fairly standard, device isolation, QoS, block lists, and additional ACL filtering settings. Do you want your guests to have access to every single device on your LAN network? Have an unthrottled network speed? Be able to see other guests devices on the same network? If the answer is no, these settings will control all of that for you without complicated third-party equipment or additional software. I personally wouldn't want my TP-Link WiFi smart plug to have access to my unthrottled 500 MBPS to 1000 MBPS service; it has no need for that much. The IoT network doesn't offer as many additional functions aside from the radio bands in use and the security type. The rear of the router features an external USB port. In the UI, this can be configured with an external storage device for use as network storage with password authentication. If you are a Mac user, this can also be configured as a Time Machine storage location. In either case, with password authentication to prevent someone else on your network from deleting its contents. The parental controls tab settings give you control over other devices with customizable schedules and features. Want to have the internet turned off on your kids phones after 10 p.m. on a weekday? You can customize some features here, from time limits to the types of content available to them. Restricting adult material, hateful content, or gambling-related content, among others. However, while these functions are here, they are basic filtering tools. If you want advanced functionality, it isn't here. The predefined values for hate, gambling, adult material, and others seem to be created and maintained by TP-Link. Your only option is to enter blocked content manually into the text field. Entering mydomain.net will only block that domain. I don't see any type of support for a wildcard entry that blocks every website with a keyword in its domain. It does support keyword blocking, but it isn't clear to me if the match is based on the HTTP header or the full site. For the more advanced filtering, including some advanced firewalling, you need to subscribe to a monthly service in the Deco app. Considering you just gave TP-Link 1K, I think this functionality could have been baked into the firmware. On the other hand, if it did get baked into the software, there's a possibility it wouldn't be able to handle it. From the home screen of the web UI, because I don't see any type of system status within the app, there are 2 bars measuring RAM and CPU usage. With only 3 clients and 1 router in service, RAM load stays above 50% with very little to no custom configuration. This thing is loaded with a ton of features, so many that this review will become a wall if listed all out. All the typical router functions from the DHCP server, DDNS, routing, port mapping, and access controls. Exclusive to this router are the Smart Home functions. Smart Home gives you what seems to be a seamless integration with all your other TP-Link smart devices and Phillips Hue into a single app. The last standout features are the VPN tunneling features, both for connecting to a VPN service of your choice and routing specific devices, or connecting devices in different locations for sharing content or troubleshooting reasons. Both functions work perfectly and can help circumvent region blocks on your smart devices that typically can't use a VPN or require a Ph.D. in networking for you to get it working. Performance I'm surprised to know that I do not own any WiFi 7 devices. I really thought I did, at the very least one device, until this showed up. Connecting through WiFi, using a WiFi 6E-capable device, I am able to tap into my current full internet speed of 500 MBPS. This test must be conducted fairly close to the router, within the same room, as it begins to drop off the further you go away. The range on this router is not as impressive as my now-aging old mesh device, and a non-mesh TP-Link router seems to have better coverage as a standalone device to the outside of the house. Being in a fairly central area of my home, I can reliably connect to it and have great to pretty good speeds all throughout my home. This is about a 20'–25' radius from the router across walls and possible interference from other devices. It should go without saying that these routers I've used to compare are all within the same living space, daisychained together with all the interference each creates for the other. That said, this is a mesh router that would be realistically paired with its other mesh devices throughout your home. Overall, while I do find some minor inconveniences with this router, such as carrying paywalls, the pros outweigh any of my issues. This has overall good performance and a ton of features for you to dig into that rabbit hole if you're not very tech savvy, or go the easy route and plug-in; a few taps and you're ready to go. If you are a prosumer, then this is a great option for you as well. This is worth 5-stars.