Deals! 🛒
Technically, the Deco XE200 AXE11000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System is the upgrade version of the Deco XE75 — TP-Link’s first Wi-Fi 6E mesh that I reviewed earlier this year. But you can also say it’s replacing the Wi-Fi 6 Deco X90.
That’s because, on the inside, all Deco sets are essentially the same and only differentiated by their Wi-Fi specs, network ports, and processing power. And by that, the XE200 beats them all. It’s the most powerful Deco to date.
There’s a lot to talk about in this new mesh set. But to cut to the chase, if you have a large home with Gigabit or slower broadband, this will make an excellent buy considering its current street price of $799.99 (or $699.99 with a coupon if you get it today).
For those looking to transition to Multi-Gig, the Deco XE200, as a standalone router or a 2-pack system, won’t cut it despite its 10GbE port. You go with the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 or even the ZenWiFi Pro XT12 instead.
Table of Contents
TP-Link Deco XE200: A powerful yet familiar mesh now with a lonely 10Gbps port
The TP-Link Deco XE200 looks the same as the Deco X5700, or Deco X90, though a tad larger. The available 2-pack includes two identical routers. Each is a Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E broadcaster.
The way TP-Link Deco works, you pick one to be the primary router that connects to the Internet source — such as a Cable modem or a Fiber-optic ONT –, and the other will work as the mesh extender that scales up the Wi-Fi coverage.
It’s generally best to use the same Deco units in a mesh, but the XE200 will work with previous Deco hardware, including the Deco XE75.
The familiar hardware design and setup process
The XE200 looks great — each router is a piece of home decor! — taking the shape of a cylindrical box that tapers toward the base. The hardware seems more like a flower vase than a piece of tech.
On the underside, there’s a little groove for the power connector, and on the back, there are three auto-sensing network ports. Each will work as a WAN or a LAN, depending on the connected device.
When using the XE200 in the router role, you can use one port as the WAN, and the other two will automatically work as LANs.
But the design can be a bit problematic. When placed on a surface — and there’s no mounting option unless you get third-party accessories — the router is not stable. It topples easily.
In my testing, the weight of the network cables — I used thick CAT6a ones — made things worse. You’re better off using thin and light network cables with these Decos — there’s one included.
The Deco XE200 has no USB port — which is not a surprise and can be a good thing in terms of having fewer cables connecting to the hardware. Folks looking to use their router as a mini NAS server will be disappointed.
Like the case of most 2- or 3-pack Deco sets I’ve tested, the XE200’s hardware is pre-synced. Set one up as a router and plug the other into power, and they automatically become a system.
But if you need to add more units, the process is easy as long as you have a mobile phone to run the TP-Link Deco app. All you have to do is follow the well-thought-out onscreen instructions.
I got the XE200 up and running in about 10 minutes, including getting out of the retail box.
It’s worth noting that to use the Deco app, you’ll need to sign in with a TP-Link account — it shares the same account with the Tether app used for TP-Link’s Archer routers.
TP-Link and your privacy
Having to sign in with an account means your hardware always connects to the vendor. In TP-Link’s case, you’ll manage your home network entirely or partially through the company.
And that translates into inherent privacy risks. Here’s TP-Link’s Privacy Policy — make sure you are comfortable with what it collects from your network.
TP-Link is headquartered in China, where the practice of online privacy, surveillance, data collection, and security might differ from the rest of the world.
Privacy is a matter of degree. While managing your network via a third party is never a good idea, data collection varies vendor by vendor.
A web interface that’s deliberately neutered
You must use the Deco mobile app for the setup process. After that, there’s an option to access a few settings of the Deco XE200 via its local web user interface.
Specifically, from a connected computer, navigate a browser to the router’s IP address (192.168.68.1 by default) or tplinkdeco.net, and you can log in with the password of the Deco app.
The interface is similar to any TP-Link Archer router but has markedly fewer details and functions. As you can see in the screenshots below, there’s not much else you can do other than viewing some status and upgrading the firmware manually.
You can not use the hardware just with this interface — the Deco mobile app is necessary. By the way, not the names of the Main Deco (Office) and the satellite (hallway.)
The point is that if you want to use the XE200, you must use the Deco mobile app. There’s no way out of it. And that’s the case of all Deco sets.
Up to this point, the XE200 has been a family experience. But it can be pretty different, too. Let’s check out its hardware specs.
Hardware specifications: TP-Link Deco XE200 vs Deco X90
| Full Name | TP-Link Deco XE200 AXE11000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System | TP-Link Deco X90 AX6600 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System |
| Model | Deco XE200 | Deco X90 |
| Mesh Availability | 2-Pack (identical routers) | 2-Pack (identical routers) |
| Dimensions (each unit) | 9.49 x 5.12 × 4.86 in (241 x 130 × 123.5 mm) | 8.3 × 5.1 × 4.8 in (210.5 × 130 × 123 mm) |
| Processor | 2.2 GHz Quad-Core CPU | 1.5GHz Quad-Core |
| Wi-Fi Technology | Tri-band AXE11000 | Tri-band AX6600 |
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz 4×4 AX: Up to 1148 Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2.4GHz 2×2 AX: Up to 574 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz 4×4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 5GHz-1 4×4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz 4×4 AXE: Up to 4804 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 5GHz-2 2×2 AX: Up to 1201 Mbps Channel Width: 20/40/80MHz |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi |
| Wireless Security | WPA2, WPA3 | WPA2, WPA3 |
| Mobile App | TP-Link Deco | TP-Link Deco |
| Web User Interface | Limited | Limited |
| Bridge Mode | No | No |
| AP Mode | Yes (as a mesh or a single unit) | Yes (as a mesh or a single unit) |
| USB Port | None | None |
| Gigabit Port | 2x auto-sensing WAN/LAN | 1x auto-sensing WAN/LAN |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 10Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN | 1x 2.5Gbps auto-sensing WAN/LAN |
| Link Aggregation | None | None |
| Power Input | 110-240V | 110-240V |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 420 Wh (router unit) | not tested |
| Suggested Price | $799.99 (2-pack) | $450 (2-pack) |
As you have noted in the table above, the biggest thing about the XE200 is its 6GHz band and the 10GbE port, which can work as a WAN or a LAN.
And while the new Deco XE200 has “more,” its extras don’t necessarily all translate into real-world improvements. Let’s start with the new 6GHz band.
Wi-Fi 6E Tri-band: the wireless backhaul dilemma
Like all Wi-Fi 6E hardware, the XE200 has three distinctive bands, including 6GHz, 5GHz, and 2.4GHz.
Consequently, you can’t use any of these bands as the dedicated backhaul without losing the support for clients. And whichever band works as the backhaul will have only 50% of its capacity for the fronthaul.
New to the idea of backhaul? Open this drawer
Backhaul vs fronthaul
When you use multiple Wi-Fi broadcasters — in a mesh network or a combo of a router and an extender — there are two types of connections: fronthaul and backhaul.
A Wi-Fi connection between two direct parties occurs in a single band, using one fixed channel, at any given time. This principle applies to all existing Wi-Fi standards, at least up to Wi-Fi 6E.
Fronthaul is the Wi-Fi signals broadcast outward for clients or the network ports for wired devices. It’s what we generally expect from a Wi-Fi broadcaster.
Backhaul (a.k.a backbone,) on the other hand, is the link between one satellite broadcaster and another, which can be the network’s primary router, a switch, or another satellite unit.
This link works behind the scene to keep the hardware units together as a system. It also determines the ceiling bandwidth (and speed) of all devices connected to the particular broadcaster.
The connection type, a Wi-Fi band or a network port, used for the backhaul is often referred to as the uplink. A Wi-Fi broadcaster might use one of its bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz) or a network port for the uplink.
When a Wi-Fi band handles backhaul and fronthaul simultaneously, only half of its bandwidth is available to either end. From the perspective of a connected client, that phenomenon is called signal loss.
When a Wi-Fi band functions solely for backhauling, it’s called the dedicated backhaul.
In a mesh system, only traditional Tri-band hardware — those with an additional 5GHz band — can have a dedicated backhaul band without ostracizing clients of the same band.
Generally, it’s best to use a network cable for backhauling — wired backhauling. And that’s an advantage of mesh hardware with network ports. In this case, a satellite broadcaster can use its entire Wi-Fi bandwidth for front-hauling.
In networking, network cables are always much better than wireless in speed and reliability.
In the case of the XE200 — or any Wi-Fi 6E Deco set — the 6GHz is the dedicated backhaul by default. As such, this band is not available to any 6GHz client.
In my experience, this configuration worked out great when I placed the two XE200 units within 50 feet of each other with a line of sight.
But the 6GHz has a short range, and it hardly works well if you have walls or large objects that block the signals.
To deal with that, the XE200 automatically switches to the 5GHz or 2.4GHz as backhaul. In this case, neither is dedicated — they’d also work for the fronthaul. Still, the 6GHz remains unavailable.
So in most cases, using the 6GHz as the dedicated backhaul only means the band is unavailable. But it’s easy to open up this band for fronthaul, as you will note in the screenshot above.
Like all Wi-Fi 6E hardware, the XE200 works best with wired backhauling, and in my testing, it could switch between wireless and wired backhauling in a matter of seconds.
And that brings us to the hardware’s 10Gbps network port.
Lone 10Gbps: No actual Multi-Gig experience
Since there’s only one Multi-Gig port, there’s no way to experience a multi-Gigabit connection from an XE200 router.
That’s because connected clients are limited by the other Gigabit port or the router’s Wi-Fi, which currently caps at Gig+. This situation is similar to the case of Netgear’s new Orbi RBK860.
What is Gig+
Gig+, or Gig plus, conveys a speed grade faster than 1Gbps but slower than 2Gbps. So, it’s 1.5Gbps, give or take, and it’s not fast enough to be qualified as Multi-Gig or multi-Gigabit.
Gig+ generally applies to the sustained speeds of Wi-Fi 6 or 6E (via a 2×2 at 160MHz connection) or Internet speed and is not used to describe wired network connections.
In fact, there’s no way you can know for sure that the router’s sole Multi-Gig port is indeed 10Gbps. It’d make no difference if this port functioned at 2.5GbE or 5GbE speed grades.
In a mesh system, there are two scenarios:
- If you use the 10Gbps as the WAN port: There’s no way to have a Multi-Gig wired backhauling.
- If you use a gigabit port as the WAN port: It’s possible to have 10Gbps port backhauling, but it’d make no difference since the router’s incoming traffic is limited by its Gigabit port.
In short, even when hosting a super-fast brand or a local server, the 10Gbps port doesn’t have any way to show its performance on the hardware’s output front. So, this port is always overkill.
So the only way to take advantage of the XE200’s 10Gbps port as a Multi-Gig backhaul is to use the hardware in the access point mode individually.
You can use any Deco set in the AP mode as a mesh system. However, in this case, you still have to place the satellite unit behind the main unit, negating the possibility of having a Multi-Gig backhaul with the help of a Multi-Gig switch, in the case of the XE200.
A bit of extra: I tried the two XE200 units as two separate access points connected to the two 10Gbps ports of the Archer AXE300, and they all worked together quite nicely. The setup wasn’t an authentic mesh in terms of management, but it delivered a fast performance with a decent hand-off.
The point is, without a second Multi-Gig port, the sole 10Gbps port on the XE200 is pointless. And that’s my biggest pet peeve with this system.
TP-Link Deco XE200: Detail photos
Note the included thin CAT6 cable.
Limited network/Wi-Fi settings and features
Like previous Deco sets, the XE200 has relatively limited network settings, typifying any app-operated canned mesh system.
It doesn’t even have standard settings such as port forwarding, IP reservation, Dynamic DNS, VPN, etc.
In terms of features, the hardware comes with HomeShield, which offers essential security and Parental Controls. To use them in a more meaningful way, you’ll need to for the HomeShield Pro, which costs $6/month.
As for Wi-Fi settings, there’s not much, either. Specifically, you can do the following:
- Change the name and password of your primary Wi-Fi network. You can only use a single SSID for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
- Turn the bands (2.4GHz or 5GHz) on or off.
- Use the 6GHz as dedicated backhaul (default) or also for fronthaul. Change its SSID and password.
- Pick the Wi-Fi security encryption between variants of WPA2 and WPA3.
- Customize the Guest Wi-Fi networks. There are two:
- IoT Guest network: turning on or off for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. This network is always isolated from the main network.
- Regular Guest network: All you can do with the IoT above, plus use the 6GHz band and the option to make it part of the primary network.
The IoT Guest network is just a gimmick. It’s just another virtual Wi-Fi network isolated from the main, as I detailed in this post on Guest networking.
In short, the XE200 is very thin on settings and features. But that can be good for folks who want a mesh that works for their Wi-Fi connection needs and not much else.
TP-Link Deco XE200: Fast performance
I tested the XE200 both as a single router and a 2-pack mesh. In the latter case, I tried it both with wireless and wired backhauls.
I generally test Wi-Fi broadcasters for their best-case scenarios. And that was also the case with this new Deco. Specifically, I used the 10Gbps selectively to ensure I’d get the best performance.
Super-fast as a single router
For the official scores, I tested the XE200 as a single router, using its 10Gbps port to host my test server. And since it’s the first mesh router with this port, it easily topped the chart.
It’s the only one on the chart with a 10Gbps LAN port.
If you wonder what the scores would be if I used its Gigabit port to host the test server, the numbers would be the same as the satellite unit when working in the wired backhaul mode — below.
Not-so-impressive as a mesh satellite
I tested the XE200 satellite unit in both 6GHz backhaul and wired backhaul, and it performed similarly to others.
<6GHzBH>: The 6GHz band is used as the backhaul
<WBH>: Wired backhaul, Multi-Gig when applicable, Gigabit in the case of the XE200
Note that during this test, the primary router unit still used its 10Gbps as the LAN port to host the test server and the wired backhaul linking (when applicable) was a Gigabit.
Fluctuation speeds, reliable signals, ample coverage
In terms of Wi-Fi coverage, as a single unit, the XE200 showed an excellent range in my experience — similar to other high-end Wi-Fi 6 hardware.
Generally, it can handle some 2000 ft2 (186 m2) to 2500 ft2 (232 m2) of space, depending on the environment. And you can generally double that with a 2-pack. But your mileage will vary.
The XE200 went through our week-long testing and real-world usage with no issues. So it proved to be reliable.
But at times, in our anecdotal testing, we did notice the fluctuation in speed, likely causing the client to switch from one band to another. We hooked the primary router’s 10Gbps to our 10Gbps Fiber-optic broadband for daily use.
Generally, depending on the location around the house and the unit I connected to — the main route or satellite — I could get the average Internet speed from some 150Mbps to almost 1500Mbps on my laptop, phones, and tablet, via Wi-Fi.
While that’s a huge range, the speeds have always been fast enough for your needs.
TP-Link Deco XE200's Rating
Pros
10Gbps port, 6GHz support, top-tier Wi-Fi, reliable Wi-Fi performance with extensive coverage
Easy to use; comparatively affordable
Good-looking
Cons
Single Multi-Gig port, spartan Wi-Fi, and network customization
Fluctuating Wi-Fi speeds, Mobile app, and login account required; HomeShield Pro costs money
No USB port, impractical design
Conclusion
The TP-Link Deco XE200 AXE11000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System is a bit of a dilemma.
On the one hand, it’s a well-performance system for its relatively friendly cost. On the other, it feels like a miss-opportunity.
Specifically, with an additional 10Gbps port, it’d be a dream canned mesh for anyone who wants a top-notch network.
As is, it’s still an excellent buy for those needing a single unit (when available) or with Gigabit or slower Internet, and don’t mind the inherent privacy risks. Or you can couple it with the Archer AXE300 to form an actual Multi-Gig network, albeit with awkward hardware management and added cost.
For other Multi-Gig options, check out these alternatives.
Thanks for the review as your details are always helpful! I have this being delivered tomorrow to replace an Amplifi Alien that I have had for almost 2 years (and bought based on your review). Cheers.
Cheers! The Alien is still quite great, though. 🙂
Well, I’m back to the Alien. I spent from 10 am until 6 pm trying to troubleshoot a new pair of Deco’s. I have 1gb internet. Was literally only able to get 10-20 mb up and down in front of the router with whatever device I threw at it. Ethernet connected was capping right before 100mb. Only half of my older 2.4ghz devices connected automatically with the same SSID. I tried everything. Different cables, swapping ports, removing it and starting from scratch, using the mesh as the main, changing multiple different settings, resetting my ONT, etc… I hooked my Alien back up and everything is back to normal. I have FiOS internet. Direct from ONT to router; cat 6 cable. Unless I missed something, this was defective or something and I have no inclination to go through this again.
As I said, the Alien was great. Not sure why you wanted to replace it.
Your XP with the new Deco is unusual. It seems the Deco router connected to the ONT at 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) and not Gigabit. You must have missed or assumed something instead of following the instructions.
Stay with the Alien though. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. 🙂
I 100% read the instructions, read your reviews on Deco’s numerous times, watched a million YouTube vids. I agree, my experience is uncommon as I couldn’t even find a reddit post regarding this, only for the Asus which appears to be a known problem with Fios where people have to put 1GB switch between the ONT and Router to get the speeds over 100mbs. I have no clue what was going on but it’s been a frustrating day to say the least.
Then, there must be a default WAN setting on the a Alien that meets the ISP’s requirements. If you still have the Deco, try it on top of the Alien if you want to get to the root of the issue, in case you want a newer router in the future.
Hi Dong
I hear your point about 1Gb WAN and 10Gb backhaul.
However if it is possible to hook up a 10Gb switch between the two mesh nodes and add a NAS with a 10Gb port, this might still be a benefit as wifi clients can hook up to the NAS for faster TimeMachine backups or video playback from a Plex server.
I have my 2 RT AX89X’s with 10Gb backhaul with a NAS on the SFP+ port which improves time machine backups when compared to my original GT AC5300/RT AC86U mesh system with a 1Gb wired backhaul
That works if you have Gigabit or slower Internet as mentioned in the review, Stuart.
Can someone help me decide between Link’s AXE300 and Deco XE200 I don’t care about the price I just want the best
They are two different things. If you need a single router, go with the AXE300.
hi Dong, thank you for your review. What is the power usage in Watt of one node under normal operation? Rumors are the set is power hungry, even signifacantly more than the asus xt12.
I didn’t test it, Martin, and I won’t, but I’m pretty sure it’s not more than the router unit. I don’t address “rumors”. If you want, you can get a set and test it yourself and please keep us posted. 🙂