🛒
If you're in the market for a new canned Wi-Fi 6 system, here are some to keep in mind this year. TP-Link unveiled at CES 2020, not one but a family of three new Deco Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems, including the Deco X90, Deco X60, and Deco X20.
Three tiers of Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems
Respectively, these Deco Wi-Fi 6 systems are of different performance tiers and costs to fit any need or budget. All of them come in sleek designs that blend effortlessly in any house. The details are not yet complete, but the following are what you can expect.
Deco X90: The tri-band mesh with dynamic backhaul
The X90 is the only tri-band system in the family. It's an AX6600 system that includes one 2.4GHz band (which caps at 574 Mbps) and two different 5GHz bands (1201 Mbps + 4804 Mbps). As a result, it doesn't have a dedicated backhaul band.
However, TP-Links says that the system features a "dynamic backhaul technology," which, depending on the situation, can use all three bands as backhaul to deliver a fast and stable connection between hardware units. That sure is an exciting concept, but we'll have to wait and see how it pans out.
On top of that, the X90 also has a 2.5Gbps WAN port to deliver a faster-than-gigabit internet connection. TP-Link says a 2-pack Dec X90 system can host up to 200 clients simultaneously.
Deco X60: A mid-range dual-band mesh
The Deco X60 is a dual-band mid-tier AX3000 system with the cap speed of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 2402 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
TP-Links says a 2-pack the Deco X60 can cover up to 5000² ft (185 m²) of excellent Wi-Fi signal and can host up to 150 concurrent clients.
Deco X20: An entry-level mesh for the budget-minded
The Deco X20 is the budget entry-level dual-band AX1800 mesh system. It's available in a 2-pack or 3-pack and features single-stream Wi-Fi 6 that delivers up to 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Common features
According to the TP-Link, all of the new Deco Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems sport seamless roaming, adaptive routing, and self-healing for optimal network connectivity. Like all Wi-Fi 6 broadcasters, they feature OFDMA technology and MU-MIMO for both uplink and downlink to deliver significantly better performance than Wi-Fi 5 counterparts.
They all also support the latest WPA 3 security standard and features antivirus and IoT security via TP-Link HomeCare Pro, which requires a subscription. And finally, the new Deco Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems share the same Deco mobile app for setup and on-going management. They also work with Amazon Alexa for easy voice control.
Pricing and availability
The Deco X20 and Deco X60 are available in March 2020 and costs $190 and $270, respectively, for a 2-pack set. The 3-pack Deco X20 will also be available then and go for $270. The Deco X90 will ship in April with the suggested price of $450 for a 2-pack.
Update: The full review of the Deco X60 is available here.
Please share any updated availability info that you have. There are reports of Costco selling the X90, but I have not seen the X60 or X20 anywhere.
Everyone is very slow — and disconnected — right now due to the virus, K. My contact at TP-Link can’t do much. We’ll have to wait and see.