TP-Link Deco XE75 review: our full review – Routers

The TP-Link Deco XE75 kit is made up of two identical boxes and aims to spread a Wi-Fi 6E network throughout the home. The devices adopt a design similar to the rest of the Deco range of Wi-Fi routers and also have three RJ45 ports.

The kit, made up of two boxes, is offered at a price of around 400 euros. A bill that is still very high, especially when you know how little interest Wi-Fi 6E has in Europe, at least in terms of speed. We will take advantage of this test to review in detail the mobile application, which was entitled to a lifting appreciable.

TP-Link Deco XE75Data sheet

This test was carried out with a product provided by the brand.

TP-Link Deco XE75Design and ergonomics

Visually, the Deco XE75 boxes are closer to the X20 model than the X90. They take the form of discreet white plastic cylinders, topped by a black surface that imitates the ripples of a drop of water. The boxes are still relatively compact and will fit perfectly into most interiors.

A relatively imposing logo is present on the front. It is accompanied by a status LED which, fortunately, can be disabled. The only button on the devices is at the bottom and will change the boxes to factory settings. The base of the XE75 is also perforated to allow air circulation.

Also, there is no difference between the different modules provided in the box. Therefore, they can serve as a router or a satellite, or even be used completely independently. On the connection side, there are 3 Gigabit RJ45 ports and we regret the absence of 2.5 Gb/s ports. Unfortunately, this lack will not allow you to take full advantage of the speeds that Wi-Fi 6/6E offers.

The boxes are powered with a proprietary connector identical to that found on earlier models. TP-Link, therefore, does not change its recipe and returns to offer sober and compact devices, and returns to give a privileged place to plastics.

TP-Link Deco XE75Characteristics

First good surprise in the launch of the Deco mobile application: it has been completely updated with a new, much clearer and more modern interface. The initial setup of the kit is, as always, relatively easy, with a guided process that adapts to the user’s existing hardware.

The home page allows you to know the network status at a glance and shows the number of connected devices. Quick access to Wi-Fi network settings is also offered, as well as an interface dedicated to connected devices compatible with the Deco solution.

Surprisingly at the Wi-Fi level: the 6 GHz band is, by default, reserved for the connection between the boxes. Out of the box, therefore, it is impossible to connect a device to Wi-Fi 6E. An odd choice for a kit that promotes this compatibility in its box, but this choice is not entirely meaningless.

In fact, Wi-Fi 6E doesn’t really revolutionize speeds compared to Wi-Fi 6. So it may be relevant to reserve this band for the link. mesh to take full advantage of the other two for mobile devices. Be that as it may, the user retains the possibility of modifying this operation to use the 6 GHz band in a “normal” way.

When it comes to advanced networking options, the Deco XE75 kit really doesn’t do any better than its predecessors. The available configurations will suit the vast majority of uses, particularly replacing an internet box, but the kit performs less well than some of its competitors like Netgear or Asus.

The various threat analysis and parental control modules are still there and just as easy to use. Most of the features are available for free, but you will have to subscribe to unlock the more advanced ones.

TP-Link Deco XE75performances

The TP-Link Deco XE75 kit inaugurates our new test protocol for Wi-Fi kits and routers. Speed ​​tests are performed between two Windows computers that support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E standards. We first evaluate raw performance, in both directions, using the iperf utility.

To test performance in conditions closer to reality, we also perform file transfers, always on both. Each test is performed under optimal conditions, approximately 1 meter from the router and then at two more distant locations to measure signal range through partitions and load-bearing walls.

Before going any further, it should be remembered that TP-Link has decided to equip its Deco XE75 boxes with simple Gigabit RJ45 ports. In fact, our speed tests are limited by these ports and don’t “really” reflect the Wi-Fi capabilities of the kit.

At iperf, we easily saturated the RJ45 port with a downlink speed that tickles gigabit on both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Through changing rooms, the speed manages to stay around 700 Mb/s for downloading and just over 400 Mb/s for uploading. Abroad, logically the flow drops and stabilizes above 200 Mb/s.

File transfers reflect our iperf measures well with similar performance in the vast majority of cases. Therefore, the Deco XE75 offers the expected performance for a device of this type, obviously taking into account the limitations induced by its gigabit ports.

In practice, a single box is enough to cover a home of about 80 m2, offering stable speeds of around 300 Mb/s. Adding a second box will improve coverage, but it will only be necessary in large homes or with several floors. Also note that it is possible to connect the boxes via a cable, to maintain all the Wi-Fi network bands for customers.

TP-Link Deco XE75Price and availability

The TP-Link Deco XE75 kit made up of boxes is available at the recommended price of 400 euros.