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With decent dual-band Wi-Fi 6 performance, a handy mobile app, and pleasing aesthetics, the TP-Link Deco X2 11ax router is a good choice for home use. However, it has limited connectivity options.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The TP-Link Deco X2 is TP-Link’s mid-range 2021-model Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for homes. Featuring a simple, antenna-less compact design with pleasing aesthetics, this model was designed to provide whole-home coverage. Find out how it compares with the top-rated routers in our detailed guide.
This three-piece antenna-less kit includes two satellites in addition to the main router, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi repeaters. The dual-band 802.11ax router has parental controls and a user-friendly app for simple installation. However, this MU-MIMO-enabled router lacks USB ports and is limited in terms of connectivity options. It runs on a 1GHz quad-core CPU with 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash memory.
Consensus
our Verdict
Thanks to decent speeds that reach 274 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, the TP-Link Deco X20 AX1800 mesh Wi-Fi 6 system is an excellent solution for home Wi-Fi. Its combination of pleasing aesthetics, great Wi-Fi range reaching 100 feet (The Netgear RAX20 AX1800 does slightly better), and two satellites make it a popular home choice.
A user-friendly companion mobile app allows simple installation, and this 802.11ax router supports WPA3 encryption and boasts a free lifetime malware tool that takes care of network security. However, the absence of USB ports and the lack of wide 168MHz bands limits its performance and makes it unsuitable for most professional gamers and streamers. This low-latency model also lacks a third band, although users can create a backhaul via Ethernet. For a router with more connectivity options, see our TP-Link Archer C7 review.
ReasonS to Buy
Decent Wi-Fi connectivity speeds
The TP-Link Deco X20 is a great option for home Wi-Fi. Featuring 2.5GHz download speeds of 129 Mbps and 5GHz download speeds of 274 Mbps, which rank in the top half of the category, the TP-Link Deco X20 provides fast connectivity.
Decent router range
With a range of 30.5m, the TP-Link Deco X20 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 router provides good Wi-Fi range and ranks in the top half of its category.
User-friendly interface
Equipped with a handy mobile app that enables customizing parental controls and malware protection, this smart Wi-Fi mesh system is easy to install and operate.
Reason to Avoid
Limited bandwidth
It doesn’t have the ultra-wide 160MHz bands, which potentially limits the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously.
Unlike some Wi-Fi 6E routers, the TP-Link Deco X20 dual-band router doesn’t have a third band.
Limited connectivity options
Although this device is equipped with two LAN ports, it lacks multi-gig LAN and USB ports.
TP-Link Deco X20 Specs
# of LAN Ports
2
# of Phone Ports
n/a
# of WAN Ports
1
App Compatible
Yes
Available Storage
128 MB
Band Technology
Dual
Data Encryption Type
WPA3
Energy Star Certified
No
Frequency Bands
2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz
Integrated Modem
No
LAN Ports
2 Gb Ethernet
MU-MIMO Support
Yes
Mesh System
Yes
Number of Antennas
4
Parental Controls
Yes
Processor Cores
Quad
Processor Speed
1Ghz
Quality of Service Prioritization
Yes
WiFi Range
–
WiFi Speed
1.8 Gb
Wired Speed
–
Wireless Standard
AX
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Routers based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
2.4 GHz Download speed (Mbits/s)
129.36
2.4 GHz Upload speed (Mbits/s)
133.98
5 GHz Download speed (Mbits/s)
273.6675
5 GHz Upload speed (Mbits/s)
246.08
Router Range (ft)
100
Latency (ms)
0
6 Ghz Download speed (Mbits/s)
0
6 Ghz Upload speed (Mbits/s)
0
All Tests
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The TP-Link Deco X2 is TP-Link’s mid-range 2021-model Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for homes. Featuring a simple, antenna-less compact design with pleasing aesthetics, this model…
The TP-Link Deco X2 is TP-Link’s mid-range 2021-model Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for homes. Featuring a simple, antenna-less compact design with pleasing aesthetics, this model was designed to provide whole-home coverage. Find out how it compares with the top-rated routers in our detailed guide.
This three-piece antenna-less kit includes two satellites in addition to the main router, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi repeaters. The dual-band 802.11ax router has parental controls and a user-friendly app for simple installation. However, this MU-MIMO-enabled router lacks USB ports and is limited in terms of connectivity options. It runs on a 1GHz quad-core CPU with 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash memory.
The TP-Link Deco X20 Wi-Fi 6 routers have a much better range of 30.5 m, which beats the 12.2 m of the TP-Link Archer GX-90….
The TP-Link Deco X20 Wi-Fi 6 routers have a much better range of 30.5 m, which beats the 12.2 m of the TP-Link Archer GX-90. The Deco X20 is also faster. (With 2.4GHz download speeds of 129 Mbps and 5GHz download speeds of 274Mbps, the TP-Link Deco X20 performs better overall than the TP-Link Archer GX-90, which averages 75.4 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 280 Mbps on the 5GHz band.) Be sure to check out our TP-Link Archer GX-90 review to learn more about the GX90 router.
Featuring 5GHz download speeds of up to 644 Mbps, the TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro provides faster Wi-Fi than the TP-Link Deco X20, which reaches download…
Featuring 5GHz download speeds of up to 644 Mbps, the TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro provides faster Wi-Fi than the TP-Link Deco X20, which reaches download speeds of 274 Mbps in the same test. Our TP-Link Deco X4300 Pro review discusses the pros and cons of the faster router.
Clocking in at 120 Mbps in 2.4 GHz download throughput tests and 640 Mbps in 5 GHz download speeds, the Synology WRX560 delivers faster Wi-Fi…
Clocking in at 120 Mbps in 2.4 GHz download throughput tests and 640 Mbps in 5 GHz download speeds, the Synology WRX560 delivers faster Wi-Fi than the TP-Link Deco X20, which reaches 2.4GHz download speeds of 129 Mbps and 5GHz download speeds of 274 Mbps. Learn about the Synology WRX560 router in our Synology WRX560 review.
