We all have always come across scenarios where we wish that the WiFi signal covers almost our entire home without sacrificing the speed of the internet. And while all routers are different in terms of range and performance, there are mesh systems that use more than two router units so that the wireless network is evenly distributed across the premises with seamless connectivity. We got the chance to try out the new TP-Link Deco X90 AX6600 mesh WiFi system and here are our thoughts about it.
Design
It’s a known fact by now that most network manufacturers go all-out in trying out different designs for routers. And while standard routers are designed to look like a small media player with multiple antennas pointing in several directions, some of the high-end routers come in designs that match your living room and surely will grab the attention of others. And the new Deco X90 is one of them. Our review unit came with two Deco X90 router units for the mesh network.
The Deco X90 is an all-white router that features a height of 210mm, a width of 130mm, and a depth of 123mm. The design of the router is unique and cylindrical in shape, where it looks like a thick white sheet was wrapped around with two different ends. The two ends of the curvature are the only place on the sides where an opening is there. Am not going to lie here. People who will notice this router on your home or office premises aren’t going to understand that this is actually a router.
Jokes aside, the white color scheme and its stylish futuristic design suit modern office or home interiors. It even can be a good companion for the Sony PlayStation 5 just for the white color. The Deco X90 has two ports on its backside, one of which is meant for 1Gbps connections and the other for the faster 2.5 Gbps connections. Both routers have the same number of ports. However, if you are looking for a router that has multiple ports to connect all your game consoles, gaming PC, and other devices, you might have to look elsewhere.
Underneath the router is the power connection along with gaps for cable management. TP-Link has placed the vents under the router. And in case you would want to start over, the reset button is also located underneath the device.
The dual router package also includes white-colored Ethernet cables that are flat and white-colored power adapters.
Features and Specifications
TP-Link has equipped the Deco X90 routers with top-of-the-line features for the best internet connectivity. The company has placed two built-in smart antennas that make use of intelligent algorithms to detect other X90 routers on the premises so that the device can establish a connection between the two routers, delivering seamless internet coverage throughout your home. There are also four internal High-Gain Antennas that help to boost the connection and reach more areas.
The Deco X90 features a WiFi 6 tri-band network that has a total of eight simultaneous streams and the speeds can top up to 6600 Mbps, allowing users to deal with demanding applications such as 8K video streaming and cloud gaming. The router is designed to connect with up to 200 devices, thanks to the OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies.
The router has support for IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/a 5 GHz and IEEE 802.11ax/n/b/g 2.4 GHz WiFi 6 standards, making it ideal for all the latest laptops and smartphones. The WiFi speeds can reach 4804 Mbps with 802.11ax, HE160 standards at 5Ghz mode, 1201 Mbps speeds with 802.11ax standards at 5Ghz, and 574 Mbps speeds at 2.4GHz mode.
We had tried the router with several products such as laptops, smartphones, Xbox One X, PS4 Pro, etc, and the connections were seamless. Although, sometimes the connections with some smartphones halts after a bit. We aren’t sure why it occurs and the only way to fix it was to disconnect and reconnect to the network. That said, we had the ASUS Expertbook B9400 for review and the laptop features WiFi 6 connectivity, making it the perfect candidate to test the Deco X90. The router was able to easily handle 4K streaming from Netflix.
The router comes with AI-Driven Mesh that helps improve the seamless connection, along with learning the user’s network environment, usage, and more. And there is the HomeShield that helps the user to take control of the security parameters of the network. It helps detect cyber threats, along with robust parental controls so your kids do not come across unwanted web content, configuring the QoS so you can prioritize bandwidth, and also get statistics and insights of your home network. The device has support for WPA3 WiFi encryption.
The routers can be set up easily by using the Deco application and the process will hardly take between 5 to 10 minutes. The Deco application is easy to understand and simple to use. You will be able to manage the router using the application and also keep an eye on all the connected devices. TP-Link also mentions that the Deco X90 is compatible with other Deco models to form an effective mesh network.
The device is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz speeds, and the router also has support for Amazon Alexa so users will be able to control the router with simple voice controls.
Verdict
If you’re on the lookout for a router that features a stylish design to match your modern home or office interiors and also deliver in terms of performance, then the Deco X90 package is something you should consider. The router has support for the latest WiFi 6 standards which will be able to bring out the best of internet connectivity with the latest consumer devices.
The mesh router system features technologies and powerful internal antennas that help to distribute the network connectivity so users can have a seamless connection without the need to switch between signals that could cause disruptions. The device also brings support for the latest wireless security standards, along with the HomeShield that helps to manage the router security. The router is easy to set up with the Deco app that also helps you to monitor and manage the device from your smartphone.
