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The TP-Link Deco XE75 has been available in the US for months now, but it is only just getting a UK launch.

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro vs None-Pro

There are two variants of the system, a standard and a pro model. In the US, the TP-Link Deco 2-pack is $270, while the Deco XE75 Pro 2-pack is $300.

The only difference between these models is the Ethernet ports. The standard model has 3× Gigabit Ports per Deco, while the Pro model has 1× 2.5 Gbps Port and 2× Gigabit Ports per Deco.

Personally, I think if you are going to invest in Wi-Fi 6E, then having the ability to go beyond gigabit Wi-Fi speeds is essential, and therefore you should opt for the Pro model.

In the UK, the choice isn’t all that difficult. The standard model is listed for £440 on Amazon and out of stock, while the Pro model is £379.99 pre-order available from the 30th of October.

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro vs Netgear Orbi AXE11000 RBKE963

Netgear RBKE963 Review 1
PreviewProductRatingPrice
NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6E Mesh System (RBKE963B) – Quad-Band... NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6E Mesh System (RBKE963B) – Quad-Band... No ratings yet £1,399.99Amazon Prime

Those prices appear incredible when you look at the Wi-Fi 6E mesh system from Netgear, which costs £1500. However, there are some significant differences that separate the two systems apart.

For a start, the Netgear Orbi AXE11000 mesh system is only sold as a three-pack in the UK, but a two-pack would still be about £1k. You can get an add-on Deco XE75 Pro for £200, bringing the total cost to £580 vs the £1500 RBKE963.

The reasons why the Orbi RBKE963 costs so much are:

  • It is the only quad-band system on the market, providing two 5Ghz channels, which allows one to be used as a dedicated backhaul. This means the satellites on the RBKE963 will significantly outperform all other (tri-band) Wi-Fi 6E mesh systems.
  • Each band uses a 4×4 (16-streams) radio configuration vs 2×2 (6-streams), providing significantly more capacity, hence the rating of AXE11000 vs AXE5400
  • The Netgear router has 1x 10Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5Gbps LAN and 3x Gigabit LAN making the system better equipped for both multi-gig Internet and Wi-Fi.

The Orbi system doesn’t win on all the specs, though. TP-Link supports 160Mhz channel width on the 5Ghz band, so whichever Deco you have wired up to the network should provide superior speeds to the Orbi on 5Ghz.  

Which would I buy?

It is hard to say which one is best, I think they are two very different systems. While there are not many Wi-Fi 6E systems on the market, the Deco XE75 Pro will likely end up looking like a low to mid-range affordable system in comparison to the Orbi, which will almost certainly be the flagship system from Netgear until they launch a Wi-Fi 7 system.

If you can locate the main router central to your home and use that for most of the Wi-Fi with the satellites covering the less important parts of your home, then the Deco XE75 Pro is likely a better buy.

Similarly, if you have your home wired up with Ethernet and plan to use these more like a traditional access point, then the Deco XE75 Pro is outstanding value for money compared to the current crop of Wi-Fi 6E access points. As I have wired my home up for Ethernet, and because I am tight-fisted, this Deco XE75 Pro would be the best option for me.

If money is not a concern and you want the best Wi-Fi possible without the complexity of wires, then the RBKE963 continues to be the best system on the market.

Last update on 2024-10-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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