TechGearLab

Shopping for a mesh router system, but the premium models' price tags are giving you pause? Enter the TP-Link Deco M5 mesh system. These mesh routers were some of the absolute easiest to set up, especially with the Deco app walking you through the process with a series of guided prompts, including satellite node layout. Once plugged in, the app automatically detects a node and quickly adds it to the network, providing appropriate app permissions. The Deco app is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to block or prioritize specific devices, manage parental controls, and check network health. We also like the low-profile and modern look of the Deco M5 routers themselves, allowing you to discreetly hide them or make a subtle style statement. Each router also has 2 LAN ports for setting up a wired backhaul connection or a hardwired connection to certain devices. 
We found very little to fault with the Deco M5. This system is rated for AC1300, capping your maximum data transfer rate just slightly sooner than the top-tier models. However, most people are more likely to be capped by their internet service provider &#40;ISP&#41; before reaching their router's top speed unless they pay for premium bandwidth or fiber. We also noticed the signal-to-noise ratio for this router dropped a bit in more areas in our tests, though it still maintained what should be more than enough signal strength for a high-quality connection in the bulk of the test area. We strongly think this is a great mesh system for most people looking to extend their coverage area without breaking the bank and who might not need all the premium features and advanced functions of the costlier models. 

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If you are shopping with a restricted budget and want to expand the coverage of your WiFi network, and that's it, then we recommend the TP-Link Deco M3 with Extenders WiFi mesh system. This router costs a whole lot less than the top models and didn't perform too much worse. It's effortless to set up, especially with the Deco app that smoothly guides you through the primary router's connections to your modem and the initial configuration of your network. Once completed, you plug in the wall-mounted extenders, and the app adds them to your network. You even have the option of prioritizing devices, establishing parental controls on both content and access time, and can set up Amazon's Alexa to give you voice control over your network.
We did notice some larger areas of lower signal strength in our mapping tests with this system. The extenders can be harder to hide given their bigger size, and they plug directly into an outlet rather than a power adapter and cable. These extenders also lack any gigabit ports, so you only have a single opportunity for a hardwired connection on the primary router and can't set up a system with a wired backhaul. Despite these downsides, we think this is a great option for anyone shopping with limited funds and looking to extend their WiFi coverage area quickly and easily. 

Those on a tighter budget who still want to expand the coverage of your WiFi network, and that's it, should check out the TP-Link Deco M3 with Extenders WiFi mesh system. This router is a fraction of the cost of the premium models and still offers decent performance. Setup is effortless, especially with the Deco app that smoothly guides you through the primary router's connections to your modem and the initial configuration of your network. Once completed, you plug in the wall-mounted extenders, and the app adds them to your network. You even have the option of prioritizing devices, establishing parental controls on both content and access time, and can set up Amazon's Alexa to give you voice control over your network.
We noticed some larger areas of lower signal strength in our mapping tests with this system. The extenders can be harder to hide given their bigger size, and they plug directly into an outlet rather than a power adapter and cable. These extenders also lack any gigabit ports, so you only have a single opportunity for a hardwired connection on the primary router and can't set up a system with a wired backhaul. Despite these downsides, we think this is a great option for anyone shopping with limited funds and looking to extend their WiFi coverage area quickly and easily. 

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