Wi-Fi for all, rejoice!

Powerful Wi-Fi doesn't come cheap

Zigbee hub, Alexa control of the router, Excellent parental controls

Limited smart device support, No Alexa control of devices, Quite expensive

While its security software and an easy installation app distinguish the Deco M9 Plus from the mesh networking crowd, its otherwise midrange performance is marred by sometimes erratic behavior.

Home Automation connections; Simple; straight-forward setup; Network security software

Erratic behavior; Need to use TP-Link Deco app; Can't use USB port

The Internet used to be easy. If you're only watching low-resolution videos and checking your email, then you don't need that much bandwidth from your Wi-Fi connection. But these days, we have much greater expectations.

With a rank of #5 out of 15 Wi-Fi systems tested, the Deco M9 Plus lands right at the bottom of the top third of products. The good news is that its subranks are good for benchmarks that count, i.e. system, capacity and 5 GHz RvR.

The Deco M9 Plus offers better performance than its predecessor, and integrates support for IoT devices, but does cost more.

Strong coverage and performance; Easy to setup and configure; Parental controls and antivirus included

A little on the pricey side; Not all smart-home devices are supported (yet

As a mesh router, the TP-Link Deco M9 can't touch the Orbi RBK50, and Netgear remains the only game in town if you want a legit outdoor node. But the Deco outperformed the tri-band Linksys Velop in three of the four indoor test locations, and it did the same in the outdoor locations.

Over the years, I have reviewed several networking products, including powerline and wireless extender solutions. For Mesh Wi-Fi systems , I have reviewed Google Wifi , ASUS Lyra , Aztech AON Mesh. I am very satisfied with TP-Link Deco M5 and has been using it since September 2017.