TP Link Deco M4 Vs Linksys Velop – Which router is better for you?
If you are looking for the best mesh network systems, consider the TP Link Deco M4 or Linksys Velop. In this article, we are going to look at the two and see which is the most suitable for you.
The TP Link Deco M4 and Linksys Velop are very popular in the mesh network market today. They have both been around for a long time. Depending on your needs, either of these routers would be best for you. They are built differently to suit different users. They are differ in everything from design to their hardware capabilities. The following table highlights some of these differences
Table of Contents
What are the Differences between the TP Link Deco M4 Vs Linksys Velop?
Model |
TP Link Deco M4 |
Linksys Velop |
Radio Freq. Support |
Tri-band radios at 2.4GHz and 5Ghz (x2) |
Dual 2.5GHz/5Ghz |
Processor |
Quad core CPU |
716 MHz ARM Cortex quad core |
Speed |
1167 Mbps (combined bands) |
5.3Gbps (combined bands) |
Flash Memory |
4 GB |
4 GB |
RAM |
512 MB |
1 GB |
Ports |
Two Gigabit ports per unit, 1 x USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 4.2 |
Two Gigabit ports per unit (1 WAN and 1 LAN port each) |
Availability |
TP Link Deco M4 vs Linksys Velop – How do they compare?
Hardware Capacity
The Velop is a mesh router with a 2 x 2 dual band system powered by a powerful 716 MHz CPU processor. This CPU processor is powerful and is able to transmit signals for very long range. The Linksys Velop also comes with a lot of memory of 512 MB of RAM and a flash memory of 4 GB. The dual band on both of these systems is feature a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio band system.
The TP Link M4 comes is a powerful router that will eliminate all dead zones in the house. It features a quad core CPU processor with Tri-band radios at 2.4GHz and 5 GHz. The processor is able to support multiple user, multiple input andmultiple output (MUMIMO) infrastructure. MUMIMO allows for multiple devices to be connected and managed at the same time. For memory capacity, it comes with 4 GB of space or flash memory and 512 MB of RAM, all of which are more than enough for providing wide are coverage. Furthermore, this router comes with two ports, both gigabit Ethernet ports.
Mobile app and other support systems
All mesh routers come with mobile apps for installation, configuration and management of the router system. The TP Link M4 like all other TP Link routers is operated using the Deco app on Android’s play store and Apple’s store. The Deco app is regarded as the best WIFI mesh app due to the wide range of capabilities it has and the superior parental control features it has. The app allows you to see all the connected devices, give signal priority to devices, block devices from accessing the internet and control the LED status notification light on the router. But the most outstanding feature is the parental control system on the app. The system does a great job in protecting the children. You can set time limits of internet usage, view the sites they have been visiting, block harmful sites and more. The app is definitely a solid selling point for this router. The Linksys Velop, on the other hand, also features an app that is compatible with both android and iOS devices. The first time setup and installation is done through the app. The Linksys Velop app is easy to understand because of the user friendly interface that it comes with. All router or node units can be seen and controlled from the app. You can see each router’s IP address, the devices connected.
Positioning and signal strength
The search for a mesh router system comes from experiencing dead zones in the house. Always select the router with the coverage area and minimal loss of data. When it comes to TP Link Deco M4 and the Linksys Velop, they differences between them are small.
Like the Deco M4, the Google WIFI router is also an AC1200 router. Inside it, it has a quad core ARM 2 x 2 710 MHz processor with a dual band system of: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This powerful processor is able to support beamforming which is an essential tool for simultaneous communication between devices. It also supports Bluetooth Smart connection which is a great plus. When it comes to memory, the Google WIFI router has a RAM of 512 MB and a memory capacity of 4 GB. For wired connections, the router has ports located at the back bottom of the router. There are two gigabit Ethernet ports, one being the WAN port and the other a LAN port.
Range and Performance
Both the TP Link M4 and the Linksys Velop come with dual bands that cannot be separated. The performance of a mesh router is measures by the speed of the router at different bands. The band channels are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.The TP Link M4 comes with two dedicated channel bands: the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The bands offer different speeds and signal strength. The 2.4 GHz band provides up to 300 Mbps while the latter provides up to 867 Mbps. The M4 comes in a default pack of three units/routers. With them, you get 5500 square feet of coverage which is more than enough for large homes. When it comes to positioning, the two secondary M4 routers should be placed in dead zones in the house. They should be placed relatively high and away from any obstructions to get the best out of them.
At a distance with an obstruction of three stone walls, the download speed was measured at 74 Mbps while the upload speed dropped to 9.42 mbps. The Linksys Velop processor is able to support multiple user, multiple input andmultiple output (MUMIMO) infrastructure. MUMIMO allows for multiple devices to be connected and managed at the same time. It is also responsible for sending the WIFI signals to a client device directly instead of an all directional broadcast.
Design and structure
The exterior design of these two routers are quite different. The TP Link M4 keeps the usual minimalist simplistic design. The newer M9 is bigger than the M4 but keeps the cylindrical seashell exterior design. It is shell white in color and has a plastic body. The design is modelled to fit into your home’s interior décor without looking out of place. There’s a single light LED on top of the router that acts as a status indicator. It measures 6.0 inches in diameter with a thickness of 1.5 inches. The cylindrical design also allows mobility in that, this router can be mounted onto walls or furniture to transmit the signal further and better.
The Linksys Velop is a beautiful router with a unique tower design. It is a cuboid shaped router with sharp edges and corners. There is a small LED light at the top right corner that indicates the status of the router. The router still uses a mini-tower design like its older predecessor released in 2017. It is a relatively large router that measures 7.28 by 3.07 by 3.07 inches. The LED displays different colors for different statuses. For instance, a blue color lights up during start up and red represents a lost connection. Purple light sup during setup configuration. When it comes to physical connections, the router comes with two gigabit Ethernet ports where one is a WAN port and the other is a LAN port. There’s also a reset button, a power jack and a power switch.
The TP Link M4 comes with four internal antennas. These antennas are omnidirectional and are irremovable. The Linksys Velop on the other hand features six irremovable antennas that are housed inside each unit. It is important however to note that more antennas doesn’t necessarily mean a better signal because other factors affect the strength of a signal.
The TP Link Deco M4 vs Linksys Velop– A comparison review
Linksys Velop 2019
- JD Power Award ---Highest in customer satisfaction for wireless routers 2017 and 2019
- Better Coverage than traditional WiFi routers: Deco M4 three units work seamlessly to create a WiFi mesh...
The Linksys Velopis a triband AC2200 router with dual bands system of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. On the 2.4 GHz, the speed goes up to 400 Mbps while on the 5 GHz it gets to a maximum of 867 GHz. To power this system, there is a 716 MHz quad core CP. And to boost and spread the signal well, each router comes with six internal antennas. The antennas provide a wide range of 2000 sq. feet. The router also supports MUMIMO for simultaneous data streaming and beamforming for data to client signal transmissions.
The Linksys Velop router comes as a package of three pieces inside the box: a main router and two smaller nodes to be placed at different rooms where there are dead zone. Each node measures 4.7 by 3 by 2.1 inches in height width and length. There is a small LED light on the top part of the router. The colors featured by the LED are red, purple, green, blue and yellow to indicate weak signal.
Pros
- The router is quick and easy to install
- The Linksys Velop allows accessibility through the mobile app and we browser
- It has a very striking design
- It uses plug in nodes that provide a wide range of 2000 sq. feet
- It uses an intelligent mesh technology to select the best backhaul and client data transmissions
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- The router lacks a security protection feature against malware.
TP Link Deco M4
- Wi Fi router replacement provides whole home mesh coverage
- Bundle includes (1) tri band Node and (2) plug in dual band nodes
The Deco M4 is a beautiful AC1200 rated router with an elegant design. Built in a tower design, the TP Link M4 is cuboid in shape. It is white in color and has a black maze plastic top. The company logo is imbibed at the bottom in grey. It is arguably one of the prettiest routers in the market today. When you first buy the Deco M4, it comes as a default pack of three routers inside the box. One of the three routers is connected to your internet service provider’s modem and the rest are spread in rooms with dead zones in the house. Connecting the three routers is quick and easy through the Deco app. The app is available for both android and iOS platforms and works seamlessly.
It is quite affordable and should be a top consideration when looking for a mesh router for your home. This coupled with the amazing features it has to give it great value for money. With the TP Link M4, you only need three units to cover a space of 4500 sq. feet. This can be partly attributed to the four internal antennas fitted inside it. But perhaps the best feature of the TP Link M4 is its ability to support smart home devices. It also acts as a hub for multiple devices. This means that you smart devices such as smart locks and lights can be easily connected and controlled from the system through Alexa.
Pros
- The TP Link M4 is easy and quick to install
- It supports both mobile app support systems
- It comes with an inbuilt security feature known as Lifetime Security
- It has a powerful connection at medium range
- It has amazing parental controls
- The firmware receives regularly updates with new useful features and functionalities
Cons
- It does not have web based support system
- There is no dedicated channel band control
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable router with mid-level performance router, the TP Link Deco M4 would be a wonderful choice for you. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a top router with wonderful performance and range, the Linksys is the better choice.
Verdict: So which is better? The TP Link Deco M4 or Linksys Velop
The Linksys Velop is a wonderful choice and provides amazing range. Also, through the use of node technology, the signal does not weaken significantly over a long distance. The TP Link M4 also provides a wide range but is slower.
FAQs
Does the TP Link M4 feature beamforming technology?
No. The M4 has powerful antennas that boost the signal well enough
Does the Linksys Velop come with Zigbee technology?
Yes. Since only the Linksys Velop was built to also act as a hub for smart home devices, it comes with inbuilt Zigbee technology to communicate with these smart devices.
