TP-Link Deco M5 Vs Eero – Which is the best router for large homes?
If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi mesh system to strengthen your home’s internet connection to every corner of the house, you should consider these two systems. In this article, we are going to look in depth at the TP Link M5 and Eero Mesh routers and see which is the most suitable for you.
A mesh network allows a user to extend and spread the WIFI signal by adding additional devices known as nodes at different spots in the house. This creates an ‘umbrella’ network where nodes connect and communicate seamlessly to provide powerful signal all through the house with very minimal loss. The TP Link Deco M5 and Eero mesh routers are two of the top mesh systems in the wireless technology market today. They are widely compared due to their similarities and many people often wonder which the better of the two is. We have all been frustrated by slow internet and know how irritating it can be, especially in your own house.
The TP Link Deco M5 and Eero mesh routers are widely compared due to their similarities and closeness in functionality. However, they vary in a number of things as seen in the following table.
Table of Contents
What are the Differences between the TP Links Deco M5 and Eero Mesh Router?
Model |
TP Link Deco M5 |
Eero Mesh Router |
Radio Freq. Support |
Tri-band radios at 2.4GHz and 5Ghz (x2) |
Dual 2.5GHz/5Ghz |
Processor |
638 MHz Quad core |
Quad-core ARM 700MHz
|
Router bandwidth/speed |
2.4 GHz – 400 Mbps
5 GHz – 867 Mbps |
2.4 GHz – 240Mbps
5 GHz – 600Mbps |
Flash Memory |
4 GB |
4 GB |
RAM |
512 MB |
512 MB |
Ports |
1 USB 2.0, 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports |
Two gigabit ports for WAN and LAN connectivity |
Availability |
TP Links Deco M5vs. Eero– How do they compare?
These two routers are similar in a lot of aspects. However, they have a few differences that we will look at in this section.
Mobile Apps and accessibility
Almost all mesh router systems feature a mobile app for installing and managing the system. The Tp Link features a mobile app known as the Deco app which is used for all TP Link mesh routers. The Deco app is said to be the best mobile app and it’s not difficult to see why. It is one of the best working mobile apps and has the best parental control features. The app performs the following functions: shows connected devices, allows you to give bandwidth priority to select devices, allows you to block devices, among others. But perhaps the best feature of the app is the robust parental control. It allows you to view what the sites the kids are visiting, set hourly limits of internet usage on the kids’ devices, block harmful sites among other features.The app is also responsible for the routers’ firmware updates.
On the other hand, the Eero mobile app is known for its fast set up time when setting up the router. Everything is set up in under ten minutes using this app. The Eero app has the following functionalities: allows network sharing with guests, blocking specific users or devices from connection and use, schedule internet access times and allows viewing and managing the status of the router from anywhere in the world. The app also comes with a premium service subscription known as Eero Plus that allows for more features such as parental control, more security and full time access to your router. It is important to note that neither of these routers supports web or browser support.
Design and structure
When it comes to design, the two devices differ quite a lot. The TP Link M5is a white cylinder shaped router with a curled top that makes it look like a seashell. At the tip of this curl, there is an LED notification light that notifies you of a lost signal, or broken connection. It is also quite small measuring about six inches in diameter with a height or thickness of 1.5 inches. The exterior is made from tough plastic with a shiny smooth finish.
The Eero Mesh Router has one of the most distinct designs in the mesh systems market today. It’s shaped like a small cube with slanting edges with the brand name scribbled across in grey. It looks fantastic. The Eero is a mesh network router that is striking to the eye. It is known for its simple yet futuristic look. It is also small and compact and feels great on the hand. The Eero is white in color with the EERO brand name scribbled across it. It is compact and has a similar weight to the Google Wi-Fi router at 240 g. It can be placed either vertically or horizontally due to the cuboid shape it has. In addition, it measures 2.4 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches.
The antenna is important component of a mesh router or any other network device for that matter. The TP Link M5 has a four antennas. These antennas are omnidirectional and are internal. The Eero on the other hand also features four irremovable internal antennas. These antennas are more than enough for large homes and offices.
Hardware capacity
The hardware capacity of any mesh router system is one of the most important things to look at when selecting a mesh system to install. The hardware will tell you the performance of the router without necessarily checking for performance reviews on the internet.
The Eero features a powerful IPQ4019 processor chipset that powers the 512 MB of RAM and the 4 GB of flash storage it comes with. It also comes with a dual band channel of 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHZ.The TP Link M5 on the other hand is an AC2200 processor with a triband 802.11 networking system that uses for independent data lanes. This is powered by a quad core processor of 638 MHz. This CPU processor is powerful and is able to transmit signals for very long range. The TP Link comes with a lot of memory of 512 MB and a flash memory of 4 GB. This is one of the best memory capacity in any router, with the only the Google Wi-Fi beating this number.
Signal Strength and positioning
A mesh router systems works by creating an umbrella network around your house. This means that the routers should be placed far from each other, in different rooms where there are dead zones.The TP Link M5 was tested in a real world environment over a service package of 80 Mbps, the following range was recorded. The Ookla speed test revealed that the router had a download speed of6 Mbps while the upload speed was at 5.0 mbps. This test was done while standing thirteen feet away from the router with an obstruction of three stone walls. The Eero features a three pack unit that covers large home of up to 5000 sq. feet. If your home is larger than this, you can buy more nodes that provide an additional 1500 sq. feet each. This is much more compared to the Deco M5 making the Eero a great choice for mega homes.
Performance and range
The Deco M5 System is a 2 x 2 router. What this means is that is delivers two independent paths of data. In addition to this, it also has the MU-MIMO feature that heavily boost performance and manages data traffic efficiently. The router also has beamforming capabilities which also boosts the performance of the router. Beamforming aids in directing the signal and ensuring it is received by the antenna. Through these features, the Deco M5 system is able to provide a maximum signal output of 1.3 Gbps. But that’s just on paper. When tested in a real world environment, a single unit of the Deco M5 mesh system produces 291.5 Mbps when standing 5 feet away. The number drops to 111 Mbps at 140 feet. This means that with the Deco M5, you are likely to require more than one unit for the system to work effectively especially if you have a large house.
Furthermore, The Eero Mesh Router supports MU-MIMO which aids in data streaming and direct broadcast to the client device. It boasts a maximum speed of 400 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz channel and 866 Mbps on the 5 GHz channel. In a real world environment with an internet service provider of 80 Mbps, theEero Mesh Router was tested and the following speeds were found. The download speed was 77.5 Mbps while the upload speed dropped to 4.42 mbps at a distance of 13 feet with an obstruction of three stone walls, the download speed was measured at 77.5 Mbps while the upload speed dropped to 4.42 mbps. The Eero Mesh Router also features beamforming technology which is responsible for sending the WIFI signals to a client device directly instead of an all directional broadcast.
TP Link Deco M5 vs. Eero– A Comparison Overview
TP Link Deco M5
The TP Link M5 is the first release of the Shenzhen based company that was released to compete with other mesh routers already in the market such as Google Wi-Fi. Because of this, a lot of its design is based on its competitors look. It is cylinder in shape with a curly top. The exterior is made of tough hardened plastic that is matte white in color. Like the Google Wi-Fi, it is a dual band router with two radio channel bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz. Each band has a bandwidth speed limit. However, the bands cannot be separated and used separately. The M5 comes with recent technology such as a type C charging port, two gigabit Ethernet ports and a status indicator LED light.
Pros
- The TP Link M5 provides high speeds of up to 1200 Mbps throughput
- It features a wide coverage of 4500 square feet
- The Deco App is the best mesh router app
- It has very powerful parental control features to protect the kids from harmful content
- It comes with a built in security system for protection against harmful internet malware.
Cons
- There is no web browser support for accessibility
Eero Mesh Router
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Eero is one of the first mesh routers to be released. The company has recently been acquired by Amazon and with it, the release of newer Eero mesh router. The Eero is not as fast as other routers on this list but would still be a great addition to your household. A standout feature of the Eero however is the amazing mobile app it has. The app is advanced and offers a lot of advanced level functionalities that may not be found on other mesh systems. It is also known to be easy to setupand user friendly.
The Eero does not have a triband system which makes it susceptible to networks loss. With that said, the following are the pros and cons.
Pros
- There is no limit to the amount of beacons you can use
- The beacons have a wonderful design and look amazing
- It is very easy to setup and install
Cons
- It requires a smartphone to setup
- It has limited functionalities and settings
Conclusion
Both these routers are great depending on the users’ needs. If you are looking for a budget friendly cchoice of the two, the Eero Mesh Router is the best choice for you. If you are looking for an all-round powerful router with strong coverage and minimal data loss, the TP Link M5is the most suitable choice for you.
Final Verdict – So which is better? TP Link Deco M5 or Eero Mesh network
There is little to split these two routers and choosing the better of the two can be tough. The TP Link M5 offers a more premium experience and offers better performance. The Eero has slightly less good performance and costs way less making it the better choice.
FAQs
-
Does the Eero support beamforming?
Yes. The Eero supports both beamforming and Mu-Mimo technologies which both assist in simultaneous data streaming
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Can the TP Link Deco M5 be mounted?
Yes. The TP Deco M5 is one of the few routers that can be mounted due to its small design and convenient shape.
