TP-Link Deco M5 Vs Linksys Velop – Which router has the best speed?
Selecting a fast router for a large home can be difficult especially because many routers do not deliver the speeds stated on paper. In this article, we are going to review two of the fastest mid-range routers: the Deco M5 and the Linksys Velop.
Mesh routers work by providing and spreading the signal equally to all points in your house. Because of this, mesh routers in more than one unit, usually three units. One of the three is the main router while the other two are secondary routers that are placed at different points of the house. As the three communicate, a network mesh is formed, hence their name.The TP Link Deco M5 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 Deco M5 Vs Linksys Velop?
Model |
TP Link Deco M5 |
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 |
Router speed/bandwidth |
1.2 Gbps (combined bands) |
5.3 Gbps (combined bands) |
Flash Memory |
4 GB |
4 GB |
RAM |
512 MB |
1 GB |
Ports |
Two gigabit ports per unit, one USB Type-C port and a Bluetooth port |
Two gigabit Ethernet ports per unit: one WAN, one LAN port |
Availability |
TP Deco M5 vs Linksys Velop – How do they compare?
Hardware Capacity
The TP Link M5 is an AC1300router that uses a dual bandchannel of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This system is powered by a quad core processor CPU. The processor also features tri band radios that are responsible for boosting the signal far and wide.
The Linksys Velop on the other handis 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 1 GB of RAM, which is one of the highest RAM capacities, 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.
Mobile app and other support systems
When it comes to installation and configuration of these routers, a mobile app is used to communicate with them. Some companies also offer a web based platform. However, this is a less popular option. Before installing the routers, ensure you have downloaded the app. The TP Link M5 has an app known as the Deco app. The Deco app is available for both android and Apple devices. The app is highly rated among users and one of the most acclaimed. This is because of its most amazing feature: the parental control. Parental control allows you to protect your kids from harmful content by setting restrictions and limits remotely from the comfort of your phone. Through the app you can view what sites they are visiting, block harmful websites and set internet use curfews on children’s devices.
The Linksys Velop on the other hand also has a mobile app. The app is required and mandatory during first time installation. The Velop app works seamlessly and offers great functionalities, among them, parental control. As much as the parental control is not as detailed as the M5’s, the app is also amazing. It provides reports on details such as: time spent on the internet by different devices, sites visited by a select device, data in bytes spent on the internet among others. Both apps are used when updating the routers’ firmware
Range and Performance
Both the TP Link M5 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 M5 is an AC1200 router meaning it produces a combined total bandwidth of 1.2 Gbps from the combined bands. This number can be split into single bands to produce the following speeds. At 2.4 GHz, the M5 provides a speed of up to 400 Mbps while on the 5 GHz router, the speed is up to 867 Mbps. With these speeds, you are guaranteed of a seamless connection throughout. When it comes to range and coverage, the TP Link M5 perform rather well with the three default routers providing a range of 4500 sq. feet. This is ideal for two to three story houses. Each additional router you add after this increases the coverage by about 1000 sq. feet.
On the other hand, we have the Linksys Velop. The Linksys Velop is an AC3000 router meaning it produces a combined total bandwidth of 5.3 Gbps from the combined bands. When this value is split into single bands, the following speeds bandwidths speed are recorded. At 2.4 GHz, the M5 provides a speed of up to 500 Mbps while on the 5 GHz router, the speed is up to 1300 Mbps. With these speeds, you are guaranteed of a seamless connection throughout. When it comes to range and coverage, the Linksys Velop performs rather well with the three default routers providing a range of 6500 sq. feet. This is ideal for two to three story houses. The Linksys Velop was also tested with an internet service provider speed of 80 Mbps and the following speeds were found. The download speed was 117.5 Mbps while the upload was 11.4 Mbps when standing in short range from the router with no obstructions. At a further 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 Velopalso features MU-MIMO technology which is 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 M5 is a small cylinder shaped router that weighs just about eight ounces per unit. The diameter is measured at 6 inches and while the height stands at a measly 1.5 inches. It is clear that the M5 is a small router that will take up the least space in your house. The routers are all white in color and are swirled at the top so that the tip of the top is the LED status light. The light uses different colors to indicate different functionalities or problems. It also adds to the aesthetic of the router. The exterior is made from hardened plastic coated in a matte finish to reduce the amount of fingerprints. Furthermore, the Deco M5 comes with ports for wired connections. There are two gigabit Ethernet ports, a type C power jack and a USB port which is an upgrade from the M4. The ports are located on the bottom sides. The shape and design of the M5 make it perfect for mounting which is a great additional perk.
The Linksys Velopis shaped like a cuboid with white sharp straight edges. This means that it can only be placed vertically and makes it difficult to mount. Thanks to the smooth and lovely crystalwhite finish, the router feels great to the touch and generally looks quite tidy. However, its unique design is hard to miss. The Linksys Velopmeasures 3.1 by 7.3 inches and has two Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit; 1 WAN and 1 LAN port each,and a power jack. The top of the router features an LED status indicator light. It first starts with a pink color that changed to purple hen turns off during setup. After it is connected and working smoothly, a solid blue color lights up.
The TP Link M5 has four internal antennas while the Linksys velop has six internal antennas that are housed inside each unit. The internal antennas means they cannot be adjusted to receive signals better which may be a letdown for some. However, they work perfectly and suffer minimal loss of data.
The TP Link M5 vs Linksys Velop – A comparison review
TP Link Deco M5
The TP Link Deco M5 comes as: a package of three routers, the chargers for each router and a manual. All the routers are identical both in looks and capabilities. A great reason to buy the Deco M5 would be the amazing value for money you get. You pay less for a lot of top class features such as the superior mobile app, mounting ability among others. The three units are also ideal for large homes of two and three stories. Using the four internal antennas in each price, the signal can cover up to 4500 square eet and while providing speeds of up to 1200 Mbps. The app has clear instructions and is easy to understand even for a first timer. The TP Link M5 (and other TP Link mesh routers) is known for being compatible with Alexa. This means you can control certain aspects of the router using voice commands which is pretty cool.
Pros
- The M5 is a powerful mid-range router that provides a coverage of 4500 sq. feet
- It is easy to mount on walls
- The routers are small and are not obtrusive to your home’s interior décor
- The M5 has a unique matte finishing to prevent fingerprints and other dirt from sticking on the surface
- It receives constant updates that ensure the built in security system is up to date
Cons
- The router is inconsistent and suffers random speed downtimes.
Linksys Velop 2019
- Wi Fi router replacement provides whole home mesh coverage
- Bundle includes (1) tri band Node and (2) plug in dual band nodes
The Linksys has an area coverage of up to 6000 square feet and a speed of up to 2200 Mbps. But perhaps the most outstanding feature of this system is its ability to communicate with smart home devices. It works amazingly well with Alexa. The mobile app is also very versatile and has many functionalities such as speed test, guest access and parental control. The Velop is a mesh wireless device that provides amazing connection throughout the house and fast speeds. It is a true mesh system in that it uses its nodes to communicate directly with other nodes in the network. All you have to do is hook up one of the nodes to you ISP router.
Pros
- It has superior area coverage
- The design is stylish and beautiful
- It is easy to setup and manage using the mobile app
- The mobile app is very versatile and has many functionalities such as speed test, guest access and parental control
- It offers very stable connectivity
Cons
- There is no web based management system, only the mobile app
- There is only one LAN port for wired connections
- It cannot be mounted on a wall or ceiling
Conclusion
All in all, both these routers are great depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a low budget router with superb features that are almost like premium mesh systems, the TP Link M5 would be a great choice. If you want an overall great router, the Linksys would be a better choice. It offers more range and has better performance
Verdict: So which is better? The TP Link Deco M5 or Linksys Velop
The Linksys Veloptakes the lead when it comes to choosing a reliable router for your home. This is because it offers faster speeds at both long and short range. The TP Link M5 is better for smaller and average sized homes.
FAQs
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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.
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Does the TP Link M5 overheat?
No. It comes with ventilation points located on the sides of the router.
