TP Link Deco M5 Vs Ubiquiti – Which router best suits your needs?
If you’re looking to eliminate WIFI dead zones in your house, consider the TP Link M5 and the Ubiquiti mesh router systems. In this article, we are going to do an in-depth review of these two routers and see which the best one for you is.
Some of the best routers in the market today are the three routers we are going to look at in this article: TP Link Deco M5 and the less popularly known Ubiquiti router. They are known as mesh routers because of how they work. They use satellite devices that are placed around the house. These satellite devices can easily spread strong Wi-Fi signals in all rooms comfortably. This is the reason they are a bit pricier than regular routers. However, as more and more options come from different companies, the price continues to reduce. In the following table, we are going to highlight some of their key differences
Table of Contents
What are the Differences between the TP Link Deco M5 Vs Ubiquiti?
Model |
Ubiquiti Router |
TP Link Deco M5 |
Radio Freq. Support |
Dual Band 2.5GHz/5Ghz |
Tri-band radios at 2.4GHz and 5Ghz (x2) |
Processor |
Quad core |
Quad core CPU |
Speed |
1000 Mbps (combined bands) |
1267 Mbps (combined bands) |
Flash Memory |
32 MB |
4 GB |
RAM |
128 MB |
512 MB |
Ports |
1 Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port |
Two gigabit ports per unit, one USB Type C port, Bluetooth 4.2 |
Availability |
TP Link Deco M5 vs Ubiquiti – How do they compare?
Hardware Capacity
The processor is the component that controls everything in the router and where all the instructions are stored. The TP Link M5 WIFI system has a powerful Quad Core 700 MHz processor chipset equipped with MU-MIMO functionality. Compared to the Google WIFI, this is a weaker system. The Google WIFI has powerful hardware. Its processor is a 710 MHz Quad Core chip. Each of these processors has two radio bands of 2.4 and 5 GHz. Both are also AC1200 mesh routers meaning their maximum data rate is similar at the different bands. The Google WIFI mesh router does not support MU-MIMO which is essential for high quality video and data streaming. The MU-MIMO feature also allows equal interaction with all the devices connected to the router. With it, the router equally distributes data so that all devices have equal speed and strength signal. Google WIFI claims that they do not the feature since their routers already run smoothly without it. We however recommend that you select a mesh router with this important feature.
The Ubiquiti is dual band with a memory capacity of 128 MB of RAM and a flash memory of 32 MB. The dual band on both of these systems is feature a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio band system.
Positioning and signal strength
If you’re looking for a mesh router, it means you experience signal dead zones in your house. You should always select the router with the best range and minimal loss of data. When it comes to the two routers here, they margin between them is small. When The TP Link M5 was tested in a real world environment over a service package of 80 Mbps and the following range was recorded. The download speed was 76.7 Mbps while the upload was 5.16 Mbps when standing 1.52 meters away from the router with zero obstructions. When the distance was increased to 13 feet and a three stone wall obstruction added, the download speed was measured at 74.6 Mbps while the upload speed was measured at 5.13 Mbps. The Ubiquiti was also tested under the same conditions and the following speeds were found. The download speed was 54.6 Mbps while the upload was 5.01 Mbps when standing 5 feet away from the router with no obstructions. 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.
Exterior design and structure
The design and look of the router should always be a consideration when buying a mesh router. Mesh routers have different designs based on the company. The TP Link Deco M5 for instance features a cylindrical design similar to other Deco routers such as the M4 and P7 routers. The cylinder is flat at the bottom with a swirly top. At the tip of the swirl, there is a small LED status light that indicates different states of the router using different colors. For instance, a red color means there’s a problem while orange and blue appear during setup and configuration. Green means that everything is working just fine. The company logo is written on the top, below the LED light and is light gray in color. When it comes to size, the router is small and measures 4.7 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches in height or thickness. Because the ports of the Deco M5 are located on side, it makes mounting possible and easy. This is a great additional perk for people with little floor space.
The Ubiquiti Amplified HD router features a very different design from the Deco M5. This unique router is a cube with a small LED screen display that shows the upload and download speeds of your internet connection. The small display also shows the date.No other router has such a display and this makes the Ubiquiti one of the prettiest routers out there. At the base, there is an LED strip that circles through the edges of the box-shaped design. Many users believe that this is the best looking device in the mesh router market today.Each unit measures 3.9 x 3.85 x 3.92 inches in length, width and height respectively. At the back, the router has an astounding seven ports. Four of these are LAN ports, one is a WAN port, and a USB port and a type C power port.
Fixed Antennas
The TP Link Deco M5 is an AC1200 router with four internal antennas that broadcast the network in all directions. The antennas are also used to receive signals from the main router/modem. On the other hand, the Ubiquiti also has four internal antennas placed strategically along the four sides to propel the signal as far as possible. The antennas optimize the signal and ensure there is consistent connection and performance throughout.
Range and Performance
The TP Link deco M5 focuses more on the range rather than the throughput speed. This is an important factor that should always be considered when buying a mesh system for you home. It is an AC1200 router with two channel bands. The 2.4 GHz band provides a throughput speed of 77 Mbps over a distance of 30 feet. On the 5 GHz band, the routers provide a speed of 72 Mbps over a distance of between 25 and 30 feet. Each router comes with four internal antennas that help boost the signal to the furthest corners of your house. The three routers working together provide a wide coverage of up to 450 square meters ideal for two and three story homes and villas. These tests were performed under an ISP package of 80 Mbps. If you want a router focused more on wide coverage, the TP Link Deco M5 is the better option
The Ubiquiti Amplified router features amazing range and throughput speed. The router provides a range of up to 6000 square feet when three pieces are used. The range drop to about 5000 sq. feet when using a single unit. The Amplified router was tested and found to have the following throughput speeds. It provides a speed of 74 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band over a distance of 35 feet. On the other channel band, the router dropped speed to 72 Mbps over a distance of 40 feet. These are impressive numbers for any mesh router to have. The Ubiquiti Amplified HD router is great for anyone looking for an all-round fast, robust router.
Mobile app and other support systems
Both the Deco M5 and Ubiquiti feature mobile apps for installation and management of the network and routers. The apps are compatible for both Android and iOS platforms. The Deco App is one of the best mesh router apps with versatile functionalities and the best parental control system. On the other hand, the Ubiquiti has a beautiful app with a lovely interface. Although some of the routers functionalities can be controlled on the LED screen, the app has much more functionalities and features. Both routers need their app for installation and management
Ubiquiti Mesh Router
- Ubiquiti Networks networks Unifi AP Enterprise solution
Ubiquiti 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 Ubiquiti mesh router. The Ubiquiti 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 Ubiquiti 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 Ubiquiti 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
TP Link Deco M5
The TP Link Deco M5 is a great mesh system for your house. It is a mid-range mesh router with the performance of a high end router. As mesh routers get larger and larger, the TP Link Deco M5 maintains a small simple and minimalist design. When you buy the system, it comes as package with three identical routers, their power cables and a manual. This is because three routers are almost always enough when it comes to transmitting signals far and wide. The three routers provide a coverage of up to 4500 square feet. This is approximately a two or three story house. Other wonderful addition features of the M5 include: an inbuilt security system known as HomeCare, compatibility with Alexa smart hubs and self-healing. Self-healing allows for the routers to continue working seamlessly even after failure of one router.
Pros
- The TP Link Deco M5 comes with an inbuilt security system known as HomeCare
- It is compatible with Alexa smart hubs and allows for voice command control
- It features a self-healing property that allows the routers to continue to work seamlessly even after failure of one router
- It provides wide coverage of 4500 sq. feet
- It comes with two gigabit Ethernet ports
Cons
- Compared to other mid-level routers, the M5 is expensive
- Users have complained that it provides inconsistent speeds and performance
Conclusion
The TP Deco M5 and Ubiquiti are some of the best routers you can choose for you house. The Deco M5 is a better choice for anyone on a tight budget that wants top performance from a mid-range router. The Ubiquiti may cost you more but is the better overall router. It is faster, covers a wider range and provides very consistent performance.
Final Verdict -So which is better? TP Link Deco M5 or Ubiquiti Mesh router
The TP Link M5 offers a more premium experience and offers better performance and features a more versatile mobile app. The Ubiquiti router has slightly less good performance but costs way less making it the better choice.
FAQs
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Does the Ubiquiti support beamforming?
Yes. It 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.
