TP Link Deco P7 Vs Google Wi-Fi- Which router best suits your needs?
Choosing the right router for a large home is important to ensure all dead zones are eliminated. Among the best routers we have today, the TP Link P7 and Google Wi-Fi are two of the most popular and used routers. In the following article, we are going to compare the two and see which router best suits your needs.
Wi-Fi dead zones at home or any large space are something we have all experienced. This is because the default traditional service provider modem or routers are not built to broadcast the signal over long distances. To solve this problem, mesh routers came about around six years ago and have made home network connectivity much better. Mesh routers work by being connected to the default ISP router/modem and then distributing the signal through secondary routers placed in dead zone areas. The TP Link Deco P7 and Google Wi-Fi do a wonderful job at this and are both very budget friendly. These dual band routers increase the range significantly and lose minimal data strength as the signal is transmitted to secondary routers. The following table shows the main differences between these two routers.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP Link P7 WIFI and Google WIFI?
Model |
TP Link P7 |
Google Wi-Fi |
Radio Freq. Support |
Dual band WiFi with simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
Dual band WiFi radios Simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
Beamforming |
Yes |
Yes |
Wi-Fi bandwidth/speed |
2.4 GHz – 400 Mbps
5 GHz – 867 Mbps |
2.4 GHz – 400 Mbps
5 GHz – 600 Mbps |
Processor |
Quad core |
710 MHz Quad core |
Flash Memory |
128 MB |
4 GB |
RAM |
256 MB |
512 MB |
MU-MIMO |
Yes |
No |
Availability |
TP Link P7 WIFI vs Google WIFI – How do they compare?
Positioning and Signal Strength
The TP Link Deco P7 is a sleek router with a cylindrical shape that almost resembles the Google Wi-Fi router. This design means that the router is placed or positioned vertically when placed on a table. Otherwise, the router would roll and fall. When it comes to mounting, the TP Link P7 does not ant mounting feature. However, due to the small and simple design, the router can be easily mounted with a bit of creativity. The fact that all ports are also on the side instead of the bottom also allows for wall mounting. The TP Link also comes supports a very wide range. It is a dual band router with an AC1200 rating. With this, the router provides a range of 4500 square feet. It is very similar to other TP Link routers such as the Deco M5 and M9.
On the other hand, we have the Google Wi-Fi mesh router. In terms of exterior design, the Google Wi-Fi router is very similar to the Deco P7. They are both cylindrical and small and light in weight. This means that mounting the Google mesh is also easy. However, this router has its ports at the base. Because of this mounting may be a problem. As an AC1200 router, the Google Wi-Fi also provides similar coverage on the three piece package.
For people who want to mount their routers, the P7 features a design that can be mounted easily onto a wall or something stationary. It is quite small and flat measuring 120 mm in diameter and a thickness or height of 38 mm. the Google WIFI router can also be mounted as it features a similar small cylindrical design.
Processor capacity
One of the most important factors to consider is when selecting a mesh router system is the processor capacity. The processor is the component that controls everything in the router and where all the instructions are stored. The TP Link P7 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.
Structure and Design
The exterior design of the router should always be a top consideration when looking for a mesh router. When it comes to these two routers, there are quite similar in physical design. The TP Link Deco P7 is a very small cylindrical router that looks more like a smoke detector than a mesh router. It is tiny and almost flat is white in color. At the top, the router is curled so that there is an LED status indicator light on the tip of the curl. The router displays different colors for different purposes. Red indicates no signal, yellow during setup and orange during configuration of the routers. Each of the routers or nodes comes with two gigabit Ethernet ports where one is a LAN port and the other is a WAN port. There is also a type C power port to connect the routers to power. The company logo is imbibed on to the top part in very light grey color. This small router measure just 12 cm in diameter and 3.8 cm in thickness or height.
The Google Wi-Fi router on the other hand, features a similar cylindrical design to the Deco P7. However, it is much prettier and larger than the P7 router. The Google Wi-Fi pieces are all identical and shaped like a perfect cylinder, with a flat top. The bottom is has two rubber bumps that act as wheels for the router. Under these bumps, there are two gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connection and a USB type C port for power connection. But perhaps the most elegant feature of this router is the LED light. The unique LED strip cuts across the circumference of the router to provide a beautiful glow. Different colors represent different statuses of the router. For instance, red means there is no connection while green means there is a working Wi-Fi signal. Each of the routers measure 4.1 inches in diameter and 2.7 inches in height. It also weighs just 340 g in weight which is rather light.
All routers come with internal antennas that help propel the signal to the farthest point possible.The Google Ii-Fi router comes with two high density internal antennas strategically placed omni-directionally inside the nodes. They broadcast the signal in all directions. The TP Link Deco P7 also has our internal antennas. These irremovable antennas broadcast the signal in all directions and provide plenty of coverage.
Mobile app accessibility and other support systems
Most mesh routers come with mobile apps for installation, configuration and management of the routers. The Google Wi-Fi router features a powerful app that provides impressive management of your network. The app is compatible with both iOS and Google Android devices. The app allows monitoring of the network, speed tests as well as some of the best suite controls. The TP Link Deco P7 also comes with a mobile app that is compatible for both iOS and Android users. The Deco app is known to be the best mesh router app and it’s easy to see why. It has super parental controls and allows very quick first time setup. The whole system takes just under ten minutes to setup and run through the app. Other features of both apps include: creation of guest networks, LED light control and data usage monitoring
TP Link P7 vs Google Wi-Fi – A comparison review
The TP Link P7
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The TP Link P7 is a very interesting release from TP Link Company, especially in design. However it is very similar to the first released Deco M5 in terms of performance and abilities. It is an AC1200 dual band mesh router with the signature cylindrical shape of TP link routers. When it comes to its exterior design, it looks more like a smoke detector than a router or network device for that matter. It is small, white and very short in height/thickness. In fact, it is only 3.8 cm long. Because of this size, it excels anywhere from large homes, restaurants and even villas.
Pros
- It is easy to install and manage through the mobile app
- The TP Link P7comes with a dedicated 5 GHz backhaul band
- It comes with an inbuilt malware and virus protection feature
- It can be connected with already existing smart devices in your house such as smart lights and thermostats
Cons
- It is relatively expensive
Google Wi-Fi
- A new type of connected system for seamless WiFi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead...
- Replaces your current router, and works your modem and internet service. It’s compatible with major...
One of the most popular and most used mesh router systems today is the Google Wi-Fi router. It is a dual band WI-Fi system with a gorgeous design and fantastic features. But perhaps its most attractive feature is the price tag it has. This router system is very affordable yet beats out many expensive router in performance and speed. Like all other mesh systems, the Google router comes either as a single piece or unit or as a three unit package. Each of the routers is identical to the other both in physical design and hardware abilities. The routers are easy to identify from the signature cylindrical shape. Each unit also contains a white plastic covering with a matte finish. The matte prevents dirt such as finger prints and stains from getting stuck on to the surface of the piece.
On top of that, this router is small and resembles face cream. It is well built and designed and has an LED light running through the circumference of each router. Each router has two gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB Type C port for power. It is easy to setup and later manage routers through the mobile app.
Pros
- The Google Wi-Fi router is easy to install and configure
- It is a very fast and powerful router for its price range
- It comes with a guest network feature that allows you to create a guest network for temporary users
- The design of this router is lovely with an LED strip light running across the circumference
- It provides amazing range of up to 450 square meters on the three unit kit
Cons
- The AC rating is too low
Conclusion
These two routers are both great additions to your house and do a great job in eliminating signal dead zones. When it comes to performance, they slightly differ with the TP Link P7 mesh router being slightly ahead of the Google Wi-Fi router. The TP Link P7 is the better choice for extremely large spaces and since it provides wider range and has better performance. The Google Wi-Fi is the less expensive option of the two.
Verdict: So which is better? The TP Link P7 or Google Wi-Fi
All factors considered, the TP Link P7 performs better and ensures flawless connectivity throughout and provides wider range. This does not take anything from the Google router though. It is a fantastic router for its price range and offers great value for money
FAQS
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Does the Google Wi-Fi router support MU-MIMO?
No. Google Wi-Fi authorities justified this by claiming that they do not the feature since their routers already run smoothly without it
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Can the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands be separated for the TP Link P7?
No. The TP Link P7 does not separate the two bands.