TP-Link Deco X90 test: a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 kit above all – Frandroid

After Netgear and Asus, it’s the turn of TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 6 Deco X90 kit to put it to the test. Features, performance, we tell you everything about the brand’s high-end kit.

the TP-Link Deco X90 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 kit capable of achieving a theoretical cumulative speed of 6.6 Gb / s. Like its competitors, the kit is made up of two similar devices that will allow the creation of a mesh network in order to optimize home coverage.

Beyond the Wi-Fi aspect, the Deco X90 can completely replace the operator box and benefits from security and filtering features (for a fee) as well as some advanced network-related functions. This kit, composed of 2 devices and offered at recommended price of 569 euros.

Imposing white cylinders

Each manufacturer goes there with his personal touch when it comes to the design of his Wi-Fi kits. The direction taken by TP-Link is not in our opinion the most interesting as the Deco X90s are impressive. The two boxes are therefore in the form of large white cylinders with some small visual originalities that make them a little less monotonous.

We can bet that their “generous” format has enabled the brand to integrate more efficient antennas. Despite everything, this design choice makes the kit easily integrable in any interior, as long as you have the necessary space.

For the rest, there is not much more to say about this Deco X90 kit. An indication LED is present at the base of the front groove. It will be particularly useful during the first configuration or in the event of a problem. This LED is permanently on, but can be deactivated completely or according to a schedule so as not to unnecessarily illuminate the room.

Despite the imposing size of the boxes, TP-Link was a bit stingy when it came to connectivity. Indeed, and even if one of them is in 2.5 Gb / s, there are only 2 RJ45 ports per box, where the competition generally offers 4. This could be a problem if you want to connect many devices behind the boxes, since you will have to invest in additional equipment such as a switch for example.

The power connector is hidden under the base of the boxes and is integrated very discreetly. This is also where we find the usual reset button.

In the end, this kit Deco X90 imposes by its format, but does the bare minimum in terms of connectivity. If the presence of a 2.5 Gb / s port may be interesting for some, we would have preferred to have only 1 Gb / s ports, but that they are quite simply more numerous. Pity.

A clear first start

In order to adapt to the general public, TP-Link logically offers a dedicated mobile application to the configuration of its Deco kits. The X90 kit is no exception and will therefore have to be configured with the latter, which is obviously available on the Play Store and on the Apple App Store.

After connecting the kit electrically and following the instructions, it is immediately detected by the application. The device will then attempt to detect your current network configuration to properly configure the kit. In practice, if you keep your internet box, choose the mode “Dynamic IP”.

After having defined the parameters of your new Wi-Fi network, the smartphone will have to connect to it and everything will be operational. Logically, a firmware update should be proposed and we obviously invite you to do so.

Limited functionality compared to its competitors

For once we won’t dwell on the web interface which is much more limited than the mobile application. This will be more useful for informational purposes than to really configure the kit.

Let’s come back to the application that greets the user with a screen summarizing the devices currently connected. A second tab is dedicated to home automation, since TP-Link offers some references of bulbs and other switches. We will not dwell on these features in this test.

Just like Netgear, TP-Link also offers a security and filtering suite called “HomeShield”. Many functions are offered free of charge, but you will need spend 59.99 euros per year to unlock all the possibilities offered by the solution.

Network scan, website blocking, internet access blocking, notifications… The functions are rather complete, but the most interesting, such as parental control and some related to security, are only accessible in the paid version. Pity.

Regarding more precise settings, the Deco X90 kit is unfortunately less complete than its competitors. We do not benefit from so many options, but the most important are still present with in particular the possibility of customizing the local network, the DHCP server, the compatibility with the possible TV decoder of your operator or the redirection of Harbor.

These different parameters will logically suit the vast majority of users, but if you are looking for a device capable of really taking the role of a router with advanced settings, we recommend that you instead turn to the solutions from Netgear and Asus.

Despite this, we appreciate the possibility of completely replacing the operator’s box with the Deco kit, even if the instructions provided by the brand are rather brief. It is also possible to use the kit in access point mode, in order to leave the management of routing and other network functions to your internet box.

(Very) solid performance

To begin with, let us specify that this kit Deco X90 is a tri-band kit, which implies that one of the bands is dedicated to communication between the satellites. In fact, this link does not impact the bandwidth available for devices that connect to Deco. This important feature is found almost exclusively on high-end kits like this one. As often, the connection between the boxes can also be made by wire, via one of the RJ45 ports.

Theoretically, the Deco X90s can achieve a cumulative throughput of 6.6 Gb / s. This value is obtained by adding the bandwidth available on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. In practice, it will not be possible to achieve such performance on a single machine, knowing in addition that we will be limited by the rest of our network which operates in gigabit (therefore limited to 1 Gb / s).

For the purposes of this test, we used an MSI Summit E16 Flip Evo laptop PC, Wi-Fi 6E compatible. Like always, the measurements made here are to be considered as possibly being limited by the PC rather than the TP-Link kit, although they give a good idea of ​​the overall performance of the solution.

To start with, the idea is to measure the raw performance of the solution using just one of the two elements and performing the flow tests in optimal condition about 1 meter from the transmitter. Under these conditions, and in Wi-Fi 6 therefore, we obtain a average speed of 925 Mb / s, which is almost the physical limit of the cables through which the test passes.

In order to estimate the signal strength, the test was reproduced by placing the computer outside the accommodation, which implies that the waves pass through several partitions and, above all, through a load-bearing wall which is generally very painful. at 5 GHz waves. Here, the results are more than correct with a rather correct speed located in 300 and 400 Mb / s.

A Wi-Fi 5 compatible device, such as our iPad Pro of 2020, manages to maintain a very stable flow just under the bar of 700 Mb / s. Here again, we remain on exemplary performance for the TP-Link solution.

As always, remember that adding a second Deco X90 to form a mesh network will not increase the raw performance of the solution, but will above all allow improve coverage. We took the opportunity to connect our wired PC directly to the satellite in order to measure the performance of the link between the two devices. Here, the Deco kit does a little less well than directly with Wi-Fi 6, with an average of “only” 847 Mb / s.

Finally, note that the latency was very limited with 1 to 2 ms added to our average response time. All these measures allow us to affirm that the TP-Link Deco X90 kit offers exemplary performance, both for Wi-Fi 6 devices and for those only compatible with Wi-Fi 5. Once again, a single box will suffice. ample to cover a housing of 50 to 70 m2.

Price and availability of the TP-Link Deco X90 kit

The TP-Link Deco X90 Wi-Fi 6 kit is available at the recommended price of 569 euros.