Page 5 - Conclusion
With this router entering and completing our tests, the TP-Link Deco M5 paints a pretty good picture when it comes to a mesh system. Starting at the top, we have an excellent design with an unobtrusive look to let them fit into your house without sticking out like a sore thumb. Its simple white finish and single LED indicator makes it easy to tell if a node is functioning as expected or not. When it comes to setting up the router, TP-Link provides a straightforward, albeit slow, process. I did not run into any issues configuring extra mesh nodes, though it was not necessarily the fastest to do so. The phone application itself was also designed with simplicity in mind, though it does provide a bit more than the standard feature set. Having settings like time scheduling, QoS, and content filtering are pretty standard, but it is still good to see. In addition, it is nice to see an antivirus for the entire system, which is something not all routers include. Finally, moving to performance, the TP-Link Deco M5 was able to perform well on its own. Our tests show the entire mesh node has decent broadcast power. However, it is not exactly a clean bill of health for the Deco M5 either. For one, even though the target audience is not the advanced user, it would have been nice to include a browser-based backend for users, just so they can manipulate settings on their computer for convenience's sake. As well, I would have liked to see a bit more advanced features overall. While performance was good, it was also quite obvious each Deco M5 node has very directional antennas, with wide speed variations just based on the orientation of the router in relation to your device. At a retail price of around $225 USD, the consumer mesh router solution is still in its infancy, as there are higher performing single routers available for cheaper. Even so, if you have a large area to cover, the TP-Link Deco M5 is a simple option to decorate your house in wireless goodness.
TP-Link provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Review Focus Summary:
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks; but should be considered before purchasing.
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
-- Final APH Numeric Rating is 6.5/10
Please note that the APH Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other sites.
The TP-Link Deco M5 system is an unobtrusive mesh router that is easy to setup and offers good performance.
Do you have any comments or questions about the TP-Link Deco M5? Drop by our Forums. Registration is free, and it only takes a minute!
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Configuration and User Interface
4. Performance Tests
5. Conclusion
