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TP-Link Deco X5000 Router Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8
Reviewed Jul 22, 2024 at 10:27 am
TP-Link Deco X5000 Picture
7.9
Apartment/Condo
8.0
Multi-Level House
8.0
Speed
8.1
Range

The TP-Link Deco X5000 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band. It's designed for use in a mesh system and is only available in a three-pack. Like other routers in TP-Link's Deco lineup, it has a simple design with a small footprint. You can set it up and manage it through the Deco app. It's compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled devices for voice control. We tested this router in dual mesh mode.

Our Verdict

7.9 Apartment/Condo

The TP-Link AX5000 is a very good router for use in an apartment, condo, or single-story home. It has a simple design and a small body that easily fits into your living space. It provides impressive range and speeds fast enough for high-bandwidth activities like 4k video streaming on multiple devices and quickly downloading very large files. However, it only has two wired networking ports rated for 1Gbps, so you'll need to purchase an external network switch if you have many wired devices.

Pros
  • Small and sleek design.
  • Great top speeds.
  • Impressive range.
Cons
  • Only two networking ports.
  • Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
8.0 Multi-Level House

The TP-Link Deco AX5000 is a great router for use in a multi-story home with a backyard. It provides great coverage throughout your home, providing speeds fast enough for high-bitrate 4k video streaming with multiple users or downloading large files quickly. It's also compatible with every other TP-Link Deco model, so you can easily add more access points for better coverage. It only has two wired networking ports that are rated for 1Gbps, however, so you'll need to purchase an external network switch if you have many wired devices.

Pros
  • Small and sleek design.
  • Great top speeds.
  • Impressive range.
Cons
  • Only two networking ports.
  • Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
8.0 Speed

The TP-Link Deco AX5000 delivers great top speeds and is suitable for an internet connection of up to ~800 Mbps. It also supports Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), so it can use less congested DFS-only channels to give you better speeds in noisy wireless environments.

Pros
  • Great top speeds.
Cons
  • Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
8.1 Range

The TP-Link Deco AX5000 has an impressive range. It's a mesh router that uses satellite units to maintain consistent speeds over long distances.

Pros
  • Impressive range.
Cons
  • Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
  • 7.9 Apartment/Condo
  • 8.0 Multi-Level House

Performance Usages

  • 8.0 Speed
  • 8.1 Range
  1. Updated Jul 22, 2024: Review published.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The TP-Link Deco AX5000 has no variants and is only available in a three-pack. Here's a photo of our unit's label.

Compared To Other Routers

The TP-Link Deco AX5000 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band. It's sold in a three-pack and designed for use in a mesh network. It's also compatible with every other Deco model, including dedicated outdoor access points and units with powerline connectivity.

This router delivers impressive top speeds and range and is a great choice if you have a large home. It's only Wi-Fi 6 capable, so it can't take advantage of the less congested 6GHz band.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
8.6
Design
Dimensions
Height
4.49" (11.4 cm)
Width
4.33" (11.0 cm)
Depth
4.33" (11.0 cm)
Depth With Cables
5.71" (14.5 cm)
6.7
Design
Network Ports
WAN Port Speed
1.0 Gbps
LAN Port Count
1
10 Gbps Ports
0
2.5 Gbps Ports
0
1 Gbps Ports
2
10 Gbps Ports (SFP+)
0

This router has two networking ports that automatically detect whether you're using a WAN or LAN connection. If you have many wired devices, you'll have to buy an external network switch.

Design
USB Ports
USB-A 3.0 Ports
0
USB-A 2.0 Ports
0
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Speed
N/A
Design
In The Box

  • Ethernet cable
  • Power adapter x3
  • User documentation

0
Design
Wall/Ceiling Mount
Mount Type
None
Wi-Fi
8.1
Wi-Fi
Interior Long Range
Lowest Speed
423 Mbps
Average 5GHz Speed
442 Mbps
Average 6GHz Speed
N/A

We tested this router in dual mesh mode. While there's a slight speed penalty when connected to the satellite, this is expected, and the additional access point helps deliver more consistent speeds over very long distances.

8.0
Wi-Fi
Interior Short Range
Highest Speed
796 Mbps
Average 5GHz Speed
624 Mbps
Average 6GHz Speed
N/A

We tested this router in dual mesh mode. While there's a slight speed penalty when connected to the satellite, this is expected, and the additional access point helps deliver more consistent speeds over longer distances.

7.5
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Specifications
Wi-Fi Version
Wi-Fi 6 (ax)
6GHz Band
No
Multi Band
Dual Band (2.4 / 5)
DFS Channels
Yes
Wi-Fi Coverage
Wi-Fi Coverage
Indoor Coverage - Same Story
Wi-Fi Coverage
Indoor Coverage - 1 Story Above
Wi-Fi Coverage Map (Dual Mesh)
Wi-Fi Coverage
Broad Coverage