The TP-Link Deco 7 BE25 is a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that comes with three identical hockey-puck-shaped units. You plug the first one into a wall outlet near your modem, place the other two around the house, and the three of them communicate wirelessly to create one big Wi-Fi network. Each unit also has two 2.5 Gbps ports on the back for wired connections to a modem, desktop, or console. Set up and daily management run through the Deco app on your phone.
A Wi-Fi mesh system to help expand coverage throughout your home
A single router next to the modem often creates dead spots in the corners of a house. Mesh systems fix that by spreading three or more access points around the home instead, all working together as a one network under a single Wi-Fi name. The Deco 7 BE25 uses that approach with three identical units in the box. Whichever unit is closest to your phone or laptop takes over the connection automatically, so the signal stays reliable as you move between rooms, floors, or the backyard.
Wi-Fi 7 is the newest wireless standard, and the BE25 uses two of its three bands. The 2.4 GHz band penetrates walls farther for older devices and distant connections. The 5 GHz band runs faster for closer-range use, with a 240 MHz channel width for extra bandwidth. Multi-Link Operation combines both bands into a single connection for supported devices, adding up to 5 Gbps of combined throughput.
Two 2.5 Gbps ports sit on the back of each Deco unit. Both auto-detect their role, so plugging your modem into either one turns that port into the WAN input and leaves the other for a wired connection to a desktop or console. Wired backhaul between multiple Deco units is also supported for houses with Ethernet already run through the walls. Wired backhaul delivers more consistent speeds than the wireless connection between units.
The Deco app on your phone runs the entire setup process, from plugging in the first unit to distributing the other two around the house. TP-Link HomeShield is free out of the box, adding network security scans, IoT device identification, and basic parental controls to the mesh network. VPN client and server support are also built in for connecting to a work VPN from home or setting up remote access to your local network from the road.
Wi-Fi 7 is still the newest wireless standard, and mesh systems that support it usually cost twice as much. The Deco 7 BE25 is the exception, with a three-pack that covers 6,600 square feet, 2.5 Gbps ports on every unit, and Multi-Link Operation on both bands. At $200, down from $250, the discount takes another $50 off a mesh system already priced for houses that were on Wi-Fi 5 five years ago.
