You also lose out on the M5’s built-in TrendMicro antivirus and quality-of-service features, which allow you to prioritise devices and applications for faster performance when needed. Unfortunately, you don’t get the built-in smart home hub found in the more expensive Deco M9 - but you do get Alexa and IFTTT compatibility. The mesh Wi-Fi system’s management app offers parental controls that allow you to limit online time and block inappropriate content on a per-user (or per-device) basis.
Of course, if you look beyond the hardware for a minute and take a dive into the software powering this thing, you’ll find that the Deco M4 offers most of the perks and features found in the Deco M5. Read more TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900 wireless router However, I had plenty of issues with the second - and no amount of restarts could get it working. Adding the first M4 node to the existing Deco network worked like a charm. I actually had a surprising amount of trouble with the latter though. You can use it on its own, or to expand an existing Mesh Wi-Fi system. Like most mesh Wi-Fi Systems, the Deco M4 is modular. That being said, this baseline coverage is also expandable via additional nodes - so that is an option. The TP-Link Deco M4 two-pack offers Wi-Fi connectivity of up to 260 square meters.
The M4 kit is also a little weaker when it comes to coverage. The difference is small, but it is a difference.
The TP-Link Deco M5 boasts dual-band Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1267Mbps. The TP-Link Deco M4 offers dual-band Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1167 Mbps. Read more TP-Link Deco M5 review: Mesh Wi-Fi that more than "just works" Credit: TP-LinkĮach of the two nodes you get in the box is a AC1200 router, which means that they’re a little slower than the M5.