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
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.
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Small and sleek design.
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Great top speeds.
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Impressive range.
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Only two networking ports.
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Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
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.
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Small and sleek design.
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Great top speeds.
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Impressive range.
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Only two networking ports.
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Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
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.
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Great top speeds.
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Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
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.
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Impressive range.
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Newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices can't reach their full speeds on this Wi-Fi 6 router.
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.
For more recommendations, check out the best mesh Wi-Fi systems, the best Wi-Fi routers for large homes, or the best routers for streaming.
Test Results
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.
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.
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.
