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TP-Link Deco X50-PoE Review
A well-priced upgrade to any Deco system
In This Article
Verdict
A well-priced upgrade to any Deco system, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE can be powered by the mains or PoE. Combined with its ceiling- and wall-mount system, this is a satellite that’s designed to blend in with a home. If you want reliable Wi-Fi without boxes on display, then this is a good choice.
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Mesh systems might be the best way to get a strong Wi-Fi signal where you need it, but the boxes can look ugly strewn around the house.
If you want a neater installation, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE could be for you, as it can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, powered via Ethernet.
Design and features
The compact TP-Link Deco X50-PoE is much smaller than other members of the X50 family and, indeed, other Deco products that I have reviewed in the past. This is a device that’s built to blend in and keep out of the way.
Although it is an X50 product, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE will work with any existing Deco system, so it’s not just for people buying from scratch.
The main benefit of this device is its optional PoE, delivering network and power over an Ethernet cable. The advantage is two-fold: you don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi to get a signal, and you only need one cable. There are two Ethernet ports on this device, one Gigabit Ethernet and one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. Both support PoE, although you’ll need to provide your own injector as there’s not one in the box. If you do prefer to go wireless, then there is a standard power input, too.
With its mounting bracket, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE can be attached to a wall or ceiling. You’ll need Ethernet or power cables where you want them to go, so this device may more sense for those having a home renovation or extension built.
I won’t go into the features of this device much here. As a Deco product, it needs to be part of amesh system, and then it has all of the same security and parental control features of other Deco devices. My review of theTP-Link Deco X50-5Ghas more information if you want it.
Performance
As with the other X50 products, the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE is an AX3000Wi-Fi 6device. It has a 5GHz band rated at a maximum of 2402Mbit/s and a 2.4GHz band rated at 574Mbit/s. I connected my TP-Link Deco X50-PoE to an X50-5G.
On my first floor, I found that the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE almost doubled speeds from that of the X50-5G. Moving to the second floor, speeds increased my more than 14-times, moving from a very slow and unreliable connection to a much faster one.
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Should you buy it?
You want your mesh satellites out of the way:Wall- or ceiling-mounting makes these mesh satellites less conspicuous than much of the competition.
It’s hard to run wires to a wall or ceiling:Unless you’re having renovations, this product may be a little hard to install.
Final Thoughts
If you want a mesh system but don’t want boxes all around your house in plain sight, then the TP-Link Deco X50-PoE is a good upgrade, blending in. It may require you to have cables run properly, so could be better in homes having renovations. And, as its Ethernet ports aren’t easy to reach once the device is installed, those that want to use Ethernet with a satellite device may find a regular mesh satellite a better choice.
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Used as our main wireless router for the review period
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FAQs
PoE – or Power Over Ethernet – is a tech used to deliver DC power to devices over Ethernet cabling.
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Starting life on the consumer PC press back in 1998, David has been at the forefront of technology for the past 20 years. He has edited Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews, and once wrote a book on ho…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
