Two-minute review
TP-Link isn’t the primary firm to mix a Wi-Fi router and good speaker right into a single unit - Netgear did it with the Orbi Voice again in 2019, however that didn’t final lengthy, so the jury remains to be out on whether or not this method is something greater than a gimmick.
But, initially, the Deco Voice X20 is a router - or, to be particular, it’s a mesh Wi-Fi system - that is designed to offer quick, dependable Wi-Fi all through your whole dwelling. On that rating, it’s truly fairly standard, providing dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (aka 802.11ax) with a most pace of 1,800Mbps. That’s not particularly quick for the brand new era of Wi-Fi 6 routers, though the Deco Voice X20 ought to nonetheless be completely ample for streaming music and video and a spot of gaming.
The TP-Link web site is just a little complicated, although, as the principle web page for the Deco Voice X20 merely reveals a single router by itself. However, clicking the ‘Buy’ button will take you to TP-Link’s on-line retailer the place pricing truly begins at £279.99/US $340.00/AU $544.96 for a pack that incorporates two Deco Voice X20 routers, which is the mannequin that we review right here.
That 2-pack must be appropriate for many houses of as much as 4 bedrooms - or round 4000 sq.ft in measurement - however there are 3-pack and 4-pack choices out there for bigger houses, and even packs that mix the Deco Voice routers with quite a lot of good lights, safety cameras and different good gadgets that may be managed along with your voice instructions.
It’s price noting, although, that there’s a extra standard mesh system, merely known as the Deco X20, that lacks the speaker and microphone of the Deco Voice mannequin. The Deco X20 offers comparable wi-fi pace and options, however solely prices £170.00/US $180.00/AU $392.12 so that you’re clearly paying fairly a premium for the speaker and voice options.
Design and options
The Deco Voice X20 has the standard white, cylindrical design of earlier Deco fashions, though the inclusion of the speaker and 4 separate microphones implies that it’s bigger, and likewise has a small stand that lifts it up in an effort to enhance dispersion of sound from the interior speaker.
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Tucked across the again of the unit you’ll discover a small panel that homes the facility socket and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. The first router that you just arrange might want to use a type of ports to connect with your present broadband modem or router, leaving only one for a wired connection for a video games console or different machine, whereas the second router can use each Ethernet ports for wired connections.
The Deco app is nicely designed too, together with some parental controls that can help you arrange profiles for particular person relations, create schedules for Internet entry to your kids, and use filters that may routinely block grownup content material or different unsuitable materials.
But, like many routers as of late, it does attempt to drum up some additional money by selling its HomeShield service, which offers further parental controls and safety features. There’s a one-month trial out there via the app, so you'll be able to strive it out first, however after that it prices £5.99/US $5.99/AU $9.99 per thirty days.
Performance and getting began
The Wi-Fi aspect of issues is admirably simple. You simply plug the primary router into mains energy and use an Ethernet cable to attach it to your present modem or router.
You can scan the QR code within the field to download the Deco app for iOS or Android, and the one work it's a must to do is to create an account and password to maintain your community settings safe, and likewise to assign a reputation and password to your new Deco wi-fi community.
Once that’s accomplished the app makes use of Bluetooth to routinely hook up with the primary Deco, arrange the brand new community after which join the second Deco router as nicely (which we positioned in our again workplace the place the Wi-Fi has all the time been a bit dodgy). The solely actual limitation right here is that the app simply units up a single community that merges the two.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, so extra skilled customers may desire a system that gives extra in-depth management over the community settings.
The Deco Voice X20 offers good Wi-Fi efficiency too. Devices in the identical room as the primary router managed download speeds of 100Mbps with the Ookla pace check and 12.5MB/s for Steam. That’s just about what we’d count on with our 100Mbps broadband service, however the Deco system additionally proved rock-steady as we picked up our laptop computer and walked down the corridor to that again workplace, not wavering for a second because it maintained the identical 100Mbps and 12.5Mb speeds the entire time.
Voice controls and music
We can’t fault the Wi-Fi efficiency of the Deco Voice, however the smart-speaker aspect of issues is extra of a blended bag. The Deco app features a ‘skill’ for the Amazon Alexa voice assistant that permits you to use voice instructions to manage each the router and its inner speaker.
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You might inform it to “turn off the guest network” or management some good lights which can be linked to the router - though the choices for controlling good gadgets within the app aren’t clearly defined, and TP-Link simply appears to cross the buck to Alexa there.
The little 5W speaker contained in the router isn’t significantly highly effective, however the sound high quality is pretty respectable and it’ll be fantastic for waking you up within the morning or singing alongside to a couple tunes whilst you’re making ready Sunday lunch.
However, the reliance on Alexa means that you may solely stream music from providers which can be supported by Amazon’s Alexa app - which it's a must to download individually.
On an iPhone, Alexa had Amazon Music already arrange - no shock there - and likewise allowed Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer to be added as nicely. However, there was no possibility for utilizing a Tidal account, and no approach to stream the 30GB library of music information that we now have saved on an workplace laptop computer both.
To be honest, the emphasis with the Deco Voice is on utilizing voice instructions to manage all of your good gadgets, however in case you’re paying rather a lot additional for the built-in speaker then the speaker actually ought to work with a wider vary of music sources.
Buy it if...
You’re a fan of Alexa
If you’ve already handed your all of your privateness and private information to Amazon and Alexa then utilizing the Deco’s voice instructions to manage all of the good gadgets on your own home community can be a pleasant bonus.
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You’re a gadget geek
Wi-Fi 6 isn’t nearly pace - it’s additionally extra environment friendly when streaming information to numerous totally different gadgets all on the identical time. In truth, TP-Link says that the Deco Voice can deal with as much as 150 gadgets on your own home community.
You want parental controls
Even in case you don’t wish to pay additional for TP-Link’s HomeShield service, the Deco app nonetheless offers good parental controls to assist preserve your youngsters protected on-line.
Don't purchase it if...
You wish to shake your funky groove factor
The speaker within the Deco Voice doesn’t sound dangerous, nevertheless it’s not very highly effective and might solely be used with a handful of streaming providers.
You’re on a funds
You actually are paying a premium for the mix of the Deco router and a built-in speaker and microphone. There are many cheaper mesh routers out there, together with inexpensive fashions within the Deco vary.
You simply need quicker Wi-Fi
The Deco Voice solely offers a high pace of 1.8Gbps. That’s actually simply entry-level for the brand new Wi-Fi 6 know-how, so there are many quicker choices out there.
