Having a solid set of Wi-Fi routers is essential, whether you’re working from home, playing online games , or streaming a movie. I’ve used this three-pack of TP-Link’s Deco BE26 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Routers for months without any issues, and I’m eager to recommend them, especially since it’s currently on sale for $188.89 ($90 off) at Amazon (with an on-page promo code) or $199.99 ($80 off) at Best Buy.
TP-Link claims this array of routers can create a network that covers up to 6,600 square feet, with speeds up to 5Gbps, and with support for over 150 devices at once. The speeds you actually get will, of course, depend on the service you pay for, the layout of your home, and lastly, the kind of Wi-Fi chip that’s in your devices. While I don’t own any Wi-Fi 7 gadgets yet, these routers have worked wonderfully in a three-floor 3,000-square foot condo.
I’ve got a mix of gadgets connected to them, including ones that support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, along with smart home accessories. So far, I haven’t noticed network congestion issues or dropped connections. Even stress tests, like streaming multiple 4K movies while downloading a larger video game on various gadgets, didn’t pose a problem. Similarly, I’ve never had an issue with a smart thermostat, robot vacuum, speaker, or TV randomly losing its connection.
It took me about half an hour to set up the routers using the required TP-Link Deco app. It may take a little longer than that to tinker with router placement — an annoying, but worthwhile process to get the best speeds. In case you’re new to mesh Wi-Fi routers, one of the three in this kit must be wired directly to your cable modem, then the others can be installed anywhere there’s a power outlet.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
