TP-Link Deco S4 Mesh Wi-Fi System, Tested and Reviewed

Households have more connected devices than ever, from streaming devices and gaming consoles to smart home products. However, stand-alone routers can have a hard time handling all these devices, causing dead zones around your home. Mesh Wi-Fi systems, such as the TP-Link Deco S4 set of routers, solve this issue by extending your Wi-Fi network and strengthening your connections. But when you invest in mesh Wi-Fi, you want to know you’re getting your money’s worth. That’s why we took the TP-Link Deco S4 mesh Wi-Fi system for a spin to learn if it’s worth it, based on its specs, setup, price, performance and value.

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Our TP-Link Deco S4 Video Review

Prefer video reviews over reading an in-depth article? Check out our video review of the TP-Link Deco S4 below:

Walking Through Our TP-Link Deco S4 Experience

1. TP-Link Deco S4 Specs
2. TP-Link Deco S4 at First Glance: Promising Features for a Low Price
3. TP-Link Deco S4 Installation: Simple App Setup
4. TP-Link Deco S4 Performance: Consistent High-Quality Speeds
5. Our Verdict: Quality Speeds for an Unbeatable Price

TP-Link Deco S4 Specs

TP-Link Deco S4 at First Glance: Promising Features for a Low Price

I currently use a mesh Wi-Fi network in my home (check out my eero Pro 6 review), so I went into this review of the TP-Link Deco S4 system with some familiarity about this type of home network device. I was pleasantly surprised with the Deco S4’s features and how they matched or surpassed that of the eero devices.

First and foremost, the TP-Link Deco S4 system is cheap — cheaper than both the eero Pro 6, the eero 6+ and many of the mesh Wi-Fi systems on the market today. In fact, you can barely get one eero 6+ for the cost of three TP-Link Deco S4 routers, let alone an entire set or even a two-pack of routers. From a cost standpoint alone, the Deco S4 series brings a value that mainstream devices from eero and other brands have a hard time beating. Then there are the features.

An extension of the Deco S4’s affordability is its compatibility with Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. When I upgraded to the eero Pro 6, I also had to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, which came with an increased cost. With the Deco S4, you get a dual-band setup with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency, as well as the added 160 MHz channel — something you’ll only get with an upgraded eero Pro 6E device or another new-age router configuration.

Beyond those technicalities, the TP-Link Deco S4 is powerful enough to reach even the largest of households with a coverage footprint of up to 5,500 square feet. In comparison, the eero 6+ only covers 4,500 square feet with the three-pack, and you’ll have to spend double the cost of the Deco S4 on something like the Google Nest Wifi Pro system to get better coverage than that.

Of course, the Deco S4 system has some drawbacks. Without Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, it does have slower combined speeds of 1,900 Mbps. However, that isn’t too much of a negative when you consider most households lack multi-gigabit internet and each Deco S4 router comes with three gigabit Ethernet ports. Moreover, since it only has WPA2-Personal encryption, it could be better in the security department, especially since many routers today employ WPA3 for the best network security.

One area that may seem cumbersome is the size of the routers. These routers are a bit bigger than other mesh Wi-Fi systems, such as eero and Google Nest devices, but they are still a far cry from the gargantuan and intrusive designs you’ll find with the TP-Link BE550 or the Asus ROG Rapture routers. On paper, the TP-Link Deco S4 has many features that make it a standout option for many people looking to step into the world of mesh Wi-Fi systems, but I had to test it myself to make sure.

TP-Link Deco S4 Installation: Simple App Setup

Working with technology can be cumbersome, so I’m a huge fan of products that can be set up with a simple walkthrough on an app. TP-Link’s Deco products feature a designated app that got my internet up and running in just 15 minutes. Even if you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, it’s likely you can handle the setup with ease.

Unboxing and Initial Setup

Setting up the Deco S4 was a breeze … once I downloaded the correct app. Full disclosure: TP-Link has multiple apps for setting up their different router systems, and I, unfortunately, selected the wrong one at first. To set up your Deco system, download the TP-Link Deco app and follow the prompts to complete installation.

The box contains a small booklet with some setup tips, but it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it card that’s kind of tucked away. When I set up my eero devices, the instruction card was placed right on top of the device and featured simple instructions for setup. I was less than impressed with TP-Link’s little booklet, on the other hand, which might pose some issues if you have trouble reading small print. I’d much prefer something easier to read with clearer instructions.

That being said, once I started the setup on the app, it was straightforward. The prompts explained each step in the process well and guided you through setting up your connection on your mobile device. Once the connection has been made, you’ll be prompted to set up your Wi-Fi name and password, and the app works to create your Wi-Fi network right within your phone. You don’t even need to navigate to your Settings section — the app opens it up for you so you can enter your credentials.

Overall, the setup process took about 15 minutes to complete, even with a bit of troubleshooting. One feature worth noting is the lights on the Deco S4. The box comes with a handy guide explaining what each color means, as well as what a blinking or solid light indicates. You don’t have to hunt around online to figure out what these lights mean and can easily troubleshoot your issues or gauge where you are in the process. You’ll sit back and let the app and device do their thing.

Navigating the Mobile App

The Deco mobile app is easy to navigate and provides a plethora of information for users. On the home page, the app shows all the devices connected to the network and consistently updates the download and upload speeds from each router and device to stay on top of your internet speed. By tapping the three lines at the top-left corner (also known as the hamburger button), you can slide through the app’s different functions and features.

One aspect missing from the Deco app is the ability to perform speed tests. While the app shows actively used speeds, there isn’t a way to test overall system speed. Sometimes using dedicated speed tests from devices doesn’t offer the most accurate information anyway, but it’s good to have if you want to compare reports from the router and a third-party tool. However, I did like its built-in Network Optimization feature, which helps you choose the best Wi-Fi channel for each of your frequencies. For most routers, this process is pretty involved, so it’s nice that the TP-Link Deco S4 offers it at just the click of a button.

If you want to get your smart home connectivity up and going, you can easily connect your account to smart devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant inside the app. Linking your account is as easy as tapping a button and entering your information. The feature is available right from the menu, so you don’t need to spend time hunting around the app to find it.

The app even features a Discover page to access information about your TP-Link device and how to maximize your security. Arming yourself with knowledge about keeping your information safe is hugely beneficial, yet this handy feature isn’t available on similar products, including eero devices. You won’t have to search online for information about using a VPN or troubleshooting your internet connection. If you’re committed to learning more about the router and Wi-Fi in general, this is a great resource.

For parents looking for extra online protection for kids, you can access Parental Controls right from the app’s home screen. Parental control options are free with TP-Link. Simply create a profile and adjust the settings to your needs. You can go back in and make adjustments as you see fit and as your children grow. These types of inclusions from TP-Link add a lot of value and make it a competitive choice in a sea of manufacturers trying to charge extra for features that should come with the router for free.

TP-Link Deco S4 Performance: Consistent High-Quality Speeds

Once I got the Deco S4 set up, I tested the router’s performance. I installed the router in a central location in my home: the living room. I used an iPhone to perform speed tests on my gigabit internet connection from Spectrum.

Testing the Router

To evaluate the performance of the TP-Link Deco S4 system, I tested the internet speed in four different locations: beside the router, 15 feet away from it, standing with a wall between me and the router and on the second floor of my home, which was the farthest location. While this is a mesh Wi-Fi system, I tested one router alone to assess the quality of the router itself, especially since all three routers in this set are the same.

At the closest locations (beside the router and 15 feet away), the router delivered consistent download speeds of around 555 Mbps to 560 Mbps. These speeds were pretty similar to what I experienced with the eero Pro 6, and it makes sense for a Wi-Fi 6 router on the 5 GHz frequency.

As I tested the device moving away from the router, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it still performed quite well. During my test behind a wall, the router reached 465 Mbps download speeds, which was only a 17 percent decrease from my initial results.

Similarly, when I went to the farthest location on the second floor, my download speeds only dropped to 423 Mbps. Of course, this speed isn’t anything to sneeze at and still provides quality download speeds. In this location, there was a 23 percent decrease from the closest proximity to the router and only a 9 percent decrease from my behind-the-wall test.

Upload speeds were also consistent throughout each location, ranging between 21 Mbps and 23 Mbps. However, since Spectrum is a cable internet provider, I am not likely to get massively different upload speeds like you would experience with a fiber ISP with a symmetrical connection.

Lastly, the Deco S4 router outperformed both my Spectrum and eero Pro 6 router when I tested it on the second floor of my home. In fact, the Deco S4 showed a 24 percent increase in download speeds upstairs compared to the eero Pro 6.

Comparing to Competitors

I’ve done a few tests with mesh Wi-Fi networks and found the Deco S4 featured quality internet speeds compared to similar mesh network systems. For example, I recently tested the eero 6+ system and found the internet speeds severely lacking compared to the Deco S4’s performance across the board, both as a stand-alone router and as a fully connected system.

Both systems offered similar download speeds when close to the router, which is all well and good. However, when farther away from the router, the eero 6+ system struggled to maintain the speeds of the Deco S4. The eero 6+ didn’t even reach 350 Mbps, logging a measly 230 Mbps, a 45 percent decrease compared to the Deco S4.

That said, the TP-Link Deco S4 does lack the speeds you’ll find with more advanced mesh Wi-Fi systems. For example, the 6 GHz channel support provided by Wi-Fi 6E in the Google Nest Wifi Pro makes it much faster for newer devices at close ranges. Not to mention, TP-Link itself offers the XE75, BE63 and BE85 series of mesh Wi-Fi routers with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 technologies. That said, these routers cost significantly more in comparison, making the Deco S4 highly competitive for this range and style of router.

Our Verdict: Quality Speeds for an Unbeatable Price

For the price and performance, you simply cannot beat the TP-Link Deco S4 mesh Wi-Fi system. Not only is it less than half the cost of comparable alternatives, including Amazon’s popular eero series, but it performs better than these options in many situations. Coupled with an intuitive app and easy setup, the TP-Link Deco S4 is a perfect fit for households that want to expand their Wi-Fi network without shrinking the size of their bank accounts. Of course, if your home has more demanding necessities, you may want to spend the extra money to upgrade to a newer Wi-Fi standard (just be ready for the sticker shock).

How We Assess Routers

During our router evaluations, we ensure consistency by applying uniform standards to each review. Our team of tech experts uses the following criteria to guide their assessment process:

• Specs: Our evaluation process involves a comprehensive analysis of router components, emphasizing wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, along with CPU and RAM specifications. This detailed analysis helps us determine if a router meets current standards and allows for comparisons with other models.
• Setup: Unlike older models, today’s routers should be easy to use and simple to set up. A quick and straightforward installation process is essential to getting you online without delay. We assess each router based on the setup time and complexity, focusing on speed and ease of use. Additionally, we evaluate the brand’s apps to see how user-friendly they are and how they enhance the overall experience of owning and managing the router.
• Price: Each household has its own budget to consider, and mesh Wi-Fi systems can cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,600. In our reviews, we evaluate not just the initial cost but also any additional expenses, such as accessories or subscriptions, required to maximize the device’s capabilities. We compare prices across various brands and models, reviewing discounts and limited-time offers.
• Performance: High-performance routers are designed to optimize your internet speed and cater to different needs, whether it’s for various home sizes, activities or multiple connected devices. We conduct practical tests on each router, examining performance across different distances and devices to evaluate how every router performs in real-world scenarios.
• Value: We determine a router’s overall value by combining factors such as price, performance, ease of installation and technological features. Evaluating value involves striking a balance. We expect higher-priced routers to deliver superior performance, while more budget-friendly options might offer lower speeds. Our top picks are routers that provide outstanding performance at an affordable price, ensuring a satisfying user experience over the long term.