The catch
ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
Wired backhaul has no multi-gigabit LAN port to use on the main node.
Side by side
ASUS ET9 vs Deco XE75 Pro: ASUS gets an extra LAN socket, Deco’s bundle an extra location, and both cap downstream
Quick verdict
ET9 brings local ASUS controls and an extra LAN socket on each unit. XE75 Pro makes sense when its included third node is useful to you and you like the Deco app better. In neither case does the gateway get a second multi-gig port.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
For three devices, ET9 spares you a room switch
The uplink and three local Ethernet connections can all go on its satellite.
Where this comes from
Subtract one uplink from each: ET9 has 4 sockets in total and XE75 Pro has 3.
The catch
TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
Once the only 2.5 Gbps port handles internet, wired backhaul is left with gigabit ports.
ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Why pick it
- Administration through a browser and the included AiProtection Pro appeal to you.
- Your layout depends on having three local LAN sockets per unit.
- The catch
- Wired backhaul has no multi-gigabit LAN port to use on the main node.
TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- Why pick it
- The box has to include three nodes.
- An existing Deco network is the one you want to build on.
- The catch
- Once the only 2.5 Gbps port handles internet, wired backhaul is left with gigabit ports.
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What this page compares
ASUS ET9 and Deco XE75 Pro each have one fast internet port per node. The differences lie in 6 GHz coverage, usable Ethernet ports and ownership costs.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The satellite room holds three wired devices
After the uplink, ET9 has three LAN sockets and Deco has two.
- ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Better fit
- TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- Caution
Nodes are needed now at three locations
All three come in the selected Deco package.
- ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Depends
- TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- Better fit
Configuring locally with no dependence on the Deco app
The local browser workflow comes from ASUS.
- ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Better fit
- TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- Caution
Two-gigabit internet reaching a wired remote device
Once their only fast socket takes WAN, both gateways are left with gigabit LAN alone.
- ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Not suitable
- TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
For three devices, ET9 spares you a room switch
The uplink and three local Ethernet connections can all go on its satellite.
How we worked this out
Subtract one uplink from each: ET9 has 4 sockets in total and XE75 Pro has 3.
Both share the same wired bottleneck
With either gateway, a two-gigabit plan fails to reach a directly wired remote room at that full link class.
How we worked this out
On both, the gateway LAN ports left after 2.5G WAN is assigned are 1G.
Different placement counts sit behind equal package totals
Across one extra location, the Deco trio has nine sockets against eight for the ET9 pair.
How we worked this out
Inter-node cables consume ports. 3 × 3 = 9 Deco sockets, 2 × 4 = 8 ET9 sockets.
Plug in your setup
Can this mesh kit handle your wired layout?
Wiring your mesh nodes together with Ethernet? Count the ports before you buy. This checks direct cables from the main unit to each satellite, with no extra network switch. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
Passes these checksThe ports cover this 2-node wired layout with 1 gateway LAN port to spare. Your internet-to-device path tops out at a 1 Gb/s link ceiling before overhead, which is not a promised download speed.
TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
Passes these checksThe ports cover this 2-node wired layout with 0 gateway LAN ports to spare. Your internet-to-device path tops out at a 1 Gb/s link ceiling before overhead, which is not a promised download speed.
Port speeds are physical link ratings. They do not measure Wi-Fi throughput. Cable quality, client adapters and network settings still matter. Every node you plan on must come in the linked bundle. This assumes router mode with one internet port and star wiring. PoE units also need a compatible power source, which this port check does not size. A switch, access-point mode or a different layout changes the result. It does not predict wireless coverage.
Option A
ASUS, ZenWiFi ET9
ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
Households that want ASUS controls and several wired connections, without needing multi-gigabit cabling between rooms, are the fit for this Wi-Fi 6E option.
- Best for
- Three LAN sockets per node in a gigabit wired home that has 6 GHz devices
Facts we checked
- Each unit has three Gigabit LAN ports and one 2.5 Gbps WAN port.
- Being tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, it has a 6 GHz band.
- Access point operation, AiProtection Pro and AiMesh are listed by ASUS.
Option B
TP-Link, Deco XE75 Pro
Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
A three-node Deco setup gets a faster internet socket and 6 GHz here. The second Ethernet link is still capped at a gigabit.
- Best for
- Faster internet near the main node, alongside wired rooms that stay at ordinary gigabit
Facts we checked
- On every unit you get two Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port.
- Wi-Fi 6E here is tri-band and covers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz.
- Three identical units come in the selected Amazon package.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack | TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port inventory | 1 × 2.5G WAN and 3 × 1G LAN | 1 × 2.5G and 2 × 1G auto ports | One more physical socket is on ET9. |
| Fastest LAN after 2.5G WAN | 1G | 1G | The wired bottleneck at the main node is the same on both. |
| Wired satellite device sockets | 3 | 2 | When its WAN socket serves backhaul, ET9 has three LAN sockets left. |
| Radio bands | 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz | 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz | Wi-Fi 6E on both. |
| Management | Local browser or ASUS app | Deco app and account | How you maintain the network changes with this. |
| Selected package | 2 nodes | 3 nodes | Another placement is included in the Deco listing. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
- Wi-Fi 7 is not on offer, only Wi-Fi 6E hardware.
With TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
- A device must be Wi-Fi 6E to join the 6 GHz band directly.
Decision guide
How to decide
Total socket count means little without location
If one room needs several devices, eight ports spread over two rooms can beat nine spread over three. Count connections at the spots where you will use them.
A node helps only if it sits in the right spot
With the Deco three-pack you get another placement, though that node still needs a usable wireless route or an Ethernet cable. A dead zone behind dense walls does not disappear automatically.
Weigh the controls that apply to you
AiProtection Pro and HomeShield are different service packages. Do not go by a generic security badge. Verify the exact scheduling, filtering and remote-access features you need.
What this page can’t tell you
- Neither a subscription cost nor feature parity is assumed.
- Routed WAN is what the port analysis uses, rather than a separate router with access point mode.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the mesh Wi-Fi systems we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 3 of the 35 models checked meet every need here: “I can't go without Wi-Fi 6E” and “I plan to plug a TV and console in next to a wired node”.
3 models fit, out of 35 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I can't go without Wi-Fi 6E” and “I plan to plug a TV and console in next to a wired node”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack |
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| TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
ASUS ZenWiFi ET9 2-Pack
Administration through a browser and the included AiProtection Pro appeal to you.
See price & reviews on AmazonTP-Link Deco XE75 Pro 3-Pack
The box has to include three nodes.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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