The catch
TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
No wired connection can link faster than 1 Gbps.
Side by side
TP-Link Deco X55 vs X55 Pro: Pro gives a faster link at the cost of a direct device socket
Quick verdict
A multi-gigabit link between two rooms is the job for X55 Pro. X55 is better when a gigabit network needs more direct wired connections. Counting ports alone, Pro is no straight upgrade.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Speeding up the path takes two fast sockets
X55 Pro can keep 2.5G physical links running from the gateway through the satellite to one wired PC.
Where this comes from
Satellite ports = backhaul 2.5 + PC 2.5. Gateway ports = WAN 2.5 + backhaul 2.5.
The catch
TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
Wireless backhaul has to share the 5 GHz radio with your clients, since there is no 6 GHz band.
TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Why pick it
- Two more Ethernet devices have to connect at every wired satellite.
- A wired star of three nodes is your plan, and you want to skip the switch.
- The catch
- No wired connection can link faster than 1 Gbps.
TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Why pick it
- Your internet runs faster than 1 Gbps.
- One wired satellite, plus one device next to it, need 2.5 Gbps links.
- The catch
- Wireless backhaul has to share the 5 GHz radio with your clients, since there is no 6 GHz band.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
Three gigabit ports on the Deco X55 or two 2.5G ports on the X55 Pro? Figure out which layout fits your internet, wired rooms and local devices.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A wired TV and console in every room
Two local sockets stay free on X55, one on Pro.
- TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Better fit
- TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Caution
Internet at two gigabits
Pro brings the faster WAN along with a second fast connection.
- TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Not suitable
- TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Better fit
Two satellite cables run back to a closet
After the WAN, X55 can take both cables. For that star, Pro needs a switch.
- TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Better fit
- TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Caution
Next to the satellite sits one fast PC
On the Pro satellite, one 2.5G port can handle the uplink and one can serve the PC.
- TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Caution
- TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Speeding up the path takes two fast sockets
X55 Pro can keep 2.5G physical links running from the gateway through the satellite to one wired PC.
How we worked this out
Satellite ports = backhaul 2.5 + PC 2.5. Gateway ports = WAN 2.5 + backhaul 2.5.
A three-port difference in the package sits behind the Pro name
X55 gives nine Ethernet sockets across three units, against six for X55 Pro.
How we worked this out
Cabling uses up sockets at both ends. 3 units × 3 ports = 9 versus 3 units × 2 ports = 6.
Adding a switch shifts the buying math
At the gateway, a three-node star with one desktop needs three LAN connections. After WAN, neither model has that many.
How we worked this out
2 satellites + 1 desktop = 3 LAN sockets. Pro leaves 1 and X55 leaves 2.
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.
TP-Link Deco X55 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.
TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
Fails these checksThe gateway does not have enough ports at your chosen speeds for your internet line, 1 direct node link and 1 wired device. A suitable external switch could change that.
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
TP-Link, Deco X55
Deco X55 3-Pack
A wired home with a TV and console in the same room gets good use from the three Ethernet sockets on each unit.
- Best for
- A gigabit network where a TV and console plug in next to a wired satellite
Facts we checked
- Each unit has three Gigabit Ethernet ports, with WAN and LAN roles assigned automatically.
- Wi-Fi 6 is dual-band, and the 5 GHz band supports 160 MHz.
- The selected package comes with three units, and Ethernet backhaul is supported.
Option B
TP-Link, Deco X55 Pro
Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
Two 2.5Gbps ports on every node, in an AX3000 dual-band mesh with a midrange price.
- Best for
- Gigabit homes where Ethernet can carry the backhaul
Facts we checked
- On 5 GHz, the AX3000 dual-band radio supports 160 MHz channels.
- Wired backhaul is supported, and each unit has two 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports that auto-sense.
- For the three-pack, TP-Link's rating is up to 6,500 square feet and more than 150 devices.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack | TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ports per unit | 3 × 1 Gbps | 2 × 2.5 Gbps | X55 gives up speed to gain a third socket. |
| Internet link ceiling | 1 Gbps | 2.5 Gbps | Pro alone takes a multi-gig internet handoff with no gigabit port ceiling. |
| Satellite after uplink | 2 × 1 Gbps free | 1 × 2.5 Gbps free | Work out whether the room calls for more devices or for a single faster one. |
| Main node after internet | 2 LAN sockets | 1 LAN socket | With Pro, a three-node star calls for a switch. |
| Wireless bands | 2.4 and 5 GHz | 2.4 and 5 GHz | A 6 GHz radio is absent from both. |
| Selected package | 3 units | 3 units | All three supplied nodes carry the physical socket difference. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
- Paid HomeShield features are optional extras, and there is no 6 GHz radio.
With TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
- Part of HomeShield's security and parental controls sits behind a paid tier.
Decision guide
How to decide
Sketch your network before settling on Pro
With one satellite and one PC, the Pro port layout works cleanly. Two satellite cables and several local devices are a different story, so factor a multi-gig switch into the cost. The kit price is not the full installation price.
At ordinary speeds, the extra X55 port can still matter
Neither a television nor a console needs 2.5 Gbps to gain from a wired connection. Having both wired can be worth more than one faster socket.
Wireless link rates are not internet speed
A two-gigabit internet service cannot pass through the X55's gigabit WAN port, whatever the radio class. Both systems are dual-band Wi-Fi 6.
What this page can’t tell you
- The math assumes a direct star layout with no switches and no daisy chaining.
- Link rates on ports are ceilings and do not reflect measured downloads.
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
24 of the 35 models checked meet every need here: “I can run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My internet plan runs above one gigabit”.
24 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 run Ethernet between the mesh nodes” and “My internet plan runs above one gigabit”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack |
|
|
|
| TP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack |
|
|
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.
TP-Link Deco X55 3-Pack
Two more Ethernet devices have to connect at every wired satellite.
See price & reviews on AmazonTP-Link Deco X55 Pro 3-pack
Your internet runs faster than 1 Gbps.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money