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TP-Link Deco BE85 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh
With the Deco BE85, TP-Link is targeting early adopters of Wi-Fi 7 devices, or those preparing for the wider rollout of this technology. Compared to its predecessors, Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extreme Throughput (EHT), introduces an ultra-wide bandwidth of 320 MHz promising speeds up to 4.8 times faster, a theoretical maximum throughput of 46 Gb/s, and latency reduced by four times.
The Deco BE85 systems are tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) featuring a quad-core processor (with a dual-fan active cooling system) and 8 antennas, capable of delivering speeds up to 19 Gb/s as claimed by the manufacturer, supports up to 200 devices, and each module includes two 2.5 GbE ports, and three 10 GbE ports (including one combined WAN/LAN RJ45/SFP+ port), as well as a USB 3.0 port. It’s worth noting that only two 10 GbE ports can be used simultaneously.
4Gb/s over Wi-Fi!
These Deco BE85 units are perfect for those with high-speed fiber connections, and the SFP+ port allows for straightforward connection to devices like the Freebox Delta or Ultra without the need for adapters (note, the fans are noticeable when using the SFP+ port, though they remain completely silent when using 10 GbE via RJ45). With such a connection, speeds nearly reaching 4 Gb/s were achieved on a Wi-Fi 7 compatible Xiaomi 13T Pro smartphone.
It’s also worth mentioning that we did not see significantly higher speeds using a Wi-Fi 7 MLO network, which allows compatible devices to simultaneously utilize multiple frequency bands, unlike Wi-Fi 6/6E which only allows the use of one band at a time. By combining the speeds of the 2.4/5 and 6 GHz bands, Wi-Fi 7 MLO is expected to offer even better future performance.
As is often the case with significant leaps in performance, some might question whether such capabilities are truly necessary. For basic use, many users will be satisfied with Wi-Fi 6, and others simply won’t be able to benefit from the speeds due to their limited connections. However, if wired options are not feasible and you rely on network speed for frequent large file uploads and downloads, Wi-Fi 7 could prove highly beneficial, saving valuable time, and potentially money for professionals (once the initial investment has paid off)
Who can do more can do less, and these Deco BE85 units are backward compatible with Wi-Fi 6E, allowing you to achieve the best possible speeds on your Apple devices that support this standard (see list below). Apple has also recently adopted Wi-Fi 7 on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, though with speeds somewhat lower than expected.
Having tested them at our office, the Deco BE85 units can cover a very large area, and just two units are enough to cover over 200 square meters on three levels (including much of the outdoor area) with sustained speeds that far exceed what most service provider boxes offer, whether it’s Wi-Fi 6, 6E, or 7.
Those looking for top performance can confidently dive into the Wi-Fi 7 experience today, and we highly recommend these Deco BE85 units, especially when they’re on sale like today. The kit is powerful and ticks many boxes, allowing you to enjoy the best Wi-Fi performance while also featuring two 2.5 GbE and 2 10 GbE ports per module. A real plus!
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Recently, Vincent also put the TP-Link Deco BE65 to the test as a replacement for his Freebox Ultra. These models are slightly less powerful than the BE85 but also more budget-friendly.