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Home » TP-Link Deco M4 vs Orbi Rbk13 Which One is Better?

TP-Link Deco M4 vs Orbi Rbk13 Which One is Better?

With the introduction of numerous new products featuring WiFi 6 technology, there is a question of whether TP-Link Deco M4 and M5, as well as the Orbi RBK13 and Orbi RBK33, which are based on AC1200, will remain viable or be abandoned in favor of WiFi 6-based products such as the Deco X20 or Netgear MK63.

In this article:

Low End Deco Products

TP-Link’s Deco M4 and Deco M5 are considered entry-level products in the AC1200 network segment, but with the advent of mesh WiFi 6 products, TP-Link has introduced the Deco X20, which represents the lowest network segment in WiFi 6 technology. TP-Link also offers the Deco XE200 at the highest level of the network segment, which is based on the latest WiFi 6E technology.

Despite releasing a few WiFi 7 products, TP-Link’s next generation WiFi technology, the question remains as to whether the Deco M4 and Deco M5 can still compete in the midst of so many WiFi 6-based products. Is it necessary to switch to the Deco X20, Deco X60, or Deco X95?

Deco M4 vs M5

TP-link deco m5 is one of most popular mesh wifi products in the market to date, the first tp-link products in mesh wifi-5 technology in entry level / lowest level of network segment. Deco m4, deco s4 are two other products released later. TP-link Deco M4 was designed to be physically different from the first product Deco M5.

The Deco M5 comes equipped with a USB port Type-C which is used for power adapter and Bluetooth 4.2.  As for Bluetooth 4.2, it can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use it to connect your mobile device to the Deco M5 for easy setup and management. You can also use Bluetooth to pair the Deco M5 with other smart home devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled speakers, to play music wirelessly across your home network. Additionally, Bluetooth can be used for low-power device communication, such as connecting to sensors or fitness trackers.

Spec Comparison table Deco M4 vs M5

Take a look at the following comparison table Deco m4 vs deco m5:

Table 1 Deco m4 vs deco m5

ModelDeco M4 AC1200Deco M5 AC1300
Signal rates300Mbps @2.4Ghz +
867Mbps @5Ghz
400Mbps @2.4Ghz +
867Mbps @5Ghz
Antennas2x internal antennas4x internal antennas
Interfaces2x Gigabit Ethernet  2x Gigabit Ethernet
1x USB type C
Bluetooth 4.2
Coverage2,000 sq ft1,500 sq ft
ModeMesh wifi router / access pointMesh wifi system

The primary distinction between the Deco M4 and M5 lies in the signal rate at 2.4 GHz, with M5 having a slightly higher rate than M4. Additionally, the Deco M4 lacks a USB port on its interface. The Deco M4 is designed in a tower form factor, which allows its two antennas to have a greater height for better coverage, while the Deco M5 is designed with a flat body and 4 antennas.

TP-link Deco M4
TP-link Deco M4 Mesh system

The 5 GHz radio band is used as both the backhaul link between nodes and the connection for 5GHz-based connected devices. While the system controls the bandwidth sharing mechanism for backhaul and connected devices, it’s evident that the total bandwidth available at 5 GHz is not fully utilized by the connected devices, including the Deco X20 AX1800. However, if your connected devices are also WiFi 6-based products, the total bandwidth available for both backhaul and connected devices is undoubtedly wider on the Deco X20.

TP-link Deco M4 vs Orbi RBK13

Netgear offers the Orbi RBK13 as a low-end product, which is the entry-level model in the Orbi series. Netgear is hopeful that they can capture a significant share of the entry-level market, as well as the upper-middle-class market with products such as the Orbi Rbk852 or the update series Orbi RBK863. Given the success of the Deco M5, it’s worth considering how the Orbi RBK13 compares..

Orbi rbk13

Orbi rbk13

From a technical standpoint, both products employ mesh WiFi AC1200 technology, with few technical differences. However, the Deco M4 comes in a kit of three interchangeable units, each with 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports. In contrast, the Orbi RBK13 comprises one Orbi router with 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports (WAN/LAN) and two Orbi satellites. Unfortunately, each satellite doesn’t come with an Ethernet port.

The Orbi series only offers Wi-Fi backhaul and lacks the option for a wired Ethernet backhaul. Typically, other Orbi series include two or four Ethernet ports on both the router and satellite, allowing for the use of a wired backhaul option.

Netgear Orbi Rbk13 ports
Netgear Orbi Rbk13 ports

In comparison, the Deco M4 offers both a Wi-Fi backhaul and an optional wired Ethernet backhaul. With the wired Ethernet backhaul, each node can be configured to connect to one another using a UTP cable to the Ethernet LAN port in a daisy chain backhaul topology. However, as each node only has two Ethernet ports, a star topology is not possible without the addition of a separate unmanaged switch. All Deco M4 nodes would then connect to the switch to form a star backhaul topology.

Unlike the Deco M4, the Deco M9, a tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system, uses a different backhaul link design. One of the 5GHz bands can dynamically serve as the primary backhaul, while the other two bands can support up to 50% of the backhaul link bandwidth when the demand for backhaul link bandwidth increases significantly.

Operation modes

Both Deco M4 and Orbi as default work as the router mesh wifi system as usual. However Deco M4 can work as the wireless access point, Orbi cannot. You need to connect one of Ethernet LAN ports to the network switch using UTP Cat5e or Cat6 network cable.

However, should you require wifi network to support your business you better consider wireless access point products for business such as TP-link eap series, EnGenius or Ubiquiti. See comparison products here TP-link eap225-v3 vs EnGenius vs Ubiquiti.

Take a look more details on the following table 2 – spec comparison table for Deco M4 and Orbi rbk13 mesh wifi ac1200.

Spec Comparison Table Deco vs Orbi

Table 2 Deco M4 vs Orbi rbk13

ModelTPlink Deco M4 (3-set)Orbi rbk13(Orbi router + 2 Orbi extender)
Wifi technologyAC1200 Simultaneous Two-band WifiSimultaneous dual band ac1200
Wifi rates300Mbps @2.4Ghz radio 1
867Mbps @5Ghz radio 2
300Mbps @2.4Ghz radio 1
867Mbps @5Ghz radio 2
Wifi coverage5,500 sq ft4,500
Wifi featuresParental Controls; wifi backhaul and optional Ethernet backhaul; MU-MIMO; Auto Path Selection; Self-Healing; AP Steering; Band Steering; BeamformingMU-MIMO, Smart Connect for one Wi-Fi name, and beamforming technologies. Works with Alexa and Google assistant
Ethernet Ports2x WAN/LAN auto sensing (6x total)Orbi router: 2x Gigabit WAN/LAN ports Orbi satellite : N/A
ModeMesh router / AP modeMesh wifi
Antennas2-internal dual band antennas / UnitInternal antennas
Price$129.99$115.00

Both models of products are tagged with low price around $120 in Amazon. Click the product’s link below to shop the product in Amazon (#ads).

The lowest level of Orbi with wifi 6 technology is Orbi rbk63, Orbi ax1800 with one Orbi router that comes with two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two Orbi satellite with no Ethernet port.  

Related products

To taste new wifi6 (6th generation of wifi technology) products you may consider wifi6 routers by Netgear or TP-link – click here Netgear RAX200 Nighthawk AX11000 wifi6 Router or Netgear RAX120 Wifi6 AX6000 Router.

For gamers, consider gaming router offered by Netgear – the Netgear Nighthawk raxe500 Wifi 6e axe11000 Gaming Router – the fast router for gamers in mind.

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