DevicesRouters
Same-category comparison
Google Nest Wifi Provs TP-Link Deco BE85
Both are routers. Rows that do not match are marked Differs. The feature paragraphs under each name are AI-generated.
Nest Wifi Pro
Sold as 1-, 2-, and 3-packs on the Google Store. Confirm the current pack price.
Pros
- • Thread border router plus a simple Google Home setup, which is the point of this product in a smart home.
- • No paid tier is required to run the mesh.
- • 2,200 sq ft per unit is an honest-looking published coverage number for an apartment or one floor.
Cons
- • Wi-Fi 6E and 1 GbE ports, so it loses a spec-sheet fight with the Wi-Fi 7 routers here.
- • It will not mesh with Google’s older Wifi points.
- • Google Home settings are limited if you wanted VLANs or a real admin UI.
TP-Link
Deco BE85
Usually sold as a 2-pack. Confirm the current pack price; this is a flagship, not a starter kit.
Pros
- • The highest published radio and Ethernet ratings in this router group.
- • 10-gigabit ports are the right buy if the modem is already multi-gig.
- • You are not required to put Amazon, Google, or Apple in the router.
Cons
- • No Thread or Matter hub on the spec sheet, so it does not finish a Matter-over-Thread house by itself.
- • Theoretical 22 Gbps is a datasheet sum, not a speed you will see on a laptop.
- • Flagship pricing, and HomeShield is extra if you want the security suite.
Hardware
| Spec | Google Nest Wifi Pro | TP-Link Deco BE85 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-FiDiffers | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), tri-band 2x2, AXE5400, combined speeds up to 5.4 Gbps | Wi-Fi 7, tri-band, 12 streams. Datasheet rates 11,520 Mbps on 6 GHz + 8,640 Mbps on 5 GHz + 1,376 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (about 22 Gbps combined, theoretical). |
| EthernetDiffers | Two Ethernet ports, 1 Gbps each | Two 10 Gbps ports (one is an SFP combo) and two 2.5 Gbps ports, plus USB 3.0, per WIRED’s reading of the flagship hardware. |
| CoverageDiffers | Up to 2,200 sq ft per router; 4,400 for a 2-pack; 6,600 for a 3-pack | — |
| ClientsDiffers | Up to 100 devices per point | — |
| Smart-home radiosDiffers | Thread border router (802.15.4) and Bluetooth Low Energy. Matter-enabled. | No Thread border router or Matter controller is listed on the BE85 datasheet. |
| ProcessorDiffers | Dual-core 64-bit ARM, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB flash | — |
| SecurityDiffers | — | WPA / WPA2-PSK / WPA3 |
| Wi-Fi 7 featuresDiffers | — | MLO, 4K-QAM, and 320 MHz on 6 GHz where regulators allow it |
Software
| Spec | Google Nest Wifi Pro | TP-Link Deco BE85 |
|---|---|---|
| AppDiffers | Google Home app. A Google Account is required. | Deco app |
| Mesh limitsDiffers | Cannot join a mesh with older Nest Wifi or Google Wifi. Google recommends no more than 5 points. | — |
| ThreadDiffers | Built-in border router for Matter-over-Thread accessories | — |
| MeshDiffers | — | 802.11k/v/r roaming. Dedicated wireless backhaul on the 6 GHz radio in reviews of this system. |
| SubscriptionDiffers | — | HomeShield security extras are a paid add-on. Basic mesh does not require it. |
What you buy with it
| Spec | Google Nest Wifi Pro | TP-Link Deco BE85 |
|---|---|---|
| What else you buyDiffers | A modem. Extra Nest Wifi Pro routers only — older Nest points will not extend this system. | A separate Thread border router or Matter controller if the house needs one. This box does not provide them. |
| Not Wi-Fi 7Differs | This is Wi-Fi 6E. A Wi-Fi 7 laptop will not get Wi-Fi 7 features from it. | — |
| SubscriptionDiffers | No mesh subscription is required for the router itself. | — |
| Who it fitsDiffers | — | Homes that already have multi-gig internet and Wi-Fi 7 clients, and that keep smart-home radios somewhere else. |