Asus RT-BE88U vs TP-Link Deco BE23

For affordable whole-home coverage the TP-Link Deco BE23 is the easier pick, an expandable dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh with a built-in speed test. The Asus RT-BE88U is the more powerful single router, with ten wired ports, WireGuard VPN, a command line and a 3-year warranty.

The TP-Link Deco BE23 is an expandable mesh system with two 2.5G ports per node, while the Asus RT-BE88U is a single router with ten ports, including dual 10G and an SFP+ cage. Both are dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with no 6 GHz band.

The TP-Link Deco BE23 covers a large home more easily, since you add mesh nodes for seamless coverage. The Asus RT-BE88U ships as one router (it can join an Asus AiMesh network), so blanketing a big home means adding compatible units.

The Asus RT-BE88U has far better wired connectivity, with ten ports including dual 10G (one RJ45 and one SFP+), four 2.5G and four Gigabit. The TP-Link Deco BE23 offers only two 2.5G ports per node and no USB storage.

Buyers who want simple, affordable Wi-Fi 7 coverage across a whole home should buy the TP-Link Deco BE23, a dual-band mesh system with two 2.5G ports per unit, a built-in speed test and quick app setup.

Wired-first homes and small businesses that need many 10G and 2.5G ports, WireGuard VPN, a command line and a 3-year warranty should buy the Asus RT-BE88U rather than an entry mesh system.