Firewalla Gold Pro SE
Layer-7 firewall · 10 GbE · No subscription
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Wi-Fi 7 · Tri-band mesh · Dual 10 GbE
Firewalla Gold Pro SE takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Firewalla Gold Pro SE lands at 90 and TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) at 88. That puts Firewalla Gold Pro SE ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Firewalla Gold Pro SE if…
- ✓10 GbE WAN + LAN
- ✓Best layer-7 protection without subscription
- ✓On-device Family Mode + DNS filtering
Pick TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) if…
- ✓Dual 10 GbE + dual 2.5 GbE per node
- ✓Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 320 MHz channels
- ✓MLO + 8 antennas — excellent coverage
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testFeatures
Firewalla Gold Pro SECompared on the features sub-score
Firewalla Gold Pro SE leads on features (100 vs 90).
Throughput
Firewalla Gold Pro SECompared on the throughput sub-score
Firewalla Gold Pro SE leads on throughput (96 vs 92).
Range
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)Compared on the range sub-score
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) leads on range (90 vs 70).
Value for money
Firewalla Gold Pro SESpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Firewalla Gold Pro SE more score per dollar ($729 vs $999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Firewalla Gold Pro SE | TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 | — |
| RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Storage | 128 GB | — |
| Ports | 10 GbE × 2 + 2.5 GbE × 4 | 2× 10 GbE + 2× 2.5 GbE per node |
| Concurrent connections | 500K+ | — |
| Standard | — | Wi-Fi 7 (BE22000) 4×4 tri-band |
| Bands | — | Tri-band (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz) |
| Channel width | — | 320 MHz |
| Antennas | — | 8 internal |
| Features | — | MLO + Mesh AI roaming |
Firewalla Gold Pro SE
- +10 GbE WAN + LAN
- +Best layer-7 protection without subscription
- +On-device Family Mode + DNS filtering
- −Steeper learning curve vs eero
- −No built-in Wi-Fi (need separate APs)
- −Mobile-app-centric setup
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
- +Dual 10 GbE + dual 2.5 GbE per node
- +Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 320 MHz channels
- +MLO + 8 antennas — excellent coverage
- −HomeShield subscription for advanced security
- −UI feels dated
- −Slightly less range than eero Max 7
FAQ: Firewalla Gold Pro SE vs TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Which is better, Firewalla Gold Pro SE or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)? +
Firewalla Gold Pro SE scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Firewalla Gold Pro SE worth the price? +
At $729, Firewalla Gold Pro SE delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in features.
Is TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) worth the price? +
At $999, TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Does Firewalla Gold Pro SE or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for features, Firewalla Gold Pro SE or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)? +
Firewalla Gold Pro SE — leads on features (100 vs 90). Compared on the features sub-score.
Which is better for throughput, Firewalla Gold Pro SE or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)? +
Firewalla Gold Pro SE — leads on throughput (96 vs 92). Compared on the throughput sub-score.