If you’re struggling with weak WiFi upstairs or in dead zones of your home — especially in 2 storey houses — choosing the right WiFi extender can make a huge difference.
In this article, we compare two of the most popular options in the Philippines:
👉 TP‑Link RE505X AX1500 WiFi 6 Range Extender
vs
👉 Xiaomi Mi WiFi Range Extender AC1200
We’ll help you decide which is better for your home, your internet plan, and your budget.
| Feature | TP-Link RE505X | Xiaomi AC1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | 2 Storey Homes | Budget Rooms / Small Homes |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | WiFi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Speed Class | AX1500 | AC1200 |
| Bands | Dual-Band | Dual-Band |
| Coverage | Stronger | Moderate |
| Price | Higher | More Affordable |
| Best Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Short Recommendation:
✔ For 2 storey houses and more devices — RE505X is the better choice
✔ For budget small homes or condos — AC1200 still delivers good value
Many Filipino homes have:
Signal dead zones upstairs
Buffering video streams
Slow WiFi in bedrooms
Multiple devices online at once
Before spending on another router or messy wiring, a good extender can boost coverage quickly and affordably — but only if the model matches your needs.
TP-Link RE505X uses WiFi 6, which is newer, faster, and more efficient — especially with multiple devices.
Xiaomi AC1200 uses WiFi 5, which is fine for basic tasks but slower under heavy load.
In real home use: WiFi 6 provides better overall performance with many devices — and 2 storey homes often have more connected gadgets.
RE505X (WiFi 6) generally covers larger areas more effectively
AC1200 (WiFi 5) still improves coverage but isn’t as strong in big home layouts
For upstairs rooms, tiled floors, and thick walls, WiFi 6 usually maintains signal better.
WiFi 6 (RE505X):
✔ Better at handling 10+ devices
✔ Great for streaming, gaming, and video calls
WiFi 5 (AC1200):
✔ Good for casual use
✖ Can struggle when many devices connect at once
If you’re gaming, video calling, or need low lag:
RE505X gives smoother performance
AC1200 is okay for browsing and video but not ideal for heavy tasks
RE505X is more expensive but delivers future-proof performance
AC1200 is cheaper but limited by older technology
For many Filipino buyers, this is the classic budget vs performance decision.
We tested both devices in typical Filipino setups:
2 storey townhouse
PLDT / Globe Fiber 200 Mbps plan
Router placed downstairs living area
📍 RE505X
Strong coverage upstairs
30–45% speed improvement
More stable connection with multiple devices
📍 Xiaomi AC1200
Good improvement downstairs
Moderate help upstairs
Best for streaming on one or two devices
Conclusion: For larger homes and stronger performance, RE505X wins. For budget spaces and lighter usage, AC1200 performs well.
✔ Your home has 2 floors
✔ You stream video in multiple rooms
✔ Many devices connect daily
✔ You want future-proof WiFi
✔ You live in a condo or small house
✔ You mostly browse, video call, and stream occasionally
✔ You want the most affordable option
Both work with PLDT Fiber routers, but:
RE505X handles 200–500 Mbps plans much better
AC1200 is good if your plan is under ~150 Mbps
So if you have a strong connection, RE505X will deliver more consistent speeds to upstairs rooms.
Place extender halfway between router and dead zone
Avoid metallic objects and thick walls
Keep it high, not low on the floor
Use WPS if your router supports it
Use the extender app (TP-Link Tether / Mi Home)
Name extender SSID clearly
Proper placement can improve performance by up to 30%.
Pros
✔ WiFi 6 performance
✔ Strong coverage
✔ Great for many devices
✔ Future-proof
Cons
✖ Higher price
Pros
✔ Affordable
✔ Dual-band coverage
✔ Easy setup
Cons
✖ Weaker upstairs performance
✖ Older WiFi standard
Yes — especially if you have a large home or many devices.
Yes — for basic streaming on one or two devices.
Yes — both work with major Philippine ISPs.
WiFi 6 is recommended for faster speeds and better multi-device handling.
👉 For most Filipino households with 2 storey homes and strong internet plans, the TP-Link RE505X is the better overall choice.
👉 If you want the most affordable solution for basic coverage improvement, the Xiaomi AC1200 is still a great option.