@HelpFixDecoApp Thanks for the info and that may be the case. However, in the case of the Deco X55 (and probably other models), the firmware (and therfore the functionality) is different with different hardware versions. Therefore, my question remains - How do determine or select the appropiate hardware level when purchacing a product?

thebiker wrote

 So, my question is how do I determine the hardware version of a product BEFORE buying it?

Through research or going personally to the electronic store and asking them the version number on the box. With Amazon you can drop a question and the manufacturer, seller will reply. When I bought my deco x55 through Amazon I received v1.6. 

It would be great if online stores mentioned the version number on their description so consumer knows what they will be receiving. 

V1.0 and V.1.6 are identical hardware, the only difference is the number. Those two versions in most cases shares the same firmware. My V1.6 is using V1.0 firmware.

This quote is from a tp-link representative:

Version changes between x.0 and x.6 are very small changes, they are even often the result of something as trivial as a change in manufacturing location. These models will almost always share firmware releases, and if the one for your version is not available, you can usually use the 1.0 version unless otherwise indicated in the patch notes.

Since, the models share the firmware, the hardware version will sometimes show the overall version of the firmware instead of looking at the physical hardware version. In many cases, the exact same firmware is used between the two.

V1.26 is a different hardware, that one tends to receive firmware upgrades much later on. 

  @Wi-Fi-25 Thanks. I agree that this is probably what one would have to do before making a purchase. Hopefully the seller would know, but that may not always work. I really wish that TP-LINK would mark their products with a more visible/transparent indication of the hardware version. These are really different models, since either the hardware or the firmware causes different functionalities to be available. For example it could be called X55A, X55B, etc. or X55v1, X55v2, etc.If the product are different, they should be labeled differently. In the case of the X55, the firmware from one hardware version is NOT supported by the hardware of a different version. Therfore they are diiferent.

I would like to make a formal request that TP-LINK name or label their products that are different from each other.

  @thebiker yes they seriously should do that. I was sold a v1.26 assuming it would be supported as the others with updated. Only learned  couple months in that it's basically unsupported. Attempted to trade in the v1.26 since at that point it was literally 6 months behind the other versions but to-link refused. It is STILL stuck on firmware v1.2 while the other versions now have 1.5 with wire guard and a whole array of functions I don't have. Extremely angry with them it seems like straight robbery on their part. Someone needs to class action lawsuit them. All I wanted was the product that everyone else but me was sent when they purchased an x55.