@GlobusDiablo 

Some people assume the extender will boost speed. That will only happen if the signal from the router is weak in that speed is reduced because of that. If the signal from the router is decent (three bars) then that should be better compared to the extender. Putting in a extender will then increase the signal strength so you will then see a speed increase since you now have a stronger signal.

A router sends and receives data at the same time (full duplex), a extender has to send data first, then receive it (half duplex). So that is why you would see people say their extender just cut their speed in half without knowing how the extender works. Or they put a extender in the next room over expecting their Wi-Fi speed to increase.

So back to your question, which one is better, it comes down to simply which is faster.