Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@Fanman03

Fanman03/UAP-Guide.md

Last active May 26, 2025 03:46
Show Gist options
  • Save Fanman03/72ae53516a7d610e1150c1524f8b7237 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save Fanman03/72ae53516a7d610e1150c1524f8b7237 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Download ZIP
UniFi AP Buyers Guide
Raw
UAP-Guide.md

UniFi AP Buyers Guide

(updated May 2025)

The APs in this list are ordered from highest to lowest performance. However, unless you have a very high number of devices you likely do NOT need to buy the most expensive, highest performance AP. You can also check Ebay for deals, especially on older equipment.

All APs in this list support both wired backhaul and mesh modes. However, wired connections are strongly recommended for better performance and reliability.

Number of spatial streams are listed in order of 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz.

Good Choices:

WiFi 7:

  • U7-Pro-XGS (2,4,2 WiFi 7, ceiling mount)
  • U7-Pro-XG (2,2,2 WiFi 7, ceiling mount)
  • U7-Pro-Outdoor (2,2,2 WiFi 7, outdoor pole/wall mount)
  • U7-Outdoor (2,2,0 WiFi 7, outdoor pole/wall mount)

My recommendation for most scenarios:

Indoor: U7-Pro-XG
Outdoor: U7-Outdoor

The new U7-Pro-XG and Pro-XGS APs are essentially refreshes of the U7-Pro and U7-Pro-Max designed to address some of their shortcomings without significantly increasing the price. Improvements include 10 GbE backhaul support, new heatsink designs that allow the APs to be fanless, and significantly improved 2.4GHz performance on firmware versions 8.0.20 and newer. If deploying in a high client density environment, opt for the XGS over the XG.

While it lacks a 6GHz radio, the U7-Outoor's flexible deployment options and tunable antenna patterns make it a good choice for outdoor usage if you are building a WiFi 7 network outdoors. If you need outdoor 6GHz coverage, go with the U7-Pro-Outdoor.

WiFi 6:

  • U6-Enterprise (2,4,4 WiFi 6E, ceiling mount)
  • U6-Enterprise-InWall (2,4,4 WiFi 6E, wall mount)
  • U6-Pro (2,4,0 WiFi 6, ceiling mount)
  • U6-Mesh (2,4,0 WiFi 6, outdoor pole/wall mount)
  • U6-InWall (2,4,0 WiFi 6, wall mount)
  • U6-Mesh-Pro (2,2,0 WiFi 6, outdoor pole/wall mount w/ high-gain antenna)

My recommendation for most scenarios:
Indoor: U6-Pro
Outdoor: U6-Mesh

The Qualcomm platform used by all the above U6 APs has quickly built a reputation for being extremely reliable and performant, and the U6-Pro has easily cemented its place as a worthy successor to the UAP-AC-Pro as the best "bang-for-your buck" access point of the U6 generation and is my default recommendation for indoor usage. If you need more performance and WiFi 6E support, go for the U6-Enterprise. All the other U6 APs on this list use the same chipset, just in various form factors tailored for different environments.

The U6-Mesh takes the exact same excellent hardware, and compacts it into a form factor that can be deployed almost anywhere. Its flexibility, excellent performance, and weather resistance makes it the best choice for extending a WiFi 6 network outdoors. If high antenna gain is needed, the U6-Mesh-Pro also works well, but sacrifices spatial stream count for range.

WiFi 5:

  • UWB-XG (0,12,0 WiFi 5 Wave 2, 5GHz only. Highly directional phased antenna.)
  • UAP-AC-HD/SHD (4,4,0 WiFi 5 Wave 2, ceiling mount)
  • UAP-AC-Pro (3,3,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, ceiling mount)
  • UAP-AC-M-Pro (3,3,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, outdoor pole/wall mount w/ high-gain antenna)
  • UAP-AC-M (2,2,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, outdoor pole/wall mount)
  • UK-Ultra (2,2,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, outdoor pole/wall mount)
  • UAP-AC-LR (3,2,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, ceiling mount)
  • UAP-AC-Lite (2,2,0 WiFi 5 Wave 1, ceiling mount)

My recommendation for most scenarios:
Indoor: UAP-AC-Pro
Outdoor: UAP-AC-M

The UAP-AC-Pro is a time-tested access point that has been used in countless homes and businesses since its release in 2016. While it may lack some features or be as fast as newer models, it is a great and affordable way to try out the Ubiquiti's wireless products without spending a ton of money. Due to its wide usage, units can easily be purchased on various used sites including Ebay and Facebook Marketplace for as little as $30-$40.

The UAP-AC-M uses similar hardware to the AC-Pro, albeit with only 2 spatial streams. Its weather resistance, small size, and connectorized antennas make it a great choice for outdoor WiFi 5.

Poor Choices:

E7, E7-Campus, E7-Audience, U7-Pro-Max, U7-Pro.
Despite having Qualcomm WiFi chipsets, these AP have been observed to have stability issues related to 2.4GHz devices. While I can't currently recommend them, firmware updates may solve these problems.

U7-LR, U6-LR, U6-Lite, U6+, U6-LR+, UAP-FlexHD, UAP-nanoHD, UAP-InWallHD, UAP-BeaconHD.
These APs all use Mediatek brand WiFi chipsets and are known to have various firmware and stability issues

UAP-BeaconHD, U6-Extender.
These APs lack Ethernet ports and can only be wirelessly uplinked, severely limiting deployment flexibility. Only buy these if you absolutely need the form factor and cannot run a wired uplink

@ahfm
Copy link

ahfm commented Mar 12, 2025

Hi there any update to this?

@Hellohi3654
Copy link

Hi there any update to this?

U7 pro max is still buggy

The new E7 and newer U7 XG APs don't know

I use two U6 Enterprises and have a unused U7 pro max hoping they'll fix it via firmware updates one day. Just tested the other day on latest early access firmware and still causes weird issues in my network.

@Fanman03
Copy link
Author

Hi there any update to this?

All of the WiFi 7 APs use similar hardware platforms, so they all have similar firmware issues. However, Ubiquiti has been making significant progress fixing the issues with the 8.x firmware branch. I suspect within a month most of the stability issues will be resolved, but I am waiting to update the list until then.

@ahfm
Copy link

ahfm commented Mar 12, 2025

what you think of U7 Lite? i know it has no 6ghz but seems ok wifi7 AP ? 99$ price

@danielcompton
Copy link

Do you have any opinions on the U7-In Wall and U7 Pro Wall?

@Hellohi3654
Copy link

Do you have any opinions on the U7-In Wall and U7 Pro Wall?

U7-In wall is just U7 lite and U7 Pro Wall is just U7 Pro.

@Hellohi3654
Copy link

Hellohi3654 commented May 3, 2025 •
edited
Loading

what you think of U7 Lite? i know it has no 6ghz but seems ok wifi7 AP ? 99$ price

The U7 lite seems to use slightly different firmware from the rest of the U7 and E7 range which might mean it uses MediaTek not sure.

Can see how they are grouped here
https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-Access-Point-all-U7-and-E7-models-8-0-33/90751d74-231e-4263-993d-e181ae04860f

@Hellohi3654
Copy link

I do need to test my U7 Pro Max on this latest firmware again been a while since last tested

@Fanman03
Copy link
Author

Fanman03 commented May 15, 2025 •
edited
Loading

what you think of U7 Lite? i know it has no 6ghz but seems ok wifi7 AP ? 99$ price

The U7 lite seems to use slightly different firmware from the rest of the U7 and E7 range which might mean it uses MediaTek not sure.

Can see how they are grouped here https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-Access-Point-all-U7-and-E7-models-8-0-33/90751d74-231e-4263-993d-e181ae04860f

So far, the only Mediatek WiFi 7 AP is the U7-LR. The U7-Lite uses a Qualcomm chipset, I just haven't been able to test it or talk to anyone who has yet.

@Hellohi3654
Copy link

what you think of U7 Lite? i know it has no 6ghz but seems ok wifi7 AP ? 99$ price

The U7 lite seems to use slightly different firmware from the rest of the U7 and E7 range which might mean it uses MediaTek not sure.
Can see how they are grouped here https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-Access-Point-all-U7-and-E7-models-8-0-33/90751d74-231e-4263-993d-e181ae04860f

So far, the only Mediatek WiFi 7 AP is the U7-LR. The U7-Lite uses a Qualcomm chipset, I just haven't been able to test it or talk to anyone who has yet.

oh nice

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment