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Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Review (vs. UDR7): A Tiny, Robust, and Flexible Entry-Level Multi-Gig Mesh Router

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Of Ubiquiti’s newly released gateway trio, the UniFi Express 7 (UX7) is the most modest. It’s the closest thing to a mere standard Wi-Fi router within Ubiquiti’s UniFi world of multiple hardware applications.

However, that does not necessarily mean it’s “bad”. The UX7 is still much more advanced than most third-party routers and has all that typical users need in real-world usage. So, at the friendly retail price of $199, it’s a better deal than the UDR7, which shares the same Wi-Fi specs. Hint: You can also get both (or multiple UX7 units) to form a robust Wi-Fi 7 mesh system.

Here’s the bottomline: If you’re looking for a standalone entry-level multi-Gigabit Wi-Fi 7 router for your Gig+ or faster broadband, the UX7 is an excellent buy. Additionally, its flexibility can come in handy if you need to extend your UniFi Wi-Fi network via a network cable or wirelessly.

Let’s dig in for some serious details!

The Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7 includes a power adapter, tinny rubber feet and a network cable out of the box
The Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7 includes a power adapter, tiny rubber feet, and a network cable out of the box.

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7: A flexible UniFi router

The first and biggest difference between the UX7 and other UniFi gateways is that it’s restricted to the Network application within the UniFi Application Suite. That’s the app that makes the hardware function as a “router.”

Tip

Generally, all UniFi cloud gateways (a.k.a. hardware consoles) share the same basic features and settings, but their capacities vary depending on the hardware specs.

Main applications in the UniFi Application Suite include:

  1. Network (default): This application enables the hardware to function as an advanced router by managing all things network-related, including network settings/features, security, firewall, Wi-Fi, and the support for extenders/access points to form a mesh system.
  2. Protect: The support for IP cameras as an advanced surveillance system, including a built-in NVR.
  3. Talk: A locally hosted Voice-over-IP system.
  4. Access: A “platform designed for Access Control Systems”—per Ubiquiti. Examples are door-related security IoT devices, such as doorbells, keyfobs, locks, etc.
  5. Connect: Application that manages digital signage and EV Stations 

Each of these applications is a world in itself, with various in-depth customization and different types of UniFi devices.

In other words, the single-app UX7 cannot host a security camera or an IP phone, and it doesn’t have local storage or the network video recording feature. So, it’s more limited in terms of functionality as a computer system’s primary host.

The second difference is that, unlike “unrestricted” gateways, the UX7 itself can work as an access point or a mesh extender (similar to the case of all Asus AiMesh routers). On this front, it’s much better than the UDR7 (and other UniFi consoles), which only has the “primary router” role in a mesh network.

So, while the UX7’s functionality is limited within the Network app, it makes up for that limitation by being super flexible in what it supports, namely the network-related roles.

The table below shows how the UX7 differentiates itself from the UDR7 (which represents most other UniFi gateways). I used both of them for this review.

The Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7 vs. UniFi Dream Machine 7 in a mesh mode
The UX7 vs. UDR7: The two are similar on the Wi-Fi front and can work together to form a robust mesh system, with the latter being the primary router.

Ubiquiti UX7 vs. UDR7: Hardware specifications

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7)Ubiquiti UDR7
Full NameUniFi Express 7UniFi Dream Router 7
ModelUX7UDR7
Operating RolesWi-Fi Router,
UniFi Access Point,
UniFi Mesh Point,
Extender
UniFi Gateway
(router)
Wi-Fi BandwidthTri-band BE11000
6GHz band
(channel width)
2×2 BE: Up to 5.7Gbps
(20/40MHz/160/320MHz)
5GHz band
(channel width)
2×2 BE: Up to 4.3Gbps
(20/40/160/240MHz)
2.4GHz band
(channel width)
2×2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps
(20/40MHz)
Automated Frequency Coordination
(AFC)
No
Multi-Link Operation
(MLO)
Yes
(fronthaul only)
Wi-Fi Coverage
(estimate)
1500 ft2
Processing PowerQuad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz, 3GB RAM
Dimensions4.61 x 4.61 x 1.67 in
(117 x 117 x 42.5 mm)
4.33-inch (110 mm) wide
7.25-in (184.2 mm) tall
Weight.93 lb (422 grams)2.4 lb (1.1 kg)
Multi-Gig Port1x 10GBASE-T WAN
1x 2.5GBASE-T LAN
1x SFP+ (WAN/LAN),
1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN),
4x 2.5GBASE-T LAN
Gigabit PortNone
Power MethodUSB-C portStandard AC power cord
Power SupplyAC/DC, Internal
Supported Voltage100 -240V AC
Power Consumption
(per 24 hours)
≈ 225 Wh
(measured when working as a router)
≈ 315 Wh
(measured with no PoE device)
Internal FanNoYes
Max TX Power2.4GHz: 23 dBm
5GHz: 26 dBm
6GHz: 24 dBm
Antenna Gain2.4GHz: 4 dBi  
5GHz: 7 dBi
6GHz: 6 dBi
2.4GHz: 5 dBi  
5GHz: 7 dBi
6GHz: 6 dB
Wireless SecurityWPA/WPA2/WPA3
Mesh ReadyYes
(primary router or mesh satellite)
Yes
(primary router only)
Notable DesignFront-facing 0.96″ horizontal status display,
Compact desktop design
Front-facing 0.96″ vertical status display,
Egg shape design,
microSD slot,
Color-changing ring status light
UniFi Application Suite
(supported apps)
NetworkNetwork,
Protect,
Talk,
Access,
Connect
Max UniFi Devices30+
(UniFi access points)
30+
(UniFi access points and others)
Max Concurrent User Support
(end-devices)
300+
IDS/IPS Throughput
(routing bandwidth with security turned on)
2.3Gbps
Software Version
(at review)
UniFi OS: 4.1.16
Network: 9.0.114
UniFi OS: 4.1.18
Network: 9.0.114
Release DateFebruary 26, 2025
US Cost
(at launch)
$199$279
UniFi Express 7 vs. UniFi Dream Router 7: Hardware specifications
Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7 frontUbiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7 ports
The front and back sides of the Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7. Note its 10GBASE-T WAN port.

As shown above, the UX7 shares the same Wi-Fi specs as the UDR7. So, as “routers,” the two are practically the same if you don’t look at the network ports, where the larger UDR7 is much more generous.

In terms of UniFi consoles, though, the UX7 is restricted hardware that features only the Network app whereas the UDR7 is unrestricted and can run all the apps of the UniFi suite.

A typical UniFi router

When functioning as the default router role, the UX7 proved to be a typical UniFi machine in my experience. It’s literally the same as the UDR7 or any previous UniFi gateway I’ve tested.

Ubiquiti UX7 Wi Fi ProtectionUbiquiti UX7 Wi Fi Settings
Running Network 9, the UniFi Express 7 includes all standard features of a UniFi gateway including advanced security and in-depth Wi-Fi customization.

That said, here are a few bullet points:

  • You can set it up and subsequently manage it via its local web server, accessible at its default IP address, 192.168.1.1. Alternatively, you can use the UniFi mobile app to complete the tasks. The app is convenient but not as in-depth as the web UI, which I prefer.
  • Running Network 9, the UX7 shares the same network-related feature set with the rest of the UniFi family, which is extensive in both the number of features and the in-depth customization for each. The router offers literally all you’d want from a network, from standard settings to security to web filtering, and more.
  • The UX7 offers all available standard customization for its built-in Wi-Fi broadcasters, except for AFC, which Ubiquiti, so far, has made available only to its Enterprise-class access points, such as the E7 family.
  • No matter which you use, the web UI or the mobile app, you don’t need to create an account with Ubiquiti to make things work. However, there’s an option for a vendor-connected login account that makes life easier via vendor-assisted features, such as remote management, backups, or the use of Ubiquiti’s proprietary VPN feature, called Teleport.

Ubiquiti and your privacy

Generally, Ubiquiti insists on a vendor-connected login account during the initial hardware setup process. However, that’s not a requirement, and logging in with a vendor translates to privacy risks.

UI account and UniFi gateways
UniFi account
You can manage a UniFi console/cloud gateway (or access point) independently from Ubiquiti via its local web user interface, which is accessible at the hardware’s default IP address, often 192.168.1.1. The UniFi mobile app can also work in the local mode. However, in this case, built-in Remote Management and other handy features are unavailable.

Here’s the link to the US networking company’s privacy policy.

Online privacy and security are a matter of degree. Different companies handle their users’ data differently.

Like all UniFi routers, you won’t need to spend a lot of time to configure the UX7 before you can use it.

During the setup process, all you need to do is create the password for the admin access, an SSID and its password, and you’re good to go. So you can literally get your network up and running within a few minutes. It took me less than 10 minutes to create four SSIDs, one for each band plus another for the MLO feature.

The point is that while being advanced hardware, the UX7, like other UniFi gateways, is not intimidating. Home users will find it simple and straightforward to use, while advanced users can dig in and find all sorts of things that meet their needs.

It’s worth noting that UX7 has only two network ports and is, therefore, limited in port-related features as a router. For example, it doesn’t have dual-WAN or Link Aggregation, and you can’t switch its ports’ role between WAN and LAN. However, these are advanced features most home users won’t need.

Ubiquiti UX7 supports only the Network applicationUbiquiti UX7 Wi Fi Port Settings
The UniFi Express 7 features only the Network application in the UniFi Suite. With only two network ports, it has limited port-related options, such as the lack of dual-WAN or the ability to switch the WAN/LAN roles for each port.

A not-so-typical UniFi access point or mesh node

As mentioned, the UX7 can work as an UniFi access point but it’s not like other UniFi access points I’ve tested.

Right off the bat, it’s not PoE-enabled—you’ll need to use the included power adapter. This standard powering method is less convenient for an access point but makes it more suitable for use in a fully wireless mesh mode, similar to an extender.

Just to be clear: Other UniFi access points have this wireless mesh mode, too, but considering many use PoE as the (only) powering method, it’s pointless not to use the network cable as the wired uplink.

Unfortunately, when used in a fully wireless setup, the UX7 didn’t use the MLO link as its backhaul—Ubiquiti confirmed with me that was the intended case. Instead, it uses the 5GHz band for both the fronthaul (for clients) and the backhaul.

Backhaul vs. Fronthaul

When you use multiple Wi-Fi broadcasters—in a mesh network or a combo of a router and an extender—there are two types of connections: fronthaul and backhaul.

Fronthaul is the Wi-Fi signals broadcast outward for clients or the local area network (LAN) ports for wired devices. It’s what we generally expect from a Wi-Fi broadcaster.

Backhaul (a.k.a backbone,) on the other hand, is the link between one satellite Wi-Fi broadcaster and another, which can be the network’s primary router, a switch, or another satellite unit.

This link works behind the scenes to keep the hardware units together as a system. It also determines the ceiling bandwidth (and speed) of all devices connected to the particular broadcaster. It’s the backbone of the system.

At the satellite/extender unit, the connection used for the backhaul—a Wi-Fi link or a network port—is often called the uplink. Generally, a Wi-Fi broadcaster might use one of its bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz) or a network port for the uplink.

When a Wi-Fi band handles backhaul and fronthaul simultaneously, only half its bandwidth is available to either end. From the perspective of a connected client, if there are any, that phenomenon is called signal loss.

A Wi-Fi connection between two direct parties occurs in a single band, using one fixed channel, at any given time. This principle applies to all existing Wi-Fi standards, up to Wi-Fi 6E.

When a Wi-Fi band functions solely for backhauling, or when there’s no client connected to it other than the satellite, it’s called the dedicated backhaul. Often, that means no other band will do this job, though that depends on the hardware.

In a mesh system, only traditional Tri-band hardware—those with an additional 5GHz band—can have a dedicated backhaul band without ostracizing clients of the same band.

Generally, it’s best to use network cables for backhauling—wired backhauling, which is an advantage of mesh hardware with network ports. In this case, a satellite broadcaster can use its entire Wi-Fi bandwidth for front-hauling.

In networking, network cables are always much better than wireless in speed and reliability.

The result? Each side will only have 50% of this 5GHz band’s bandwidth. However, if you only have 6GHz and 2.4GHz clients, this band will automatically use all of its bandwidth for the backhaul.

The Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7's screen show backhaul signal strength in the wireless mesh mode
When working as a mesh satellite unit, the UX7’s front screen shows the status of the backhaul link, which helps users find the best place, from the primary router, to put it in a wireless setup.

UniFi Dream Router 7 and UniFi Express 7 combo: A reliable Wi-Fi system

I tried the UX7 as a mesh satellite with the UDR7 as the primary router, and the two formed an excellent mesh system. It’s safe to say the experience will be similar if you use any other UniFi gateway as the primary unit, including another UX7 unit itself. In any case, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when using the UX7 as the mesh satellite unit.

Ubiquiti UX7 As an access point to be adoptedUbiquiti UX7 wireless mesh node diagram
UX7 setup as a mesh point setup process: Whether wired (#1) or wireless (#2), the (factory reset) hardware is automatically recognized by the primary router upon booting up and can be adopted via a single click (or tap). After that, it’ll work as part of the system, as a wireless mesh point in this case (right)—the dots in the diagram signify a wireless connection.

The first thing to note is that the UX7 is designed to support wired or wireless backhauling, using the same simple setup process for each. Specifically:

  1. UX7 as a wired mesh node (access point mode): Connect a (factory reset) UX7 to the primary gateway (Wi-Fi-enabled or not) using one of its network ports. You can use either, the port grade will determine the backhaul link’s bandwidth, and the other will work as a LAN. Now, turn on the hardware.
  2. UX7 as a wireless mesh node (extender mode): Place a (factory reset) UX7 within a few feet of the primary Wi-Fi-enabled gateway. Now, turn on the hardware.

In either case, upon booting up, the UX7 will appear within the primary unit’s interface (the UniFi mobile app or the web page) and can be adopted with a single click, just like any UniFi device. Then, after a few minutes, it’ll work as part of the system, sharing the same Wi-Fi as the primary UniFi gateway. All that remains is to find a suitable place to put it, and maybe a bit of in-depth radio (band) configuration (channel, channel width, broadcasting power, etc.) to best fit its location.

Note: I tested the UX7 with the latest version of UniFi OS and the Network app. To update both to the latest builds, you might need to first set it up as a standalone router before resetting it to make it work as a mesh node.

The second thing to note is that the UX7 does not support swapping the backhaul between wired (#1) and wireless (#2) on the fly, and that’s what I experienced during my testing. Specifically:

Once set up as a wired unit, the UX7 remained that way. If I unplugged the network cable connecting it to the UDR7, it’d become offline—it would not automatically turn into a wireless mesh unit. Conversely, once set up as a wireless unit and I connected it to the UDR7 using a network cable, its wireless backhaul remained, and the real-world performance still reflected that.

Ubiquiti UX7 as wired mesh pointAs a wired mesh point the Ubiquiti UX7 can have a 10Gbps uplink speed via its WAN port
In a wired backhaul setup, the UniFi Express 7 can have a 10Gbps uplink via its WAN port. In this case, I needed an SFP+ to 10GBASE-T adapter for the UDR7’s SFP+ port.

Future software updates might change this rigidity, but considering it’s fast to set up an UX7 up as either, it’s not a big deal to simply reset it (by removing it from the system via the primary router’s interface) and then re-adopt it.

UX7: Best used as a standalone router or part of a UniFi system

It’s worth noting that while you can use the UniFi app to set up the UX7 as a standalone access point or extender to use with an existing non-UniFi network, its usability is limited in either case—such as the lack of a web user interface itself.

Additionally, you can’t change its role after setting it up as a router, so there’s no AP mode when it’s hosting a UniFi access point. Keep this in mind when you already have an existing router in your network, such as an ISP-supplied gateway—you will likely need to use the UX7 in a double NAT.

The point is that other than being the sole router of your network, the UX7 only makes sense to be added to a network already hosted by a UniFi gateway. So, you should consider it only when:

  • You’re looking for a standalone Wi-Fi 7 router—when a single Wi-Fi broadcaster is enough. Or
  • You want to extend your existing network hosted by an existing UniFi gateway, including another UX7 unit.

With that, let’s find out how the UX7 performs in either case.

Uniquiti UniFi Express 7: Excellent performance for the specs

Considering the mid-tier Wi-Fi specs and the lack of a 10Gbps LAN port, I didn’t expect the UX7 to be the fastest Wi-Fi 7 router and it wasn’t. However, its performance was still quite impressive considering how tiny it is.

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Router Long Range PerformanceUbiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Router Close Range Performance
When working as a standalone router or wired satellite unit, the UniFi Express 7 delivers excellent Wi-Fi performance for its specs, comparable to that of the UDR7.

As a single router, it performs similarly to the UDR7, which shares the same Wi-Fi specs. Generally, you can expect Gig+ from it. Interestingly, its MLO performance was worse, while its 2.4GHz band was better, than the UDR7. Still, overall, I’d say the two are similar.

What is Gig+

Gig+, or Gig Plus, conveys a speed grade faster than 1Gbps but slower than 2Gbps. So, it’s 1.5Gbps, give or take a couple hundred megabits per second, and it’s not speedy enough to qualify as Multi-Gig Ethernet or multi-Gigabit. Intel coined the term to call its Wi-Fi 6E client chips—the AX210 and AX211—to describe their real-world speeds.

Gig+ applies mainly to the sustained speeds of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7—via a 2×2 at 160MHz connection—or broadband Internet speed.

By the way, you can expect the UX7 to perform the same as a Wi-Fi router when working as a wired satellite. In this case, due to the Wi-Fi specs, its performance remained practically the same whether you use the 10Gbps or 2.5Gbps port as the uplink (its other port will work as a LAN). Still, if you indeed use the UDR7 as the primary router, it might be worth it to get an SFP+ to 10BASE-T adapter—I’d recommend using one from Ubiquiti or this one—to form a 10Gbps backhaul link.

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Satellite Long Range PerformanceUbiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Satellite Close Range Performance

When working as a wireless mesh satellite (with a UDR7 as the primary router), the UX7 showed excellent performance despite not having an MLO backhaul link, considering its mid-tier specs. It’s worth noting that, since 5GHz is used as the backhaul, 5GHz clients will suffer signal loss when connected to the satellite. However, when no 5GHz client is connected, 6GHz clients can enjoy almost the full bandwidth of the backhaul link.

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) wired and wireless backhaul (WB) performance
The UX7 has excellent 2.5Gbps-grade wired performance, and its sustained wireless backhaul bandwidth (WB) is also quite good, considering its Wi-Fi specs.

In terms of Wi-Fi coverage, which is always tricky to quantify, the UX7 did better than Ubiquiti’s claim, though not by much. Generally, if you have an area of around 1700 ft2 (160 m2) and place it at the center, it’ll be able to blanket it. Keep in mind that your mileage will vary depending on the environment.

I tested the UX7 for over two weeks, including many days as a wireless mesh satellite unit of the UDR7, and it proved to be reliable in either case, passing my stress test without any disconnection.

The hardware also remained relatively cool, feeling only a bit warm even during heavy operations. Per Ubiquiti, the UX7 has no internal fan, and it was indeed silent the whole time.

Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7)'s Rating

8.5 out of 10
Ubiquiti UX7 UniFi Express 7
Performance
8.5 out of 10
Features
8 out of 10
Design and Setup
8.5 out of 10
Value
9 out of 10

Pros

Flexible enough to be the primary router or a satellite unit of a robust UniFi mesh system

Excellent throughput performance for the specs, reliable coverage

Tons of useful network-related features, including a mesh controller

Compact and beautiful design, comprehensive web user interface with an optional mobile app

Affordable, quiet and relatively cool operator

Cons

Only two network ports with only one being 10Gbps, no PoE, supports only the UniFi Network application

Convenient network-related features require a UI login account, not wall-mount-ready

Rigid backhaul as mesh satellite unit; no AP mode when hosting a Wi-Fi system; the MLO feature could be better overall

Conclusion

The Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 is a little router that could. At $199, it is an excellent entry-level multi-Gigabit Wi-Fi 7 hardware for a small home.

What’s most noticeable is that you can use multiple units to form a mesh system via wired (recommended) or wireless backhauling. You can also use the UX7 with a standard UniFi Wi-Fi 7 access point, including one of those just-announced dual-band units, to create the same effect—a PoE switch or injector is needed in this case.

And there’s more! You can also use a UX7 unit to add Wi-Fi to or extend the Wi-Fi coverage of an existing network already powered by another UniFi gateway, such as the UDR7, the UCG-Max, or the UCG-Fiber.

So, if you’re in the market for an affordable, yet totally not cheap, Wi-Fi 7 solution for your (up to) 2.5Gbps broadband, start with a UX7 today! You won’t be disappointed.

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36 thoughts on “Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7) Review (vs. UDR7): A Tiny, Robust, and Flexible Entry-Level Multi-Gig Mesh Router”

  1. Unifi Express 7 vs ASUS RT-BE92U

    They’re the same price so if the size difference doesn’t matter does it come down to the ASUS has a 2.5 GHz switch and USB vs the network management capabilities of the Unifi and it being an entry point into the Unifi world?

    Reply
      • I think that grammar was more an issue than punctuation, but yes, I should have reviewed this more thoroughly before I posted it.

        Unifi Express 7 vs ASUS RT-BE92U?

        Given their similar price and performance, if the size difference doesn’t matter does a purchasing decision come down to the ASUS has a 2.5 GHz switch and USB vs. the Unifi’s network management capabilities and it being an entry point into the Unifi world?

        Reply
  2. Hi Dong,
    You mention when using as wired mesh that you can connect to either port. If you connect to the WAN port is the LAN port still active?

    Reply
  3. Hi Dong – do you see the lack of a USB port as a con of this router? I’d scoop one up if I could plug in an external SSD and run Time Machine backups over SMB. The UNAS Pro (and even a Synology/QNAP) are overkill for that purpose.

    Reply
  4. I want to use a UX7 as a wired access point from my ISP router. In AP mode, can the other LAN/WAN port be used to connect a device or a switch?
    In AP mode, does the UX7 need to be connected to an existing Unifi setup that already hosts a controller?

    Thank you

    Reply
  5. Hiya,

    I was about to pull my trigger on the Asus BT-10 but got swayed towards the Ubiquity systems and the UDR7 fits my bill perfectly. However I’ve seen some negative comments on 2 issues on the Reddit discussions and was wondering if anyone on here has the same:
    1) Fan noise – I know this is very subjective but have people noticed it enough to be a nuisance? Dong in your review you said it’s bearly audible was wondering if there’s a wider consensus on this.
    2) In the UK we connect to the ISP through PPPOE and apparently this has been quite troublesome with the UDR7. Any experiences of this on here?

    cheers
    Rob

    Reply
    • Hi Robert,

      1. It’s not noisy at all in my opinion. But it’s not silent.

      2. I can’t see how this can be an issue. The router features all WAN connection types.

      Reply
  6. Hi Dong,

    These were released at a good time for me. We have a duplex space of about 180m2 with 10Gb fiber to the premises that I can terminate to a Cloud Gateway Fiber in the server room.

    For WiFi access would you recommend a celling mounted E7 on the upper floor or 2x UX7’s (one on each floor) in mesh/AP mode with wired backhaul?

    Clients are a mix of laptops/desktops/phones and IoT devices; users are content creators so speed and stability are both important. Not sure which would be a better fit for this case.

    Cheers,
    Droog

    Reply
    • I can’t know, Droog. I’ve never been to your place. But either will work (to an extent) though the E7 will be much better. Make sure you read the reviews for the finer points.

      Reply
  7. Hi Dong,

    Currently my ISP currently gives me a 1Gbit/s fiber line, with the possibility to upgrade to 4Gbit/s later on.

    I’m running a UCG-Ultra as my main router + 3X AmpliFi Aliens in AP mesh mode with wired Ethernet back-haul. The reason for a separate non-WiFi router is due to the odd layout of the apartment. The APs are evenly distributed throughout the apartment for full coverage indoors + outside terrace.

    I’ve been looking to replace the Aliens at some point, which still work well and look incredible,high WAF (wife approval factor). Also, all components being UniFi would management easier.

    Do you think the AX7 is a worthy contender to replace the aging Alien?

    Reply
    • If you mean UX7, then yes. Give it a go! It’ll make life easier for you in management and more in Wi-Fi settings

      Reply
  8. My setup now: ISP router – Unifi Switch – 3 Unifi AP
    When I use the USX7 as 4th AP, will it have the controller function? Or does the controller only work when used as router?

    Reply
  9. Is there any reason why the 2.4 ghz wifi performance of UX7 is much better than the UDR7 in your chart when they have the same hardware? Environment issue?

    Reply
    • It’s unclear but the fact it has no microSD slot might have played a role. This slot may use USB to connect to the main board which is known to advsersely affect the 2.4GHz band.

      Reply
      • Oh okay, but unless you test them side by side in the same environment, you can’t be sure what the issue is. Thanks for your quick reply.

        Reply
        • But then they’ll interfere with each other, or be tested at diffrence time. There’s no way to know for sure when it comes to wireless transmission. More on testing here. This is not curing cancer or rocket sience. Take the numbers as a reference and stop looking for bias confirmations. 🙂

          Reply
          • Of course, they can be tested side by side using different channels in the 2.4 Ghz band and turning off the other bands. Haha I am not looking for any bias confirmation. Keep up your good work. Your reviews are on point and provide more useful information for people.

          • As mentioned in the post, I tested all channels and use the highest numbers as the scores. Different channels generally yield differnt results. Trust me, I put a lot of thoughts into the testing.

  10. Hi and thanks for the review.

    If I am not planning to use anything other than the Network app, is there any compelling reason to get the UDR7 + UX7 instead of 2 UX7s to form an ethernet backhaul mesh setup on a gig+ network? I already have a 2.5gb switch.

    It seems like the flexibility of the UX7 may make it more viable if I ever need to move to multigig as I could add the cloud gateway fiber and use the UX7s as APs.

    Reply
  11. One question I would also have is how easy is it to move configurations between Unifi devices? i.e. if i’ve got a UDM now then can I just export all my settings and move them to a UX7, or do I have to start over setting up SSIDs, rules etc from scratch?

    Reply
    • I haven’t done that particular upgrade path but I think it’s highly possible and if so, very easy as mentioned in the review of the UCG-Fiber. You need an UI account if you want to migrate during the setup process. Else, you’ll have to set up the new router first before you can upload a file. Good luck!

      Reply
  12. This is potentially the most interesting of the new announcements for me. I have the original ‘tictac’ UDM still but 2.5G networking appeals and I only ever use the Network app on it. One of these plus a Flex Mini 2.5G (to add extra ports I need) would work out a tiny bit cheaper to purchase than a UDR7 and give me something with slightly less physical presence.

    One personal criticism of the original UDM was that the fan can get a little noisy under load (and that cleaning it internally is a very big deal) so it also appeals that the UX7 is fanless and that you say it doesn’t cook itself when stressed.

    Reply
  13. Hi Dong

    Having tested this in a wireless mesh set up, which is the only way I would use this as I have no wired cabling. If you had to absolutely pick one – would you pick the UDR7 and UX7 combo or the TP Link deco BE85? Ignoring the price, just based on performance and stability. My home internet connection is 1.8 gig.

    Reply
    • I have all of them, literally, Nipun. So I don’t need to pick, or I’ve already picked all of them. That’s to say your question doesn’t apply to me personally.

      This type of decision is always a personal business and I don’t pretend I’m a know-it-alls.

      So, read the reviews and figure this out for yourself. It should be easy considering money is not part of the equation in your case. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Hi Dong – Great review as always. Did you happen to test the Wi-Fi 7 Performance at Long Range? I only see Close Range and the “slider” doesn’t change the image/results.

    Reply
    • Thanks for letting me know, Dan. Wrong piece of code. Fixed. Refresh the page and you’ll see the correct charts.

      Reply

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