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Ubiquiti, on January 8, 2024, announced the U7 Pro PoE access point as part of its all-new UniFi 7 family of Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters.
The new access point, in many ways, is the company’s U6 Pro, or the U6 Enterprise, with the support for the latest Wi-Fi standard that became ratified on the same day.
UniFi U7 Pro: An affordable Wi-Fi 7 solution
Per Ubiquiti, the U7 Pro is the result of “years of development,” and like the case of others in the UniFi family, the AP is part of its scalable UniFi platform. Specifically, the new AP can be deployed with existing UniFi hardware to form a single Wi-Fi network and will support all existing Wi-Fi devices. To enjoy its performance, however, generally clients with a 6GHz band, namely those supporting Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, are recommended.
Generally, you need a UniFi controller, like the UDM-SE, to build such a network. In this case, you need to upgrade the UniFi OS to version 3.2 (or later) and the UniFi Network app to version 8.0.7 or later. However, the UniFi U7 can also work as a standalone access point with any existing router.
Coming in a round shape and designed for ceiling or wall mounting, the U7 Pro shares the appearance and mounting accessories as previous UniFi access points. In fact, it’s just a tad larger and heavier than the U6 Enterprise.
And like the case of its predecessors, as well as most business APs, the U7 Pro features PoE+ and does not come with any powering accessory. You need an existing PoE switch or get an injector before you can use it.
Besides the Zyxel WBE660S, the UniFi U7 Pro is the second Wi-Fi 7 AP on the market to date. The table below shows its full hardware specs. It’s safe to say there will be more options, including those from Ubiquiti, in the near future.
Hardware specifications: UniFi U7 Pro vs. U6 Enterprise vs. Zyxel WBE660S
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | U7 Pro | U6 Enterprise | Zyxel WBE660S |
| Name | Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Access Point | Ubiquiti UniFi U6 Enterprise Access Point | Zyxel WBE660S BE22000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro Access Point |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Tri-band BE9200 | Tri-band AXE11000 | Tri-band BE22000 |
| 1st Band 2.4GHz (channel width) | 2×2 BE Up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2×2 AX Up to 600Mbps (20/40MHz) | 4×4 BE: Up to 1376 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| 2nd Band 5GHz (channel width) | 2×2 BE Up to 2882 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 4×4 AX Up to 4800 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 4×4 BE: Up to 8646 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) |
| 3rd Band 6GHz (channel width) | 2×2 BE Up to 5765 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | 4×4 AXE Up to 4800 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 4×4 BE: Up to 11530 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b | 802.11axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b |
| Power over Ethernet (PoE) | 802.11at (PoE+) | 802.11bt (PoE++) | |
| Power Consumption | 21W | 22W | 41W |
| Network Port | 1x 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig PoE | 1x 10Gbps Multi-Gig PoE | |
| Security | WPA, WPA2, WPA3 | ||
| Local Managed | No | Yes (free) | |
| Mobile App | UniFi | Zyxel Nebula | |
| Mode | Access Point | ||
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | Ø8.1 x 1.8″ (Ø206 x 46 mm) | Ø7.76 x 1.38″ (Ø197 x 35 mm) | 12.21 x 7.01 x 2.21 in (310 x 178 x 56 mm) |
| Weight | 1.5lb (680 g) | 1.32 lbs (600 g) | 3.11 lbs (1412 g) |
| LED | Color-changing LED | ||
| US Retail Cost (at launch) | $189.99 | $290 | $599.99 |
A mid-tier access point
As you might have noted from the table above, the U7 Pro comes with mid-tier Wi-Fi 7 specs. Compared with the Zyxel, it’s quite modest. Still, Ubiquiti says the AP can handle about 1500 1,500 ft² (140 m²) of Wi-Fi coverage and up to 300 devices, enough for most homes or small offices.
Ubiquiti will likely release future AP with higher performance grades. But for now, the U7 Pro is an excellent choice for many, thanks to its pricing.
Pricing and availability
Uniquti says the U7 Pro is available for purchase from Ubiquiti’s store and on Amazon today at a friendly cost of $189, less than half of the Zyxel WBE660S. The new AP is even more affordable than the U6 Enterprise.
Other than the support for Wi-Fi 7, if you’ve used a UniFi access point before, you can expect the same experience from U7 Pro.
I’ve ordered two ASUS BQ16s and plan on replacing my current setup with them in AiMesh mode. I’m still concerned about dead spots in the garden though. Is there any way to use a U7 in this setup as an extender in the garden? Are there any other outdoor options that would work?
For that I’d recommend an outdoor AP, James. So this one, as a standalone AP.
On Reddit, there was a user who has both the wifi 7 and the U6 Enterprise version. The Enterprise version performs better when multiple devices are connected. So, if you’re streaming movies, playing games, and doing video conferences, opting for the Enterprise version would be preferable. What’s your experience?
I haven’t tried the Wi-Fi 7 version, Serge, but the two are of different tiers so that’s not surprising.