The WBE530 BE11000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro Access Point is Zyxel’s third Wi-Fi 7 access point, and it lands right between the previous two, the WBE660S and NWA130BE, in terms of cost.
In terms of hardware specs, however, it’s practically the latter with some bonus, such as the fact it features MLO right out of the box—the other two didn’t during their review but do now via firmware updates.
Here’s the bottom line: The WBE530 is the Pro version of the NWA130BE and has enough to justify its $10 extra suggested retail cost—the street price will vary. In real-world usage, in most cases, either will give you a good Wi-Fi 7 upgrade. Consider one today!

Zyxel WBE530: The NWA130BE’s “Pro” alternative
Of the box, the WBE530 looks the same as the NWA130BE. It’s a relatively compact access point—a rectangle box with curved corners—designed to be mounted on a wall or a ceiling and includes the accessories for the job.
It’s also the same in terms of hardware specs, with two 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig ports, one being the PoE+ uplink and the other a simple LAN. On the inside, it features 2×2 Wi-Fi with up to 11000Mbps of total bandwidth among its three bands (2.4 GHz + 5GHz + 6GHz).
So the question is, what exactly does the WBE530 have that the NWA130BE doesn’t? And that brings us to the detailed hardware specs in the table below.
Zyxel WBE530 vs. NWA130BE: Hardware specifications
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Name | Zyxel WBE530 BE11000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro Access Point | NWA130BE BE11000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point |
Model | WBE530 | NWA130BE |
Wi-Fi Standards | Tri-band BE11000 | |
Broadcasting Power | US (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 27/25/23dBm EU (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 19/25/21dBm | US (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 29/28/23dBm EU (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 19/25/22dBm |
6 GHz Speeds (channel width) | 2×2 BE: Up to 5764 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
5 GHz Speeds (channel width) | 2×2 BE: Up to 4324 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
2.4 GH Speeds (channel with) | 2×2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz) | |
Number of SSIDs | 8 (single or multiple bands) | |
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | Yes (via the latest firmware) |
Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | No (might be added via firmware) | |
Operating Mode | Standalone, NebulaFlex cloud controller (1-year of NebulaFlex Pro included), Local hardware controller | Standalone, NebulaFlex cloud controller |
Roaming Standard | Pre-authentication, PMK caching and 802.11r/k/v | |
Backward Compatibility | 802.11/axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b | |
Power over Ethernet (PoE) | 802.11at (PoE+) | |
Injector Induded | No | |
DC input | DC 12 V | |
Adapter Included | No | |
Multi-Gig port | 1 x 2.5GBASE-T PoE+ (uplink) 1 x 2.5GBASE-T | |
Gigabit Port | none | |
Wireless Security Methods | WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3 | |
Authentication | IEEE 802.1X/RADIUS | |
Access Management | L2-isolation/MAC filtering/Rogue AP detection | |
Mobile App | Zyxel Nebula | |
Dimensions (W x D x H) | 9.84 x 6.30 x 1.85 in (250 x 160 x 47mm) | |
Weight | 1.79 lbs (808 g) | |
Processor | Qualcomm 4-Core CPU | |
Operating Environment | Temperature: 0°C to 50°C/32°F to 122°F Humidity: 10% to 95% (non-condensing) | Temperature: 0°C to 45°C/32°F to 113°F Humidity: 10% to 90% (non-condensing) |
Release Date | August 2024 | March 4, 2024 |
Warranty | Lifetime | |
US Price (at launch) | $189.99 | $179.99 |


Zyxel access points: NWA series vs. W series
As shown in the table above, the NWA130BE and the WBE530 represent Zyxel’s NWA and W series. Or you can think of them as the representatives of Zyxel’s NebulaFlex and NebulaFlex Pro.
NebulaFlex: The NWA130BE and other APs of the NWA series support standalone mode via the local web interface and Zyxel’s Nebula cloud-manage mode.
Nebula has three service levels, including Base, Plus, and Pro. The Base level is free and generally has enough for most home and small business users. The Plus and Pro require license costs per device.
NebulaFlex Pro: The W series has everything the NWA has, plus a one-year Pro license.
Addtionally, users have the option to use a local hardware controller, and the hardware itself supports Zyxel’s advanced security option integrated with its security appliances, such as Secure WiFi and Collaborative Detection and Response (CDR). Many APs of the W series also feature Zyxel’s enhanced antenna technologies, like Smart Antenna and Dual-Optimized Antennas.
The point is that, in most cases, there’s no difference between the WBE530 and the NWA130BE. However, if you want the most advanced option, the former would be it.
A standard access point with no power adapter or injector included
Other than that, the WBE530 is similar to any other Zyxel access point. It doesn’t include a power adapter or a PoE injector. To use it, you first need PoE+ (802.3at) switch, such as the Zyxel XS1930-12HP or the newly announced XMG1915 Series, or a single standard PoE+ injector.


After that, you can log into the AP’s local web user interface to set up and manage it via the IP address given out by your router—the WBE530, like most of Zyxel’s access points, has the default username and password as admin and 1234.
Once logged in, you’ll be greeted by a standard yet comprehensive menu-based web interface with the same set of settings and configuration options as that of the NWA130BE.
The APs can handle up to eight SSIDs. You can use each for one, two, or all three of its bands and customize them with in-depth Wi-Fi settings.
Unfortunately, this comprehensive local web interface doesn’t allow for all Wi-FI options.
A controller is required for MLO
As mentioned at the top, the WBE530 is the first Zyxel Wi-Fi 7 access point that features the MLO feature, where you can lump its band into a single bonded link.

After almost a day of wrestling with the local web user interface to turn on this feature to no avail, I learned that MLO is only available when a controller controls the AP. Since I have no hardware controller, I linked it to a Nebula account, and voila! MLO was right there among the options, albeit still in the Beta stage.
MLO, in my experience, is only significant in a wireless mesh setup and doesn’t have a significant impact on real-world performance on the side of clients. And that was also the case with the WBE530.
Like the case of most Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters released in 2024, the WBE530 doesn’t have the AFC feature yet, which might be added via firmware in the future.

Zyxel WBE630: Excellent performance
I tested the WBE630 for about a week, and it did slightly better than the NWA130BE, which was tested with an older sans-MLO firmware release. That’s to say the AP did well, considering its Wi-Fi specs and the 2.5Gbps uplink port.


Overall, you can expect gig-plus performance when using Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or Wi-Fi 7 clients. The AP also has enough Wi-Fi configuration options to support all existing legacy devices.
In terms of range, the WBE530 has coverage similar to that of the NWA130BE. A single unit can generally cover about 2000 ft2 (186 m2) with decent Wi-Fi performance throughput, but your mileage will vary. Generally 1500 ft2 (139 m2). The AP also passed my 3-day stress test with no disconnection.
Like the NWA130BE, the WBE530 has two network ports, allowing me to gauge its wired performance, and it did well sustaining at over 2300Mbps, about as fast as the 2.5Gbps speed grade is after overhead.

Having no internal fan, the WBE530 was silent during my testing. It became noticeably warm after a while but not as hot as many others I’ve teed.
Zyxel WBE530 Wi-Fi 7 Access Point's Rating

Pros
Reliable and fast mid-tier Wi-Fi 7 performance; good range
Dual 2.5Gbps ports
Comprehensive local web user interface; generous free-tier Nebula cloud-based management; one year of Nebula Pro included
Quiet and comparatively cool
Cons
No power adapter or PoE injector is included
Mid-range Wi-Fi 7 specs
MLO is not available with the local web user interface
Conclusion
The Zyxel WBE530 BE11000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro Access Point has very little in specs over its older NWA130BE cousin but includes more than enough to justify its cost. If you’re looking to upgrade your home to Wi-Fi 7, consider one today!
Are these two specifications perhaps in the wrong column in the spec comparison table: “(1-year of NebulaFlex Pro included), Local hardware controller”? I believe those two features align with the WBE530 model, not the NWA130BE model.
As an aside – for the benefit of other readers – my home is outfitted with four (4) of the NWA130BE model and I am very satisfied with my WiFi network… so satisfied, I never think about my WiFi network…. it just works… all the time.
You’re correct, Arctic. And thanks for sharing the experience!