HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22 vs TP-Link TL-WA3001

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against Wi-Fi access points at a similar price

The TP-Link TL-WA3001 scores 5.8/10 overall, ahead of the HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22 at 5.4/10.

The HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22 leads on uplink and power and value.

The TP-Link TL-WA3001 leads on management and software and security.

They score the same on wi-Fi standard and bands.

The biggest difference is management, where the TP-Link TL-WA3001 scores 7/10 to the HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22's 3/10.

HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22

5.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The AP22 is for home and small-office users who want a simple Wi-Fi 6 access point they can set up from an app. It suits sites with a PoE switch and a modest number of devices. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a local controller or fine control over Wi-Fi settings.

Typically about £93.50 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

TP-Link TL-WA3001

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-WA3001 is for homelabbers and small-office admins who want a Wi-Fi 6 access point managed from a local web interface. It suits setups that need separate SSIDs mapped to VLANs on both bands. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs a faster-than-gigabit uplink or 6 GHz.

Typically about £89.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22	TP-Link TL-WA3001
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	6/10
Uplink and power	20%	6/10	4/10
Management	20%	3/10	7/10
Software and security	20%	5/10	6/10
Value	15%	7/10	6/10
Overall		5.4/10	5.8/10

Specifications

Spec	HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22	TP-Link TL-WA3001
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 MIMO on each; total 1774 Mb/s (5 GHz 1200 Mb/s, 2.4 GHz 574 Mb/s)	Dual-band: 2.4 GHz at 574 Mbps and 5 GHz at 2402 Mbps (AX3000 class)
Uplink port	1 x Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 (1GbE), with PoE-in	1 Gigabit Ethernet port (supports passive PoE)
Power (PoE class)	PoE in 802.3af (class 3), max 10.1 W (PoE) or 8.8 W (DC); external 12V adapter option	Passive PoE; external supply rated 48V/0.5A
Management	Cloud-managed through the Instant On web portal or mobile app; no local controller	Standalone web UI (HTTP/HTTPS) plus app management; no cloud requirement stated
Mounting	Wall or ceiling; mount bracket included	Wall or desktop

Strengths and weaknesses

HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22

+ Quick app setup with a guided wizard
+ Standard 802.3af PoE power input
+ Two-year warranty with 24/7 phone and chat support
− Cloud-only management, no local or offline controller
− Limited Wi-Fi configuration options
− Basic SKU ships without a power adapter

Skip it if:

Homelabbers who want a local or offline controller
Anyone who wants detailed control over Wi-Fi settings

Read the full HPE Networking Instant On Access Point AP22 review ›

TP-Link TL-WA3001

+ Up to four VLAN-tagged SSIDs per band
+ Standalone web UI; EasyMesh controller is not cloud-based
+ WPA3, WPA-Enterprise and WPA2-Enterprise supported
− Single gigabit port only
− Passive PoE is the only PoE type listed
− No 6 GHz band

Skip it if:

Buyers who need a 2.5GbE or faster uplink
Buyers who want 6 GHz or Wi-Fi 6E clients
Buyers whose switch supplies only a PoE type other than passive

Read the full TP-Link TL-WA3001 review ›

More comparisons

Compare all Wi-Fi access points · Best Wi-Fi access points