TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point vs TP-Link TL-WA1201

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

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

The TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-WA1201 at 5.8/10.

The TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, uplink and power and value.

The TP-Link TL-WA1201 leads on management and software and security.

TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The EAP653 is for anyone who wants a ceiling-mounted Wi-Fi 6 access point powered over Ethernet. It suits setups that can run it standalone from a web UI or grow into an Omada controller later. It is less suited to buyers who need 6 GHz or a multi-gigabit uplink.

Typically about £80 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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TP-Link TL-WA1201

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-WA1201 is a Wi-Fi 5 desktop or wall access point for small offices, home labs and flats that want a local web interface for management. It suits buyers who need tagged SSIDs on separate VLANs and want a PoE injector supplied. It is not for anyone chasing Wi-Fi 6 speeds or a multi-gigabit uplink.

Typically about £46.99 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	TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point	TP-Link TL-WA1201
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	4/10
Uplink and power	20%	6/10	5/10
Management	20%	7/10	8/10
Software and security	20%	6/10	7/10
Value	15%	6/10	5/10
Overall		6.2/10	5.8/10

Specifications

Spec	TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point	TP-Link TL-WA1201
Wi-Fi standard	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac backward compatibility; no 6 GHz band	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11ac Wave 2 AP
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz (574 Mbps) and 5 GHz (2402 Mbps), 2x2 each, 2976 Mbps combined (AX3000)	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps on 5 GHz
Uplink port	1x RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps (1 GbE)	1x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet port with passive PoE support
Power (PoE class)	not listed	Passive PoE on Ethernet port; PoE injector in the box; external power supply rated 12V/1.5A
Management	Standalone web UI, SSH and SNMP; also Omada cloud controller, Omada hardware controllers (OC200/OC300), Omada software controller and Omada app	Local web UI reached at tplinkap.net; modes include access point, range extender, client and multi-SSID
Mounting	Ceiling, wall, junction-box and T-bar mounting; 160 x 160 x 33.6 mm, 0.38 kg	Wall or desktop mounting

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point

+ Standalone web UI, SSH and SNMP, with Omada controller options
+ Accepts 802.3at PoE+, passive 48V PoE or 12V DC
+ Ceiling, wall, junction-box and T-bar mounting
− Single 1GbE uplink, with no 6 GHz band
− Draws about 13-14 W, which uses PoE switch budget
− Mesh and seamless roaming need an Omada controller

Skip it if:

Buyers who want a 6 GHz band or Wi-Fi 7 features
Anyone needing a multi-gigabit uplink from the access point
People running a PoE switch with a tight power budget

Read the full TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point review ›

TP-Link TL-WA1201

+ Up to four SSIDs and VLANs on each band
+ Local web UI at tplinkap.net
+ PoE injector included in the box
− Wi-Fi 5 only, 867 Mbps on 5 GHz
− Single gigabit port, passive PoE
− No owner feedback in the research

Skip it if:

Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6 or newer radios
Anyone needing a 2.5GbE uplink or standard PoE+ powering
People who want owner reviews on reliability before buying

Read the full TP-Link TL-WA1201 review ›

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