TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point vs TP-Link TL-WA1801

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-WA1801 at 5.3/10.

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

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

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-WA1801

5.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-WA1801 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 access point for small wired networks that need a few separate SSIDs. It suits home offices, flats and homelabs where VLAN-tagged wireless matters more than 6 GHz or multi-gig speeds. Buyers who need rock-solid stability or a long firmware record should read the owner reports first.

Typically about £67 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point	TP-Link TL-WA1801
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	6/10
Uplink and power	20%	6/10	4/10
Management	20%	7/10	7/10
Software and security	20%	6/10	4/10
Value	15%	6/10	5/10
Overall		6.2/10	5.3/10

Specifications

Spec	TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point	TP-Link TL-WA1801
Wi-Fi standard	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac backward compatibility; no 6 GHz band	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
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, marketed as AX1800
Uplink port	1x RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps (1 GbE)	1 Gigabit port (supports passive PoE)
Power (PoE class)	not listed	Passive PoE with 48V external supply rated 0.375A
Management	Standalone web UI, SSH and SNMP; also Omada cloud controller, Omada hardware controllers (OC200/OC300), Omada software controller and Omada app	Web UI and Tether app (free, Android and iOS); SNMP and Ping Watchdog; multi-SSID with VLAN support
Mounting	Ceiling, wall, junction-box and T-bar mounting; 160 x 160 x 33.6 mm, 0.38 kg	not listed

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-WA1801

+ Up to four VLAN-tagged SSIDs per band
+ Web UI, SNMP and Ping Watchdog included
+ PoE injector supplied in the box
− Single gigabit port, no 2.5GbE
− Owners report dropped connections and 5GHz problems
− Short firmware history; WPA3 support not listed

Skip it if:

Buyers who need 2.5GbE uplink or standard PoE+ power
Anyone who requires confirmed WPA3 and guest isolation
Users planning to rely on client mode or the 5GHz radio

Read the full TP-Link TL-WA1801 review ›

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