TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point vs Zyxel NWA50AX

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 and Zyxel NWA50AX both score 6.2/10 overall.

They score the same on wi-Fi standard and bands, uplink and power, management, software and security and value.

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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Zyxel NWA50AX

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The Zyxel NWA50AX is a ceiling or wall Wi-Fi 6 access point for small offices, flats and homelabs that want simple wired Wi-Fi. It suits buyers with a gigabit PoE+ switch who want either Nebula cloud management or a standalone web interface. It is less suited to anyone who needs 2.5GbE uplink or a 6 GHz band.

Typically about £70 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	Zyxel NWA50AX
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	6/10	6/10
Uplink and power	20%	6/10	6/10
Management	20%	7/10	7/10
Software and security	20%	6/10	6/10
Value	15%	6/10	6/10
Overall		6.2/10	6.2/10

Specifications

Spec	TP-Link Omada EAP653 AX3000 Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point	Zyxel NWA50AX
Wi-Fi standard	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac backward compatibility; no 6 GHz band	IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a, marketed as WiFi 6
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz (574 Mbps) and 5 GHz (2402 Mbps), 2x2 each, 2976 Mbps combined (AX3000)	2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual radio, 2x2 on each; 575 Mbps (2.4 GHz) and 1200 Mbps (5 GHz)
Uplink port	1x RJ45 10/100/1000 Mbps (1 GbE)	1 x 10/100/1000M LAN (gigabit)
Power (PoE class)	not listed	802.3at (PoE+), 16 W PoE; local power via DC 12V 1.5A AC adapter
Management	Standalone web UI, SSH and SNMP; also Omada cloud controller, Omada hardware controllers (OC200/OC300), Omada software controller and Omada app	Nebula cloud managed and standalone; web GUI/CLI; ZON Utility for discovery and batch config
Mounting	Ceiling, wall, junction-box and T-bar mounting; 160 x 160 x 33.6 mm, 0.38 kg	Mount plate and mounting screws included; suits ceiling, wall and tabletop

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 ›

Zyxel NWA50AX

+ Standard 802.3at PoE+ with adapter included
+ Cloud or standalone management with VLAN support
+ Owners report easy setup and good range
− Gigabit uplink only; 2.5GbE is on the PRO
− Dual-band only, with no 6 GHz
− Owners report trouble separating the guest network

Skip it if:

Buyers who want a 2.5GbE uplink and should look at the PRO model
Anyone who needs a 6 GHz band
People who rely on a guest network that works without extra configuration

Read the full Zyxel NWA50AX review ›

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