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TP-Link TL-WA3001 vs Zyxel NWA50AX PRO

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

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

The Zyxel NWA50AX PRO scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-WA3001 at 5.8/10.

The Zyxel NWA50AX PRO leads on uplink and power and value.

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

The biggest difference is uplink and power, where the Zyxel NWA50AX PRO scores 8/10 to the TP-Link TL-WA3001's 4/10.

TP-Link TL-WA3001

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 (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

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

Zyxel NWA50AX PRO

Zyxel NWA50AX PRO

6.8/10verdict: buy

The Zyxel NWA50AX PRO is a ceiling-mounted Wi-Fi 6 access point with a 2.5GbE uplink and PoE+ power. It suits buyers who have a PoE+ switch and want VLAN support with a choice of cloud or standalone management. It is less suited to anyone who needs 6 GHz or wants a quick setup with no configuration.

Typically about £67.31 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link TL-WA3001Zyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/106/10
Uplink and power20%4/108/10
Management20%7/107/10
Software and security20%6/106/10
Value15%6/107/10
Overall5.8/106.8/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-WA3001Zyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/acIEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a (Wi-Fi 6)
Bands and speed classDual-band: 2.4 GHz at 574 Mbps and 5 GHz at 2402 Mbps (AX3000 class)Dual-band 2.4 GHz (575 Mbps) and 5 GHz (2400 Mbps), marketed as AX3000; 20/40/80/160 MHz channel widths
Uplink port1 Gigabit Ethernet port (supports passive PoE)1 x 1/2.5 Gbps LAN port (2.5GbE)
Power (PoE class)Passive PoE; external supply rated 48V/0.5AIEEE 802.3at (PoE+), 20.5 W rated PoE draw
ManagementStandalone web UI (HTTP/HTTPS) plus app management; no cloud requirement statedNebula cloud-managed or standalone; web GUI and CLI
MountingWall or desktopMounting plate and mounting screws included; 140 × 140 × 37.5 mm, 352 g

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Zyxel NWA50AX PRO

  • + 2.5GbE uplink with standard 802.3at PoE+
  • + Nebula cloud or standalone web GUI and CLI
  • + VLAN support and SNMP management
  • − No 6 GHz band; dual-band Wi-Fi 6 only
  • − Owners report Nebula-to-standalone setup is difficult
  • − Only one RJ-45 port

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a 6 GHz band for current devices
  • Buyers who want a no-configuration setup with an easy standalone switch-over
  • Buyers without a PoE+ switch who do not want to power it another way
Read the full Zyxel NWA50AX PRO review ›

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