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TP-Link TL-WA801N vs UniFi U7 Pro

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

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

The UniFi U7 Pro scores 7.3/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-WA801N at 4.1/10.

The TP-Link TL-WA801N leads on management.

The UniFi U7 Pro leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, uplink and power, software and security and value.

The biggest difference is wi-Fi standard and bands, where the UniFi U7 Pro scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-WA801N's 3/10.

TP-Link TL-WA801N

TP-Link TL-WA801N

4.1/10verdict: skip

The TL-WA801N is for people who need a simple 2.4 GHz access point with a web interface and VLAN-tagged SSIDs. It suits small, light-duty wireless jobs where a 300 Mbps wireless rate and a 100 Mbps wired port are enough. It is a poor fit if you need 5 GHz, WPA3 or controller-based management.

Typically about £25.97 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

UniFi U7 Pro

UniFi U7 Pro

7.3/10verdict: buy

The UniFi U7 Pro is a ceiling or wall access point for people who want tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and already run, or plan to run, UniFi Network. It suits a home or small-office network that needs 6 GHz and a 2.5GbE uplink. It is less suited to anyone who wants to configure an access point from a simple standalone app.

Typically about £180 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-WA801NUniFi U7 Pro
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%3/109/10
Uplink and power20%3/108/10
Management20%6/105/10
Software and security20%4/107/10
Value15%5/107/10
Overall4.1/107.3/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-WA801NUniFi U7 Pro
Wi-Fi standardIEEE 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b (Wi-Fi 4)WiFi 7 (802.11be), with 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E), ac and n listed as supported
Bands and speed class2.4 GHz only, 300 MbpsTri-band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, each 2x2 MU-MIMO; max data rates 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 4.3 Gbps (5 GHz), 5.8 Gbps (6 GHz); 6 spatial streams
Uplink portOne 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port (RJ45) with passive PoE supportOne 1/2.5 GbE RJ45 port (2.5 GbE)
Power (PoE class)Passive PoE; external supply 9 VDC / 0.6 APoE+ input, 44–57V DC supply range, maximum consumption 21W
ManagementWeb-based user interface; SNMP listed; no cloud or Omada controller management listed for this modelEthernet; requires UniFi Network 8.0.28 or later
MountingDesktop use with wall-mounting designCeiling or wall, with a Pro Mount included

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link TL-WA801N

  • + Multi-SSID with VLAN support listed on the datasheet
  • + Passive PoE support as well as an external supply
  • + AP isolation and SNMP are both listed
  • − 2.4 GHz only, Wi-Fi 4 at 300 Mbps
  • − Single 10/100 Ethernet port
  • − WPA3 not listed; no controller management listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a 5 GHz band or anything newer than Wi-Fi 4
  • Anyone who requires WPA3 on the wireless network
  • Admins who want central controller or cloud management of several access points
Read the full TP-Link TL-WA801N review ›

UniFi U7 Pro

  • + Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 6 GHz and 6 spatial streams
  • + 2.5GbE uplink and standard PoE+ input
  • + Guest isolation, Private PSK and RADIUS over TLS, with no paywalled features
  • − Standalone app reported too limited for configuration
  • − Some PoE ports may not supply enough power
  • − One reviewer says it runs extremely hot

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want to configure an access point fully from a simple standalone app
  • Anyone whose PoE switch can't confirm full PoE+ output on every port
  • Buyers without any Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 clients who don't need the 6 GHz radio
Read the full UniFi U7 Pro review ›

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