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TP-Link TL-WA801N 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-WA801N at 4.1/10.

The Zyxel NWA50AX PRO leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, uplink and power, management, software and security and value.

The biggest difference is uplink and power, where the Zyxel NWA50AX PRO scores 8/10 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

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-WA801NZyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%3/106/10
Uplink and power20%3/108/10
Management20%6/107/10
Software and security20%4/106/10
Value15%5/107/10
Overall4.1/106.8/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-WA801NZyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standardIEEE 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b (Wi-Fi 4)IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a (Wi-Fi 6)
Bands and speed class2.4 GHz only, 300 MbpsDual-band 2.4 GHz (575 Mbps) and 5 GHz (2400 Mbps), marketed as AX3000; 20/40/80/160 MHz channel widths
Uplink portOne 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port (RJ45) with passive PoE support1 x 1/2.5 Gbps LAN port (2.5GbE)
Power (PoE class)Passive PoE; external supply 9 VDC / 0.6 AIEEE 802.3at (PoE+), 20.5 W rated PoE draw
ManagementWeb-based user interface; SNMP listed; no cloud or Omada controller management listed for this modelNebula cloud-managed or standalone; web GUI and CLI
MountingDesktop use with wall-mounting designMounting plate and mounting screws included; 140 × 140 × 37.5 mm, 352 g

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 ›

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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