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Zyxel NWA50AX 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 Zyxel NWA50AX at 6.2/10.

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.

Zyxel NWA50AX

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 (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

CriterionWeightZyxel NWA50AXZyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/106/10
Uplink and power20%6/108/10
Management20%7/107/10
Software and security20%6/106/10
Value15%6/107/10
Overall6.2/106.8/10

Specifications

SpecZyxel NWA50AXZyxel NWA50AX PRO
Wi-Fi standardIEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a, marketed as WiFi 6IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a (Wi-Fi 6)
Bands and speed class2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual radio, 2x2 on each; 575 Mbps (2.4 GHz) and 1200 Mbps (5 GHz)Dual-band 2.4 GHz (575 Mbps) and 5 GHz (2400 Mbps), marketed as AX3000; 20/40/80/160 MHz channel widths
Uplink port1 x 10/100/1000M LAN (gigabit)1 x 1/2.5 Gbps LAN port (2.5GbE)
Power (PoE class)802.3at (PoE+), 16 W PoE; local power via DC 12V 1.5A AC adapterIEEE 802.3at (PoE+), 20.5 W rated PoE draw
ManagementNebula cloud managed and standalone; web GUI/CLI; ZON Utility for discovery and batch configNebula cloud-managed or standalone; web GUI and CLI
MountingMount plate and mounting screws included; suits ceiling, wall and tabletopMounting plate and mounting screws included; 140 × 140 × 37.5 mm, 352 g

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

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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