If you’re unhappy with the U7 Pro or the U7 Pro Max due to their internal fan but can’t afford the fan-less UniFi E7, Ubiquiti has something that will change your mood.
Today, the networking vendor announced the official availability of its next-gen Flagship UniFi access points, the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS, which are reasonably priced at $199 and $299, respectively.
As the name suggests, these are similar to the previous U7 Pro models, but they are here because they bring about some significant improvements.
Ubiquiti U7 Pro XG vs. U7 Pro XGS: Fanless flagship UniFi access point.
The two new access points, from the top, share the same look as previous models. They are round Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters with a ring of status lights in the middle.
However, their improvements begin on the underside, where both have a heavy metal base, like the case of the E7, that works as the heatsink. As a result, no internal fan is needed to keep the hardware from overheating.
So, in a way, the new U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS are the first Flagship UniFi access points with the thermal solution of the Enterprise category.
Tip
Ubiquiti has a few categories of Wi-Fi access points, including:
- Flagship: These are high-performance ceiling-mounted access points.
- Outdoor: Weatherproof APs that can be mounted to poles outside or conveniently placed on a surface indoors.
- Enterprise: Top-capacity APs with 1,000+ client support, long-range 6 GHz performance, and 10 GbE PoE connectivity with native high-availability architecture for critical enterprise environments.
- Wall: These are sleek APs that plug directly into a wall outlet for meshed connectivity or transform an ethernet drop into an AP.
- Mega Capacity: APs that are designed for stadiums or amphitheaters with a very high density of connected devices.
- Bridging: Devices that serve as a high-performance network bridge without the wire.
An UniFi access point can belong to more than one category. The E7 Audience, for example, is an enterprise outdoor access point with mega capacity.
What’s more, both U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS each come with a 10GBASE-T uplink port as hinted by their model names. Hinted how you might wonder? Let me elaborate on these seemingly cryptic monikers:
- U7 is short for UniFi hardware with Wi-Fi 7 support.
- Pro is for professional, which is part of the Flagship category.
- XG literally means 10G, referring to the 10Gbps uplink ports.
- S (in the U7 Pro XGS) is for dedicated spectral scanning radio which helps improve coverage and performance in crowded environments.
That said, the two new APs are largely the same, with the Pro XGS being more capable due to an additional radio and a slightly higher tier with more spatial streams. The table below shows their hardware specs in comparison to the previous U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max.
Hardware specifications: U7 Pro XGS vs. U7 Pro Max vs. U7 Pro XG vs. U7 Pro
In case you haven’t noticed on the table, the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS are improved versions of the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max, respectively, with a better thermal solution (fanless) and 10Gbps uplink. They are designed to deliver both better performance and higher longevity (due to the lack of a moving part).
If you’re not sure which to get, the U7 Pro XGS is the best among the four, though in terms of performance, it’s slated to be the same as the U7 Pro Max. Thanks to the dedicated spectral scanning radio, both are more suited to a crowded environment.
All these APs share two things in common. First, they use the uplink port as the only powering method; there’s no power port or power adapter. To use any of these, you’ll need a Power-over-Ethernet switch or injector. To be sure, pick the PoE++ power sender. Second, neither features AFC, which is only available in the Enterprise category.
Familiar UniFi access points
Despite the new hardware specs and design, the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS will be functionally the same as the rest of the Wi-Fi 7 UniFi access points. Specifically:
You can use each as a standalone access point that adds Wi-Fi 7 to any existing network powered by any router. In this case, you’ll need to use the Unifi mobile app for the initial setup and management since there’s no local web server like there is with many other business access points.
However, like any UniFi access point, you should pair these two as a single broadcaster or multiple units as a Wi-Fi system with a UniFi gateway. In this case, it’s best to use a 10Gbps PoE++ switch to get the best performance out of them. No matter which you use, a UniFi gateway can quickly adopt it via a single click and your network will be up and running in a matter of minutes.
Pros
10Gbps unlink port with good Wi-Fi 7 specs in a compact fanless design
Seamless integration with a UniFi console to deliver a robust mesh system with lots of advanced and useful features
Simple to set up and manage
Cons
Mid-tier 6GHz band, no AFC, no PoE injector included
No local management or web user interface when working as a standalone AP
Availability and pricing
Ubiquiti says the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS are available now, with retail prices of $199 and $299, respectively. They are a tad more expensive than the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max.
Their availability is definitely welcome news for fans of the UniFi ecosystem. However, if you have already bought the U7 Pro Max or U7 Pro, there’s no need to be upset. The new APs, while better, won’t make much of a difference if you have 2.5Gbps or slower broadband. And while the new thermal design is great, the internal fan in the older U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max doesn’t mean the hardware won’t last for a long time. So, there’s no need to rush to upgrade.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a new UniFi access point today, the U7 Pro XGS and U7 Pro XG are surely worth considering more than previous models. So, consider one today! When you’re at it, maybe also grab the new UCG-Fiber, which has a PoE+-out port to host a U7 Pro XG, as the primary gateway for your network.
