UniFi Wireless Access Point Buyer's Guide: 2020

NetworkingUbiquitiWi-Fi
Written By Evan McCann

Originally Posted: January 1st, 2020
Last Edited: February 21st, 2022

UniFi Wireless Access Point Buyer's Guide: 2020

I made an updated version of this guide for 2022 and the Wi-Fi 6 UniFi AP models. The new version also has updated descriptions and advice. I will leave this old version up for now, but I’d recommend referring to the updated version going forward.

Which UniFi Wireless Access Points You Should Buy For Your Network

Ubiquiti makes some of the best bang-for-the-buck networking equipment. They market their UniFi ecosystem at small businesses, but they can make great home networks as well. If you are a nerd who likes getting their hands dirty, or just want a network that performs better, UniFi is a great option.

The UniFi ecosystem is modular, which lets you pick the components that fit your setup. When I tell people to consider going with UniFi, they usually can make their own decisions for their router, switches, and Cloud Key. They often come back with the same question — which access point should I buy?

It’s hard to make generalized recommendations, every network is different. Wireless networks can be tricky to setup and optimize, and it’s important to pick the right equipment. It helps to understand a few Wi-Fi fundamentals when you’re planning a network. My goal for this post is to provide the info you need to make the decision for yourself.

Overview of UniFi Wireless Access Points

Overview of UniFi AP generations as of September 2020.

Ubiquiti make many different access points, and it’s important to pick the right one. They have a list on their site that shows the different models and generations.

You can safely ignore all the Generation 1 devices. Those can still be used, but should not be considered for new installs as they are End of Life (EoL).

Specialty Models

Unless you have a specific need for them, you can also ignore most of the specialty models.

  • UAP-AC-EDU adds a built in loudspeaker, and is EoL.

  • UAP-AC-SHD adds an extra radio dedicated to security tasks and RF monitoring, meant for dense and secure environments like a bank, or a hospital.

  • The XG series (UAP-XG and UWB-XG) are overkill for 99.99% of home networks - more on those later.

  • IW stands for In-Wall, and M stands for mesh.

  • In-Wall APs can be used if mounting a traditional access point isn’t an option. Ethernet should still be run to these, but they also have the benefit of providing two or four Ethernet ports for other downstream devices, thanks to a small built-in switch.

  • Mesh APs are what you want if you are mounting outdoors. The mesh models (and all 2nd generation or newer UniFi APs) allow you to extend a network without requiring Ethernet cabling, using a power adapter and wireless backhaul. Wireless backhaul will not perform as well as wired, but they can be the best option for certain situations.

    Essentially they act as a wireless bridge when you are connected to it. One radio talks to your device, while the other relays that to the next closest AP. This is why wireless backhaul will generally have higher latency and lower speeds than using Ethernet.

The Main Models To Consider. From Low To High In Specs And Price:

  • AC-Lite: The do-everything workhorse. Unless you are trying to push gigabit speeds or have some really heavy wireless needs in mind, this is a good default option.

  • UniFi 6 Lite: The smallest, cheapest Wi-Fi 6 AP. The new baseline.

  • AC-LR: LR stands for long range. Features a better antenna that can reach further distances than the AC-Lite. It’s a good option if you are trying to cover the far corners of a house. The LR is only a small step up in price from the lite, and is another good default option.

  • UniFi 6 LR: The long range version of the UniFi 6 Lite. Steps up to 4x4 5 GHz radio, allowing for longer range and higher speeds than the 6 Lite.

  • AC-Mesh: If you need longer-range mesh or outdoor coverage, this is the one to get.

  • AC-BeaconHD: If Ethernet isn’t an option, this is the best indoor mesh AP they offer. I have a review of the BeaconHD here.

  • AC-nanoHD: Newer than the Pro, this is the cheapest 802.11ac Wave 2 access point they make. If you have modern devices that support multiple radio chains on 5 GHz, you can get some fast throughput. 2.4 GHz performance isn’t as strong as the Pro, however.

  • AC-FlexHD: Same radios and capabilities as the nanoHD in a different form factor.

  • AC-HD: For really high density and/or maximum throughput. Only buy this if you have the need, or the cash to burn. The HD has the best 2.4 and 5 GHz performance I’d recommend for home use. The only step up from the HD is the UWB-XG, which is intended more for places like an auditorium or sports venues (hundreds or thousands of devices in a small area).

Don’t Be Afraid To Mix And Match

Since you get to choose them individually, you might want to consider getting a few different models. If you want maximum performance in one area, you can have one Pro or HD covering that, and use AC-Lite’s or mesh APs to extend the network into less used areas. Alternatively, if you want to expand coverage in the future, you don’t need to match the AP’s you currently have. You can add any of them at any time, anywhere you need them.

802.11ac Wave 1 Vs. Wave 2

The Lite, LR and Pro models are all 802.11ac Wave 1. The HD models are all 802.11ac Wave 2.

Wave 2 brings a few majors changes which allow for higher performance. Wave 1 AP’s can only use SU-MIMO (Single-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output) to communicate with only one client at a time. Wave 2 APs can use MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output) to communicate with multiple clients at the same time — significantly increasing multi-user throughput. MU-MIMO also increases wireless performance and/or serves more clients at the same performance level. At any single time, a 4x4 Wave 2 AP can communicate with the following:

  • Four 1x1 clients

  • Two 2x2 clients

  • One 2x2 client and two 1x1 clients

  • One 3x3 client and one 1x1 client

Another benefit of Wave 2 is that up to four spatial streams are available, and more channels can be bonded together. Both of those features help achieve higher speeds. Deciding if the added costs and abilities are worth it is up to you.

Antenna Differences

One more thing to keep in mind — while a lot of models have equivalent radio performance, there are differences in their antennas, and how those antennas perform. Refer to Ubiquiti’s radiation patterns for more details. Generally speaking, the LR, mesh and HD models have higher-gain, and more sensitive antennas. Equivalent radios with better antennas lead to better performance.

Basic - Do You Need More Than An AC-Lite or LR?

At the bottom of the lineup is the venerable AC-Lite and AC-LR.

AC-Lite

-2x2 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 300 Mbps
-2x2 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 867 Mbps
-Indoor only

This is the most basic option you have. It really is a great access point, and is more than enough for a lot of home networks. One of the benefits of UniFi is that it’s so easy to expand and adjust.

If you have a far part of the house that doesn’t get great coverage, putting an AC-Lite closeby can end up giving you better performance than a AC-Pro or AC-HD further away. Adding an AC-lite and reducing the distance to the closest AP is a great way to expand and improve your network.

They are usually available around $80.

AC-LR

-3x3 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 450 Mbps
-2x2 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 867 Mbps
-Indoor only

Features a better antenna than the AC-Lite, allowing it to reach further and be more sensitive when listening to far away clients.

It also has a edge over the AC-Lite when it comes to 2.4GHz performance, so if that is important to you then it’s worth considering.

They are usually available around $100.

Advanced - Pro and HD

AC-Pro

-3x3 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 450 Mbps
-3x3 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 1300 Mbps
-2 Ethernet ports. One for uplink, one for bridging
-Indoor/Outdoor (not for direct weather resistance)

The AC-Pro is only a small step up in price from the LR, but includes 3x3 SU-MIMO rather than 2x2 for 5 GHz, and a 2nd Ethernet port for bridging to another device. It’s the best 802.11ac Wave 1 AP that Ubiquiti offers.

It also has the benefit of being mounted outdoors — think under a porch roof, not somewhere directly exposed.

They are usually available around $130.

nanoHD

-2x2 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 300 Mbps
-4x4 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 1733 Mbps
-1 Ethernet port
-Indoor only

The nanoHD is the entry model for 802.11ac Wave 2. It’s the cheapest option that includes all the benefits of MU-MIMO and having 4 spatial streams on 5 GHz. It will give you faster speeds to one device and overall than any of Ubiquiti’s Wave 1 APs.

For me, the nanoHD is the sweet spot between the low price of the Wave 1 options, and the high cost of the full HD model. If 2.4 GHz performance is important, consider stepping up to the HD, or down to the AC Pro.

They are usually available around $170.

FlexHD

FlexHD

-2x2 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 300 Mbps
-4x4 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 1733 Mbps
-1 Ethernet port
-Indoor/Outdoor

The FlexHD is easy to understand. It’s the same radios as the nanoHD, in a different form factor. It has slightly higher-gain 5 GHz antennas than the nanoHD, which should give it a small performance edge there.

Its also rated for outdoor use, unlike the nanoHD. And it’s cute! It looks like a Coke can!

They are usually available around $170.




AC-HD

-4x4 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 800 Mbps
-4x4 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 1733 Mbps
-2 Ethernet ports. One for uplink, one for bridging or uplink
-Indoor/Outdoor (not for direct weather resistance)

The AC-HD is the top of the line for home networks, exceeded only by the UAP-SHD and UAP-XG. It offers the best speeds UniFi offers on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. It also features an antenna specifically designed for close cell spacing and vertical coverage, and dedicated hardware offload for QoS, Guest Control, and Client Management.

The antenna difference is important here. The HD will not cover as widely as an AC-Pro, or most other UniFi APs. It is meant for very dense situations, like an auditorium full of people. If you need to cover a lot of devices in a small area, these are good APs to get. They are great for homes too, just keep the antenna in mind when considering placement and quantity.

It has two gigabit Ethernet ports. The 2nd can be used to bridge to another device, or combined into a 802.3ad-based link aggregation.

This model also requires 802.3at PoE+, so make sure you have a POE switch or power injector that is capable of that.

The AC-HD is usually available around $350.

AC-SHD

-4x4 MIMO for 2.4 GHz, up to 800 Mbps
-4x4 MIMO for 5 GHz, up to 1733 Mbps
-2 Ethernet ports. One for uplink, one for bridging
-Indoor/Outdoor (not for direct weather resistance)

The AC-SHD is also available, and is similar to the AC-HD.

The SHD has a higher-gain antenna which is less directional, and adds an additional security radio. That additional radio supports airView and airTime, which gives you real-time visibility into channel utilization and the RF environment.

It also allows you to monitor for security issues with UniFi’s Wireless Intrusion Prevention System. These are features aimed at very dense, or high-security wireless networks.

The AC-SHD is usually available around $550.

Edit: Thanks for the additional details, Allen.

Specialty — In-Wall And Outdoors

In-Wall

If mounting an AP inside a normal wall plate is what you are looking for, the In-Wall and In-Wall HD are both good options. If performance is important to you, get the In-Wall HD. It has better antennas and more capable radios. Another difference between them is the number of Ethernet ports they can provide to downstream devices.

The In-Wall has 2 Ethernet ports, and no POE passthrough.

The HD model has 4 Ethernet ports, 1 of which has POE passthrough. For POE passthrough to work, you need to provide the In-Wall HD with POE+, so make sure your switch or POE injector support that.

Radio performance equivalents:

In-Wall = AC-Lite
In-Wall HD = nanoHD

The In-Wall is usually available around $90
The In-Wall HD is usually available around $170

Mesh

If you are looking to mount an access point outdoors, the mesh line is the best option.

The mesh line features the AC Mesh and AC Mesh Pro. The mesh APs are meant to function over a wireless backhaul — no need to run an Ethernet cable if you are in range of another UniFi access point.

All 2nd gen or newer UniFi APs can utilize wireless backhaul to function as mesh APs, not just these mesh models.

The mesh models do feature more sensitive antennas, which help them with wireless backhaul and long range performance. Those qualities can make them great indoor access points as well.

Still, wireless backhaul will result in some trade-offs in performance. The mesh APs can run off Ethernet, too. If you want the best performance, always run an Ethernet cable to your access points.

Radio performance equivalents:

AC-M = AC-Lite
AC-M-Pro = AC-Pro

The AC-M is usually available around $85
The AC-M-Pro is usually available around $185

BeaconHD

The BeaconHD is newest mesh model, designed to work with the UniFi Dream Machine or any other dual-band UniFi AP. It consumes an electrical outlet and turns it into an access point and night light. The light can be disabled.

There are no Ethernet ports, so it cannot be wired, or provide a bridged connection to another wired device.

It has 4x4 5 GHz radio, and 2x2 2.4 GHz, which is equivalent to a nanoHD. It does have higher-gain antennas than the nanoHD though, which make it better suited for a mesh network. The BeaconHD is another good way to extend the coverage of your UniFi system without running Ethernet cabling.

They are usually available around $130. If you want more details, I have my full review of the BeaconHD here.

Professional — You (Probably) Don’t Need This At Home

UXG

Need is always a tricky word when discussing purchasing advice. For all I know, you might actually need 10 Gbps uplink, dual 4x4 5 GHz radios, a 4x4 2.4 GHz radio, a dedicated security radio, and support for up to 1500 clients.

Of course, if you just want the best, costs be darned, there is the UAP-XG-US. It will require a 10 Gbps capable infrastructure to support it, though.

They are usually available around $700

All-In-One — UniFi Dream Machine

The UniFi Dream Machine combines a nanoHD AP with a 4-port switch, a built-in UniFi controller, and a security gateway capable of IDS/IPS performance of 850 Mbps. It is a convenient and easy way to get into the UniFi ecosystem. The UDM also has a new mesh AP model to go with it, the UAP-BeaconHD.

If you want more details on the UniFi Dream Machine or UniFi Dream Machine Pro, check out my full reviews of those devices.

Wi-Fi 6E — Not Yet

The only Wi-Fi 6 capable devices Ubiquiti sell right now are the Amplifi Alien and a few UniFi access points.. The Amplifi line is Ubiquiti’s consumer-focused line of mesh capable systems. They lack the UniFi controller software, and are supposed to be simple to setup and operate. If you’re the type of person who reads long posts discussing the finer differences in various models of access points, the Amplifi Alien might not be for you.

For now, UniFi is still a good way to create a high performance network. More Wi-Fi 6 models are coming. I have not heard any rumors or seen anything confirming Wi-Fi 6E capable APs are coming soon, but I will update my current UniFi access point guide when that happens.

If you have any questions, contact me or leave a comment. I also have a lot of other posts where I discuss UniFi hardware and software:

Evan McCann

Nerd writing about Wi-Fi, Networking, Ubiquiti, and Apple.

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