U6 Pro vs. U7 Pro

Published onby Iron

UniFi’s U6 Pro and U7 Pro are high-performance access points designed for enterprise and prosumer environments. While both devices are part of UniFi’s latest lineup, they cater to slightly different needs, thanks to their specifications and feature sets.

Let’s compare these two models to help you determine which is the right fit for your network setup.

U6 Pro vs. U7 Pro

U6 Pro vs. U7 Pro

The UniFi U6 Pro and U7 Pro are designed to deliver superior Wi-Fi performance using advanced networking features. The U6 Pro represents the established standard with Wi-Fi 6, while the U7 Pro is the next-generation product featuring Wi-Fi 7, offering greater speed and capacity.

Table of Contents

Comparison Table: U6 Pro vs. U7 Pro

Feature U6 Pro U7 Pro
Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Frequency Bands Dual-band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz & 6 GHz)
Max Throughput 5.3 Gbps 10 Gbps
MU-MIMO Capability 4x4 8x8
PoE Standard PoE+ (802.3at) PoE++ (802.3bt)
Ports 1 x Gigabit Ethernet 1 x 2.5G Ethernet
Antenna Gain 2.4 GHz: 4 dBi 2.4 GHz: 5 dBi
5 GHz: 5 dBi 5 GHz: 6 dBi
N/A 6 GHz: 6 dBi
Concurrent Clients 300+ 600+
Power Consumption ~13W ~20W
Mounting Options Wall/Ceiling Wall/Ceiling
Ideal Use Case Small to medium offices, homes Large enterprises, dense environments
Price Range ~$149 ~$299

Key Differences

  1. Wi-Fi Standard:

    • The U6 Pro uses Wi-Fi 6, which supports up to 5.3 Gbps. It is excellent for current-gen devices and mid-sized networks.
    • The U7 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, introducing significantly faster speeds and lower latency, ideal for dense environments with numerous devices.
  2. Frequency Bands:

    • The U6 Pro operates on dual-band frequencies, while the U7 Pro adds a 6 GHz band, enhancing throughput and reducing interference.
  3. Maximum Throughput:

    • The U7 Pro doubles the maximum throughput of the U6 Pro, making it better for high-bandwidth applications.
  4. MU-MIMO and Client Capacity:

    • The U7 Pro’s 8x8 MU-MIMO allows more devices to connect and transfer data simultaneously compared to the U6 Pro’s 4x4 MU-MIMO.
  5. PoE Standard and Power Consumption:

    • The U7 Pro requires PoE++ to power its advanced features, while the U6 Pro can operate on PoE+.
  6. Ethernet Port Speed:

    • The U7 Pro features a 2.5G Ethernet port to support higher backhaul speeds, while the U6 Pro is limited to a Gigabit Ethernet connection.

Final Thoughts

Both the U6 Pro and U7 Pro are excellent access points, but your choice will depend on your network’s specific needs:

  • U6 Pro: Best for small to medium networks with moderate device density and current Wi-Fi 6 requirements.
  • U7 Pro: Designed for future-proofing, large enterprise environments, and areas with high device density or bandwidth-intensive tasks.

For managing these devices, consider UniHosted’s managed UniFi Controller hosting. Instead of relying on your self-hosted solution, we provide automated updates, backups, and scalability. We make sure your network operates at its peak without the hassle of manual configurations.

If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.

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