Uplink Port Speed: 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 (1G/2.5G auto-negotiation)
Max Clients: 300+ connected devices
PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (44-57V DC input), approx. 21 W typical draw
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 6 GHz support at a low entry price; 2.5GbE uplink lets it outrun standard gigabit wired backhaul; single-cable PoE+ power simplifies deployment; 300+ client capacity suits small-to-medium offices and homes; wall and ceiling mounts included; 2-year warranty; managed centrally through the UniFi controller ecosystem
✘ Cons:Only 2x2 MIMO per band, so it trails 4x4-class Wi-Fi 7 APs and the U7 Pro Max; no 10GbE uplink for high-throughput environments; requires a UniFi controller (UniFi OS or Network app) for full management; PoE+ budget leaves no headroom for power-hungry add-ons; street prices often sit above the $189 MSRP; no built-in PoE injector, so a PoE+ switch or injector is required
Est. Price:
$179 - $237
Compare Against
Aruba (HPE) Aruba AP-655
★ 3.7 Value Score
Technical Specifications
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 6 GHz support; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4:4 MU-MIMO with OFDMA per radio (tri-radio)
Aggregate Throughput: 7.8 Gbps combined (HPE rated across 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz radios)
Uplink Port Speed: 2x multigig RJ-45 ports (100M/1G/2.5G/5G); dual 5 GbE with failover or aggregation
Max Clients: 512 concurrent clients; 16 SSIDs
PoE Requirement: 802.3bt Type 3 (PoE Class 4) recommended; 802.3at-only power is not supported for full operation; worst-case draw about 40.3 to 46.5 W
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Tri-radio design with a dedicated 6 GHz radio for Wi-Fi 6E capacity and reduced co-channel interference; 4x4:4 MU-MIMO with OFDMA on each radio supports high-density clients; Two multigig uplinks (up to 5 GbE) with failover or link aggregation avoid the 1 GbE backhaul bottleneck; Rated up to 7.8 Gbps aggregate throughput; Managed through Aruba Central with zero-touch provisioning and WPA3 security
✘ Cons:Requires 802.3bt (PoE++) switch power for full operation, so older 802.3af/at switches are insufficient; Wi-Fi 6E is one generation behind Wi-Fi 7 gear; Higher price than dual-band Wi-Fi 6 APs, at roughly $1,450 to $2,195; Client limit of 512 can be a constraint in very dense venues; Spec figures vary across resellers and datasheet access was limited, so PoE class and throughput should be confirmed against HPE's official datasheet; Regional SKUs (US, RW, TAA, EG) differ in price and compliance