UniFi AC Lite AP vs. UniFi AC Pro AP – Which is the better Access Point?

If you have visited forums of people who use various Access Point then you will definitely realize how other Access Points are substandard as compared to the UniFi Access Points.Both the Ac Lite AP and AC Pro AP are great future proof Access Points.

The AC Lite and AC pro are both good Access Points to use in medium sized homes but one will definitely outweigh the other when it comes down to their individual features. Below is a table that will help you see the differences between these two access points

What are the differences between the UniFi AC Lite Vs UniFi AC Pro?

UniFi AC Lite Vs UniFi AC Pro – How do they compare?

Performance and Speed

Having a sloppyinternet connection can be nerve breaking. Just imagine watching your favourite show and the connection just goes off suddenly. The performance and speed of your Access Point highly attributes to this. When it comes to the UniFi AC Lite, it gives you throughput speeds of upto 300Mbps on the 2.5 GHz radio band and 867 Mbps on the 5GHz frequency band.

The UniFi AC Pro AP on the other hand produces massive throughput speeds of upto 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz frequency band. These speeds are astonishing and can allow you to enjoy your internet connection without getting disconnected every now and then. At the end of the day figures never lie and according to this,the UniFi AC Pro is definitely a better contender when it comes to performance and speed.

Ports and Internet Connection

When it comes to this, the UniFi Lite AP has been equipped withone Ethernet port and uses a non-standard 24 V PoE. The UniFi AC Pro AP however has two Gigabit Ethernet ports with an extra USB port. The USB port can be used to connect either a microphone or speaker which will enable the AP to convert to an EDU model.The AC Pro is a better AP when it comes to connectivitybecause it has is more Ethernet ports. This will enable the AP to support more network users at a time with faster throughput speeds giving you a better internet experience.

Design and Structure

They both have a beautiful appearance and look like a perfectly round flying saucer with an ambient ring-like light. The UniFi Lite has an ultra-compact design and is 25% smaller than standard UniFi Access Points measuring6.3 X 6.3 X 1.24 inches.The UniFi AC Pro however, has larger dimensions of 7.74 X 7.74 X 1.38 inches. Oh well, according to this, I would go with the UniFi Lite Access Point because it will allow for more space in my living room.

UniFi AC Lite Vs UniFi AC Pro – A Comparison Overview

UniFi AC Lite Review

Ubiquiti Unifi Ap-AC Lite - Wireless Access Point - 802.11 B/A/G/n/AC (UAPACLITEUS), White

• Ubiquiti Networks networks Unifi AC Lite AP Wi-Fi 802.22
• 2.4 GHz Speed : 300 Mbps, 5 GHz Speed : 867 Mbps

Check Price

This AccessPoint is the least powerful model in the Ubiquiti group of Access Points. This however hasn’t stopped it from achieving the impossible. Firstly, the UniFi AC Lite delivers five times the performance of the first generation UniFi Access Points and still maintains competitive pricing in the market. It also features the latest WIFI 802.11 ac internet connectivity technology meaning you won’t have to change your Access Point over a long period of time saving you some few bucks in the long run. Due to its design and technology, this Access Point is more of a consumer level AP and is good enough if you have a small office or a small home with relatively low bandwidth demands.

We all want an Access Point that is user friendly and this AP has definitely ticked this box. The AC Lite uses the UniFi controller to manage everything that is happening within your network. Surprisingly, this feature can enable you to open a different guest WIFI network with VLAN support which will isolate clients separately from your primary local network. This might sound selfish but I don’t like giving out my password to so many people. I normally end up changing it and this feature is just a life-saver.

In general, this is a good AP when it comes to reliability, dependability and configurability. However, if you are looking for an AP that can withstand both wireless and wired networks with the necessary routing tasks then this is not the Access Point meant for you.This access point is very good but it also has its flaws.

Pros

• Competitive pricing
• Has decent performance for its hardware
• Has various features e.g. airtime fairness and band steering
• Has the latest technology

Cons

• It has fairly bad roaming speeds unless the signal levels are low

View Price on Amazon

UniFi AC Pro Review

I love having a wide network coverage and I am sure you love it too. The UniFi AC Pro Access Point has a wide network coverage range of upto 400 ft. This is quite impressive. Aside from that, the sleek design it possesses seems to have functionality as well. This AP has been designed in a way that makes it weather proof allowing you to install either inside or outside of your house. This can be so advantageous especially when you invite your friends to a hot Sunday barbeque at your backyard. No one has to go inside to get a snoop of the internet.

We are not done yet. This AP still has some few tricks up its sleeves. The UniFi AC Pro offers you high speed internet connectivity of upto 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz channel. It has been optimized with the 3X3 SU-MIMO technology for each of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. This technology will allow users to have access to the AP without any speed connectivity disruptions. Apart from this, the UniFi AC Pro technology allows it to be futureproof and you will therefore not have to invest for another AP anytime soon.

Pros

• High throughput speeds
• Equipped with future proof technology
• Can be used both outdoors and indoors
• Has an advanced QoS option

Cons

• Finding features in UniFi can proof to be difficult at times

View Price on Amazon

Conclusion

At the end of the day, both Access Points have their own strongholds and weak points. If it all comes down to speed and performance the UniFi AC Pro is the superior access point.

Final Verdict – So which AP is better between the AC Lite and AC Pro?

The UniFi AC Pro is the better access point as and it has surpassed the AC Lite in many areas. If you want a good AP with stable, fast and reliable internet connectivity then the UniFi AC Pro is the better of the two.

FAQs

1. What temperatures can my UniFi AC Pro handle when I place it outside?

This particular AP is able to handle very high external temperatures of upto 70 degrees.

2. Is the UniFi Pro Lite a good buy?

Yes it is as it offers many features for its low price which you won’t find in another access pointsat the same price range