UniFi FlexHD vs AC-Pro – Which Access Point should you get for your network?

Are you looking for a good balance between access point functionality, ease of use and network reliability for your high bandwidth applications and activities?  Let us take a look at a comparative analysis between the UniFi FlexHD and the AC-Pro and draw the inference on which of the two access points you should get for your network.

Before finding the most ideal access point for your home or office, you need to understand what exactly you would want your network to do in terms of its coverage area, speed and other specific capabilities. Also, you need to look into the number of devices that are bound to connect to your network and the budget that you have set aside for your access point. If you have settled for one that provides fast throughput speeds and a reliable network then you can narrow down your options to the UniFi Flex HD and the AC-Pro. The table below highlights their top features and their differences.

What are the differences between the UniFi FlexHD and the AC-Pro?

Model	UniFi FlexHD (Winner)	UniFi AC-Pro
Wi-Fi technology	802.11 ac	802.11 ac
Environment	Indoor and outdoor	Indoor and outdoor
Dimensions	5 x 3 x 3 inches	1 x 1 x 1 inches
Frequency band	2.4 and 5 GHz (dual)	2.4 and 5 GHz (dual)
Throughput speed	300 + 1733 Mbps	450 + 1300 Mbps
Range	400 feet	400 feet
PoE Mode	802.3 af/A PoE and 48V PoE	802.3 af/A PoE and 48V PoE
Ports	1 x Gigabit Ethernet	2 x Gigabit Ethernet
Availability	Check Price	Check Price

UniFi FlexHD vs. AC Pro- How do they compare?

Design and Structure

The UniFi FlexHD comes in a cylindrical shape and has its size dimensions at 5 x 3 x 3 inches while the AC Pro comes in a small saucer like shape and has its size dimensions at 1 x 1 x 1 inches. Technically, the FlexHD is bigger than the AC Pro. In as much as the AC-Pro seems smaller than the UniFi FlexHD, the difference is seen in their deployment. You would think that the AC Pro is easier to deploy as well but it is only mountable to the wall or ceiling as it was not designed to be placed horizontally. The FlexHD is more portable and easy to deploy than the UniFi AC Pro because you can carry it around with you and place it anywhere close to your connected devices.

Speed and Performance

When it comes to the optimal performance and network reliability, the UniFi FlexHD is better than the AC Pro. The FlexHD has throughput speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1733 Mbps on the 5 GHz band while the AC Pro has bandwidth speeds of up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. This indicates that the UniFi FlexHD delivers faster throughput speeds for your high bandwidth activities and applications than the AC Pro.

The two access points have simultaneous dual band operation, however, the FlexHD is optimized with 3 x 3 MIMO on the 2.4 GHz band and 3 x 3 MIMO on the 5 GHz band while the AC Pro is optimized with 2 x 2 MIMO on the 2.4 GHz band and 4 x 4 MIMO on the 5 GHz band. The performance edge of the UniFi FlexHD access point is seen on the 5GHz band. In short, the FlexHD has a higher performance rate than the AC Pro.

Ports and Connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, the AC Pro gives you more connectivity options than the FlexHD. This is because the AC Pro has two Gigabit Ethernet ports, the main port which connects your access point to your router or switch to power it on and a secondary port which is for bridging. Also, it is fitted with a 2.0 USB port that allows for more connectivity options. The Flex HD on the other hand, has limited connectivity through one Gigabit port.

UniFi FlexHD vs. AC Pro – A Comparison Overview

UniFi FlexHD

The UniFi FlexHD access point has a small sleek cylindrical design that is almost similar to a soda can. It has been made with a tough rubber material that allows it to be deployed both indoors and outdoors because of its weatherproof nature. It comes with various mounting options that allows you to place it on your tabletops, poles, ceiling or walls.

Apart from that, the UniFi FlexHD access point features 802.11ac wave 2 MU-MIMO technology. It has simultaneous dual band functionality that has 2 X 2 MIMO on the 2.4 GHz band that delivers up to 300 Mbps bandwidth speed and 4 x 4 MIMO on the 5 GHz band that delivers 1733 Mbps bandwidth speed. It also has expandable unlimited scalability that allows you to add more deices to your connection log without having to worry about any connectivity failures.

In addition to that, it is easily accessible through any standard web browser or the UniFi app on your mobile device. It has also been designed to operate with the UniFi controller which is a software engine that has been designed for high density client deployments that would need high uptime performance and low latency. Also, the UniFi controller allows you to easily configure and administer your network and it provides access to features such as map loading, automatic UAP device detection, advanced security options and real-time status.

Pros

• Excellent speeds
• Great coverage
• Compact design
• Weatherproof
• Easy management and control of your network

Cons

• Wi-Fi signal drops on when your devices are connected to the 2.4 GHz band

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AC Pro

The UniFi AC Pro comes in a saucer like shape and it has a hard rubber material that allows it to be used outdoors and indoors because of its weatherproof nature. It is powered by a Qualcomm Athens QCA9563 chipset and a 750 MHz processor which enhances its performance.  It comes with two gigabit Ethernet ports of which the main one is for uplink and the second one for bridging. It also comes with a USB 2.0 port which allows you to connect it to a public address system.

Its performance has been optimized through a simultaneous dual band operation with 3 x 3 MIMO on the 2.4 GHz channel and 3X3 MIMO on the 5 GHz frequency band. It covers a range of 400 feet and delivers throughput speeds of up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

With the UniFi controller you are able to monitor, control and manage your network. It shows you throughput speeds of your AC Pro, WAN and LAN active devices and latency. Advantageously, it has 16 MB of flash memory and 128 MB of RAM storage. Unfortunately, it is prone to overheating as it does not come with ventilation cut outs on its structure and it does not readily come with an Ethernet cable on its package so you may have to buy that separately.

Pros

• Both manual and cloud configuration
• Great wireless performance
• Advanced QoS features
• Supports wireless uplink

Cons

• Prone to overheating
• No Ethernet cable in the package

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Conclusion

Your high bandwidth applications and devices generally need power in the 5 GHz band of your network device. This way you are able to work through the internet seamlessly and get the most as you online game or stream 4K videos.

Final Verdict; so, which is better- the UniFi FlexHD or the AC Pro?

The UniFi Flex HD is better than the AC Pro as its performance edge is seen in its 5 GHz frequency band. With this, it provides faster speeds, stronger and a more reliable network for your high bandwidth activities and applications.

FAQs

Does my UniFi FlexHD come with mounting brackets for mounting?

Yes it does. The UniFi FlexHD comes with a desktop mount and a wall/pole mount. However, if you need a ceiling mount you would need to purchase it separately.

Does my UniFi FlexHD support Wi-Fi 6?

No it does not. It is not a Wi-Fi 6 device therefore it does not have the ability to support other Wi-Fi 6 devices.