7 Best WiFi 6E Access Points in 2023 [6 GHz Band]

After WiFi 6E routers and mesh systems, it’s time for access points to upgrade to the latest wireless standard. While there isn’t much difference from Wi-Fi 6 except for the new 6 GHz frequency, the price has increased noticeably.

The new 6 GHz band offers advantages like uncongested WiFi channels, improved throughput, and lower latency. This makes it ideal for gamers, enterprises, and those who want to future-proof their network, regardless of price.

But then, simply having the latest Wi-Fi standard isn’t sufficient. The device must perform effectively and efficiently. That’s why I tested 10 different access points with WiFi 6e and handpicked the top 5 options for various needs and budgets.

5 Best WiFi 6E Access Points in 2023

Note that each of the below-reviewed WAPs went through testing for over 7 days. They were measured against multiple aspects, including speed, coverage, signal quality, device handling ability, and ease of use & management.

Also, the list starts with a high-end model, moves towards reliable mid-range picks, and ends with a budget-friendly choice. Let’s get into it!

1. Best Overall: TP-Link EAP690E

TP-Link EAP690E tops the list with high-end features and greater performance. It outperforms most access points featuring WiFi 6e in many aspects, be it quad-band support, greater throughput, device capacity, or a 10 Gbps PoE+ port.

But it also costs a premium. So, is it worth investing in it? Let’s find out.

Speeds & Performance

With an exclusive quad-band setup, the aggregated throughput speed of TP-Link EAP690E maxes out at 11 Gbps. The respective speed on each band is as follows:

6 GHz: 4804 Mbps

5 GHz (1): 2402 Mbps

5 GHz (2): 2402 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps

To see the throughput performance, I connected my Dell XPS laptop to the WAP plugged into my TL-SG1008MP with eight PoE+ ports and a TP-Link AXE75 router. And the internet plan was AT&T 2 Gbps.

I made sure the testing device connected to the 160 MHz channels, and throughput was measured at several spots in the setup. At 20 feet, I saw an average download speed of 1912 Mbps and an upload speed of 1809 Mbps.

The values saw a dip of around 25% when moved to 40 feet, valuing at 1436 Mbps and 1361 Mbps. Still, such speeds are more than adequate for any high-intensity activity like VR gaming, 4K/8K streaming, video conferencing, and much more.

Coverage & Devices Capacity

Despite the premium price, the stipulated coverage of EAP690E at 2,000 Sq Ft is less. In my tests, the access point could cover at most a 1,800 Sq Ft area, sufficient for any mid-to-large space. But with mesh tech, it comes with the usual benefits.

Despite a lesser coverage than its counterparts, the WAP claims to handle as many as 2000 devices. Although I didn’t have that many devices at bay, I could test it with 150 devices at once, and they were stable courtesy of MU-MIMO and OFDMA.

Conclusion

The TP-Link EAP690E is undoubtedly the best possible Wi-Fi 6E access point in the market. It performs the best with its quad-band support. Although it can’t transmit signals to far distances, it does compensate with additional features like a 10 Gbps port and the ability to handle many devices at once.

2. Best Runner-Up: Netgear WAX630E

Can’t afford the extended range router but need seamless connectivity across a large space, then Netgear WAX630E comes as a handy option. Its massive throughput and range, 2 Ethernet ports, and mesh tech keep it make it a runner-up pick.

Speeds & Performance

Netgear WAX630E boasts an aggregated speed of 7,800 Mbps, and the band-wise distribution is as follows:

6 GHz: 4800 Mbps

5 GHz: 2400 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps

I tested this 6E AP for two weeks with the 16-port PoE+ switch (GS316PP) by Netgear connected to the WiFi 6E-enabled Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router for two weeks. And in general, I had a great time with it.

With the Google Fiber 2 Gig plan connected and the AP mounted 20 feet high, the testing system (16-inch MacBook Pro) managed 1971 Mbps for downloads and 1892 Mbps for uploads. The speeds are almost equivalent to my top recommendation. You might notice the difference when you upgrade to higher plans.

Besides, getting farther away at 40 feet, the speeds fell off by almost 20%, with respective values of 1579 Mbps and 202 Mbps. Similar to UniFi U6, signals were accessible at 60 feet, and data managed to flow at 264 Mbps and 1518 Mbps. Any corporate or business-based tasks should be a piece of cake at such speed.

Coverage & Devices Capacity

Netgear WAX630E stays superior to TP-Link with a maximum range of 3,000 Sq Ft. To test it, I installed it at my two-story house with around 3,700 Sq Ft area. It encased the spaces left by the router, taking its practical coverage at around 2,760 Sq Ft.

Of course, the numbers might vary for you, but what makes it more interesting is its mesh tech support. With it, the devices automatically switch to another node when I move to another part of the space, ensuring zero downtime.

Besides, it pairs well with MU-MIMO and OFDMA tech to connect devices to the best network/ band and thereby connects multiple devices at once. The numbers go as high as 95 on a single device, despite the manufacturer’s claim of 450.

Conclusion

Overall, Netgear WAX630E is one of the top wireless access points that has WiFi 6e. It hits almost a bullseye in every aspect. Be it speed, coverage, or device handling ability, it performs exceedingly well.

3. Best Ubiquiti AP: Ubiquiti UniFi U6

Ubiquiti UniFi U6 is a business-class WiFi 6E AP. Alongside its massive throughput capacity, there is a 2.5G PoE+ port, powerful hardware, and technologies like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA to deliver an unparalleled experience.

Compared to its Lite version, it brings in added speed, range, and capacity to handle more devices at once.

Speeds & Performance

The UniFi U6 builds in a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E setup with an aggregated speed of 10.2 Gbps, where the share of each band is as follows:

6 GHz: 4800 Mbps

5 GHz: 4800 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 573.5 Mbps

Since it boasts a PoE+ port, it’s a smart choice to invest in a PoE+ switch as well. In my test, I got the Zyxel XS1930 paired with the UDR Dream router. And the ultimate performance was great and pretty straightforward.

And the speeds are excellent, as depicted in the results. At 20 feet, my testing device managed a download speed of 994 Mbps and an upload speed of 514 Mbps with the AT&T Gigabit plan.

Meanwhile, at 40 feet, the respective throughput fared to 754 Mbps and 304 Mbps, around a 30% drop in values. Even at 60 feet, the signals managed to exist, and maximum could deliver speeds of 431 Mbps and 164 Mbps, respectively.

As you can already guess, such speeds are more than capable of handling tasks like online gaming, 4K streaming, video conferencing, and more.

Coverage & Devices Capacity

WAPs are mainly designed to fill your network dead spots with signals without cutting much bandwidth, unlike Wi-Fi extenders. In theory, the signals of UniFi U6 are known to travel upwards of 2,500 Sq Ft, the size of a three-bedroom apartment.

While it’s tricky to put the coverage range in numbers, it equates to and even betters the top-rated WAPs. When placed in the center, you can expect it to blanket your 2,300 Sq Ft house. You can further add another access point to double up on the range.

Besides, when it comes to connecting multiple devices, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and beamforming come in handy. Although the figure provided by the manufacturer (600) seems too farfetched, I had it running smoothly with 115 devices. The numbers should increase if there’s more bandwidth to exploit.

Conclusion

UniFi U6 is one of the best-performing WiFi 6E access points from Ubiquiti. Its massive throughput and range contribute to greater performance over a large space. Besides, there isn’t a lack of networking technologies, which means you can connect multiple clients without any issues.

4. Best for Home Use: Zyxel WAX620D-6E

Zyxel WAX620D-6E is probably the cheapest access point that supports WiFi 6e standard. Yet it’s no less reliable than any. It entails a BandFlex technology to let you configure the device for 5 GHz operations and let you switch to a 6 GHz spectrum when required.

Not only that, its massive throughput, device handling capacity, and multi-gig port almost guarantee excellent performance.

Speeds & Performance

The theoretical throughput capacity of Zyxel WAX620D-6E maxes out at 10.2 Gbps, and the respective speed on each band is as follows:

6 GHz: 2400 Mbps

5 GHz: 2400 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 575 Mbps

To test the access point to its full potential, I paired my PoE+ enabled Zyxel XS1930 switch and the Zyxel NWA220AX-6E router I borrowed from my friend. As expected, the results were impressive.

At 20 feet, I got a download speed well above 917 Mbps and an upload speed of 356 Mbps with the AT&T 1 Gbps plan. After putting some walls between the client device and the access point (at 40 feet), I measured an average speed of 472 Mbps and 259 Mbps, respectively. Going a bit further disconnected the client’s device.

At close proximity, the access point passed my saturation test. Here I streamed videos on my smart TV, played games on my smartphone, attended video calls, and filed taxes at a time. The tasks fared through without any lags, jitters, or artifacts.

Coverage & Devices Capacity

Regarding coverage, Zyxel WA220AX-6E stays on the same line with a stipulated value of 1,500 Sq Ft. And at my client’s workspace, the Wi-Fi 6E access system managed to cover a space of 1,430 Sq Ft at a stretch. The antennas further host a beamforming tech for stabler signals throughout the area.

Other than that, the integration of MU-MIMO and OFDMA lets me connect up to 110 smart devices, on par with many premium access points.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zyxel WA220AX-6E despite being a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6E access point, turned out reliable in most of my tests. Be it speeds, range, or device capacity, you’re guaranteed to get value. And although it lacks a mesh tech, the signals were stable in most areas.

5. Best for Businesses: EnGenius ECW336

Last but not least, presenting one of the most expensive WAPs in the market, the cloud-managed EnGenius ECW336.

But compared to the previous ECW230, it brings multiple upgrades in terms of throughput capacity, range, device-handling ability, and others. There’s also a mesh tech and a 5 Gbps port for stable and faster connections across a large space.

Speeds & Performance

EnGenius ECW336 has an 8.4 Gbps maximum throughput capacity spread over its three bands as follows:

6 GHz: 4808 Mbps

5 GHz: 2402 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps

After using it as a primary device with a PoE+ switch and TP-Link Archer AXE75, I can certify it as a reliable offering.

With a Google Fiber 2 Gbps plan in place and my testing device kept 20 feet away from the device managed a download and upload throughput of 1981 Mbps and 1917 Mbps, respectively.

And with the testing device separated by 40 feet, respective speeds of up to 1435 Mbps and 1164 Mbps are attainable. Plus, its mesh tech comes as a bonus that lets you stay connected to the fastest network throughout the day.

Coverage & Devices Capacity

Despite charging an exorbitant sum, the theoretical range of EnGenius ECW336 maxes out at 2,000 Sq Ft. And in real-time, it could blanket up to 1,860 Sq Ft with ease. That’s not much of an improvement from an access point that costs three times less.

And regarding device handling ability, the manufacturer didn’t publish the exact number, but at stretch, the AP could handle up to 150 smart devices installed at my friend’s establishment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ECW336 turns out to be reliable in most respect but the performance couldn’t justify its current $699 price tag. That aside, you can count on this AP and are likely to be happy by having it. But if you’re on a budget, it’s better to opt for my other recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

In this list, I reviewed the top 5 APs in every price bracket, so must have made a decision until now. If you still are stuck, here are my suggestions:

• If you want an access point that establishes the right balance of cost, features, and performance, go for Ubiquiti UniFi U6.
• If you have a budget to spend and need a high-end AP, then TP-Link EAP690E with quad-band support is an ideal choice.
• Finally, if you want the cheapest yet reliable AP, opt for Zyxel WAX620D-6E.

Saying that I’d wrap up this guide. Hope you find my reviews informational. Will see you another such guide. Till then, goodbye and take care!