Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
Pick the house Wi-Fi software you will actually live with: Omada EAP653 vs UniFi U7 Lite
About $80 Wi-Fi 6 Omada vs about $99 Wi-Fi 7 UniFi without 6 GHz. Software is the real pick.
EAP653 is cheaper, gigabit, 802.3at, free Omada cloud. U7 Lite is $99, 2.5G, 802.3af, Wi-Fi 7 dual-band, no 6 GHz, UniFi app. Hostifi (Mar 2025) and the UI store still show the Lite in this price band. U6 Lite is delisted. Don't hunt used 24 V AC-Lite leftovers.
If you already live in UniFi, stay UniFi so you are not running two apps. That is the same rule as cheap PoE for two APs. If you are not, Omada is the less preachy path. Neither religion needs a $190 tri-band puck. See the Wi-Fi 7 tax.
What to buy
| Box | Radios / uplink | PoE | Street, 22 Aug 2026 | Buy if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omada EAP653 | Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 (2402 + 574), 1G | 802.3at, 15.5 W. Needs an at port or a 160S, not a 150S. | B&H $79.99. Amazon B0B5JRXDG4. | You want a ceiling puck and no UniFi app. |
| UniFi U7 Lite | Wi-Fi 7 dual-band only, no 6 GHz. 4 streams (688 + 4300 class), 2.5G | 802.3af, UI sheet ~13 W | UI store $99 (surcharge $106). B&H $99–$104. | You already have a UniFi controller, or you want the 2.5G uplink on an af port. U7 Lite review. |
Watt math: two U7 Lites fit a 64 W fanless 4-PoE switch with room left. Two EAP653s also fit 64 W, but they don't fit a pair of 15.4 W af injectors. Match the class first. af / at / bt budget.
Skip
Skip U7 Pro and EAP773 at $189–$200 until you have 6 GHz clients and a WAN that can use them. Skip used Ruckus lots; no stable new-buy path. Skip standing up a second controller just because a sale exists.
Sources
UI store U7 Lite. B&H 1885424-REG. Omada EAP653. Hostifi, U6 Lite vs U7 Lite. SpeedtestHQ Omada vs UniFi. Street figures move.