UniFi U7 Pro vs TP-Link EAP773: WiFi 7 APs Compared

The UniFi U7 Pro is our pick for most home labs, but not because its hardware is faster. Both access points use the same Wi-Fi 7 radio layout: 2x2 on the 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz bands, adding up to about 10.8 Gbps of theoretical PHY rate. The real differences are the wired uplink, power, and software. The TP-Link EAP773 has a 10GbE port and a DC power option. The UniFi U7 Pro draws less power and joins UniFi’s controller, which we think is the better day-to-day experience.

Radios and Throughput: Effectively Identical

The spec sheets line up almost exactly. Ubiquiti lists the U7 Pro at 5.8 Gbps on 6 GHz (320 MHz channels), 4.3 Gbps on 5 GHz (240 MHz), and 688 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. TP-Link lists the EAP773 at 5,765 Mbps, 4,324 Mbps, and 688 Mbps on the same bands. Both are 2x2 on every band, for six spatial streams in total.

Those are theoretical link rates. A client’s own radio, channel width, signal quality, and interference set what it actually gets, and a typical 2x2 laptop connects at a fraction of the aggregate figure. Neither vendor’s numbers give one AP a throughput advantage.

Winner: Draw. The radio hardware is the same class.

Wired Uplink: The EAP773’s Real Advantage

The U7 Pro has one 2.5GbE port. The EAP773 has one 10GbE port that also links at 5, 2.5, or 1GbE, according to TP-Link. The uplink caps the combined traffic of every wireless client on the AP, so it matters most when several fast clients move data to wired storage at the same time.

The 10GbE port only helps if the PoE+ port feeding it runs faster than 2.5GbE. On a 1GbE or 2.5GbE PoE+ switch, the two APs are effectively equal on the uplink. If you want a faster uplink and prefer UniFi, the U7 Pro XG pairs the U7 Pro’s radio layout with a 10GbE port and still runs on PoE+. Ubiquiti lists it at $199, $10 more than the U7 Pro.

Winner: TP-Link EAP773, if your switch can use it.

Coverage and Roaming

Ubiquiti rates the U7 Pro for 1,500 sq ft (140 m²) and 300+ clients. With the same radio layout, plan the EAP773 the same way. The 6 GHz band loses signal faster through walls and floors than 5 GHz, so 6 GHz coverage shrinks first on either AP, and clients fall back to 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz.

If one AP doesn’t cover the space, add a second wired AP rather than raising transmit power. Both support fast roaming between their own APs: Ubiquiti lists 802.11r/k/v for the U7 Pro, and TP-Link lists 802.11k/v/r for the EAP773.

Winner: Draw.

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

MLO lets a compatible Wi-Fi 7 client use more than one band at once, which can cut latency and ride out interference on a single band. TP-Link lists MLO on the EAP773 spec sheet. Ubiquiti’s U7 Pro spec sheet does not list MLO as a line item, so check UniFi’s current release notes if MLO is a requirement for you. Either way, MLO needs a client and driver that support it.

Winner: EAP773 based on its documented MLO support.

PoE and Power

Both APs run on 802.3at PoE+, which delivers up to 25.5W at the device. Ubiquiti lists the U7 Pro at 21W maximum, and it has no other power input. TP-Link lists the EAP773 at 25.4W maximum on PoE, right at the PoE+ limit, and it can also run from a 12V DC adapter. Neither will run properly from an 802.3af port.

Nothing in the EAP773’s box powers it: TP-Link’s package list is the AP, a mounting kit, and the installation guide. Budget for a PoE+ switch port or a PoE+ injector for either AP.

Plan your switch budget by maximum draw. Two EAP773s need about 51W, which is more than the 45W budget of a small switch such as the UniFi USW Lite 16 PoE. Two U7 Pros need 42W. A PoE+ switch with a bigger budget, such as the 150W TP-Link SG2218P, covers either pair with room for cameras. See our best PoE switch guide for options.

Winner: UniFi U7 Pro, for the lower draw.

Controller Software: UniFi’s Biggest Advantage

We prefer UniFi Network for managing access points alongside switches and gateways. Adopting a new AP pulls in your SSIDs, VLANs, and radio settings, and the same dashboard covers UniFi switches and gateways. If you run UniFi gear elsewhere, that single view is the main reason to choose the U7 Pro.

Omada is competent. It handles VLAN-mapped SSIDs, fast roaming, captive portals, and multi-site management, and you can run the controller as free software in Docker, on an Omada hardware controller, or through TP-Link’s Omada Central cloud service. Its interface is less refined than UniFi’s, which matters if you spend a lot of time in the dashboard.

For a broader look at the two ecosystems, see our UniFi vs TP-Link Omada comparison.

Winner: UniFi U7 Pro.

Price

Ubiquiti lists the U7 Pro at $189. Check the EAP773’s current retail price against that figure before you decide. The bigger cost difference is usually the rest of the stack: price the PoE+ switch and controller you would pair with each AP, not just the AP.

Winner: Depends on current pricing and the switch you already own.

Who Should Buy Which

Buy the UniFi U7 Pro if you:

• Already run UniFi switches, gateways, or cameras
• Want to manage access points, switches, and gateways together
• Have 1GbE or 2.5GbE PoE+ switch ports, where a 10GbE AP port adds nothing
• Want the lower power draw on a tight PoE budget

Buy the TP-Link EAP773 if you:

• Already run Omada switches or a TP-Link gateway
• Have a 5GbE or 10GbE PoE+ switch port for it
• Want MLO listed on the spec sheet today
• Need the option to power it from a DC adapter

Bottom Line

For most home labs, the UniFi U7 Pro is the better buy: the same radio class as the EAP773, lower power draw, and UniFi’s controller. The TP-Link EAP773 is the right pick if you run Omada or have a multi-gig PoE+ switch that can use its 10GbE port. UniFi buyers who want that faster uplink should look at the U7 Pro XG instead. For the full field, see our best WiFi 7 access points guide.