The Best Travel Routers, SIM/LTE Routers and Gateway Devices I Have Ever Used

I think it would be fair to say that in 2025, unless you are travelling within your own country, chances are that you are definitely going to need some kind of internet connection in order to get around when travelling around the world. Unfortunately, the age when you could get by with an A to Z book and a handful of local phrases has long gone, and alongside the complexity of most cities growing exponentially, a lot of shops, restaurants and services are moving towards 3D barcode menus and digital-only point of sale resources. Add to that the enormous benefits of translation tools and Babel Fish-level communication services that are internet-assisted, and it’s almost impossible to imagine travelling around the world now without any kind of internet connection at all times. However, whether it is barriers from requiring a local phone number for authentication, or simply that you are going places without a reliable public Wi-Fi access point at your fingertips, many users have started hopefully relying on the use of portable routers, mobile access point devices and SIM card routers. In the last few years, I’ve travelled to numerous trade shows and public events around the world, and in that time required different kinds of mobile router device in order to get things done professionally. Sometimes I’ve needed a simple router that allows me to safely and securely use public Wi-Fi services in coffee shops and train stations. Other times I’ve needed a dedicated internet connection from a cell phone provider via SIM card to be available 24/7. Over the years, I’ve used numerous devices, good and bad, and to save you a lot of trouble, I’m going to go through the ones that I (and professional colleagues that I’ve met) have come to rely upon in their day-to-day professional travel. I will also include a router that has consistently let me and a number of my professional colleagues down on a regular basis, in order to help you avoid making the same mistake we did. Let’s go.

IMPORTANT – You Might Not Need a SIM Router!

Before I go any further, it’s worth highlighting that none of the physical travel routers that I recommend below have paid for this article, and all of the opinions provided are my own, those of my professional colleagues, and are based on years of genuine use together. I have included links to purchase these items, and doing so will result in a small commission that helps me keep doing what I do, but the brands themselves have no influence over the content of this article.

Using Airport Routers – Are They Safe?

It’s also worth mentioning that it has become increasingly common, especially in the East, for users to be able to rent travel routers with a dedicated cellular internet connection from a local airport. These can be incredibly affordable and very convenient, as they often eliminate the need for purchasing a whole router device for your travel. I have used these a couple of times when travelling to Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan, when I’ve needed to travel especially light and with only hand luggage. However, be aware that these do arrive with some caveats. Firstly, you will need to supply the vendor with a passport, documentation, as well as provide a deposit for security purposes. Secondly, be aware that the level of control that you have over your network will be extremely limited, and you will have zero admin control of the router. That means that not only can you not adapt the router in terms of quality and priority of service for different devices, but you cannot utilise an in-router VPN or be 100% certain that the data and passwords that pass through the router are not being collected in some way. I am not suggesting that all mobile router providers are inherently untrustworthy, I am simply saying that these options are limited, and I would only recommend them as short-term, ad hoc options at best.

You Might Not Need a Travel Router in Europe!

Last point, and this is mainly for Europeans but does also apply to some other regions of the world, in some cases, if you already have an existing cellular contract for your phone data, it may still be supported in the region you intend to visit. For example, even though the UK chose to leave the EU, there is still shared coverage of cellular providers across the majority of Europe, and your O2/EE/Vodafone data plan may well work in the majority of other European countries, still within your own data allowances. It is by no means a solid rule, but it is worth checking before you travel, as it may save you the need for a travel router at all.

GL.iNet Slate 7

Pros – Wi-Fi 7, dual-band, physical VPN switch, fully functional software, mobile app, physical RJ45 2.5GbE connections, touchscreen LCD, USB NAS storage sharing support, app centre, multiple VPN support, USB tethering, USB phone tethering.

Cons  Requires USB power, no SIM card slot, no eSIM support.

Currently, this is the newest addition to my travel kit when going anywhere in the world. Although it has only been physically present in my travel bag for a little over 6 weeks, I have known about this device for almost half a year, and GL.iNet made a lot of noise in their early development of the device and received a lot of early praise. Touted as one of, if not the first, Wi-Fi 7 travel routers, this device allows you to take advantage of bandwidth enhancements like Multi-Link Operation and faster data supported in Wi-Fi 7. Although it lacks support for the 6GHz band, it has still been an ever-reliable source of connectivity to me when I need to use public Wi-Fi services and I need to ensure that they are as secure as possible. GL.iNet has been in the business of making travel routers for a while, and indeed there is a second router mentioned later in this article, but even in the short time I’ve utilised this travel router, it has been something of a game changer when I need to travel light.

It features a touchscreen LCD that allows me to configure and connect on the go without the app, the open-source software allows me to use third-party applications, create storage shares with a USB, and it also supports multiple simultaneous internet connections for both failover and load balancing. That means that you can utilise a local USB-connected phone or dongle, connect to a third-party Wi-Fi connection, and even repeat an existing connection, giving you a 2-tier failover for when you need it. Additionally, it features two physical RJ45 ports that support both WAN and LAN utilisation, and both are 2.5Gb bandwidth.

All that said, keep in mind that this is a gateway device and not a SIM/LTE router. The device does not support eSIM usage and does not have any physical SIM card slot. This is a device for securely and conveniently connecting multiple devices at once to a single existing internet connection via a connected cable or via a third-party available Wi-Fi point. You are still going to need an existing internet connection going in, in order to really take advantage of the features and facilities of this router on your travels.

Solis 5G SIM Router

Pros – Free worldwide 1GB of data every month without a paid subscription requirement, Wi-Fi 6 support, eSIM and physical SIM card slot, USB power bank support, LCD touchscreen, dual-band, guest Wi-Fi SSID option, multiple data plan subscriptions on pay-as-you-go, coverage of the majority of the world, regular deals during seasonal events, USB tethering.

Cons – No physical RJ45 connections, some users will be put off by the optional subscription services.

The Solis 5G is a very different kind of travel router than the GL.iNet Slate 7 I just mentioned. Not only does this travel router feature a physical SIM/LTE slot for adding a cellular data plan in your local country of choice, but it also supports the use of the pay-as-you-go daily data plans available from Solis. Now, I will get onto the advantages and disadvantages of that shortly, but what I really think is cool about this product is that when you buy it and create an account (no bank details or subscription sign-up at all—just an email address, etc.), it entitles you to 1GB of free global data every single month.

That means that if you only plan on travelling internationally once a month on average, you will have a gigabyte of data available to you for absolutely no additional cost. And unless you plan on doing large data uploads or streaming high-definition movies on your travels, 1GB of data can go an exceptionally long way with regards to transportation and maps from the airport to the hotel, utilising translation applications every single day, making international internet phone calls on WhatsApp or WeChat, etc.

Otherwise, you can purchase individual unlimited days of data in packs of single days or multiple days in bundles that you can use ad hoc when you need to. Add to that that there are regular sales and offers on the Solis website during Black Friday, New Year, summer sales, and more, and it’s really easy to just purchase and keep a handful of individual data day passes on your account that you can choose to activate when needed for fast 5G and 4G internet services.

Moving slightly away from the internet connection, however, the device itself is no slouch either. Featuring a touchscreen LCD panel for controls and a mobile application for managing the device and its clients on the go, you can have multiple different SSIDs that vary in security and priority. The system features a large battery to maintain its operation for a great deal of time, as well as supporting USB tethering and USB power bank support.

That’ll allow you to also use it to charge up your USB devices when needed. Support for Wi-Fi 6 ensures up to 1.2Gbps connections to your client devices that feature support for 802.11ax over the two bands of 5GHz and 2.4GHz, and overall, this is easily the most convenient travel router you’re ever going to find. The only main downsides are the lack of physical RJ45 network connection ports and that the software is nowhere near as configurable as that of the GL.iNet routers.

Asus RT-AX57 Go Travel Router

Pros – Wi-Fi 6, small and light at just 12 cm square and 2 cm thick,full open-source software and controls, Wi-Fi repeating, physical VPN switch, multiple VPN services supported, supports mesh with local home/office Asus router for long-term use even when not traveling.

Cons – Lacks physical SIM card slot, pricing is a little all over the place between $99 and $139, I have not personally used it for an extended period of time and it arrives via recommendation from my professional colleagues (not a “con” exactly, but I thought it was worth mentioning).

Now, full disclaimer as mentioned earlier, this is a router that I’ve only utilised personally a very light amount when I’ve been working alongside professional colleagues who have brought this with them and we’ve all connected to it. However, I have heard nothing but good things about this device from my professional colleagues both on YouTube and generally in content creation. Whether it was because of its incredible portability at just 12 cm square and 2 cm thick, the incredibly low power consumption it has, or the fact that it can be used as a mesh point with an existing Asus router at home or in the office and therefore has deployment even outside of its use as a travel-only router, there is a reason I keep seeing this travel router being used at trade shows. Much like the GL.iNet Slate 7, this router does not feature its own SIM/LTE card slot. This is a gateway device that allows you to safely and securely connect all of your devices via a single Wi-Fi connection to an existing USB-connected internet service, wired WAN service, or existing Wi-Fi service in the area.

The hardware is pretty decent for its scale, and although you can find its price to be a little bit erratic depending on the store you shop at, it is possible to find this device at just $99 at some e-retailers. The software is pretty comparable to that of GL.iNet’s software and is built on open-source with support for third-party optional plugins, USB storage sharing, VPN services via physical button, and load balancing/failover. Probably the main appeal for this travel router—something that several of my colleagues informed me was part of their decision to purchase it—is that the device can be utilised for mesh with existing Asus routers. That means that if you have an Asus router already in your home or office environment that supports mesh, you can use this travel router as a mesh node to extend your existing home Wi-Fi coverage greatly when you are not travelling. And then, when you’re ready to travel, disconnect the device and take it with you. Once again, keep in mind that it does not feature a SIM card slot and also requires USB power for operation. But it is one of the smallest travel routers on this list, and although it’s the second oldest router on this list, it is still very capable in 2025.

GL.iNet Puli AX

Pros – Does everything that you want from both a travel router and a local home/office router, has two SIM card slots, features an SD card slot, supports USB storage and NAS-like sharing, and has six antennas shared between local Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. Features physical RJ45 ports and 2.5G WAN/LAN, includes a battery that can be easily removed if needed, clear LED display and controls, comprehensive router management software and mobile app, VPN physical button and multiple VPN protocols supported. Can be used as a prosumer router locally and easily disconnected and made portable as a travel router at any time (i.e., a 24×7 router, anywhere).

Cons – Expensive at $399-499, large size even without the battery attached.

Without a shadow of a doubt—and if you have the budget for it—the GL.iNet Puli AX SIM/LTE router is not only the best travel router I have ever used, but it might even be one of the best day-to-day routers I have ever used. That’s a pretty big statement, right? Let me explain. First and foremost, with the exception of Wi-Fi 7 support, the GL.iNet Puli AX provides everything that the Slate 7 at the start of this article does, as it utilises the same software platform and services but arrives with more memory, more CPU power/cores, and more storage by default to get started with and make the most of that software. However, it doubles down on everything that other routers from this brand provide. Need a SIM card slot? This device has two LTE/SIM card slots that support 5G and 4G SIM cards. Need physical network ports? This has two and supports 2.5G. Need portability? The system arrives with a large battery that is completely removable. Need good wireless coverage? This device has six individual antennas that cover a huge amount of local network coverage with Wi-Fi 6, and two antennas for cellular coverage. Don’t want to use a physical SIM and would rather use an eSIM? Yep, you can use an eSIM on this device too.

Much like other GL.iNet travel routers, the device supports failover across all of these SIM/eSIM/wired WAN options, and it supports load balancing, while also including Wi-Fi repeating and the ability to utilise the device as an encrypted gateway when connecting to third-party public/free Wi-Fi services. Add to all of that the fact that this router—and its comprehensive and detailed software—means that you can deploy this device in your office as your everyday router for managing countless devices and client hardware, and when you’re ready to go on your travels, the battery enables it to become a comprehensive travel router. That means that unlike other travel routers, which are only used when you travel (meaning the return on investment happens gradually over time), the Puli AX can be used 24×7 as your office router and then as your travel router—without needing to reconfigure security credentials or change anything about your setup unnecessarily between in-house and off-site use.

The Puli AX is by no means a perfect router. Of course, it is way more expensive than any other travel router on this list, and it’s also bigger—even without the battery attached. However, there is also no avoiding the fact that this is by far the most capable and powerful travel router that does absolutely everything you’re going to need, all in one device. With the exception of when I need to travel light or travel locally, I always use this router on my travels, and it has already replaced the router in my studio for day-to-day use too.

(What I said in conclusion on my dedicated Puli.AX Router review HERE) The GL.iNet Puli AX Mobile Router is arguably one of the most capable and powerful mobile routers available today. With an extensive feature set, including 5G support, Wi-Fi 6, robust failover options, and comprehensive storage capabilities, it stands out in the market. Despite its hefty price tag of $499, the value it offers in terms of functionality and reliability justifies the cost. Whether used in a static environment or on the go, this router provides a robust and versatile solution for internet connectivity. Overall, the GL.iNet Puli AX Mobile Router is an exceptional device that combines advanced features with practical usability. It is well-suited for a wide range of users, from business professionals requiring reliable internet on the go to home users seeking robust and versatile connectivity solutions. Its high price tag is justified by the extensive functionality and reliability it offers, making it a worthy investment for those who need a top-tier mobile router. Whether you’re looking for a reliable internet solution for your home, office, or travels, the Puli AX is a formidable contender that delivers on all fronts.

Avoid Netgear M6 (and most other Netgear Travel Routers for now)

I really hate to be negative, but the following is more of a warning for those of you who have seen the Netgear M6 mobile travel router—either on offer, offered by your local phone shop via contract, or even second-hand on eBay. Please do not buy this travel router, as both myself and many of my colleagues have experienced problems using the Netgear M6 travel router. On the face of it, it’s a great little thing. It’s small, offers great Wi-Fi, has a physical network port, supports SIM/LTE, includes an internal battery, and even features an LCD touchscreen that provides real-time information about the device when in operation. So, what’s the problem? Easy. For a start, it’s one of the most expensive routers for what you’re actually getting—and this applies, by the way, to the newer generation Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 versions too.

The router being expensive wouldn’t be a problem if the device were good enough to do the job. The Puli AX is an expensive travel router, but it has an incredible feature set and performs its role really well—so up to a point, it justifies its price tag. However, in the case of the Netgear M6, this is especially painful when you remember that this isn’t a brand coming out of left field or one you’ve never heard of. Netgear is an international brand associated with both home and professional-class hardware. Even a cursory look at the reviews online about the Netgear M6 indicates that my colleagues and I were not the only ones experiencing these issues with this router—yet these issues have persisted for many years. This isn’t written out of hate or with any intent of negativity, but simply to help stop users who might trust that this product’s name-brand label is enough to assume it’s a good router. I think it’s definitely worth spending the extra time looking around for better options first.

Examples of user other issues with the Netgear Travel Router series (couple of other examples here on the official Netgear Support Forum and on Reddit), but on the whole user feedback across Netgear’s official forums and platforms reveals a consistent pattern of serious reliability issues with the Nighthawk M6 and M6 Pro routers. Multiple users report that while the device appears promising—offering features like 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, a touchscreen, and long battery life—the reality often falls short. A common issue involves internet connectivity degrading after 6 to 24 hours of uptime, with the router still technically online (able to ping or resolve DNS) but unable to load any web pages. This effectively renders the device unusable until it is rebooted. Even replacing units, SIM cards, or applying firmware updates often failed to resolve the issue. Many users, including those who rely on the M6 for home or business use, were forced to bypass its router functions entirely—using it as a basic modem while relying on a separate standalone router (like the Linksys EA8500) for Wi-Fi and LAN tasks. This workaround significantly improved performance but defeated the all-in-one purpose of the M6.

Another frequent complaint centers on overheating and throttling, especially when the device is plugged in for extended periods or placed in warmer environments. Users have reported the M6 reaching temperatures well above the recommended 35°C limit, leading to dropped connections, performance slowdowns, and in some cases, device shutdowns. Attempts to address these thermal issues—like using fans, disabling Wi-Fi, removing the battery while powered—provided only partial relief. Firmware updates are inconsistently delivered (especially via AT&T), with some users stuck on outdated builds that don’t resolve known bugs. Ultimately, for many users, the combination of high cost, unstable firmware, poor thermal management, and lackluster support has made the M6 series an unreliable choice—especially when more stable and affordable travel routers are readily available.

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How to Upgrade Your Synology to 10GbE Cheaper with the Xikestor SKN-A113-Mini

The XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is a third-party 10GbE network adapter designed as a budget-friendly alternative to the official Synology E10G22-T1-MINI adapter for select NAS models, including the DS923+, DS723+, DS1522+, and RS422+. While both adapters provide similar networking capabilities, the XikeStor comes at a significantly lower cost. The Synology E10G22-T1-MINI typically retails between $130 and $180, whereas the XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is available for $55 to $70, making it at least 50% cheaper. However, this price difference comes with trade-offs, including manual installation, potential compatibility issues, and the risk of voiding Synology’s warranty. Unlike the Synology adapter, which offers plug-and-play functionality, the XikeStor requires manual driver installation via SSH, meaning users must be comfortable with command-line tools and network configuration.

IMPORTANT – Do This At Your Own RISK!

Beyond installation challenges, long-term compatibility is a major concern. Because Synology does not officially support third-party network adapters, DSM updates could break functionality, requiring users to reinstall drivers or rollback updates. The adapter will not work until these steps are taken, making it less convenient for those who prefer a hassle-free setup. Additionally, Synology may deny support for any network-related issues if an unsupported adapter is detected in the system, meaning troubleshooting problems like unstable connections or speed drops would be left entirely to the user. For users who prioritize long-term reliability, this lack of official support can be a deal-breaker.

The build quality of the XikeStor adapter is another factor to consider. While the Synology E10G22-T1-MINI is constructed with higher-quality materials for better heat dissipation and durability, the XikeStor is lighter and may be more prone to wear over time. While many users report good performance, there is no guarantee of long-term reliability, particularly if used in a demanding 24/7 NAS environment. In summary, the XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is best suited for users who are comfortable with manual setup, willing to risk DSM update conflicts, and do not need Synology’s official support. For those who prioritize stability, seamless updates, and manufacturer-backed troubleshooting, the Synology E10G22-T1-MINI remains the safer—though more expensive—choice.

Bottom line though, This adapter is not officially supported by Synology. While compatibility with DSM 7.2.2 has been confirmed in testing, future DSM updates may break support. Users must be prepared to troubleshoot driver issues and revert DSM updates if necessary.

Compatibility & Specifications

• Compatible DSM Versions: Tested on DSM 7.2.2-72803 (March 2025)
• Supported NAS Models: DS923+, DS723+, DS1522+, RS422+
• Interface: PCIe 3.0 x2
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
• Storage Temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-5°F to 140°F)
• Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH
• Warranty: 1 year

Installation Guide

Step 0! Ensure system is powered off and install the adapter in the rear of the system.

When installing the adapter first time, make sure the Synology data is BACKED UP, and that the system is powered down. Ensure that you have an additional RJ45 cable connected to the Synology NAS via the 1GbE network port (i.e have a reliable and live network connection to the NAS aside from the 10GbE adapter) as you will need to still access the GUI and NAS via this other connection until the new 10GbE adapter is functioning in your NAS.

Step 1: Check if the Adapter is visible in DSM (will not work immediately)

1. Log into DSM and navigate to Control Panel > Network > Network Interface.
2. If the XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is not listed, proceed with driver installation. IMPORTANT make sure the adapter slot at least shows as ‘occupied’ – as this at least shows the card is visible.

Step 2: Enable SSH on the Synology NAS

1. Open Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP.
2. Enable SSH and take note of the port number.
3. Click Apply.

Step 3: Download Required Software

1. Go to the Putty website to download the terminal software:
   • Visit: https://www.putty.org/
   • Download and install the terminal software on your desktop.

1. Obtain the latest XikeStor drivers from the official website:
   • Visit: http://visit.seekswan.com:6555/app/file/new_download.html
   • Click Download Centre > Network Card > SKN-A113-MINI
   • Download modules.sh (driver installation script).

Step 4: Upload the Driver Script to the NAS

1. Log into DSM and open File Station.
2. Create a new folder (e.g., test).
3. Upload modules.sh to this folder.

Step 5: Access NAS via SSH and Install the Driver

There are several commands that you are going to need to use to have sufficient authorization via SSH. IMPORTANT!!! Using Terminal software and SSH commands can seriously damage your Synology NAS system. DO NOT PERSUE THIS WITHOUT A SYSTEM BACKUP IN PLACE, OR IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE RISKS!

The commands you need to use are detailed below and are based around if you uploaded the files you downloaded from the Xikestor site to the NAS in the directory volume1/test/ . Change as appropriate to where you uploaded:

1. Open Putty.
2. Connect to the NAS using its IP address and the SSH port.
3. Log in using the administrator username and password.
4. Gain root privileges by entering:

   sudo -i

5. Navigate to the folder where modules.sh is stored:

   cd /volume1/test

6. Verify the presence of modules.sh by listing the files:

   ls

7. Run the installation script:

   ./modules.sh

8. Enter atlantic as the driver name when prompted.
9. Copy the installed driver to the correct directory:

   cp mi-d/modules/atlantic.ko /usr/lib/modules

10. Restart the NAS:

    reboot

Step 6: Verify Installation

1. Log back into DSM.
2. Navigate to Control Panel > Network > Network Interface.
3. The XikeStor adapter should now be visible and configurable.

Performance Testing & Comparison

Test Environment:

• NAS Model: DS923+
• Storage Configuration: RAID 5 SSDs
• Test Tools: AJA, CrystalDiskMark, ATTO Disk Benchmark
• Connection Type: Direct 10GbE connection

Results:

• The XikeStor adapter performed comparably to the Synology E10G22-T1-MINI in sequential read/write tests.
• Some minor inconsistencies in sustained performance were observed, possibly due to driver optimizations.
• The Synology adapter exhibited better build quality and felt more robust.

Risks & Considerations – SERIOUSLY, READ THIS!

Potential Issues with DSM Updates

• Synology DSM updates may remove or disable third-party drivers.
• Users may need to reinstall drivers or rollback DSM versions.
• Installing third-party hardware may void Synology’s support coverage.
• Synology’s official adapter is guaranteed to work without additional setup.
• The Synology E10G22-T1-MINI uses higher-quality materials and has a more durable construction.
• The XikeStor adapter is lighter and may be less robust.
• The XikeStor adapter is not validated by Synology, which may raise concerns about long-term security and stability.
• No suspicious network activity was detected during testing, but users should monitor their network traffic.

Should You Buy the XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini or the Synology E10G22-T1-MINI?

Pros: Lower cost (typically 50% cheaper than Synology’s official adapter) Comparable performance in most scenarios Works with DSM 7.1.1-7.2.2 (as of now)

Cons: Requires manual driver installation and SSH access May become incompatible with future DSM updates Build quality is not as premium as Synology’s official adapter Potential warranty implications

Final Recommendation

• If you want hassle-free compatibility and support, the Synology E10G22-T1-MINI is the safer choice.
• If you are tech-savvy, comfortable with SSH, and willing to troubleshoot, the XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is a cost-effective alternative.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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Synology DS401+ Review: A Big Leap in Data Portability

Synology has once again redefined innovation with the launch of its latest device, the DS401+, a radical departure from traditional NAS design. Unlike anything in their existing lineup, the DS401+ is a compact, ultra-portable single-bay system that arrives with 8GB of pre-installed storage.

While its modest appearance might lead some to question its capabilities, this device is full of surprises and packed with what Synology describes as “next-level user-driven expandability.” Upgrades are a breeze, requiring nothing more than confidence, persistence, and maybe a little brute force.

Connectivity is as streamlined as it gets, with USB 2.0 ensuring compatibility with virtually every system released in the past 20 years.

Performance skeptics will be pleasantly surprised to learn that the DS401+ boasts transfer speeds of up to 8GB per second—a metric achieved under rigorous, real-world conditions involving trajectory and velocity.

While traditional benchmarks focus on read/write speeds, Synology’s new direction explores the physics of momentum as an alternative measurement of data mobility. One of the standout features of the DS401+ is its offsite backup functionality.

Designed for those constantly on the move, users can effortlessly transfer data, pop the DS401+ into a bag, and take their backup anywhere—whether that’s to work, the grocery store, or an accidental adventure sparked by a missing cat collar, missing your train and leaving your bag at home – can’t question it, that’s a pretty solid off-site backup!

While the DS401+ doesn’t support DSM, Synology’s usual operating system, it does come with pre-installed software of a different nature. Details remain scarce, but early reports suggest a mysterious blend of anti-ransomware tools, possibly paired with rudimentary antivirus protection.

Whether this is a security feature or just a cleverly disguised README file remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the DS401+ clearly takes a bold stance on cybersecurity—even if no one knows exactly what it’s doing.

File sharing has never been more intuitive. With the DS401+, users can now share files simply by passing the device to someone else. There’s no need for network mapping, no passwords to remember, and absolutely no waiting for uploads. This tactile approach to data transfer offers unmatched immediacy and person-to-person encryption powered by trust. For those concerned about future expansion, Synology has teased a “Forb” edition, rumored to support even more aggressive upgrade techniques.

And for power users who demand more from their tiny NAS, Synology has introduced the DS401+ Forb, a “four-bay” variant that somehow fits into an even smaller form factor than the original. Early hands-on impressions describe it as “smaller than the palm of your hand but twice as confident.” While there’s no visible evidence of four bays, Synology assures customers that the extra capacity is there if you’re willing to think small enough. Expansion remains as simple as ever—just apply additional USB drives using light percussion.

The launch date of the Synology DS401+—April 1st—is no coincidence. Known globally as April Fools’ Day, it’s a time when tech companies occasionally tease products that walk the line between absurdity and brilliance.

From its minimalist design to its unconventional “performance” metrics, every detail feels like a carefully crafted nudge and wink to the audience. It’s a playful reminder that innovation sometimes requires not just thinking outside the box—but joking about the box entirely.

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Updates on the Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro NAS

Minisforum is no stranger to shaking up established markets. Known primarily for its innovative and compact mini PCs, the brand has now turned its attention to network-attached storage (NAS) solutions. Earlier this year at CES 2025, Minisforum unveiled the N5 Pro NAS — a five-bay, AI-optimized device that instantly caught the attention of NAS enthusiasts. Now, after a visit to Minisforum’s headquarters and production facilities in Shenzhen, we have a deeper look into this bold new entry into the NAS market.

The N5 Pro is confirmed to be nearing launch, and joining it is a new, more affordable sibling: the Minisforum N5. These new devices aim to strike a compelling balance between powerful performance, modular flexibility, and enthusiast-grade features. Whether you’re building a high-performance TrueNAS server, exploring AI-assisted photo management, or just want to future-proof your home media solution, the N5 Series looks like it could be one of the most exciting NAS hardware releases of 2025. To top it off, Minisforum is also experimenting with their own NAS operating system, which could give users a turnkey alternative to the usual DIY route. Let’s break down what’s been confirmed, what’s new, and why it matters.

Minisforum N5 Pro – Fully Featured and AI-Ready

The N5 Pro NAS remains the flagship of Minisforum’s 2025 storage push, and nearly all the specs shown at CES have now been fully confirmed. It arrives equipped with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU, a 12-core/24-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, which includes an integrated AI engine.

The design emphasizes airflow and modularity, with a sliding motherboard tray, magnetic front bay cover, and an updated second-gen chassis with better heat dissipation. The system is designed for prosumers and power users, featuring ECC memory support (a rarity in this price segment) and up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM.

Storage-wise, it supports five hot-swappable SATA drives and three M.2 NVMe SSDs — more than enough for a complex ZFS setup or tiered storage architecture. Expansion capabilities are strong as well, with PCIe 4.0 x4, OCuLink for external GPUs or JBODs, and dual Ethernet (10GbE + 5GbE).

Minisforum is also considering offering a 64GB M.2 module preloaded with their custom OS, allowing users to keep all M.2 slots free for data.

The N5 Pro is designed as an open system: while it may ship with Minisforum’s OS on request, users can freely install TrueNAS, UnRAID, OpenMediaVault, or any OS of their choosing — with no impact on warranty.

Category	Specification
CPU	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (12C/24T, up to 5.2GHz, Zen 5, NPU AI Engine)
GPU	AMD Radeon 890M (Integrated)
RAM	Up to 128GB DDR5 ECC (2x SODIMM, 5600MHz)
SATA Storage	5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA (Hot-swappable, up to 22TB each)
M.2 Storage	1x 2230/2280 PCIe 4.0 x1, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x1, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x2
Expansion	1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x OCuLink 4i (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 10GbE RJ45, 1 x 5GbE RJ45
I/O Ports	2 x USB4 (40Gbps), HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Audio out
Power Supply	280W PSU
Optional Add-on	64GB OS Module (TBC)

Minisforum N5 – A More Affordable, Scaled-Down Option

The new Minisforum N5 is being developed as a cost-effective alternative to the N5 Pro. It retains the same chassis and internal layout but swaps out the high-end CPU and ECC memory support in favor of more accessible hardware.

This device is still in the evaluation phase, with Minisforum considering two CPU options: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS or Ryzen 5 7640HS. Both offer 6 cores and 12 threads, with clock speeds up to 5GHz, and may allow better PCIe lane distribution than the Pro model. Despite the lower-tier specs, the N5 is far from underpowered.

It still supports up to 128GB of DDR5 (non-ECC), the full five SATA bays, three M.2 NVMe slots, OCuLink, and even dual USB4 ports. Where it diverges is networking: the current prototypes drop 10GbE support and may ship with either dual 5GbE ports or a combination of 5GbE and 2.5GbE. For many home users, this is still more than adequate, especially if the N5 launches at a competitive price point.

Like the Pro version, the N5 may include the optional 64GB OS module and support for Minisforum’s in-house NAS OS. Alternatively, users can bring their own OS without voiding support. This flexibility means the N5 could become an attractive entry point for first-time NAS builders or budget-conscious prosumers.

MinisCloud OS – Minisforum’s In-House NAS Software

One of the most intriguing developments is Minisforum’s potential entry into the NAS software space. Internally referred to as MinisCloud OS, this new platform is based on the Siyouyun OS framework (a Debian-based system used by several emerging NAS brands). Still in early development, the OS aims to provide a balance of accessibility and advanced features for home and small business users. Minisforum is evaluating whether to offer the OS pre-installed on the 64GB module, as a downloadable image (possibly SN-locked), or as an optional add-on at checkout. Importantly, this software will be optional, and using TrueNAS, UnRAID, or any third-party OS will not affect warranty or support.

Key Features of MinisCloud OS (In Development):

• ZFS storage support (snapshots, compression, deduplication)
• Multi-user management with 2FA/MFA

• AI-based photo recognition (faces, objects)
• Docker container and App Center
• Built-in file manager & download manager

• Support for SMB, WebDAV, FTP, DLNA
• Multimedia center for streaming content

A Promising Disruption to the NAS Market

Minisforum’s bold entry into the NAS arena is more than a rehash of mini PC hardware — it’s a fresh and flexible approach to modern storage needs. With the N5 Pro targeting power users and the N5 aiming for budget-friendly builders, both models offer advanced connectivity, modularity, and optional OS features rarely seen in compact NAS systems. If pricing lands right, the N5 Series could challenge established NAS vendors and appeal to the DIY home server crowd in a big way. We’ll continue tracking release dates, pricing, and software developments — stay tuned for our full hardware reviews and performance testing. For more, check out our upcoming Shenzhen factory tour and hands-on videos at NASCompares

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UGREEN NASync NAS: One Year Later – The Good, The Bad, and What’s Still Missing?

One year ago, UGREEN made waves in the NAS industry by launching its NASync series through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, raising $6.6 million from over 13,000 backers. This new line of NAS devices aimed to offer a cost-effective alternative to established brands like Synology and QNAP, promising powerful hardware, a user-friendly experience, and AI-powered features at a more competitive price. Since its general retail release in mid-2024, UGREEN NASync has been available via Amazon, B&H, and UGREEN’s website, gaining a strong following among enthusiasts and small businesses. But after a year of real-world usage, firmware updates, and customer feedback, does the NASync series truly compete with industry leaders? Has UGREEN delivered on its promises, or are there still major issues preventing it from being a go-to NAS solution? This article will explore where UGREEN has excelled, where it still needs improvement, and whether the NASync series is a worthwhile investment in 2025.

Note – UGREEN are running a promotion during World Backup Day that drops the price significantly on several of their NASync devices on their own website and on Amazon. Find out more here or via the banner link below:

The UGREEN NASync NAS Kickstarter – A Recap

Unlike many hardware startups that struggle with fulfilling Kickstarter orders, UGREEN managed to deliver its NASync units on schedule to most backers, a significant achievement for a crowdfunded product. While there were some reports of faulty units, these appeared to be within normal failure rates for electronics and were generally covered by UGREEN’s replacement and support policies. What truly set UGREEN apart, however, was its unorthodox marketing strategy. Instead of focusing on traditional advertising or securing major sponsorship deals, UGREEN distributed thousands of review units to mid-tier and micro-influencers.

This grassroots approach ensured that discussions about the NASync series remained active and widespread across online tech communities. Unlike companies that pay for high-profile reviews on massive platforms like Linus Tech Tips, UGREEN instead prioritized authenticity and volume, creating long-term engagement from reviewers who actually tested the product in-depth. This strategy has proven successful, keeping UGREEN’s NAS devices relevant in online discussions long after their launch, though it has also meant that larger, mainstream tech publications have not widely covered the NASync series. While this marketing approach has helped build a loyal user base, it also raises concerns about how well UGREEN’s products will compete with more established brands in the long run if they do not gain broader mainstream recognition.

The UGREEN NAS Software Development So Far…

When the NASync series launched, its UGOS operating system was one of its most significant unknowns. Unlike Synology DSM or QNAP QTS, which have been refined for years, UGOS was a first-generation NAS OS that lacked many critical features and refinements expected by experienced users.

Over the past year, UGREEN has made steady improvements, rolling out regular firmware updates that have expanded its functionality. One of the most notable additions is the inclusion of Jellyfin as a native app, providing an alternative media server option for users who want to stream videos without needing complex third-party installations.

However, Plex support remains absent, a surprising omission considering Plex is the most widely used NAS-based media server. Another major shortcoming is the lack of iSCSI support, which is essential for business users, virtualization environments, and enterprise-level storage solutions.

While UGREEN has stated that iSCSI support is on their roadmap, it has yet to be implemented, making the NASync series a less viable option for professional users who rely on networked block storage solutions. Despite these improvements, UGOS is still not as polished or feature-rich as competing NAS operating systems, and for users who need advanced storage capabilities, its limitations remain a concern.

UGREEN NAS and Security – After 1 Year

Security was one of the biggest concerns when UGREEN first launched its NASync series, as it initially lacked two-factor authentication (2FA) and had limited built-in protections for remote access. Over the past year, UGREEN has addressed some of these concerns, adding 2FA and expanding firewall settings to include IP blocking, MAC filtering, and customizable access controls.

These updates have significantly improved overall security, but the absence of dedicated anti-ransomware protection remains a critical weakness. Competing NAS brands such as Synology and QNAP have introduced automated ransomware protection tools, snapshot-based rollback systems, and real-time anomaly detection, features that UGOS has yet to incorporate.

The NASync series does provide basic malware and antivirus scanning, but it is still lacking the more advanced automated security solutions that have become standard in the NAS industry. Users who are particularly concerned about security may prefer to disable UGREEN’s remote access services and instead use third-party VPN solutions like Tailscale or even install an alternative NAS operating system such as TrueNAS or UnRAID, both of which UGREEN supports without voiding hardware warranties.

UGREEN NAS and Local AI Use

UGREEN has been heavily investing in AI-driven functionality, integrating photo recognition, AI-assisted indexing, and content categorization into UGOS. Unlike cloud-based AI solutions, these run entirely on the NAS itself, keeping user data private and locally processed. This makes UGREEN one of the few NAS brands to offer AI-powered automation without cloud dependencies, a feature that privacy-conscious users appreciate.

However, with the recent announcement of UGREEN’s new IDX series, which focuses even more on AI-powered storage and advanced computing, there is growing uncertainty about the long-term future of the NASync series. It remains unclear whether UGREEN will continue to develop UGOS at the same pace for NASync devices or shift focus toward its newer, AI-driven IDX models.

While UGREEN insists that the NASync and IDX series will coexist as separate product lines, there is a possibility that software development for NASync may slow down in favor of newer hardware platforms. This uncertainty may deter potential buyers who want long-term software support guarantees.

UGREEN NASync Devices and Mixed Global Availability

Despite the NASync series’ popularity, UGREEN has struggled to expand its global distribution network. While the devices are widely available in the US, Germany, and select European markets, many regions still lack direct purchasing options. The UK recently saw improved availability, but other regions remain underserved, forcing potential buyers to import devices at higher costs.

Given the strong demand and continued interest, it is surprising that UGREEN has not prioritized expanding its retail presence globally. If the company wants to compete seriously with major NAS brands, broader availability through additional international retailers should be a key focus moving forward.

UGREEN NAS 1 Year Later – Verdict

One year in, UGREEN’s NASync series has made a strong impression in the NAS market, proving that it is more than just a one-off experiment. The company has demonstrated consistent software development, ongoing support, and a commitment to hiring industry experts to strengthen its NAS business. However, the NASync series still falls short in key areas, particularly iSCSI support, security automation, and mainstream availability. For enthusiasts and tech-savvy users willing to customize their setup, UGREEN’s NASync devices offer solid hardware at an attractive price. But for those who expect a polished, fully mature NAS experience, Synology and QNAP still lead the market. UGREEN has the potential to become a serious competitor in the NAS space, but its future success depends on how aggressively it continues to develop UGOS, improve security, and expand its global footprint.

20% OFF UGREEN NAS this World Backup Day

UGREEN is currently running a Work Backup Day promotion, offering a 20% discount on NASync devices purchased through their official website and Amazon. This limited-time deal runs from March 25th to March 31st, making it an excellent opportunity for those considering a UGREEN NAS for data protection and backup storage. With the growing importance of secure, local backups, especially for businesses and home users managing large datasets, this promotion provides a cost-effective way to invest in a NAS solution. Whether you’re looking to set up automated backups, secure your media collection, or expand your existing storage infrastructure, the discount makes UGREEN’s already competitive pricing even more attractive. However, with global availability still being somewhat inconsistent, buyers should check regional stock levels and shipping options before purchasing.

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Want to follow specific category? Also Read...How New Synology NAS Product RVisiting the CWWK NAS Factory Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro NAS -Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro NAS -UGREEN NASync NAS - One Year LSynology DS725+ NAS RevealedSynology DS1825xs+ NAS RevealeSynolgoy DS625slim 6-Bay NAS RSynology DS225+ NAS RevealedSynology DS425+ NAS Revealed Subscribe You can also follow specific search terms:

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

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UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber Review – Overkill?

UniFi has absolutely been slamming hardware releases in the first quarter of 2025. Last year, they launched a new NAS solution, and in the last few months, we’ve seen them hammer out a wide range of new surveillance accessories. However, February 2025 has seen a huge rejuvenation of a number of wired and Wi-Fi devices in their router and cloud gateway lineup. Although we’ve seen several impressive solutions added to their new Wi-Fi 7-equipped portfolio, probably the most hench one of all is the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber model, the UCG-Fiber. The popular UniFi Cloud Gateway series has always served as a much more compact and network-focused alternative to the bulkier UniFi Dream Machine and traditional router devices from the brand, but this new model really does scale the connectivity up to 11! Featuring multiple 10G connections spanning both copper and fiber, the system features PoE and multiple 2.5G LAN ports. Add to that arguably the most powerful internal hardware that the brand has yet rolled out (though realistically, UniFi doesn’t really choose powerhouse internal components normally anyway) and expandable M.2 NVMe storage, and what you have here is a system that manages to do everything that a bulky rack-mount-scale Dream Machine seemingly promises but in a physical scale that you can genuinely fit in your coat pocket—though I wouldn’t recommend doing that.

So let’s discuss the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and whether it deserves your data!

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Quick Conclusion

The UniFi Cloud Gateway 7 Fiber is a prosumer/business device that does not overpromise and is quintessentially UniFi in its architecture—for good and for bad! There is a lot of good to talk about: almost unparalleled external network connectivity for its scale, the unbeatable utilization of the UniFi Network Controller software, ease of setup combined with a complexity of features and control—the UCG-Fiber does it all and does it phenomenally well. Small inconsistencies in the presentation, such as the M.2 slot adapter not being included with the initial retail kit, I find puzzling, however, and perhaps a little bit more wiggle room on the flexibility of the WAN/LAN on those 2.5G ports is open to debate (CORRECTION, You CAN adjust the 2.5G Ports to WANs, but you need to disable WAN services on the other 10G ports manually first). But those aside, it really is hard to fault. Plucky little box, and at $249 for a huge amount of scalability and expandability, you would be hard-pushed to find anything better at this price tag that can do what this can do—while still remaining largely license-free!

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.6

PROS

Multi-Gigabit Connectivity – Supports dual 10G SFP+ ports, a 10GbE RJ45 port, and four 2.5GbE ports, allowing for high-speed networking.
PoE+ Support – One 2.5GbE port includes PoE+, enabling direct connection of UniFi APs, cameras, or other PoE-powered devices.
Integrated NVMe Storage Support – Allows installation of an NVMe SSD (up to 2TB) for UniFi Protect NVR functionality and other applications.
Compact & Fanless Design – Small form factor with silent operation, making it suitable for desktop or rack environments without additional noise.
License-Free SD-WAN & VPN Features – Includes WireGuard, OpenVPN, Teleport VPN, and Site-to-Site VPN without additional licensing costs.
Centralized UniFi Management – Seamlessly integrates with UniFi Network, Protect, and Talk, allowing for easy cloud-based management.
Stateful Layer 7 Firewall & IDS/IPS Security – Advanced traffic filtering, intrusion detection, and ad/content blocking for enhanced network security.
Lower Power Consumption – ARM-based quad-core CPU ensures efficient performance with lower heat output and energy usage compared to x86 alternatives.

CONS

Additional Cost for NVMe Tray – The M.2 SSD adapter tray is not included, requiring a separate purchase to enable internal storage.
Non-Upgradable RAM – Comes with 3GB of DDR4 RAM, which cannot be expanded, potentially limiting future scalability for advanced applications.
Lack of WiFi Support might be a pain for some on day 1

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Design

If you have ever been around or owned a UniFi device, you will be unsurprised to hear that the UCG-Fiber is easy on the eye, and a great deal of attention has gone into the design. Like the majority of UniFi devices, the system arrives with a dynamic and animated LCD panel that gives you real-time information about the traffic, utility of the device, and real-time information on IPS and network status.

Unfortunately, it is not a touchscreen, which isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a shame as a few other LCD-equipped UniFi devices have this feature, and some might assume that all of their devices follow suit. Needless to say, this LCD panel can have its brightness adjusted easily, be set to a schedule, or have the details it displays modified within the system settings somewhat.

The physical scale of this device, when future-set alongside a larger rack-mount-designed UniFi Dream Machine, is pretty bloody impressive. Arriving at 221mm by 127mm by 30mm, this thing is smaller than most ISP-free routers, yet crams in physical network ports and internal storage that I’ll touch on later. Additionally, the system is fanless and is completely silent when in operation.

Separated into multiple LAN and multiple WAN ports, the main traffic ports are all 2.5GbE Ethernet, and the system software supports numerous services for connecting VLANs, failover services, jumbo frame adjustments, and a plethora of network security settings that I will touch on later in the article. Given the wide-ranging bandwidth of all other connections on this device, I’m not sure anyone would have judged the brand if they tried to get away with one or two standard gigabit ports here. They really have scaled things up, and it’s pretty clear that this system is designed with tremendous future-proofing in mind. One of the individual 2.5G ports has something extra special, too.

One of the physical 2.5G ports also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), which means that you will be able to take advantage of connecting smart network office peripherals for communication, or more likely, PoE-equipped cameras that you can connect and power via this port while using the UniFi Protect surveillance software installed on this device.

But I can understand how this single PoE port is intended more as an additional service for a locally deployed camera by the Cloud Gateway, rather than as a means to convince users to factor this in as a central point for their surveillance setup. Given the combination of copper and SFP connections on this device, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the main factors preventing more PoE ports is simply heat generation at this scale.

However, one of the other arguably more general-purpose utilizations for this PoE port is to take advantage of one of the many multi-port PoE-powered network switches provided by UniFi in both small and medium form factors. Delivering up to 30 watts of power, which is enough to power either of the 2.5G fully equipped portable switches in the brand’s portfolio. Alternatively, thanks to the rather adaptable UniFi software that this system runs on, you can also take advantage of one of the many newly launched Wi-Fi 7-equipped PoE-powered AP devices that the brand recently rolled out. This single 2.5G PoE port provides both high power and high bandwidth performance to the U7, U7 Pro, U6 IP devices in the recent 2025 portfolio, and simply connecting one of these many AP devices to this single port allows you to immediately add an SSID tier to your network configuration in less than one minute—turning this hugely capable wired network management device into an all-purpose, business-class network router setup!

If you do choose to use this PoE port for a camera device, UniFi has a wide range of PoE-capable cameras spanning all the way to 4K, Edge AI services, and enterprise-grade surveillance equipment that, just like the wireless IP devices, can be added and deployed in less than a minute, with the UniFi Protect surveillance software already available on the UCG device with no license restrictions.

Using UniFi’s own cameras, you can utilize up to 12 HD cameras, 8 2K cameras, or four 4K cameras on this device. Alternatively, thanks to a changing stance by UniFi on their Protect platform, you can now also take advantage of third-party cameras that support ONVIF and better leverage existing surveillance equipment you may have in your home or office if you’re migrating your network setup over to the UniFi platform via the upgrade of a UCG-Fiber.

Moving away from those multiple 2.5G ports, we now need to talk about the other really impressive thing about the UCG-Fiber—and that is that this tiny box manages to arrive with three individual 10GbE connections. The UCG-Fiber features two SFP+ fiber 10GbE connections, but also, interestingly, an additional 10G Base-T copper connection as well. Given that these kinds of connections on a basic unmanaged switch would already push the price point of this device comfortably into the $200 mark, the fact that this system arrives with all of these connections, SSD scalability, UniFi capabilities, and PoE support all add up to this being phenomenal.

The UCG-Fiber has an internal switching support of 9.3Gbps performance, which, although may sound like less than the potential 40Gbps output that this system features, realistically, both the internal hardware profile this system has and the general use of this device were never going to max things out. And as long as the internal switching capacity of this system can match that of the largest possible single connection, I’m totally cool with this.

3x 10GbE connections mean that not only are you able to introduce an exceedingly high-performance WAN connection into your network that will be future-proof for at least a decade, but if you wanted to deploy a multi-site setup with fiber cabling between locations, there is a lot of compact yet powerful network packet handling on the table here! Plus, why not use another 10G port for a high-performance network switch and increase your broad network capabilities substantially, while still allowing great network traffic from the connected multi-port switch into your UCG-Fiber with ease? Finally, don’t overlook the benefits of introducing a 10GbE NAS into your UCG-Fiber, and either allow one user up to 1,000MBps transmission to the NAS or potentially 20 users to all enjoy gigabit network connection to that NAS. The potential for scalability on your network is phenomenal for such a small device.

However, it is worth highlighting that, as good as this is, I do have a little bit of a gripe with the way the brand has approached the 10G WAN/LAN connections on the UCG-Fiber. Although greater-than-gigabit internet speeds are becoming more common around the world, the availability of 10Gb internet is still pretty rare. While I can see the benefits of future-proofing by allowing multiple 10GbE connections, the fact that you cannot change one of the 2.5G ports on this device to a WAN if needed means that you are potentially losing out on quite a lot of network bandwidth. To elaborate, most users—even with high-performance internet services in their home or office—are unlikely to have greater-than-2.5GbE internet speeds for a good few years yet. Because the UCG-Fiber only allows two ports on this device to support WAN failover, that means that even if you were running basic sub-gigabit internet speeds like most users do, you are still restricted and potentially wasting the full capabilities of a 10G port on an ISP service that is never going to hit those heights. MASSIVE CORRECTION! You CAN chose to use the 2.5G ports as WAN/WAN2 and free up ALL the 10G ports if you like, however you need to ensure that WAN services are disabled on the existing 10G ports (setting them to LAN or DISABLED) first, and then the option to select ‘WAN’ or ‘WAN2’ on the 2.5G ports will appear. Really, REALLY pleased with this!

Another element that I have mostly positive, but not exclusively positive comments on is the M.2 NVMe SSD storage that this system supports. As mentioned, the UCG-Fiber allows you to install an M.2 NVMe SSD into the base of the system, and from there, you can use this storage to install multiple UniFi applications and services that will all run seamlessly from the UCG-Fiber network dashboard. These include automation, communication, and surveillance applications—all of which are license-free and included with the price of this system. Additionally, M.2 NVMe storage on this Gen 3×2 SSD line is going to provide fantastic performance and will ensure that particularly high-frequency services or high-demand services like AI-assisted surveillance setups run fantastically well here.

So, what is my problem with the way they have approached M.2 NVMe storage on the UCG-Fiber? It would be easy for me to criticize and say that the system should arrive with an SSD, but I’m not that naïve—at the $249 price this system comes in at, I think it would be unrealistic to assume that it would arrive with an SSD included. No, my problem isn’t that it doesn’t come with an SSD out of the box—my problem is twofold. Number one, in order to install an SSD inside the UCG-Fiber, you have to purchase a separate M.2 adapter tray that slides into the available base of the system. Who designed this??? And why do users have to purchase the SSD tray separately instead of it being included with the system?

I understand that users should be expected to buy their own scalable storage based on their capacity needs, but not including the tray that you need to insert the SSD into—and then charging an additional £15 for it—is just insane. My other issue is that although SSDs are less prone to physical or mechanical issues compared to traditional hard drives, they are not flawless.

SSDs—whether SATA or M.2—are still prone to occasional failures, and if an SSD fails, all the data on that drive is most likely lost. In the case of the UCG-Fiber, as the system only has a single M.2 slot, it does not support RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which would allow for a safety net by having another drive keep the data safe. Equally, the UCG-Fiber does not have any USB connectivity to allow for connecting a storage drive for periodic backups of your surveillance data that you may be creating regularly on this system. It’s a small detail, but I’m kind of surprised that this was not factored in during the design stage, given the huge importance of the storage drive on this system. In the grand scheme of things, I’m still grateful that this high-performance cloud gateway device has storage capabilities as comprehensive as it does—but it is by no means flawless.

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 processor clocked at 2.2GHz. The Cortex-A73 is a relatively efficient CPU architecture that balances performance and power consumption, making it a suitable choice for a network gateway device. While not designed for high-performance computing tasks, this processor is more than capable of handling network routing, firewall management, VPN services, and deep packet inspection (DPI) without significant bottlenecks. The inclusion of Layer 7 firewall capabilities, IDS/IPS security measures, and traffic identification suggests that the CPU is optimized for handling packet filtering and security functions efficiently. However, its overall processing power is still limited compared to x86-based solutions found in enterprise-grade routers and gateways. Given its ARM-based architecture, the UCG-Fiber benefits from reduced power consumption and lower heat output, allowing for a compact, fanless design that operates silently while maintaining stable performance.

The UCG-Fiber is equipped with 3GB of DDR4 memory, which is a reasonable allocation for a device of this type. This amount of RAM ensures that the system can handle multiple concurrent processes, including traffic management, VPN sessions, intrusion detection, and SD-WAN operations without excessive slowdowns. While 3GB may seem modest compared to more powerful network appliances, it is sufficient for the expected workload of small to medium-sized networks.

The RAM configuration is non-expandable, meaning that users cannot upgrade memory for increased performance, which could become a limitation in scenarios where more demanding security and networking tasks are required. However, for general usage, including running UniFi applications, managing multiple VLANs, and handling routing tasks, the provided memory should be adequate. The combination of ARM-based processing and DDR4 memory allows the UCG-Fiber to deliver a balanced mix of efficiency and functionality, positioning it as a suitable choice for businesses and advanced home networks that require multi-gigabit connectivity with software-defined networking features.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Software and Services

IMPORTANT !!!- Currently the Software review of the UCG-Fiber is in progress, but I have already reviewed the UCG-Fiber and UX7 devices which are very similar indeed. So, whilst I complete the UCG-Fiber review, I have included the software review of the other 2 devices below, as they are running near identical services and features (but with differences with regard to port/wifi features. I will be amending the below text very soon, but include it here to give a better understanding of what this UniFi controller software can do. Apologies for this in the meantime.

Realistically, no one should be spending inordinate amounts of time using the software that your router arrives with – that’s just a simple fact. Indeed, you want you router (or any network appliance) to just do it’s job! Therefore talking about just how good the UniFi network software is, and how the UniFi Dream Router 7 capitalized on it, is going get a mixed reaction depending on your own level of network knowledge and custom requirements. I will say straight away though that you will really, REALLY struggle to find a more capable and flexible router software at this price point. You will struggle to find ANY setting, config, adjustable parameter of control measure not included with the UCG-Fiber. First off, there is the mobile application. As the UCG-Fiber hosts the UniFi network software, ALOT of the iOS and Android official UniFi applications are supported by the UCG-Fiber.

Firs time setup of the router using the mobile application (you can use a desktop machine with your web browser if you prefer of course) is incredibly straight forward. The Router can be found via the local area network or Bluetooth within 2 minutes of it’s first power-on. One big misconception (I was guilt of this too a while back) was that you have to register a UI.com account online in order to use UniFi appliances. This is NOT true. You can set the device up without a UI account (and even WITHOUT an internet connection) and doing so just needs to you create a local administrator account. It is recommended to use a UI account of course, as it allowed for easier comms and access for your larger Unifi network, but it is by no means compulsory. You can also create a system backup (with your config data of users, settings, SSIDs, etc) and backup online if you choose – and then easier pull this backup if you wish during initialization easily.

Upon creating local credentials or resisting an online account, the router performs an initial internet performance test and then goes about setting up your router. Much like other recent UniFi releases, the system has a ‘gamer’ style installation screen that shows tips and guides on how to get the most out of your router – very rare in a router I will say.

The setup process takes around 2-3 minutes and after that, you have pretty much FULL control and access to the Router’s configuration from your mobile phone. You can definitely tell that UNiFi have put the hours in with regard to the UX of the mobile application. Routers (and switches for that matter) are NOT easy systems to try and simplify – let along ocndence in a compact mobile UI. However they really have excelled in the latest version of their software.

Management of individual devices on the network are all presented intuitively in the app, and alongside their position/priority/bandwidth/consumption being presented, you can also use the app to institute controls and rules for 1, some or all devices on the fly – with instant implementation. Again, it’s no the fact that you can ‘do’ this that I am impressed by, it is the ease and intuitive way it is presented in a mobile app.

The same applies to the physical connections and wireless connections on the UCG-Fiber itself, with full remote control with the app to bridge, negotiate, failover, vLAN, disable, etc any port easily – as well as create new SSIDs, assign channels and push client devices around on the router side in 3-4 clicks. All of this is performed responsively and easily in the app.

On the subject of client devices, let’s discuss that WiFi 7 support. WiFi 7 opens up ALOT of performance and general bandwidth advantages. WiFi routers and client devices have been around now for around 10-12 months, as well as the increase in availability globally of greater than Gigabit internet services. Most internet service providers have already a router with their services – but not many provide WiFi 7 routers with their services, even at greater than gigabit speeds. So, what is the advantage? For the quicker (ish) version, watch my video below.

Now, you might well not have any devices right now that are WiFi 7, but plan on upgrading to WiFi 7 at some point in the further over a PCIe upgrade card. Even if you are using a system that lacks a PCIe upgrade clot, you can get small m.2 upgrade cards for a WiFi 7 / 802.11be upgrade for as little as $15-20 here. Hell, you do not even need to open up your system, as you can now get WiFi 7 to USB adapter upgrades for as little as $25-30, which is exactly what used when testing the router with my Windows 11 laptop for the earlier testing of the UCG-Fiber.

The USB-to-WiFi 7 Adapter I used in my testing of the UCG-Fiber was this one HERE on Aliexpress.

This USB to WiFi 7 adapter allowed for immediate 802.11be connectivity between my laptop and the UniFi Dream Router 7, over the now available 6Ghz band. Although there is more to WiFi 7 and this router than just that additional frequency. The UCG-Fiber SUPPORTS 2.4Ghz and 5ghz (just like all WiFi 6 and 6E routers), but crucially alongside the 6Ghz band allowing for more active concurrent connections, you are also able to take advantage of 320Mhz bandwidth (till now WiFi 6/6E only allowed for up to the 160Mhz connections). This means that you have a greater bandwidth per connection – though you can only have a finite amount of connections at 320Mhz at once. This is COMBINED with WiFi allowing for overlapping connections too and 1 device enjoying multiple connections at once.

This means that not only can you match the speed of a normal wired gigabit connection, but you can ABSOLUTELY SMASH IT! As you can see below, using this USB adapter on my regular windows laptop, connecting to the UniFi Dream Router 7 over the 6Hz band – I was able to hit 2.8Gb/s wireless connectivity!!! That is even faster than using one of the physical 2.5GbE connections on the UCG-Fiber.

It’s worth remembering though that WiFi 7 is NOT perfect and although it presents a lot of benefits for bandwidth improvements, reduced latency and increased encryption options, support of the wider frequencies and abilities of a larger WiFi 7 populated network are still a little ‘early days’.

By that, I mean that although you can hit high performance with 320Mhz connections, the actual radio frequency opened up right now (depending on your region) is pretty slim. The UCG-Fiber router DOES show you the full radio spectrum, separated dynamically with each 20/40/80/160/320Mhz block that is spread across 2.4/5/6Ghz – but ALOT of it is still unavailable to use in many regions.

These limitations are likely going to reduce over time and, therefore you have to look at a decent % of the WiFi capabilities of the UniFi Dream Router 7 as ‘future proofing’ – but just keep in mind that although you can deploy ALOT of wireless (and wired) devices in a UCG-Fiber managed environment, those peak 802.11be/WiFi 7 bandwidth improvements are going to be shared only by a few client devices – in reality the real benefits are going to be felt with the opening up of the 6Ghz frequency allowing for more devices to be spread over all three frequencies and bands at 80/160Mhz.

Anotehr note to keep in mind is that the 6Ghz band has a shorter area of effect than 5Ghz (which likewise has a shorter area than WiFi 5). So WiFi7 is at it’s best in closer proximity without walls – more as a cable alternative if you are in the same areas as your UniFi router. But when I connected to a 10GbE NAS (connected to the 10GbE port of my UCG-Fiber), I was able to hit 187MB/s write easily (though read performance was oddly inconsistent – possibly related to the NAS, still investigating – TBC) in CrystalDiskMark.

Likewise, similar testing with the WiFi 7 USB Adapter, through the UCG-Fiber and at the 10GbE connected NAS hit 260MB/s+ easily. Once again, I would have easily respected this if I had been connecting with the NAS using the 2.5GbE ports – but I am hugely impressed that I was able to hit this benchmark over a WiFi connection (thanks to that 2.8Gbps 6Ghz setup). Respect!

Additionally it is very easy to monitor the position, WiFi coverage, Channel and performance of any device connected to the UCG-Fiber controller software. Also allowing you to create rules o the fly to automatically manage them later as/when devices arrive.

These same controls also extend all the way down to the ISP input of the UCG-Fiber AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE uNIfI AP/Nodses in your setup, can control how/where bandwidth is allocated and the priority of devices/nodes that are unique to your own deployment.

The dashboard features a grouped UI and analytics overview that allows you to see the price traffic that is going into a physical LAN, grouped VLAN or just a single devices on the network – allowing you to see the sites/services/geo data in real time too!

And likewise as before, you can extent these analytics all the way to the root UCG-Fiber router to see EVERYTHING happening in realtime in your network and internet connectivity.

Blacklisting (and whitelisting occasionally) or certain websites is also easy to action manually when needed too – or you can import an existing database of ‘bad’ site lists directly into the UCG-Fiber to simplify the process.

Once rules, priorities, orders of services and limits have been created, you can then apply them to individual devices, networks, groups, vLANS, etc – even to a physical LAN port if needed. These rules are completely customizable and if 1 parameter is changed on the fly, it immediately actions across all selected devices.

It’s also worth highlighting that UniFi has its own enterprise user identity service (‘Identity Endpoint’) that you can apply to devices if you want to ensure that connected devices on the LAN or WAN are truly secure (client auth tools on each device) and this extends to the VPN and UniFi network client device access too.

I also should stress that although the UCG-Fiber seems like a very, VERY proprietary router – UniFi do NOT lock you into having to create an account with them or use only their services. You can set the system up for LOCAL ONLY management and control if you choose. Or even hybrid the two and create 1 secure ‘Identity Endpoint sys admin’, but others are ‘local’ only – nice balance tbh.

And new users (super user or billy basic!) can be created, modified and deleted at any time!

Control and configuration of the UCG-Fiber are very straight forward and there are pretty high end configuration options in the backend of the system to control both the local network setup, as well as WiFi connectivity out the box (or added later in the case of systems like the UCG Fiber via the U7/U7 Pro/U6).

And professional SI’s/Technicians can set the system to ‘truly open’ if they wish, and this can be securely controlled as needed. This allows for opening up frequencies in the case of a WiFi setup down the road and advanced settings related to antenna gain/adaption.

The system configuration and control are surprisingly extensive for a $279 router and puts it well, well into the realms of an enterprise-grade solution, despite its Prosumer/SMB price point.

Unsurprisingly, the UCG-Fiber has internet speed test tools (either using the native web browser GUI or the WiFiman application for Android/iOS).

But its goes further, with the ability to monitor the packet management in your network (covered earlier) to such as extent that you can even block the server calls to specific sites/vendors that are going through the UniFi manager and block them SPECIFICALLY. Eg, want to keep google services, but NOT YouTube (either for work/professional reasons, or because of your kids homework deadline?) – you can do that REALLY easily.

And you can apply these rules easily and analytics with ease via the topographical network monitoring window. So you can visually see the devices in the network, then apply the rules, in case a new device gets sneakily added to circumnavigate any limits/restricts in palce.

And if you see a sudden spike in internet use, you can (in seconds) isolate the device that is causing it AND see what it is – allowing yo to block/monitor as needed.

Equally, you can set some pretty extensive security provisions to pre-emptively kick in when an unknown device arrives on the scene, or if an existing device in the network begins to be suspicious.

The same goes for creating day 1/100 rules for port forwarding, traffic management and Firewall rules. All of this is HUGELY customizable and most pages in the UniFi GUI feature both ‘simple/easy’ views, as well as much more complex advanced views as needed at the top of each page.

The multiple LAN ports can also be scaled up/down as needed if your existing network is not quite ready for the full network connectivity of the UCG-Fiber too.

And thanks to the UCG-Fiber featuring multiple WAN ports, you can decide how you want to handle multiple ISP services into your home/business, to separate/combine/balance between them with ease across your connected devices.

Additionally, each WAN port can be adjusted to a ‘WAN’ or ‘LAN’ roles as needed – even disabled. So, whether it is as a failover internet connection, or that you want to free up that 10GbE port for use as a LAN – The choice is yours!

Also, as mentioned earlier, as the system supported internal storage via the slot, you can go ahead and run UniFi Protect surveillance software too – as well as as an additional switch to the available LAN ports, for cameras or add a camera to the POE port.

There are actually several different surveillance, communications, display or smart appliances in the UniFi portfolio that can be installed on the internet storage drive + also means you have more scope for that POE ready port.

It gets to a point (perhaps) that there are TOO many security and configuration options, and people looking for just a router to ‘just do it’s job’ will be somewhat overwhelmed. Most of the important settings are already set pretty well, but I never the less recommend first time buyers take the time to explore the configuration options present in order to better understand what they are buying here in terms of it’s abilities to protect your network and internet services.

This extends right the way down to the more advanced prevention and intrusion protection measures (Dark Web blocking too). Again, pretty advanced for many, but take the time to look through them if you purchase the UCG-Fiber.

And if in doubt, you can use the UniFi Teleport VPN service to anonymize your site-to-site exchanges (again, very ‘first party’ and more about SD-WAN level stuff, but does form part of the purchase here).

Also, keep in mind that the UCG-Fiber has the option to create Airgaps in it’s wired network AND WiFi connectivity (if you want to add that) that allows you to create automated access times – especially useful for businesses who want to lock down access outside of the usual 9-5 operational hours.

If you want to use WiFi services, yo can create multiple SSIDs of varying degrees of access – and yes, all the controls on security, speed, antenna, frequency, vLAN, etc are all present here too.

When creating those VLANS, you can add specific physical ports, IDs, WiFi APs etc to that vLAN to segregate your network as securely as possible.

And from there you can adjust the vLAN configuration in terms of it’s smooth operation and security directly from the network management panel (as well as view all active vLANS on one page if needed to see how they interact/clash + show each device you have moved in/out of them easily.

And again, all packet management/monitoring are available within the vLAN if you need.

If this all sounds tremendously intimidating, there is a much, MUCH easier 1 panel view in the ‘Insights’ tab that just shows each current network branch and it’s connections/clients in a list format.

Not good enough? How about a global view that shows the data packet exchange in real time with regard to each region (i.e worried that your data is being harvested to an overseas location, this will show you which countries are currently connected with on your UCG-Fiber for upload/download (websites? server? It’s easy to check and find out here!).

Bottom line – the bulk of the UniFi Control Software here is available on the majority of UniFi Router, Express, Cloud Gateway and Dream Machine devices – but the EXTENT to which you can use it is heavily dependent on the device you buy. In the case of the UCG-Fiber, you have a fantastic balance of Day 1 control sure, but you have an even better management and scalability on the system for when your ISP services double/triple, as well as the number of devices in your network expand.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) presents itself as a compact and capable network gateway solution that brings high-speed connectivity, PoE support, and integrated storage options to UniFi’s growing lineup of cloud-managed devices. Its dual 10G SFP+ ports, a 10GbE RJ45 port, and multiple 2.5GbE ports make it a strong option for users who require multi-gigabit networking in a small form factor. The inclusion of PoE support on one of the 2.5GbE ports adds a level of flexibility, allowing for directly connected UniFi APs or cameras without requiring an external PoE switch. Additionally, the support for NVMe SSD storage enables on-device UniFi Protect NVR functionality, which may be useful for businesses and users looking to consolidate their networking and surveillance infrastructure. From a software perspective, the UniFi Network, Protect, and Talk applications provide a familiar and well-integrated ecosystem that benefits from centralized management and cloud access. The license-free SD-WAN and VPN services also add value for users requiring secure remote access and site-to-site networking.

However, the UCG-Fiber is not without its drawbacks. The lack of flexibility in WAN port assignment may be a limiting factor for some users, especially those who do not have 10GbE WAN connectivity and would prefer to configure one of the 2.5GbE ports as a WAN interface (Correction, changing 2.5G ports to WAN/WAN2 is supported, just requires small assignment changes). The requirement to purchase a separate M.2 SSD adapter tray is another downside, as it adds an additional cost for users who intend to use the NVMe storage option. Additionally, with only 3GB of non-upgradable RAM, there could be concerns about long-term scalability if future UniFi software updates demand more system resources. While the ARM-based CPU is efficient, it does not match the performance of higher-end x86-based networking solutions, which may affect performance in environments with high packet processing demands. The absence of USB connectivity for external backups is another small but notable omission. Overall, the UCG-Fiber is a well-rounded networking device with a strong focus on multi-gigabit connectivity, PoE integration, and UniFi software compatibility, but it may not be the ideal solution for users with more complex WAN requirements or those needing expandable memory and storage flexibility.

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CWWK N355 DIY NAS Motherboard Review

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard is a Mini-ITX board designed for users looking to build a compact yet powerful NAS system with high storage capacity and expansion potential. Featuring the Intel Twin Lake N355 processor, dual 2.5GbE networking, six SATA ports, and two NVMe slots, it balances performance and affordability. With PCIe 3.0 expansion and a power-efficient CPU, it provides a solid foundation for home lab enthusiasts and small-scale NAS builders. However, it does come with some limitations, particularly in PCIe lane allocation and component placement. This review covers design, hardware, storage, performance tests, and overall value to determine whether it’s the right choice for your next DIY NAS project.

Available in two configurations, the N150 quad-core version ($174) and the N355 octa-core version ($288), this motherboard positions itself as a budget-friendly but capable alternative to more expensive NAS solutions. While the onboard features are generous for the price, the placement of components and some design choices might limit expandability for certain users. Let’s dive deeper.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Quick Conclusion

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard provides a solid balance between affordability and performance, making it a strong option for NAS builders and home lab users. With six SATA ports and two NVMe slots, it offers flexible storage options, while dual 2.5GbE networking ensures decent network speeds. The PCIe 3.0 x4 slot allows for expansion, but lane allocation limitations could be a bottleneck for certain configurations. Power efficiency is excellent, and during testing, the N355 CPU handled multiple VMs, media streaming, and general NAS tasks well. However, thermal management and component placement could have been better, particularly around the PCIe and SATA ports.

Overall, the CWWK N355 is a capable Mini-ITX NAS motherboard, especially for those comfortable with DIY setups. The lack of ECC memory support, PCIe lane sharing, and close component placement are drawbacks, but for the price, it remains a versatile and well-featured board.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 9/10

8.8

PROS

Compact Mini-ITX design, ideal for NAS builds
Dual 2.5GbE ports for enhanced network performance
Six SATA ports for ample storage expandability
Two NVMe slots for high-speed SSD caching or storage
Energy-efficient Intel N355 CPU with low power draw
Good virtualization support for lightweight VMs and containers
Strong media streaming performance, including Plex compatibility
Affordable price point compared to similar NAS motherboards

CONS

PCIe slot placement may block SATA ports with larger cards
Limited PCIe lanes constrain high-speed expansion options
No ECC memory support, which may be a concern for some user

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CWWK N355 NAS Review – Design

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard follows a compact Mini-ITX design, offering a good mix of functionality and space efficiency. Its 10-layer high-density PCB provides durability, while the standard ATX 24-pin power and 4-pin CPU power connectors make it easy to integrate into various NAS chassis. The purple PCB aesthetic is unique, setting it apart from many other DIY NAS motherboards. However, despite its compact build, some of the design choices create challenges when it comes to expandability.

One of the most noticeable issues is the placement of the PCIe 3.0 x4 slot in relation to the SATA ports. While the board allows for expansion cards like RAID controllers or 10GbE adapters, the proximity of the PCIe slot to the six SATA ports means that larger cards can obstruct some of the SATA connections.

This could force users to choose between additional network connectivity and full SATA drive support, which is an unfortunate trade-off. Ideally, an SFF-8087 or OCuLink alternative for SATA connectivity would have been a better approach, reducing port congestion.

The built-in cooling options are fairly basic, with a single CPU fan header and two system fan headers (only one supporting PWM). While the board is designed for low-power efficiency, adding high-performance storage or running multiple VMs may generate additional heat that requires better cooling.

The included stock CPU cooler is not ideal, as it sits too close to nearby components, making it harder to install without interfering with the SO-DIMM DDR5 memory slot. Users are advised to invest in a third-party low-profile cooler for better thermal management.

On the connectivity side, dual 2.5GbE network ports (Intel i226V) provide solid networking performance for most NAS use cases, with support for SMB Multichannel and link aggregation. The limited USB selection, however, could be a concern.

With only one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports, users relying on external storage or bootable USB setups may find the available connections restrictive. That said, the internal USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 headers provide some additional flexibility for internal USB-based boot drives, but a few more rear-facing USB ports would have been welcome.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Storage

Storage is a key strength of the CWWK N355 motherboard, with a combination of six SATA3 ports and two M.2 NVMe slots offering flexibility for different storage configurations. The ASM1166 SATA controller is responsible for managing the six SATA ports, providing stable performance for hard drives and SSDs. Users looking to build a NAS with high-capacity drives will appreciate the dedicated SATA expansion, which supports RAID configurations through software.

The two M.2 NVMe slots, while a welcome addition, are limited to PCIe 3.0 x1 speeds, meaning they can only reach maximum sequential throughput of around 780-800MB/s. This is a clear limitation compared to PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slots found in higher-end boards. However, these slots are still useful for caching or fast-access storage, especially when paired with SATA drives for bulk data storage.

During testing, a RAID 0 setup with six 4TB HDDs achieved 650MB/s sustained throughput, showing that the ASM1166 controller handles multiple drives efficiently. Performance with SATA SSDs was better, with speeds saturating the SATA3 interface at 550-560MB/s per drive. Users expecting enterprise-level speeds may find this limiting, but for general NAS applications, it performs well.

Another consideration is PCIe lane allocation. Because the ASM1166 controller operates on a PCIe 3.0 x1 interface, total throughput is shared across all six SATA ports. This means that in heavy read/write operations across multiple drives, users might encounter bottlenecks. Those planning on maximizing SATA performance should ensure efficient data distribution across drives.

Ultimately, while the storage configuration is flexible and functional, the PCIe 3.0 x1 restrictions on both NVMe and SATA controllers present some limitations. For users needing high-speed NVMe storage, a motherboard with PCIe 3.0 x4 support per NVMe slot would be preferable, but for most NAS applications, the N355 provides good storage expandability at a reasonable price.

Interestingly, when I rand 100x 1GB File tests via terminal on each of the Gen 3×1 m.2 NVMe, the numbers were pretty good (factoring in the efficient class CPU and 1 lane of Gen 3 – so was never gonna exceed 800-900MB/s anyway).

Afterwards, I wanted to check if the PCIe slot was sharing lane space with the 2nd m.2 slot (as is the case on some of the N100/N305 NAS Moos before) and I am pleased to confirm that I was able to use terminal and 100x 1GB Read on both the 2nd M.2 NVMe slot AND another m.2 NVMe on a PCIe Card mounted on via the PCIe 3×4 slot.

So I am quite happy with the data/internal bandwidth in these tests with such a modest CPU. Let’s discuss this internal hardware and performance more.

CWWK N355 NAS Review – Tests & Performance

The Intel N355 CPU offers efficient performance for NAS-related tasks, including file sharing, virtualization, and media streaming. During testing, it handled multiple VMs running concurrently, with each assigned a virtual CPU and minimal RAM. Even under load, the CPU maintained stable performance without excessive heat generation, making it suitable for users who need a lightweight but capable processing unit for home lab applications.

Network performance was another highlight, with the dual 2.5GbE interfaces providing a combined throughput of up to 550MB/s in link aggregation mode. Real-world file transfers over SMB showed consistent multi-gigabit speeds, demonstrating the board’s ability to handle data-heavy operations effectively. However, users aiming for 10GbE connectivity will need to rely on the PCIe slot, which introduces some trade-offs in terms of expansion options.

In media applications, the N355 CPU managed simultaneous 1080p and 4K Plex streams, with CPU usage remaining under 60% during software transcoding. Native playback and direct-streaming performed significantly better, with no noticeable impact on system resources. While the board lacks dedicated hardware transcoding support, it remains a viable option for users relying on direct-play workflows.

Power efficiency remained a strong suit, with idle power consumption measuring around 9-10W with SSDs installed, increasing to 30-40W under load with multiple drives and VMs active. The low TDP ensures minimal heat output, but active cooling is still recommended for prolonged high workloads. Overall, performance results confirm that this board is well-optimized for NAS duties, though users with high-end processing needs may require a more powerful solution.

CWWK N355 NAS MITX Board Review – Verdict & Conclusion

The CWWK N355 DIY NAS motherboard is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable and feature-rich Mini-ITX solution for NAS applications. Its combination of dual 2.5GbE networking, six SATA ports, and two NVMe slots offers a strong foundation for storage and high-speed connectivity. Performance-wise, the N355 CPU handles virtualization and media streaming well, maintaining a low power draw while running multiple tasks efficiently. However, the limited PCIe lane allocation can restrict certain use cases, particularly when adding high-performance storage or networking upgrades. Despite these constraints, this motherboard delivers solid performance for users prioritizing a cost-effective and power-efficient NAS setup.

That being said, users should carefully consider their expansion needs before purchasing, as PCIe slot placement and bandwidth limitations may impact future upgrades. Additionally, the lack of ECC memory support may be a concern for enterprise-level deployments, though most home users and small-scale NAS setups will not be significantly affected. Ultimately, the CWWK N355 stands out as a capable and versatile board, offering good performance, reasonable expandability, and excellent value for money.

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Is the Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Your DREAM Gen5 SSD?

Samsung has officially entered the PCIe 5.0 market with the release of the 9100 PRO Series SSD, its first high-performance consumer Gen 5 NVMe SSD. Unlike previous Samsung SSD releases that focused on mainstream users, this drive is built for professionals, power users, and AI-driven workloads. Featuring sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, the 9100 PRO is aimed at content creators, data analysts, and enterprise users who require fast and reliable storage solutions. Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and an upcoming 8TB model, this SSD is one of the highest-capacity consumer NVMe drives ever released by Samsung. With Samsung’s in-house controller, V-NAND TLC (V8) flash memory, and LPDDR4X DRAM-based caching, the 9100 PRO is designed to offer both high-speed data transfer and long-term durability. Power efficiency has also been improved by up to 49% compared to its predecessor, the 990 PRO, making it a more energy-conscious choice for intensive applications. However, despite its impressive technical specifications, the 9100 PRO enters a market where PCIe 5.0 SSDs have been available for nearly two years from competitors such as Seagate and Crucial. This review will assess whether Samsung’s late entry to the Gen 5 SSD market delivers a significant performance advantage or whether its delayed release puts it at a competitive disadvantage. In this review, we will examine the hardware and design of the 9100 PRO, compare it against Samsung’s previous generation 990 EVO and EVO Plus SSDs, and analyze its performance across multiple benchmarks to determine if it truly offers a measurable advantage over existing PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Finally, we will consider its pricing and availability, and whether this drive is a worthwhile investment for users looking to upgrade their storage solutions in 2025.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Quick Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is a true PCIe 5.0 Gen4x4 drive, delivering industry-leading speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available. Unlike many competitors using third-party controllers from Phison and Micron NAND, the 9100 PRO is fully in-house, featuring Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8) for tighter hardware-firmware integration, improved power efficiency (up to 49% better than earlier Gen5 SSDs), and high endurance (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model). Random performance is excellent, reaching 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, making it a strong choice for AI workloads, video production, and large-scale data processing. However, heat remains a challenge, as the drive can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring active cooling or Samsung’s optional heatsink model. Pricing is premium, with some PCIe 5.0 competitors offering similar speeds at lower costs due to earlier releases. Additionally, while Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, firmware issues in past models like the 990 PRO and 980 PRO have left some users cautious. Despite these drawbacks, the 9100 PRO stands out as one of the most refined PCIe 5.0 SSDs, offering a high-endurance, fully in-house solution for demanding users.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 7/10

8.2

PROS

Industry-Leading Speed – Offers sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs available.

Fully In-House Design – Uses Samsung’s proprietary Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8), avoiding reliance on third-party controllers like Phison and Micron NAND, ensuring better hardware-firmware integration.

High Endurance Rating – Provides up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model, making it ideal for high-intensity workloads like AI computing, video editing, and large-scale data transfers.

Improved Power Efficiency – Samsung claims 49% better power efficiency compared to previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, reducing heat output and improving overall energy consumption.

Strong Random Performance – With up to 2,200K IOPS random read and 2,600K IOPS random write, it excels in workloads that involve frequent small file transactions, such as databases, virtual machines, and AI training models.

Multiple Capacity Options – Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, making it one of the first consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs with an 8TB variant.

Heatsink Version Available – Samsung provides an optional D8-compliant heatsink, ensuring better thermal regulation for sustained performance, especially for gaming consoles like PlayStation 5.

A True Gen 5 SSD – Unlike the safe and comparatively underwhelming Samsung 990 EVO Plus, which only utilized PCIe 5.0 x2 lanes, the 9100 PRO fully utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, delivering real next-generation speeds.

CONS

High Thermal Output – Can reach 81°C under sustained workloads, requiring adequate cooling solutions, either through the heatsink model or third-party cooling options.

Premium Pricing – Enters a PCIe 5.0 market where some competitors offer similar speeds at lower prices due to their earlier release, making it a costly investment for budget-conscious users.

Samsung’s Firmware History – While Samsung has a strong reputation for SSD reliability, previous firmware issues in the 990 PRO and 980 PRO raised concerns, making some users cautious about potential long-term stability.

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Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Design and Hardware

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD follows a standard M.2 2280 form factor, making it compatible with most modern motherboards and laptops that support PCIe 5.0. The PCB layout varies by capacity, with the 1TB and 2TB models featuring NAND chips only on one side, while the 4TB and 8TB versions have NAND chips on both sides of the PCB. Unlike previous Samsung SSDs, such as the 990 EVO, which featured single-sided designs for improved compatibility in laptops, the higher-capacity 9100 PRO models require additional NAND space, making them better suited for desktops and high-performance workstations.

The drive also includes a thermal pad on the back, which assists in heat dissipation when used with compatible motherboard heatsinks. Samsung offers a pre-installed heatsink variant for improved temperature management, utilizing a PCI-SIG D8-compliant design for the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB models, while the 8TB heatsink version features a thicker 11.25mm design for enhanced cooling, making it compatible with PlayStation 5 storage expansion requirements.

At the core of the 9100 PRO SSD is Samsung’s Presto PCIe 5.0 controller, which represents a significant advancement over previous controllers used in Samsung SSDs. This custom in-house design allows the 9100 PRO to achieve nearly full PCIe 5.0 bandwidth saturation, enabling up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds. Unlike the 990 EVO, which used a more power-efficient but limited PCIe 4.0 controller, the 9100 PRO benefits from an advanced controller architecture that enhances throughput and reduces latency.

Built on a 5nm process, this controller lowers power consumption compared to earlier PCIe 5.0 SSDs, improves thermal efficiency, and integrates advanced ECC and wear-leveling algorithms for better long-term reliability. Additionally, Samsung’s Presto controller features a larger DRAM buffer and optimized NAND channel management, allowing the 9100 PRO to deliver high sustained speeds under extended workloads.

Unlike the 990 EVO and 990 EVO Plus, which were DRAM-less SSDs relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, the Samsung 9100 PRO integrates dedicated LPDDR4X DRAM, providing better caching and improved sustained write performance. The amount of DRAM scales with the drive’s capacity, with 1GB for 1TB models, 2GB for 2TB, 4GB for 4TB, and 8GB for 8TB.

This ensures that larger models handle large file transfers, database workloads, and AI-driven tasks more efficiently. The Presto controller’s enhanced memory mapping further improves the effectiveness of DRAM caching, ensuring lower latency and higher sustained write speeds. This is a notable advantage over competing PCIe 5.0 SSDs, many of which cut costs by removing DRAM and relying on slower caching solutions.

The 9100 PRO utilizes Samsung’s latest 3-bit MLC V-NAND (V8), which delivers higher density, improved durability, and greater efficiency compared to previous NAND generations. This 3-bit MLC (commonly referred to as TLC) enables faster read and write cycles, lower power consumption per operation, and improved reliability. Unlike older NAND designs used in PCIe 4.0 SSDs, the V8 NAND architecture allows for greater endurance and a more efficient distribution of read and write cycles, making it better suited for high-performance tasks such as video editing, AI computing, and professional content creation.

The 4TB and 8TB models benefit from additional NAND dies, increasing parallel processing capabilities and enabling higher performance under heavy workloads. Compared to Samsung’s previous consumer SSDs, the 9100 PRO’s NAND offers greater consistency in performance, reducing the risk of slowdowns due to write amplification and NAND wear over time.

Samsung rates the 9100 PRO with a Total Bytes Written (TBW) endurance rating of up to 4,800 TB for the 8TB model, with lower capacities following a scaled endurance pattern of 600 TB (1TB), 1,200 TB (2TB), and 2,400 TB (4TB). This results in a Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) rating of approximately 0.328, meaning users can rewrite around one-third of the drive’s full capacity daily for five years before reaching the warranty limit.

Samsung claims on the 9100 PRO peak sequential read/write speeds (though based on hugely synthetic tests on an AMD Ryzen 9 7950x 16-Core Processor [email protected] system) make it one of the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available in 2025. These speeds nearly double those of the 990 EVO (more on that shortly) released around 4-5 months before. Additionally, random read and write speeds exceeding 2.2M and 2.6M IOPS, which is a major improvement for workloads requiring frequent small file transactions, such as AI modeling, LLM training, and cloud storage applications. However, real-world performance may vary depending on factors such as cooling, system architecture, and workload type, which will be explored in the performance testing section of this review.

Samsung also emphasizes the power efficiency gains of the 9100 PRO, stating that the new controller and NAND design allow for up to 49% better efficiency than the previous generation 990 PRO. Power consumption during active operation is rated at 7.6W for the 1TB model, 8.1W for the 2TB, and 9.0W for the 4TB version, ensuring lower power draw compared to other PCIe 5.0 SSDs with similar performance ratings. This efficiency improvement helps reduce heat output and extends the lifespan of the drive, making it a more suitable option for professional and high-end workstation environments.

Samsung 9100 SSD vs the Samsung 990 EVO PLUS – Gen5 SSDs Compared

The Samsung 9100 PRO and Samsung 990 EVO Plus cater to different segments of the SSD market, with the 9100 PRO targeting high-performance workloads and the 990 EVO Plus designed for mainstream users seeking a balance between speed and efficiency. The most significant difference lies in interface and speed, as the 9100 PRO utilizes PCIe 5.0 x4, allowing for sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds up to 13,400 MB/s. In contrast, the 990 EVO Plus uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 interface, capping its speeds at 7,250 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write.

While this makes the 990 EVO Plus one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives, it falls considerably behind the 9100 PRO, particularly in random performance, where the 9100 PRO achieves up to 2,200K IOPS read and 2,600K IOPS write, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s 1,050K IOPS read and 1,400K IOPS write. The 9100 PRO also integrates LPDDR4X DRAM, ensuring smoother performance under heavy workloads, whereas the 990 EVO Plus relies on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which is dependent on system RAM and may lead to performance inconsistencies in extended write operations.

Beyond speed, endurance and power efficiency also differ significantly between the two drives. The 9100 PRO offers a higher TBW rating, reaching 4,800 TB on the 8TB model, compared to the 990 EVO Plus’s maximum of 2,400 TBW for its 4TB version. This makes the 9100 PRO more suitable for AI computing, professional video editing, and enterprise applications where large amounts of data are written daily. Power consumption is another key factor, with the 9100 PRO consuming between 7.6W and 9.0W under active operation, while the 990 EVO Plus operates at a lower 4.3W to 5.5W during reads and 4.2W to 4.8W during writes.

While the 990 EVO Plus is more power-efficient, the 9100 PRO compensates with significantly higher performance and an improved energy efficiency rating, reducing power consumption by 49% compared to previous Samsung PCIe 5.0 drives. Overall, while the 990 EVO Plus is a strong option for users looking for a high-speed PCIe 4.0 SSD, the 9100 PRO is a better fit for professionals requiring the fastest speeds, highest endurance, and improved thermal performance.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Performance Tests

Performance testing for the Samsung 9100 PRO was conducted on a Windows 10 system with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a PCIe 5.0-enabled motherboard. The operating system was installed on a separate PCIe 4.0 SSD, while the 9100 PRO was tested in an available PCIe 5.0 slot.

Benchmarking tools included ATTO Disk Benchmark, CrystalDiskMark, AJA System Test, and real-world file transfer tests to assess sequential and random performance under different workloads. The drive was tested in both bare PCB configuration and with a third-party heatsink, as the proprietary Samsung heatsink version was unavailable for this review.

In ATTO Disk Benchmark, which measures transfer speeds across different file sizes, the 9100 PRO achieved sequential read speeds of between 11.3 GB/s and 11.5 GB/s, with occasional peaks reaching 12.5 GB/s under optimal conditions. These results, while slightly lower than Samsung’s claimed 14.8 GB/s read speed, remain among the highest reported for consumer PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Write speeds in ATTO remained stable at approximately 11.0 GB/s to 12.0 GB/s, showing consistent performance across multiple test runs.

Meanwhile, CrystalDiskMark testing at a 16GB file size reported read speeds of up to 11,881 MB/s and write speeds of 12,444 MB/s, with random IOPS reaching up to 1.5 million under ideal conditions. While the drive’s performance fluctuated slightly depending on workload type, overall speeds remained close to manufacturer specifications, confirming its status as one of the fastest SSDs available in 2025.

For real-world testing, a 52GB mixed dataset comprising 1,711 files across 42 folders was transferred to the 9100 PRO from another PCIe 4.0 SSD. The transfer was completed in just over 34 seconds, with speeds sustaining well above 9,000 MB/s for most of the operation. These figures align with high-end PCIe 5.0 expectations, demonstrating the drive’s ability to maintain consistent performance under heavy workloads.

Additionally, AJA System Test, which simulates video production workloads, recorded sustained read speeds of nearly 10,000 MB/s, making the 9100 PRO a strong choice for video editing professionals working with large 8K or RAW footage files. Notably, write performance remained stable even during long transfers, likely due to Samsung’s expanded Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 cache, which allocates up to 442GB of SLC cache on the 4TB model to handle large sequential writes without immediate slowdowns.

During testing, the 9100 PRO’s temperatures fluctuated between 45°C and 55°C at idle, while sustained workloads pushed temperatures above 81°C under extended high-speed transfers. While Samsung’s new 5nm Presto controller is more power-efficient than previous PCIe 5.0 designs, high-speed Gen 5 SSDs inherently produce significant heat, requiring adequate cooling solutions to prevent throttling. In testing with a third-party heatsink, thermal recovery was fast, and the drive quickly dropped back to safe temperature ranges within seconds after peak workloads ended. However, without a heatsink, performance throttling was observed after extended write operations, reinforcing the importance of active cooling for sustained performance in PCIe 5.0 SSDs.

Overall, the Samsung 9100 PRO delivers competitive and consistent performance across synthetic benchmarks and real-world testing. It consistently reaches 11.5 GB/s to 12.5 GB/s in most workloads, proving it to be among the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs available. Real-world file transfers confirm the drive’s ability to sustain high write speeds, while Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 technology minimizes performance drops even under heavy loads. However, thermal management remains a key consideration, as sustained high-speed operations push temperatures close to throttling limits without a heatsink. Despite this, power efficiency is improved over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, making it a strong option for professionals requiring high-performance storage for AI, video production, and data-heavy workloads.

Samsung 9100 SSD Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD delivers top-tier PCIe 5.0 performance, offering sequential read speeds up to 14,800 MB/s and write speeds reaching 13,400 MB/s, making it one of the fastest consumer SSDs currently available. Unlike many PCIe 5.0 SSDs that rely on third-party controllers from Phison or NAND from Micron, the 9100 PRO benefits from Samsung’s fully in-house design, including its Presto PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8). This ensures better integration between hardware and firmware, resulting in more stable performance, improved power efficiency, and better overall optimization for workloads like AI computing, video production, and high-speed data processing. Additionally, Samsung claims 49% improved power efficiency over previous PCIe 5.0 SSDs, helping to reduce thermal output compared to some early PCIe 5.0 models. Its high endurance rating (up to 4,800 TBW on the 8TB model) also positions it as a strong choice for users who require reliable, long-term performance.

However, there are some key drawbacks to consider. Thermal performance remains a challenge, as the 9100 PRO can reach temperatures above 81°C under extended workloads, meaning a proper cooling solution is necessary to prevent thermal throttling. While Samsung offers a heatsink version, those using the bare PCB model may need to invest in additional cooling for sustained performance. Additionally, real-world speeds, while impressive, do not always match Samsung’s maximum advertised performance, particularly once the TurboWrite cache is exhausted. Furthermore, Samsung’s reputation for SSD reliability is generally strong, but firmware issues in previous models, such as the 990 PRO and 980 PRO, led to concerns over long-term stability. While Samsung has since addressed those problems, some users may remain cautious about potential firmware-related risks. Despite these concerns, the 9100 PRO still stands out as one of the best PCIe 5.0 SSDs available, offering fully in-house hardware, high endurance, and leading-edge performance for users who need the fastest storage available today.

Need More Help Choosing the Right Storage Solution?

Choosing the right data storage solution for your needs can be very intimidating and it’s never too late to ask for help. With options ranging from NAS to DAS, Thunderbolt to SAS and connecting everything up so you can access all your lovely data at the touch of a button can be a lot simpler than you think. If you want some tips, guidance or help with everything from compatibility to suitability of a solution for you, why not drop me a message below and I will get back to you as soon as possible with what you should go for, its suitability and the best place to get it. This service is designed without profit in mind and in order to help you with your data storage needs, so I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible.

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How to Install TrueNAS Scale/Core on a Terramaster NAS

If you’re new to private server storage, you’ve probably heard the phrase “everything runs on Linux.” While that’s not entirely true (many other platforms exist with their own foundations), Linux remains the dominant base for much of the software we use daily—including Network Attached Storage (NAS). When it comes to NAS, most new or less experienced users fall into two main categories:

1. DIY Enthusiasts – Those who prefer to build their own systems, optimizing costs and flexibility with open-source platforms like TrueNAS Scale (the Linux-based counterpart to the popular TrueNAS Core on FreeBSD).
2. Turnkey Buyers – Those willing to pay extra for a prebuilt system, even if it means dealing with some software limitations.

But what if you want the best of both worlds? Good news—you can have it! In this guide, I’ll show you how to transform TerraMaster’s highly affordable NAS solutions (arguably the best value on the market right now) into a TrueNAS -powered, ZFS-backed NAS system. Even the 2024/2025 models come well-equipped with multiple NVMe support (the F8 SSD PLUS as a particular stand out device), 2.5GbE networking, embedded graphics CPUs, and more, making them a fantastic base for a Linux NAS.

Best of all, setting this up is much easier than you might think, completely reversible, and provides you with the customization and flexibility of TrueNAS while still benefiting from a prebuilt 24/7 server at an unbeatable price. Sounds great, right? Let’s get started with the step-by-step guide!

Note – You can watch my FULL 30 Min+ beginners Guide to installing TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS Here

TrueNAS on Terramaster – What You Need?

Before you begin, it’s important to note that simply owning a TerraMaster NAS isn’t enough. To get TrueNAS up and running, you’ll need to complete a few preliminary checks and have a few extra items—many of which you may already have at home or in the office. If not, a quick $10 purchase online should cover it.

To upgrade your TerraMaster NAS to TrueNAS , make sure you have the following:

• A Terramaster NAS Drive with (minimum) an Intel 64bit x86 CPU and a minimum 2GB of Memory (recommended 8GB+)
• Download the latest stable release of TrueNAS here as a system image (you will be converting this to USB later on) – DOWNLOAD
• Any Data that is currently on the Terramaster NAS RAID that is mission critical to be backed up or moved (as it will be completely formatted)
• A USB drive no bigger than 9mm x 17mm x 20mm ( I STRONGLY recommend THIS ONE here from Sandisk, as it is low price and incredibly small, even at 32GB)

• I recommend not using a USB larger than 32GB, due to the constraints of 1st party software to format larger than this in FAT32. Don’t be tempted to spend like $2 more for a 64GB, as the TrueNAS installation will occupy the full USB space (as you will create a system-image-USB) and space is utterly irrelevant when the TrueNAS installation is so small
• A Disk Image to USB conversion too. I recommend ‘Rufus’, currently in ver 3.19 and can be run in a portable .exe form that doesn’t require installation – DOWNLOAD
• A basic USB Keyboard (example HERE but really, any will do) and an HDMI Monitor (or simply any device that has an HDMI input – NOT output) such as a TV or Capture card
• Hard Drive and/or SSD media (you should already have these, but just in case) for your storage
• Optional – Download Advanced IP Scanner HERE, as it is a really useful tool for analyzing your network and finding your new TrueNAS NAS for remote access

That is about it. Most of these (maybe not the USB drive at that physical size) you will almost certainly already have to hand.

Can I Reverse the TrueNAS Installation back to Terramaster TOS?

Almost certainly, yes! However, there is one key consideration. When switching from TerraMaster’s TOS to TrueNAS , the internal drives (HDDs and/or SSDs) will be formatted to ZFS, meaning they won’t be recognized by TOS if you choose to switch back later.

The good news? Reverting back is incredibly easy—all you need to do is replace the internal USB drive and reboot the system. However, switching between NAS operating systems will wipe the data on the drives, so be sure to back up your important files elsewhere before proceeding.

Now that you’re ready, let’s move on to installing TrueNAS on your TerraMaster NAS!

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 1, Download TrueNAS

Head to the TrueNAS website HERE and download the latest stable release of the software to your local PC, Linux or Mac system. Make sure to remember where you downloaded it.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 2, Download Rufus USB Image Tool

Head to the Rufus website and download the latest version of that tool – I recommend downloading the standalone executable file here, as then it will immediately run when you double click the file, without installation etc. It may redirect you to Github, but it will be the same executable file. Once again, remember where you downloaded it.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 3, Preparing the USB

Connect the small form factor USB Drive to your system (again, this is the one I used from Sandisk) and after a few seconds, it should appear as an available USB Drive. The drive MAY need formatting (you will be prompted to do so), if that is the case, then you can format it via the system prompts and by default, it will format it to FAT32 (as long as your USB is less than 32GB). If you are not presented with a system prompt to format your USB, then you can head into My PC, or My Computer via a windows computer and right-click the drive, select ‘format’ and format it that way.

If you have used the USB for other things previously, there is a chance that the drive has existing partitions in place. For that, the quickest way to completely remove any partitions is to open up the bottom-left windows system menu as normal, and then just type diskpart and open the command-line GUI tool. From there, use the command list disk to show the available drives that are connected, you will see your USB (normally disk 1 or 2, but can differ depending on your system layout and can be spotted by the storage amount). From there, type select disk # (where # is the drive number that your USB is shown as) and then type clean, which which will then remove any index structure for the drive (i.e the partitions and existing format) and then you can go back to the My Computer/My PC page and format the drive to FAT 32 as normal.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 4, Creating a USB Installer Image of TrueNAS

Open the Rufus application and from there you will see the USB Drive (listed as NO NAME, or ‘UNTITLED’, ETC) at the top. From there, look to the select image/find image option (depending on the ver. of Rufus or your USB Image Creator tool of choice) and find the TrueNAS disk image you downloaded earlier). If the drive is not listed, it may have downloaded as a compressed/archive file. If that is the case, head to the location of where you downloaded TrueNAS (in your file explorer, not in Rufus) and right-click the file you downloaded. If the option to ‘extract‘ is visible, then you can extract it (i.e unpack it to the original form) in that same download directory. From there, head back into RUFUS and then the TrueNAS system image should be visible. Select it, then run the Rufus System image creator tool and create your USB bootable TrueNAS disk image.

REMEMBER! This will completely format your USB drive and any files that are on that USB will be destroyed. The system image creator tool will turn the USB into a pure boot image tool – the USB will not be usable for traditional storage again unless you completely format it again.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 5, REMOVE THE USB FROM YOUR PC!!!!!!!!!

Really, really important and sometimes overlooked. Once the USB creation is completed, you need to remove the USB (using the eject hardware safely option at the bottom right of your windows machine taskbar as normal). DO NOT accidentally leave the USB in your USB Ports for any longer than necessary. If you leave it in and your system reboots at any point (eg in a normal ‘end of day shut down, go home, reboot tomorrow’ scenario), then the system might boot directly into the TrueNAS installation and although it is easy to exit from, it can change your system default boot preferences, maybe even remove your primary boot drive as the OS drive – requiring a little messing with a windows installation disk to change it back. The odds of this are very small, but not zero, so make sure to safely remove your USB drive when the TrueNAS system image creator tool is completed.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 6, Opening up your Terramaster NAS

This next step is going to differ depending on the Terramaster NAS Drive you are choosing to use. For this guide, I am using a 2022/2023 generation F4-423 4-Bay NAS, but the general steps are the same for any Terramaster NAS (though the location of the USB will differ) (the F8 SSD PLUS for example has a particularly secluded USB key internally). With the Terramaster NAS disconnected from the network and from any power source. From there you will need to remove the external casing. In the case of most Terramaster NAS, the chassis is held by 4-6 screws on the rear of the casing that, when removed, allow you to remove the rear pannel+fans and slide the internal framework out the front of the casing (be sure to check the fans are not disconnected accidentally in this process). IMPORTANT – Remove any HDD/SSD Media during the dismantling of the Terramaster NAS chassis, as it would be so, SO easy to harm these with accidentally dropping/motion damage. No need to remember the order of the drives when you re-install them, as they are going to be formatted during the TrueNAS installation.

Now, if you take a closer look at the main controller board of the Terramaster NAS (the one with network/USB ports attached, not the one that the HDD/SSD bays are on), you will spot a VERY small USB module in a tiny USB port. It should look something like this:

Now, THIS is where the default Terramaster TOS NAS software installation is kept. This is NOT where the OS actually runs from, but this is where the system checks in it’s BIOS when booting to find installation media (IF the system does not already have an active OS on the drives). Very delicately (as it IS a small USB and likely tucked in next to some other delicate components) remove the USB there is there, put it somewhere safe (as you will need this if you ever want to return the Terramster back to a TOS software system) and then replace it with the USB from earlier that has the TrueNAS system image you created in Rufus. THIS is why you needed a very small USB, as otherwise there is simply no way you would fit a traditional USB flash stick in the space provided.

That is pretty much it. This only other thing to factor in here is IF your Terramaster NAS does NOT have an external HDMI port. Most Terramsater NAS released in 2020-2025 have an HDMI port on the rear that although largely useless in TOS, is still accessible (something you will need for TrueNAS initialization. However, some Terramaster NAS with Intel Processors have the HDMI Port located INSIDE the main chassis (especially the older great box 2019-2020 gen devices). So, IF your NAS has an inside HDMI port, you are going to need to connect an  HDMI monitor to it and run the initial installation (covering in a bit) with the chassis in this open state. After installation is complete, you can close the Terramaster NAS chassis up. Otherwise, if your NAS already has an external HDMI port, you can go ahead and reconstruct the NAS chassis. Essentially, if you NAS has integrated graphics (Intel Celeron, Pentium, N100, N305, Core, etc), you will have an HDMI output.

NOTE – If you plan on upgrading the memory of your NAS to 8GB-16GB (in order to use ALL of the features of TrueNAS to their fullest extent), I would recommend doing so at this point before rebuilding the physical chassis again, as many Terramaser NAS have the 2nd SODIMM memory slot in really tight locations.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 7, Accessing the HDMI Port and Keyboard Control

Next, you need to start getting the system ready for Initialization and Setup. I would strongly recommend running the first-time installation via a direct interface with the Terramaster NAS. You will need to connect an HDMI Monitor/TV/Capture Card to the HDMI port of the NAS, a Keyboard (and/or mouse) to an available USB port) and then connect the power/network connections to the NAS and boot the device up.

After a few minutes, the TrueNAS GUI/Command will appear on your monitor and all you need to do is navigate the config choices to set up your TrueNAS NAS the first time.

Important – TrueNAS Scale/Core runs at its best when it is run on a separate drive from your storage. Much like an Operating System, you can install TrueNAS on an available SSD in a SATA or NVMe SSD slot in the Terramaster NAS, then (after initialization) you can go into the TrueNAS > Storage area and create a pool of storage using the available storage media bays,

It is NOT recommended that you install it on a USB drive, for reasons of speed and power-connections.

After you have completed the setup and are back at the initial TrueNAS boot menu, select the ‘SHUTDOWN‘ option (not reboot/restart, for reasons I will explain in a moment).

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 8, Remove the Boot USB Drive

Once your Terramaster NAS has fully powered down, you need to disconnect the storage, power and any other cables, then open up the Terramaster NAS again (if it was re-constructed from earlier) and then remove the USB drive you installed earlier with TrueNAS boot loader on it. You need to do this as otherwise, when you reboot the Terramaster NAS, it will reboot into the bootloader again. You can skip past this and/or it will not action a reinitialization without your input, but better to remove the USB and therefore allow the system to always immediately boot into the TrueNAS system. After you have reconstructed the terramaster NAS, you can go ahead and connect all the cables and power on the device.

Note – Do NOT replace the USB with the original Terramaster USB Drive that it arrived with, or the system will auto boot into the Terramaster TOS Installation setup.

TrueNAS on a Terramaster NAS – Step 9, Reboot the NAS

Upon rebooting the Terramaster into TrueNAS (can take up to 5 mins, but usually much quicker). You have two options with how to access the configuration and controls. You can use the HDMI+Keyboard if you choose for console/command level access, but it will be ALOT higher a learning curve than the network GUI.

Alternatively (much more recommended), use a program such as Advanced IP Scanner, which is free and VERY useful anyway, or even network command prompt) to scan your local area network and find where the Terramaster with TrueNAS is located (i.e it’s IP). This IP (eg 192.168.1.111) is what you put into the URL bar ofay web browser and it will load into the login GUI for TrueNAS . From here you will need to use the username ‘root’ in combination with the password that you created during initialization.

And that is about it. You now have TrueNAS installed as the default OS of your Terramaster NAS. From here you can do anything and everything that his highly regarded ZFS powered server software offers. Head into the Storage area and start creating pools, as well as areas for caching and lots more features.

TrueNAS Core was recently updated to ver.13 in a stable release of the FreeBSD format, as well as new improvements in the Linux-based version ‘TrueNAS ‘. The first thing you are going to need to do when setting up your TrueNAS > Terramaster NAS server is set up your storage. Do this by heading into the storage tab and following the handy steps on screen. After that, you can pretty much do anything on your new ZFS NAS!

You can find out more about TrueNAS in my full review below that covers everything I like and dislike about the platform:

Thanks for reading! I hope this guide has helped you make the most of your storage setup. If you’d like to support my work and help me create more guides, reviews, and tutorials on NAS and related topics, there are several ways to do so—I’d truly appreciate any support!

• Visit the “Support NAS Passion” page [HERE] to explore different ways to contribute.
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• Spread the word! If you found this guide useful, share it with friends, colleagues, or on your favorite social media platform.

Thank you again for your support, and have an amazing week!

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New Synology NAS for First Half of 2025 Revealed – DS925+, DS1825XS+, DS625Slim, DS1525+ and More

After what seems like quite a while for many, we have finally got pretty large confirmation that Synology are refreshing a large number of their Desktop (and a couple of Rackmount systems) devices – as well as launching a few new storage media options. This new information arrives via ChipHell user ‘nineeast‘ in a recent forum post. I am still in the process of identifying the event that the photo below was taken from, but given the preponderance of people taking photos, it won’t be long before this spreads further. This is of course the potential that this is a hoax… but (as you will see later in the article) the chiphell post is not the only source. Nevertheless, it looks like Synology are getting set to refresh a huge number of solutions, launching their DS925+, DS425+, DS225+, DS1525+, DS1825+, DS725+, DS625slim, DS1825xs+ and RS2825RP+ between now and Summer 2025. So, let’s discuss what these refreshed devices bring and whether they deserve your data.

*Update* In order to better track each of the new Synology NAS revealed at this event, I have made update pages for each device below. Additionally, as mentioned in the video, I am canvassing user feedback on these new releases (ideally existing Synology NAS users and/or SIs – system integrators) for a follow up video soon. put your feedback in the comments below or in the Reddit thread HERE

• Synology DS925+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds925-nas-news/
• Synology DS1525+ NAS Leak https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1525-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS425+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds425-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS1825+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1825-nas-news/
• Synology DS425+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds425-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS1825xs+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds1825xs-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS225+ NAS News https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds225-nas-revealed/
• Synolgoy DS625slim 6-Bay NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synolgoy-ds625slim-6-bay-nas-revealed/
• Synology DS725+ NAS Revealed https://nascompares.com/news/synology-ds725-nas-revealed/

Credit to nineeast on Chiphell forum

Which Synology Solutions were Revealed at the Synology Event?

The big deal here is that it is tremendously rare for Synology to reveal their roadmap of solutions, let alow share it with users in such a detailed fashion. Synology have always been tremendously restrained when it comes to revealing their product refreshes (and new product lines). That said, refreshes of products in their portfolio periodically is pretty normal, and most Synology solutions will see a refresh every 2.5-5years (depending on the product tier, with XS series devices generally having a longer refresh cycle), and many have been wondering about when a refresh to the x22/23 range of devices would arrive, and in what form it would take. The TLDR list of solutions shown were:

The biggest takeaway in these shared images seems to be that the bulk of the solutions in this 2025 year refresh are going to remain largely the same, but with two main changes across the board.

Credit to nineeast on Chiphell forum

Thise changes are 1GbE network interfaces will be upgraded to 2.5GbE interfaces universally, and expansion devices that would have previously used eSATA as a means of connectivity will now be USB-C (as well as a reshuffle of the CPUs in the product tiers/families around), but we will get onto that latter point in a moment. Further information and images have also been shared by user ‘ERROR204‘ on imnks, another storage *& network related forum, as well as bringing further information on the expansion devices. The DS1525+, DS925+ and DS725+ will serve as refreshes of the DS923+, DS723+ and DS1522+ NAS. It’s unclear whether they will be using that mini PCIe upgrade card like the existing series (the E10G20-T1-MINI) as the slide below indicates that they will not, but the DS925+ and DS1525+ will see the R1600 Dual Core / 4 Thread Ryzen processor in their predecessor replaced with the v1500B 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU (previously used in the 6/8/12 Bay desktop NAS devices. The DS725+ however will remain as the R1600, but will see the 1GbE NICs upgraded to 2.5GbE.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Interestingly, the default memory on the DS725+ will increase to 4GB of ECC Memory (as opposed to the 2GB in the DS723+ predecessor). However the slide below also indicates that it will no longer support the mini PCIe 10GbE adapter. So it’s a mixed bag in the DS725+ refresh really. This slide also indicates that the USB-C connected expansion will seemingly remain at 6Gb/s transfer speeds – which is a little odd, given USB 3.2 Gen 1 is 5Gb/s and USB 3.2 Gen 2 is 10Gb/s – something to ponder.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Next is the ‘media’ series of devices and also a return of the Synology SLIM series. The DS625slim arrives (refreshing the DS620slim from 2020) and the DS425+ and DS225+ arrive as refreshes for the comparatively (for Synology’s MO) new DS224+ and DS423+ NAS. These will be continuing to use the existing Intel J4125 Quad Core Celeron CPU from 2019/2020 (something I know will not please everyone), but will also see upgrades to 2.5GbE from the 1GbE on their predecessors. Additioanlly, I think we can assume the DS425+ will have the 2x M.2 NVMe slots of it’s predecessor.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Now the DS925+ (a refresh of the DS923+) has the upgrade from the R1600 CPU to the V1500B CPU we mentioned earlier, alongside the new USB-C expansion support (the DX525) and 2.5GbE NICs, so I think we can assume the DS1525+ will be similarly reprofiled from the DS1522+, but I am unsure if it will have 2x USB-C ports instead of 2x eSATA (almost certainly, but not 100%). I think many user are going to have mixed feelings once again about the CPU choices present here in the bulk of these new refreshes.

Credit to ERROR204 on imnks.com

Now onto those two 8 Bay devices, the DS1825+ and DS1825xs+ (serving as refreshes of the DS1821+ and DS1823xs+ respectively). As covered in my video in 2024 about previously leaked information on the DS1825+, it seems that both of these devices will have the same CPU as their predecessor devices, but will see upgrades from their 1GbE ports towards 2.5GbE (with the DS1825xs+ maintaining it’s 10GbE copper connection). All other specifications (M.2 slots, expandability, memory, etc) will all seemingly remain the same – though I think we can once again assume that expansion ports will be USB-C in line with the DX525 box.

For many, it will be a little disappointing that we did not see a 6-Bay model arrive and in fact there has not actually been a 6-Bay Synology NAS since 2020 (when the DS1621+ and DS1621xs+ were launched), increasing fears that Synology are eliminating that tier of their portfolio. However, there is ZERO confirmation on this and the 6 Bay option in the Synology store is still present for the DS1621+ and DS620slim, though the DS1621xs+ has disappeared (likely replaced internally with the 8 bay XS option).

Finally, there is the storage media that was listed. Some drives we already knew about. For example, the SAT5221 Series of SATA SSDs already appeared on vietcorp (HERE), but the HAT3320 is seemingly a refresh/new line in the Synology Plus series of hard drives – and there have been rumours circling for a while that these would be Seagate Ironwolf drives, but currently unconfirmed.

Finally, there is the Synology SNV5420 series – a new M.2 NVMe media drive range, but it is currently unclear if this is a complete refresh of the SNV3400/SNV3410, or as the naming convention seems to indicate, a higher performance/class of M.2 NVMe SSDs. This is something that has been LONG DEMANDED as Synology still have a solid insistence on their systems/add-on cards with M.2 NVMe Support HAVE TO be their own media drives if you want to use the slots of Storage pools, yet the SNV3400 range and it’s variations are comparatively low speed and high priced vs the rest of the M.2 NVMe SSD market as a whole.

So, that’s everything we know so far. Let’s now discuss what we think together in the comments!

The New Synology 2025 Product Line Up – What I Like and What I Don’t!

I have mixed feelings about the entire Synology refreshed line up – on the one hand I DO think there is a meaningful refresh here on the DS925+ and DS1525+ NAS. No one was expecting Synology to completely change this product family, as they have already made it pretty clear that these two system profiles are designed now more for the SMB user, small business, container deployer and those with file processing needs – i.e not multimedia as the focus. So, them upgrading this from the R1000 CPU in the x23 series to a V1000 CPU (doubling the cores and threads) will be tremendously welcome – as will 2.5GbE out the box (though I would like more clarification on the E10G22-T1-MINI 10GbE upgrade card support – as it looks like this is now not supported and that would be a real shame). Also, as much as its a bummer to see the V1500B CPU that Synology have already had on their products in 2020 in these 4 and 5 Bay solutions, they ARE good follow up CPUs over the R1600 in profile, and still have a length support time with AMD backing them up. All that said, the DS725+ seems pretty hard done by here, in fact the DS425+, DS225+ and DS725+ all seem to essentially be the same NAS, but with the 1GbE NICs swapped out with 2.5GbE. I mean, if the price remains exactly the same as the DS423+, DS224+ and DS723+ (and no other hardware surprises arrive in the form of no NVMe slots, etc), then these are…technically…refreshes. But more like a DS224+II, than a whole new DS225+.

Regarding the Intel Celeron devices, I am a little puzzled more than anything else. 2.5GbE on these is good (even if we overlook the fact that 2.5GbE has been fairly standard on ALL NAS systems in place of 1GbE since 2020 from everyone else), but the J4125 CPU is a CPU that has long since retired by Intel (indeed, Intel Celeron naming itself is long gone in favour of the Alder Lake and Twin Lake N processors). So unlike the strong support afforded to the AMD processors I mentioned above, the J4125 seems a remarkably dated choice right now. Still, better some kind of graphical capable CPU in the line up than none at all. Still, odd choice. As there are a lot of holes in these specifications, it’s tough to make a full list of what is good and bad, plus we have to acknowledge that things CAN change during development. So, I’ll hold off for now with anything concrete on my own thoughts, but again, I would love to chat in the comments here or on YouTube for your own thoughts.

Things we still need confirmation on!

As I just mentioned, there are still a lot of gaps in these specs and till we have the full picture, we can’t judge anything! So, here are the questions I still have about these new refreshes that remain unanswered for now:

• HDD and SSD Compatibility, will it be largely the same as the existing 22/23/24 series devices (i.e largely Synology drives, but a few Seagate/WD/Toshiba drives), or will these new series be the first to arrive with strict Synology-only drive media and/or pre-population?
• How is the USB-C 6Gb/s? Is it an adapter, or a USB-C Port on the old lane internally?
• Where is the 6-Bay?
• Ambiguity at best, complete removal at worst, of the 10GbE upgradability of the 2/4/5 Bay V1500B option NAS’. Is this for real?
• Is the SNV5420 a new high performance M.2 NVMe?
• Why refresh all of these at the same time? Some solutions like the DS1823xs+ or DS224+ are very early in their expected run, so a refresh so soon seems unnecessary. So why now?

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UniFi Launch a MASSIVE range of 10GbE PoE APs and Switches – The New XG/XGS Series

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS is ANOTHER expansion of Ubiquiti’s WiFi 7 access point lineup (I swear, it’s like the 3rd/4th this year or something), bringing 10GbE Power over Ethernet (PoE) support to the series for the first time. These APs aim to address a major limitation of previous models—network bandwidth bottlenecks at the wired uplink—by allowing full utilization of multi-gigabit wireless speeds. The inclusion of 10GbE uplinks ensures that high-throughput devices, particularly those leveraging WiFi 7’s Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and wider channel support, are not constrained by a 2.5GbE or lower-speed connection to the wired network.

Accompanying the launch of these access points is a new range of UniFi XG series switches, designed to deliver PoE+ and PoE++ power while providing high-bandwidth connectivity across multiple wired and wireless clients.

The XG switch lineup includes four models: two high-capacity rackmount switches (24-port and 48-port) aimed at enterprise and data-heavy environments, a 10-port rackmount switch, and an 8-port desktop model designed for smaller-scale deployments. These switches not only ensure full 10GbE connectivity for the new APs but also introduce 25G uplink capabilities in the higher-end models, allowing for future network scalability and aggregation improvements.

With these new releases, Ubiquiti is targeting high-performance network environments, including businesses, prosumers, and enterprises that require low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity across multiple access points. The transition from 2.5GbE to 10GbE in UniFi’s AP lineup reflects a broader industry shift toward higher-capacity wired backbones to match advancements in wireless technology. These products are particularly suited for scenarios involving high client densities, large-scale WiFi deployments, multi-gigabit internet connectivity, and demanding applications such as cloud computing, video conferencing, and real-time data transfer. By integrating 10GbE PoE APs with a full suite of supporting switches, UniFi is providing a comprehensive ecosystem for users looking to future-proof their network infrastructure. Whether deployed in corporate, hospitality, industrial, or high-end residential environments, these devices represent a step forward in ensuring WiFi 7 performance is not bottlenecked by wired limitations.

Update – The U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS APs are NOW Available. The Pro XG Swtich Series is still TBC at time of writing

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS 10GbE PoE WiFi 7 APs – Design and Connectivity

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS maintain the familiar circular form factor that UniFi access points are known for, but with some notable refinements. The XGS model is slightly larger than the XG, a difference primarily due to its additional spatial streams and enhanced internal architecture. Both APs feature a polycarbonate outer shell with a metal internal frame, which serves to improve heat dissipation and ensures they remain fanless despite their higher performance. This passive cooling approach helps maintain silent operation while keeping temperatures within optimal ranges, even under heavy loads.

A qwerky (yet nonetheless requested!) design change in these models is the introduction of dual-color options for the first time in UniFi’s AP lineup – kinda blows me away that this is weirdly rare in these products in 2025. Users will have the choice between black and white, allowing for greater flexibility in deployments where aesthetic considerations are important, such as in modern office spaces, high-end homes, or retail environments.

Additionally, UniFi has stickable interchangeable covers for other APs in their line up, though details on availability and customization remain unclear at launch if these will be available on the XG/XGS series

To accommodate higher power demands and increased performance, UniFi has optimized thermal efficiency in both models, leveraging passive cooling techniques to maintain stability under continuous high-load conditions. The metal internal frame aids in efficient heat dissipation, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring long-term reliability. While these APs have a higher power draw than previous UniFi models—22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS—this is a necessary tradeoff for their improved bandwidth and increased spatial streams. Given their fanless design, proper placement—such as ceiling or wall mounting in areas with adequate airflow—is recommended to maintain consistent performance over time.

The most important functional change in these APs is the 10GbE PoE uplink, replacing the 2.5GbE PoE standard found in previous UniFi WiFi 7 models. The addition of 10GbE PoE+ (XG) and PoE++ (XGS) allows these APs to fully utilize WiFi 7’s increased throughput potential without encountering a wired bottleneck. The shift to 10GbE connectivity makes these access points particularly suited for environments where high-bandwidth, multi-client performance is essential, such as large-scale office deployments, conference centers, and high-density public spaces.

With maximum power consumption rated at 22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS, both APs require PoE switches capable of delivering sufficient power at 10GbE speeds. This makes them best suited for deployment alongside UniFi’s new Pro XG series switches, which offer 10GbE PoE across multiple port configurations. For users without a 10GbE PoE switch, UniFi has also released a PoE to mains adapter a while back supporting 10GbE passthrough, allowing these APs to be powered while connected to a standard non-PoE 10GbE switch.

These refinements in design, thermal management, and connectivity demonstrate UniFi’s continued push toward enterprise-grade wireless networking, ensuring WiFi 7 devices can operate without artificial bottlenecks imposed by wired infrastructure.

The New U7 Pro XG/XGS APs vs the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max APs

The U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS build on the foundation of the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max, but with a focus on eliminating wired bottlenecks. While all four models support WiFi 7, the key distinction between the Pro XG/XGS and the earlier U7 Pro models lies in their uplink capabilities. The U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max are limited to 2.5GbE PoE, which is adequate for most WiFi 7 workloads but can become a constraint when multiple high-bandwidth clients are connected simultaneously. The Pro XG and XGS, by contrast, introduce 10GbE PoE, ensuring that the wired infrastructure can keep pace with the wireless throughput.

The spatial stream configuration is another notable difference. The U7 Pro XG (6-stream) and U7 Pro XGS (8-stream) allow for higher simultaneous throughput across more devices, compared to the U7 Pro (4-stream) and U7 Pro Max (6-stream). This makes the XG and XGS models better suited for high-density deployments, particularly in offices, event spaces, and public environments where hundreds of devices may be connected at once. The Pro XGS, in particular, offers 4×4 MIMO on the 5GHz band, significantly improving performance and efficiency for mid-range frequencies compared to the U7 Pro Max.

Another area of distinction is power consumption. The Pro XG and XGS models require more power—22W for the XG and 29W for the XGS, compared to 21W for the U7 Pro and 25W for the U7 Pro Max. This is a necessary tradeoff for their higher performance and increased uplink capacity, though it does mean PoE+ or PoE++ switches are required. Additionally, the Pro XG/XGS feature an updated chassis design, a dual-color option (black or white), and interchangeable covers—features not found on the U7 Pro and Pro Max.

Ultimately, the U7 Pro XG and XGS are designed for users who need 10GbE uplink support, either because they already have a 10GbE network or plan to upgrade to UniFi’s new 10GbE PoE switches. For users with a 2.5GbE or slower wired infrastructure, the U7 Pro and Pro Max remain viable choices at a slightly lower price point. However, as WiFi 7 adoption grows and multi-gig networks become more common, the Pro XG and XGS offer better long-term scalability.

The New Pro XG Switch Series – ProXG 8/10/24/48 Port L3 Switches

Alongside the U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS, UniFi has introduced a new lineup of 10GbE PoE switches, designed to provide sufficient power and bandwidth for these high-performance access points. The Pro XG switch series consists of four models, each tailored for different network scales. These include two rackmount models (24-port and 48-port), a 10-port rackmount version, and a compact 8-port desktop model. Each switch is L3-capable, allowing for advanced network segmentation and routing, and includes PoE+ or PoE++ support, ensuring seamless integration with UniFi’s latest APs and other PoE-powered devices.

Pro XG 24 PoE Switch

The Pro XG 24 PoE Switch is a 1U rackmount switch designed for mid-sized network deployments that require a balance of high-speed wired connectivity and PoE power delivery. It features 16x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 8x 2.5GbE PoE+++ ports, making it suitable for networks that mix WiFi 7 access points with multi-gigabit wired clients.

Additionally, it includes 2x 25G SFP28 ports for uplinks to higher-speed network infrastructure or aggregation switches. With a total PoE budget of 720W, it provides ample power for multiple APs, IP cameras, or other PoE devices without the risk of power limitations.

Pro XG 48 PoE Switch

For larger-scale environments, the Pro XG 48 PoE Switch offers a higher port density and greater PoE capacity. It includes 32x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 16x 2.5GbE PoE+++ ports, making it a high-performance choice for dense enterprise networks. Like the 24-port version, it also features 4x 25G SFP28 uplinks, ensuring sufficient bandwidth for connecting to core switches or high-speed backbones.

The PoE budget is increased to 1080W, making it an ideal choice for deployments that include multiple high-power PoE devices such as security cameras, VoIP phones, and UniFi’s latest APs.

Pro XG 10 PoE Switch

The Pro XG 10 PoE Switch is a compact rackmount switch aimed at smaller business or prosumer setups that still require 10GbE PoE connectivity. It features 10x 10GbE PoE+++ ports and 2x 10G SFP+ uplink ports, providing a balance between port availability and high-speed connectivity.

With a total PoE budget of 400W, this switch is suitable for environments where a handful of high-performance APs and a small number of wired clients need reliable power and bandwidth. Its 1U form factor allows for easy integration into existing rack setups while maintaining L3 switching capabilities for network segmentation and security.

Pro XG 8 PoE Switch

For users who need 10GbE PoE in a desktop-friendly format, the Pro XG 8 PoE Switch provides high-speed connectivity without the bulk of a full rackmount switch. It includes 8x 10GbE PoE++ ports and 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks, making it a suitable choice for small offices, home labs, or network expansions where rack space is limited.

The 155W PoE budget is lower than its larger counterparts, but still sufficient for a few high-powered APs or other PoE devices. Unlike the rackmount models, this switch does not include an LCD control screen and is instead managed entirely through the UniFi software interface.

The UniFi XG switch lineup is designed to complement WiFi 7 APs by eliminating network bottlenecks at the wired infrastructure level. These switches provide a scalable, high-performance backbone for enterprise, business, and prosumer deployments, ensuring that wireless speeds are not limited by outdated switch technology.

Should You Care About the UniFi XG Series of WiFi APs and Switches? Verdict & Conclusion

The UniFi U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS introduce 10GbE PoE to UniFi’s WiFi 7 lineup, resolving a key limitation of previous models by eliminating the wired uplink bottleneck. The Pro XG (6-stream) and Pro XGS (8-stream) offer higher client capacity, better multi-device performance, and a redesigned chassis that introduces dual-color options for more discreet deployments. Their fanless design and metal internal structure improve thermal management, making them suitable for continuous high-performance use. However, higher power consumption (22W for the XG, 29W for the XGS) means that PoE+ or PoE++ infrastructure is required, which could be a drawback for users with older PoE switches. Additionally, while the 10GbE uplink is a significant upgrade, users without 10GbE-capable networks may not see immediate benefits. Despite this, for those already investing in high-bandwidth networking, these APs offer superior long-term scalability compared to the U7 Pro and Pro Max.

The Pro XG series switches provide a much-needed 10GbE PoE solution to support UniFi’s latest APs and other high-power PoE devices. The lineup includes rackmount options (24-port and 48-port models) with 25G uplinks, a compact 10-port rackmount switch, and an 8-port desktop model for smaller deployments. Each switch is L3-capable, offering advanced routing and VLAN segmentation, and they provide substantial PoE budgets ranging from 155W (desktop model) to 1080W (48-port model). These switches solve the lack of 10GbE PoE options in the market but come with some trade-offs, including higher power draw and potential noise levels in larger models. The desktop version lacks an LCD screen, and pricing—though not yet finalized—will likely position these above existing UniFi multi-gig PoE switches. However, for those building a true high-performance wired and wireless network, these switches represent a genuinely unique step forward in the standard of PoE devices in the market – no really.

We are currently testing the U7 Pro XG/XGS access points and the XG switch series, gathering real-world performance data on throughput, power efficiency, and thermal management. A detailed review will follow soon, focusing on WiFi 7 performance under load, 10GbE PoE implementation, and compatibility with existing UniFi infrastructure. Our tests will also evaluate how well these APs handle multi-client environments and whether the 10GbE uplink translates to real-world advantages over 2.5GbE models. If you’re considering an upgrade to WiFi 7 or planning a 10GbE PoE deployment, stay tuned for our full analysis, where we’ll break down whether these new devices are truly worth the investment.

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UniFi Express 7 Review – The Affordable UniFi Gateway?

UniFi has seriously hammered the subject of Wi-Fi 7 into their existing portfolio at an alarming speed, but it’s easy to forget that just half a year ago, there wasn’t a single Wi-Fi 7 solution in their lineup. Fast forward to February 2025, and they’ve now established every single kind of Wi-Fi 7 home/business appliance you could ever need. The latest entry into this product range is the compact and expandable UniFi Express 7. Serving as a compact and affordable entry point into establishing your own UniFi network, this device removes many of the physical Ethernet connections found on a typical router and instead prioritizes a small but easily expandable wireless networking solution to grow your network ecosystem. Arriving at $199, the UX7 was launched alongside the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7) and UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)—three very similar devices designed to serve different kinds of Wi-Fi/wired network deployments, all offering a similar level of network control that, until now, was only really available in the UniFi Dream Machine series. However, the UniFi Express 7 is the most compact of the three new releases, and with that, it also scales back some of the feature sets found in those more powerful devices. So, is the UniFi Express 7 the best gateway device for your needs? And does its focus on gradual network expansion over out-of-the-box hardware features make it the right fit for your growing home or business network? Let’s find out in this UX7 review.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Quick Conclusion

Honestly, I kind of wish UniFi had launched the UX7 about six months ago. The UniFi Express 7 gateway is an impressive little device, and when you factor in the license-free architecture, alongside its $199 price tag for a fully Wi-Fi 7, 6 GHz-ready box, it’s hard to call this bad value. However, launching this device between the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7) and the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) makes it look like the weaker option of the three. And while the UX7 certainly has network expandability and appeal, I strongly recommend anyone considering it to first check out the UDR7 or UCG-Fiber. That said, for its niche, highly scalable, and modular network appeal, the UX7 delivers exactly what UniFi promises. It’s certainly worth the $199 price tag, but keep in mind that it is designed first and foremost as a network gateway. You will struggle to fully unlock its potential without integrating a UniFi switch or expanding into an existing UniFi network.

BUILD QUALITY - 8/10

HARDWARE - 8/10

PERFORMANCE - 8/10

PRICE - 9/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.2

PROS

Affordable Entry Point – At $199, it’s one of the most budget-friendly ways to start a UniFi network with Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.
Compact & Energy Efficient – Small footprint (11cm²), lightweight (422g), and low power consumption (22W max) make it ideal for home and office environments.
Wi-Fi 7 & Tri-Band Support – 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands with Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for better speed, lower latency, and improved reliability.
10GBASE-T WAN Port – Supports high-speed internet connections, making it future-proof for faster broadband rollouts.
Scalable with UniFi Ecosystem – Easily integrates into an existing UniFi setup with mesh Wi-Fi, UniFi switches, and other devices.
Powerful UniFi Software – Full UniFi Controller suite with advanced network management, security, VLANs, and traffic analytics.
USB-C Power Input – Simple and universal power delivery, allowing for flexible placement and easy powering via third-party adapters.

CONS

Limited Wired Connectivity – Only one 2.5G LAN port (no PoE), making wired expansion less convenient compared to UDR7 or UCG-Fiber.
No Built-in Storage – Cannot run UniFi Protect or other UniFi applications natively, requiring external UniFi hardware for advanced services.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Design and Connections

Considering that this tiny device features tri-band Wi-Fi, 10G networking, and 2.5G networking, it’s kind of bonkers how small it is. Equipped with an internal quad-core ARM processor and 3GB of DDR4 memory, these modest yet highly capable internal components are more than enough to keep your data moving smoothly. The $199 launch price of the UX7 puts it slightly closer to the price of most Pro-sumer routers. While it’s not overpriced, some users may question whether there are better, more hardware-capable devices available at a similar price point in early 2025.

However, the main appeal of that price point is not exclusively about the hardware, and you have to factor in that this device is bundled with the UniFi software, offering full integration and utility of said hardware. This tiny box is able to host full control of a UniFi network, managing—via a single pane of glass interface—over 30 individual UniFi-connected/adopted devices and well over 300 clients at any given time. A big part of the appeal of UniFi products is that single ecosystem, and once you factor in that platform alongside the hardware, the $199 price tag starts to make a lot more sense.

Although the system features two copper connections on the rear, the priority of the device will always be Wi-Fi connectivity. This small box is able to cover up to 1,500 square feet of wireless connectivity, but do factor in walls and rooms—of course! A lot of this coverage depends on the antenna and frequencies your client devices choose to use, and in that regard, the UX7 continues to push the boundaries.

Scaling things up from the previous generation UniFi Express device, the UX7 supports Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and traditional legacy Wi-Fi. Although the device has no external antenna, there are strategically placed antennas throughout the inside of this device. Thanks to the increased 6 GHz frequency access via the 2×2 6 GHz antennas inside and Wi-Fi 7’s utilization of 320 MHz channels, this opens the door to substantial performance increases in the UX7 over its predecessor.

Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 integrates Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which means Wi-Fi 7-supported client devices can create multiple simultaneous connections over different frequencies, drastically enhancing wireless performance—to the point where it dwarfs traditional wired connections.

The 6 GHz band has a shorter coverage distance than 5 GHz, and likewise 5 GHz has a shorter range than 2.4 GHz. Although Wi-Fi 7 certainly solves many issues related to maximizing available radio frequencies, keep in mind that distance will still be a factor. Because of the small scale of this device, there are questions about true distance coverage compared to a router with more antennas and external antennas. Depending on the number of simultaneous frequencies via MLO that your client device can utilize, the maximum performance potential of this device will differ. However, across all of the available bands, you can achieve:

• 688 Mbps maximum bandwidth on the 2.4 GHz frequency,
• 4.3 Gbps performance on the 5 GHz frequency,
• A whopping 5.7 Gbps potential on the 6 GHz frequency.

Consider these more of a guideline to the larger shared bandwidth across multiple client devices, but nevertheless, they still indicate the performance potential of this tiny box once it’s integrated into your network. Although we will delve into more detail about security and encryption later in the review, it’s also worth highlighting that this system supports encrypted protocols all the way up to WPA3 for wireless transmissions. The UniFi Controller software provides an almost unrivaled level of network security management and troubleshooting, with controls extending down to individual devices, groups, VLANs, and MAC addresses.

This means that even if you begin integrating third-party hardware into your network environment or stick to UniFi client devices as you expand upon this gateway device, the lock-and-door approach to your ISP services will always be significantly tighter thanks to having the UX7 as your gateway. Moving over to the wired connections, the system features a 2.5G Ethernet port that is utilized as a LAN connection. This means you can integrate an existing switch and expand your UniFi network toward more wired devices, as well as creating multiple virtual LAN arms in your network environment.

Unfortunately, this 2.5G port does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE), which means any connected devices will need their own power source. This is a shame, because both the simultaneously released UDR7 and UCG-Fiber devices each include a PoE port, making wired expansion with UniFi switches much cleaner and more convenient.

Nevertheless, it’s good that standard Gigabit Ethernet is absent in favor of 2.5G Ethernet, allowing for 2.5 times the performance of traditional and legacy networks.

Interestingly, the UX7’s WAN port is a 10GBASE-T copper connection! Most users would have assumed that this compact device would arrive with 10G SFP+, as is common with most UniFi devices. However, opting for traditional copper 10G means that as ISP services globally begin to exceed Gigabit speeds, the UniFi Express 7 gateway will not create a bottleneck, allowing your network to fully enjoy those higher speeds as they become available. This also means that this tiny box is future-proofing your internet service gateway for a considerable length of time as better connectivity options arrive. Nevertheless, I’m a little disappointed that you cannot set the 2.5G port as your WAN, thereby allowing you to dedicate the 10G connection as a wider LAN connection. This would have been beneficial when using it alongside a traditional 10G NAS system or a larger switch that would take greater advantage of 10G network speeds. Very few users in the next few years will have internet speeds exceeding 2.5G (regardless of whether you are a home or business user), so fixing the 10G connection as the only WAN port feels like overkill for many. CORRECTION! You CAN set the 2.5G as a WAN port, but you need to manually change the initial 10G WAN port to LAN or Disabled FIRST, then the option to select 2.5G as a WAN will appear!

Impressively, the device is powered by a standard USB-C PSU, which is included in the kit. It’s probably no surprise that this device is quite power-efficient, factoring in the ARM CPU alongside the system’s prioritization of Wi-Fi connectivity out of the box rather than LAN/physical WAN connections. At peak Wi-Fi bandwidth utilization, with an active 10G connection, UniFi reports that the device draws just 22 watts at peak usage. Realistically, the device will spend 90% of its time operating at a fraction of this power consumption. Another major difference between the UX7 and other UniFi network management devices released in the last 12 months is that this system does not feature any internal storage or expandable storage via an SD card or USB port.

This means that the system is unable to host popular UniFi add-on applications for surveillance, in-house communication hardware, or dedicated UniFi hardware appliances. These features can still be added via an expanded UniFi network client installation over time, which is why this device is so affordable compared to other solutions. It is designed around gradually expanding your hardware network. That said, it’s a real shame that this device does not include any baseline storage out of the box, as many users would have wanted to utilize it as the base for a convenient and easy-to-deploy UniFi Protect surveillance device. As mentioned earlier, the UX7 is quite a niche device, making it difficult to compare against an already well-provisioned router or business gateway device. The hardware design and connectivity of the UX7 are optimized for a small, compact UniFi gateway deployment, but it also includes provisions for future scalability with wireless access points (for mesh networking) and UniFi switches for expanded connectivity later.

In that vein, let’s now discuss the UniFi Controller software and how the Express 7 takes advantage of it today—while also promising greater expansion capabilities in the future.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Software and Services

IMPORTANT !!!- Currently the Software review of the Ux7 is in progress, but I have already reviewed the UDR7 device which is very similar indeed. So, whilst I complete the UCG-Fiber and UX7 review, I have included the software review of the other 2 devices below, as they are running near identical services and features (but with differences with regard to port/wifi features. I will be amending the below text very soon, but include it here to give a better understanding of what this UniFi controller software can do. Apologies for this in the meantime.

Realistically, no one should be spending inordinate amounts of time using the software that your router arrives with – that’s just a simple fact. Indeed, you want you router (or any network appliance) to just do it’s job! Therefore talking about just how good the UniFi network software is, and how the UniFi Dream Router 7 capitalized on it, is going get a mixed reaction depending on your own level of network knowledge and custom requirements. I will say straight away though that you will really, REALLY struggle to find a more capable and flexible router software at this price point. You will struggle to find ANY setting, config, adjustable parameter of control measure not included with the UX7. First off, there is the mobile application. As the UX7 hosts the UniFi network software, ALOT of the iOS and Android official UniFi applications are supported by the UX7.

Firs time setup of the router using the mobile application (you can use a desktop machine with your web browser if you prefer of course) is incredibly straight forward. The Router can be found via the local area network or Bluetooth within 2 minutes of it’s first power-on. One big misconception (I was guilt of this too a while back) was that you have to register a UI.com account online in order to use UniFi appliances. This is NOT true. You can set the device up without a UI account (and even WITHOUT an internet connection) and doing so just needs to you create a local administrator account. It is recommended to use a UI account of course, as it allowed for easier comms and access for your larger Unifi network, but it is by no means compulsory. You can also create a system backup (with your config data of users, settings, SSIDs, etc) and backup online if you choose – and then easier pull this backup if you wish during initialization easily.

Upon creating local credentials or resisting an online account, the router performs an initial internet performance test and then goes about setting up your router. Much like other recent UniFi releases, the system has a ‘gamer’ style installation screen that shows tips and guides on how to get the most out of your router – very rare in a router I will say.

The setup process takes around 2-3 minutes and after that, you have pretty much FULL control and access to the Router’s configuration from your mobile phone. You can definitely tell that UNiFi have put the hours in with regard to the UX of the mobile application. Routers (and switches for that matter) are NOT easy systems to try and simplify – let along ocndence in a compact mobile UI. However they really have excelled in the latest version of their software.

Management of individual devices on the network are all presented intuitively in the app, and alongside their position/priority/bandwidth/consumption being presented, you can also use the app to institute controls and rules for 1, some or all devices on the fly – with instant implementation. Again, it’s no the fact that you can ‘do’ this that I am impressed by, it is the ease and intuitive way it is presented in a mobile app.

The same applies to the physical connections and wireless connections on the UX7 itself, with full remote control with the app to bridge, negotiate, failover, vLAN, disable, etc any port easily – as well as create new SSIDs, assign channels and push client devices around on the router side in 3-4 clicks. All of this is performed responsively and easily in the app.

On the subject of client devices, let’s discuss that WiFi 7 support. WiFi 7 opens up ALOT of performance and general bandwidth advantages. WiFi routers and client devices have been around now for around 10-12 months, as well as the increase in availability globally of greater than Gigabit internet services. Most internet service providers have already a router with their services – but not many provide WiFi 7 routers with their services, even at greater than gigabit speeds. So, what is the advantage? For the quicker (ish) version, watch my video below.

Now, you might well not have any devices right now that are WiFi 7, but plan on upgrading to WiFi 7 at some point in the further over a PCIe upgrade card. Even if you are using a system that lacks a PCIe upgrade clot, you can get small m.2 upgrade cards for a WiFi 7 / 802.11be upgrade for as little as $15-20 here. Hell, you do not even need to open up your system, as you can now get WiFi 7 to USB adapter upgrades for as little as $25-30, which is exactly what used when testing the router with my Windows 11 laptop for the earlier testing of the UDR7.

The USB-to-WiFi 7 Adapter I used in my testing of the UDR7 was this one HERE on Aliexpress.

This USB to WiFi 7 adapter allowed for immediate 802.11be connectivity between my laptop and the UniFi Dream Router 7, over the now available 6Ghz band. Although there is more to WiFi 7 and this router than just that additional frequency. The UX7 SUPPORTS 2.4Ghz and 5ghz (just like all WiFi 6 and 6E routers), but crucially alongside the 6Ghz band allowing for more active concurrent connections, you are also able to take advantage of 320Mhz bandwidth (till now WiFi 6/6E only allowed for up to the 160Mhz connections). This means that you have a greater bandwidth per connection – though you can only have a finite amount of connections at 320Mhz at once. This is COMBINED with WiFi allowing for overlapping connections too and 1 device enjoying multiple connections at once.

This means that not only can you match the speed of a normal wired gigabit connection, but you can ABSOLUTELY SMASH IT! As you can see below, using this USB adapter on my regular windows laptop, connecting to the UniFi Dream Router 7 over the 6Hz band – I was able to hit 2.8Gb/s wireless connectivity!!! That is even faster than using one of the physical 2.5GbE connections on the UX7.

It’s worth remembering though that WiFi 7 is NOT perfect and although it presents a lot of benefits for bandwidth improvements, reduced latency and increased encryption options, support of the wider frequencies and abilities of a larger WiFi 7 populated network are still a little ‘early days’.

By that, I mean that although you can hit high performance with 320Mhz connections, the actual radio frequency opened up right now (depending on your region) is pretty slim. The UX7 DOES show you the full radio spectrum, separated dynamically with each 20/40/80/160/320Mhz block that is spread across 2.4/5/6Ghz – but ALOT of it is still unavailable to use in many regions.

These limitations are likely going to reduce over time and, therefore you have to look at a decent % of the WiFi capabilities of the UniFi Dream Router 7 as ‘future proofing’ – but just keep in mind that although you can deploy ALOT of wireless (and wired) devices in a UX7 managed environment, those peak 802.11be/WiFi 7 bandwidth improvements are going to be shared only by a few client devices – in reality the real benefits are going to be felt with the opening up of the 6Ghz frequency allowing for more devices to be spread over all three frequencies and bands at 80/160Mhz.

Anotehr note to keep in mind is that the 6Ghz band has a shorter area of effect than 5Ghz (which likewise has a shorter area than WiFi 5). So WiFi7 is at it’s best in closer proximity without walls – more as a cable alternative if you are in the same areas as your UniFi router. But when I connected to a 10GbE NAS (connected to the 10GbE port of my UCG-Fiber), I was able to hit 187MB/s write easily (though read performance was oddly inconsistent – possibly related to the NAS, still investigating – TBC) in CrystalDiskMark.

Likewise, similar testing with the WiFi 7 USB Adapter, through the UX7 and at the 10GbE connected NAS hit 260MB/s+ easily. Once again, I would have easily respected this if I had been connecting with the NAS using the 2.5GbE ports – but I am hugely impressed that I was able to hit this benchmark over a WiFi connection (thanks to that 2.8Gbps 6Ghz setup). Respect!

Additionally, it is very easy to monitor the position, WiFi coverage, Channel and performance of any device connected to the UX7 controller software. Also allowing you to create rules on the fly to automatically manage them later as/when devices arrive.

These same controls also extend all the way down to the ISP input of the UX7 AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE uNIfI AP/Nodes in your setup, can control how/where bandwidth is allocated and the priority of devices/nodes that are unique to your own deployment.

The dashboard features a grouped UI and analytics overview that allows you to see the price traffic that is going into a physical LAN, grouped VLAN or just a single devices on the network – allowing you to see the sites/services/geo data in real time too!

And likewise as before, you can extent these analytics all the way to the root UX7 router to see EVERYTHING happening in realtime in your network and internet connectivity.

Blacklisting (and whitelisting occasionally) or certain websites is also easy to action manually when needed too – or you can import an existing database of ‘bad’ site lists directly into the UX7 to simplify the process.

Once rules, priorities, orders of services and limits have been created, you can then apply them to individual devices, networks, groups, vLANS, etc – even to a physical LAN port if needed. These rules are completely customizable and if 1 parameter is changed on the fly, it immediately actions across all selected devices.

It’s also worth highlighting that UniFi has its own enterprise user identity service (‘Identity Endpoint’) that you can apply to devices if you want to ensure that connected devices on the LAN or WAN are truly secure (client auth tools on each device) and this extends to the VPN and UniFi network client device access too.

I also should stress that although the UX7 seems like a very, VERY proprietary router – UniFi do NOT lock you into having to create an account with them or use only their services. You can set the system up for LOCAL ONLY management and control if you choose. Or even hybrid the two and create 1 secure ‘Identity Endpoint sys admin’, but others are ‘local’ only – nice balance tbh.

And new users (super user or billy basic!) can be created, modified and deleted at any time!

Control and configuration of the UX7 are very straight forward and there are pretty high end configuration options in the backend of the system to control both the local network setup, as well as WiFi connectivity out the box (or added later in the case of systems like the UCG Fiber via the U7/U7 Pro/U6).

And professional SI’s/Technicians can set the system to ‘truly open’ if they wish, and this can be securely controlled as needed. This allows for opening up frequencies in the case of a WiFi setup down the road and advanced settings related to antenna gain/adaption.

The system configuration and control are surprisingly extensive for a $279 router and puts it well, well into the realms of an enterprise-grade solution, despite its Prosumer/SMB price point.

Unsurprisingly, the UX7 has internet speed test tools (either using the native web browser GUI or the WiFiman application for Android/iOS).

But its goes further, with the ability to monitor the packet management in your network (covered earlier) to such as extent that you can even block the server calls to specific sites/vendors that are going through the UniFi manager and block them SPECIFICALLY. Eg, want to keep google services, but NOT YouTube (either for work/professional reasons, or because of your kids homework deadline?) – you can do that REALLY easily.

And you can apply these rules easily and analytics with ease via the topographical network monitoring window. So you can visually see the devices in the network, then apply the rules, in case a new device gets sneakily added to circumnavigate any limits/restricts in palce.

And if you see a sudden spike in internet use, you can (in seconds) isolate the device that is causing it AND see what it is – allowing yo to block/monitor as needed.

Equally, you can set some pretty extensive security provisions to pre-emptively kick in when an unknown device arrives on the scene, or if an existing device in the network begins to be suspicious.

The same goes for creating day 1/100 rules for port forwarding, traffic management and Firewall rules. All of this is HUGELY customizable and most pages in the UniFi GUI feature both ‘simple/easy’ views, as well as much more complex advanced views as needed at the top of each page.

The multiple LAN ports can also be scaled up/down as needed if your existing network is not quite ready for the full network connectivity of the UCG-Fiber too.

And thanks to the UX7 featuring multiple WAN ports, you can decide how you want to handle multiple ISP services into your home/business, to separate/combine/balance between them with ease across your connected devices.

Additionally, each WAN port can be adjusted to a ‘WAN’ or ‘LAN’ roles as needed – even disabled. So, whether it is as a failover internet connection, or that you want to free up that 10GbE port for use as a LAN – The choice is yours!

Also, as mentioned earlier, as the system supported internal storage via the slot, you can go ahead and run UniFi Protect surveillance software too – as well as as an additional switch to the available LAN ports, for cameras or add a camera to the POE port.

There are actually several different surveillance, communications, display or smart appliances in the UniFi portfolio that can be installed on the internet storage drive + also means you have more scope for that POE ready port.

It gets to a point (perhaps) that there are TOO many security and configuration options, and people looking for just a router to ‘just do it’s job’ will be somewhat overwhelmed. Most of the important settings are already set pretty well, but I never the less recommend first time buyers take the time to explore the configuration options present in order to better understand what they are buying here in terms of it’s abilities to protect your network and internet services.

This extends right the way down to the more advanced prevention and intrusion protection measures (Dark Web blocking too). Again, pretty advanced for many, but take the time to look through them if you purchase the UX7.

And if in doubt, you can use the UniFi Teleport VPN service to anonymize your site-to-site exchanges (again, very ‘first party’ and more about SD-WAN level stuff, but does form part of the purchase here).

Also, keep in mind that the UX7 has the option to create Airgaps in it’s wired network AND WiFi connectivity (if you want to add that) that allows you to create automated access times – especially useful for businesses who want to lock down access outside of the usual 9-5 operational hours.

If you want to use WiFi services, yo can create multiple SSIDs of varying degrees of access – and yes, all the controls on security, speed, antenna, frequency, vLAN, etc are all present here too.

When creating those VLANS, you can add specific physical ports, IDs, WiFi APs etc to that vLAN to segregate your network as securely as possible.

And from there you can adjust the vLAN configuration in terms of it’s smooth operation and security directly from the network management panel (as well as view all active vLANS on one page if needed to see how they interact/clash + show each device you have moved in/out of them easily.

And again, all packet management/monitoring are available within the vLAN if you need.

If this all sounds tremendously intimidating, there is a much, MUCH easier 1 panel view in the ‘Insights’ tab that just shows each current network branch and it’s connections/clients in a list format.

Not good enough? How about a global view that shows the data packet exchange in real time with regard to each region (i.e worried that your data is being harvested to an overseas location, this will show you which countries are currently connected with on your UCG-Fiber for upload/download (websites? server? It’s easy to check and find out here!).

Bottom line – the bulk of the UniFi Control Software here is available on the majority of UniFi Router, Express, Cloud Gateway and Dream Machine devices – but the EXTENT to which you can use it is heavily dependent on the device you buy. In the case of the UX7, you have a fantastic balance of Day 1 control sure, but you have an even better management and scalability on the system for when your ISP services double/triple, as well as the number of devices in your network expand.

UniFi Express 7 Review – Verdict and Conclusion

If the UniFi Express 7 had been released about six months ago, I think it would stand out considerably more than it does right now. However, sandwiching its launch between the Wi-Fi 7 UDR7 and the highly LAN-capable UCG-Fiber device somewhat muddles the launch of the UX7. The UX7 is a highly capable and highly expandable appliance that serves as an affordable, low-footprint way for home and business users to begin integrating UniFi into their network. Had this cloud gateway device arrived before the Router 7 or Fiber device, I think its integration would have been hugely appealing. However, given the small $49–$79 price difference between the Router/Fiber devices that UniFi launched at the same time, the UX7 does feel a bit underwhelming by comparison. That isn’t to say that the UX7 is a bad device! It really isn’t. UniFi has crammed a huge amount of capability and expandability into an exceedingly small frame, at just 11 cm²!

This is by far the smallest tri-band Wi-Fi 7 fully capable router-style device that I’ve ever seen, and it arrives at a lower price point than Wi-Fi 7 alternatives from Amazon or Google right now. It is also substantially easier to expand into mesh networks, thanks to the U7, U7 Pro, U6, and U6 Wall devices. Equally, the ease of adoption and integration of UniFi switches into the UX7 down the road means that you can granularly and much more affordably expand your network of UniFi devices over the years. This is a great deal easier than having to spend more money upfront on hardware that you may not even fully utilize in your network for a few years to come. Future-proofing and expandability are once again the key selling points here, but just keep in mind that there are alternatives to this product (including from UniFi themselves) available right now. It would be wise to spend a little more time considering whether those slightly more hardware-rich devices—at less than $100 more from UniFi—might be better suited to your needs.

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Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro is a compact high-performance mini PC designed for users who require a balance of processing power, AI capabilities, and expandability. Featuring the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, it integrates 12 cores, 24 threads, and an AI NPU capable of up to 80 TOPS, making it suitable for AI-assisted workloads, virtualization, and content creation. The inclusion of AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics allows for moderate gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks, while OcuLink support provides the option to attach an external GPU for additional performance. The system features three M.2 NVMe slots, dual USB4 ports, and dual 2.5GbE Ethernet, offering flexible storage and connectivity options. With a 140W internal power supply, the AI X1 eliminates the need for an external power brick, reducing cable clutter. Cooling and power efficiency have been addressed, with idle power consumption averaging between 19W and 23W and higher workloads drawing around 60W at 50% – does this sound like a min PC hybrid to a desktop solution? Let’s discuss the X1’s hardware, performance, AI capabilities, and expansion potential, assessing how well it meets the needs of AI developers, content creators, and general users seeking a high-performance compact system.

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Quick Conclusion

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro offers a strong balance of performance, expandability, and AI acceleration in a compact form factor. It is suitable for AI-driven workloads, mid-range gaming, video processing, and professional applications. The integrated Radeon 890M GPU provides acceptable performance for gaming and AI-assisted tasks, but for more demanding graphical workloads, the inclusion of OcuLink allows users to connect an external GPU for greater flexibility. While the system includes high-speed storage options and multiple connectivity features, the lack of 10GbE networking may limit its usefulness in high-bandwidth data transfer scenarios. However, users can leverage Wi-Fi 7 or OcuLink adapters to expand networking capabilities if necessary. Overall, the Minisforum AI X1 Pro is a versatile mini PC with a focus on AI performance, storage expandability, and modular GPU upgrades. It is best suited for users who require a compact but powerful system for workstation tasks, AI processing, and moderate gaming, with the potential for external GPU scaling if additional performance is needed.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 10/10

PERFORMANCE - 10/10

PRICE - 7/10

VALUE - 8/10

8.8

PROS

Powerful CPU especially for a mini PC– The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is fast and handles demanding tasks well.
AI Acceleration – Built-in AI processor speeds up tasks like image recognition and automation.
Expandable Storage – Three M.2 SSD slots for fast and flexible storage upgrades.
External GPU Support – OCuLink allows for a full-sized GPU to boost graphics performance.
Fast USB4 Ports – Two high-speed USB4 ports for fast storage and external devices.
Good Cooling System – Dual fans and metal heatsinks keep temperatures in check.
Strong Connectivity – Wi-Fi 7 and dual 2.5Gb Ethernet for fast networking.
No External Power Brick – Built-in 140W power supply keeps cables minimal.
Comes with Windows 11 – Ready to use out of the box.
VESA Mount Included – Can be attached to the back of a monitor or wall for space-saving.

CONS

Only Features Microsoft Co-Pilot out the box – Hard/impossible to easily switch to ChatGPT or DeepSeek etc
Limited OCuLink Compatibility – External GPU and storage upgrades require specific hardware.
Weird PSU Placement – The power supply sits above the SSD slots, which might affect cooling.
Price - Pricing is a little mixed at launch store-to-store

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Minisforum AI X1 Pro Hardware Specifications:

The initial specifications of the Minisforum AI X1 Pro Mini PC will differ slightly depending on where you buy and the configuration you choose (i.e the base level memory and storage). Additionally, the system will always arrive with Windows 11 (officially licenced) preinstalled on an SSD in one of the M.2 NVMe Gen 4×4 slots.

Component	Specification
Processor	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 Cores / 24 Threads, Zen 5 + Zen 5c)
Base Clock	2.0 GHz (Zen 5), 2.0 GHz (Zen 5c)
Boost Clock	Up to 5.1 GHz (Zen 5), Up to 3.3 GHz (Zen 5c)
TDP	28W (Configurable 15-54W)
L2 Cache	12 MB
L3 Cache	24 MB
Memory	Dual-channel DDR5 (Up to 96GB at 5600MHz, 2 SODIMM Slots)
Included Memory	64GB (2x 32GB Crucial DDR5 SODIMM modules)
ECC Support	No ECC support
Storage (Internal)	3x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots – 2x Gen4 x4 (8GB/s), 1x Gen4 x1 (2GB/s)
Storage (Expansion)	Supports NVMe RAID (0,1), External USB4 SSDs, OcuLink PCIe devices
GPU	AMD Radeon 890M (16 cores, 2900 MHz)
AI Engine	AMD Ryzen AI Engine (80 TOPS total, 50 TOPS NPU)
Networking	2x 2.5GbE Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
Display Support	4 Monitors, HDMI 2.1, DP 2.1, USB4 DP Alt Mode
Max Resolution	8K @ 60Hz, 4K @ 144Hz, 1080p @ 600Hz
USB Ports	2x USB4 (40Gbps), 2x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0
OcuLink Port	Yes, supports external PCIe devices (up to full-size GPUs)
Power Supply	140W Internal PSU (No external brick)
Cooling System	Metal chassis with active cooling & heat dissipation
Audio Features	Dual noise-canceling microphones, built-in stereo speakers
Security Features	Fingerprint scanner (Touch Login), AI-driven security tools
Mounting	VESA mount included for monitor mounting
Size & Weight	7” x 7” x 1.9”, ~3 lbs (~1.5 kg)

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Design

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro features a compact, square-shaped chassis, slightly more symmetrical than other models in its category. The metal and high-quality plastic construction provides a balance of durability and heat dissipation. Ventilation grilles are positioned along the sides and top to facilitate airflow. The system also includes a built-in 140W power supply unit (PSU), eliminating the need for an external power brick, reducing cable clutter, and making it easier to mount or position on a desk.

The front panel houses a power button with an integrated fingerprint sensor, allowing for biometric authentication. There is also a USB4 port, a USB 3.2 port, an audio jack, and an SD card slot for additional storage. The rear panel features multiple USB ports, dual 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, an HDMI output, a DisplayPort output, an OcuLink port, and a USB 2.0 port. These connectivity options provide compatibility with a range of peripherals, storage solutions, and external displays.

A key feature of the design is its internal 140W PSU, an uncommon inclusion in mini PCs. This allows for direct AC power input using a standard two-pin connector. While the PSU is custom-designed and not easily replaceable with off-the-shelf alternatives, it contributes to the unit’s compact and cable-free design.

The cooling system is designed to manage heat efficiently, with airflow distributed across the chassis. The fan noise varies based on workload, but the thermal management system keeps temperatures under control, even under sustained usage.

Power consumption varies depending on workload. In idle conditions, the system draws between 19W and 23W, which is higher than most entry-level mini PCs due to its high-performance hardware. Under moderate load, including CPU and GPU utilization, power usage rises to 59W to 63W. While this consumption is significant for a compact system, it aligns with the performance level it delivers. The internal PSU ensures stable power delivery without requiring an external adapter.

During extended testing, thermal performance remained stable. Heat distribution was well-managed, with no significant thermal spikes even under stress. When measured with a thermal camera, the heat output was lower than other nearby high-performance networking devices in the test environment. The fan system adjusts dynamically based on workload, ensuring consistent operation without excessive noise.

The retail package includes the Minisforum AI X1 Pro unit, a power cable, a VESA mounting bracket, and documentation. The VESA mount allows users to attach the system to the back of a monitor or a wall for space efficiency. The package does not include a keyboard, mouse, or pre-installed operating system, meaning users will need to supply their own peripherals and software. The combination of a built-in PSU, multiple I/O options, and compact design makes it a practical option for users seeking a high-performance mini PC with minimal cable clutter.

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Ports and Connections

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro includes multiple high-speed and legacy connectivity options across its front and rear panels, catering to a variety of use cases. The system supports USB4, USB 3.2, USB 2.0, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, an SD card slot, and OcuLink, making it a versatile device for professional workloads, gaming, and AI-assisted tasks. These ports enable peripheral expansion, high-speed data transfers, networking, and external GPU connectivity, providing a range of possibilities for users who require flexible hardware configurations. The placement of these connections ensures easy access to frequently used ports on the front, while the rear panel accommodates more permanent connections for external monitors, networking, and high-bandwidth storage solutions.

The dual USB4 ports, located on the front and rear, are among the most notable features, delivering up to 40Gbps of bandwidth. This allows for high-speed external storage, video output, and docking station compatibility. During testing, a USB4 external SSD achieved over 3GB/s in read speeds, confirming that the system fully supports the high-bandwidth capabilities of USB4. Write speeds were more dependent on the SSD’s own specifications, averaging around 1.8GB/s, aligning with expected performance for a drive of that type. The USB4 ports also allow for eGPU expansion, enabling the connection of an external graphics card via an OcuLink-to-USB4 adapter, though performance in this configuration may not match that of a direct OcuLink connection.

For wired networking, the system includes dual 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, offering a step up from standard 1GbE connections. This provides improved network throughput, lower latency for online applications, and better support for local file transfers and virtualized environments.

Testing in a peer-to-peer direct connection resulted in speeds averaging 2.35Gbps, demonstrating reliable real-world performance. While 2.5GbE is sufficient for most users, it may not be ideal for those requiring higher bandwidth network-attached storage (NAS) solutions or extensive multi-user workloads.

Wireless connectivity is handled by Wi-Fi 7, which supports the 6GHz spectrum and 320MHz channel width, providing increased speeds and reduced interference compared to previous wireless standards. When paired with a compatible Wi-Fi 7 router, the system achieved peak throughput of over 2Gbps, depending on environmental factors such as network congestion and signal strength.

Wi-Fi 7 allows for low-latency wireless networking, making it a viable option for high-speed transfers in environments where wired networking is impractical. Wireless performance remained stable across multiple test scenarios, demonstrating consistent connectivity and minimal packet loss.

The video output options include HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1, allowing for multi-monitor setups with support for up to four simultaneous displays. The system can handle 4K at 240Hz, 1440p at 480Hz, and 8K at 60Hz, ensuring compatibility with high-refresh-rate monitors and high-resolution displays. Adaptive Sync and HDR support improve overall display performance, reducing screen tearing and improving color accuracy. During testing, dual monitor configurations using DisplayPort and HDMI simultaneously worked without issue, delivering consistent video output with no visible latency.

A key expansion feature is the OcuLink port, which provides direct PCIe-based external device connectivity, offering low-latency, high-bandwidth expansion options. In testing, an OcuLink NVMe SSD enclosure was detected immediately, allowing for storage expansion without compromising performance. The system also supported an external GPU connected via OcuLink, which significantly improved gaming performance, particularly in titles utilizing ray tracing.

The external GPU used in testing was the Minisforum MGA1, an eGPU enclosure featuring a NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU, PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, and dedicated cooling for high-performance graphics processing. With the MGA1 connected, games that previously struggled with ray tracing saw substantial performance improvements, demonstrating the viability of OcuLink as a direct GPU expansion solution.

The USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 2.0 ports serve as additional expansion options, providing 10Gbps and 480Mbps transfer speeds, respectively. While USB 3.2 Gen 2 offers sufficient bandwidth for external drives and accessories, the USB 2.0 port is more suited to lower-priority peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and older external devices that do not require high-speed connectivity. Testing showed that USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports delivered consistent performance when used with high-speed external storage, achieving expected speeds for 10Gbps-rated SSDs.

Overall, the port selection provides a balance between modern and legacy interfaces, ensuring compatibility with a range of peripherals and expansion options. The inclusion of USB4, OcuLink, dual Ethernet, and multiple display outputs allows for high-speed data transfer, wired and wireless networking, and scalable performance upgrades. The lack of 10GbE may be a limitation for certain users, but the OcuLink port compensates by allowing direct PCIe expansion. With reliable wired and wireless networking, flexible video output options, and full USB4 bandwidth support, the Minisforum AI X1 Pro provides strong connectivity for a range of professional and consumer use cases.

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Internal Hardware

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro features a compact yet high-performance internal hardware configuration, designed to balance processing power, cooling efficiency, and storage scalability within a small form factor.

At its core, the system is powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a 12-core, 24-thread processor with a hybrid 4x Zen 5 and 8x Zen 5c architecture.

This CPU supports clock speeds up to 5.1GHz, with a default TDP of 28W and a configurable range of 15W to 54W, allowing users to adjust power consumption based on workload requirements. Integrated into the processor is the AMD Radeon 890M GPU, which operates at 2.9GHz and supports modern gaming, AI workloads, and media processing.

The system memory consists of two SODIMM slots, allowing for expandable RAM configurations. The reviewed model included 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory, with the option to upgrade to a maximum of 96GB.

Unlike some mini PCs, the RAM is user-replaceable rather than soldered to the motherboard, offering future-proofing for users who may require higher capacity memory. The lack of ECC (Error-Correcting Code) support is a limitation for users requiring data integrity features, particularly in professional environments such as virtualization or enterprise workloads.

Storage is handled via three M.2 NVMe slots, all operating on PCIe 4.0 architecture.

Two of these slots run at PCIe 4.0 x4, providing 8GB/s of potential bandwidth, while the third slot operates at PCIe 4.0 x1, limiting its performance to 2GB/s.

This configuration allows for a mix of high-speed and archival storage, with the x1 slot being more suited for less frequently accessed data. During testing, Gen 4 NVMe SSDs in the primary slots achieved full bandwidth speeds, while the third slot demonstrated the expected performance limitations.

Cooling is managed by an internal metal L-shaped cooling system, which integrates two silent operational fans. The primary fan is located above the piped CPU cooling solution, which consists of a metal heatsink with multiple heat vents to improve thermal dissipation.

This cooling system ensures sustained performance under load, preventing thermal throttling during intensive processing tasks. The second fan is positioned over the Wi-Fi card and adjacent to the internal PSU, ensuring airflow distribution across multiple components.

The internal PSU is located directly above the M.2 NVMe slots, an unconventional placement compared to traditional desktop designs. This layout reduces the need for an external power brick, making cable management more streamlined. The 140W internal power supply is a proprietary design, meaning replacement may be more complex than standard off-the-shelf units.

Despite this, the integration of an internal PSU contributes to a cleaner workspace, avoiding bulky external adapters typically associated with compact systems. Nevertheless, the PSU living DIRECTLY above the m.2 NVMe SSD bays is kinda weird. It further exacerbates the need for the SSD bays to need m.2 heatsinks to allow heat dissipation, into the fan 5-6cm away.

In terms of noise output, the cooling fans remained quiet during idle and low-power tasks, with only minor increases in noise levels under high-load scenarios. The thermal camera testing indicated that the system’s heat distribution was well-managed, with the warmest areas located around the CPU and PSU exhaust vents. The Wi-Fi card and SSD slots remained within safe temperature ranges, confirming the effectiveness of the airflow design.

The internal hardware design of the Minisforum AI X1 Pro prioritizes performance, efficient cooling, and storage flexibility. While the PSU placement above the NVMe drives is unusual, it does not appear to cause excessive heat accumulation. The combination of a high-performance processor, scalable RAM and storage, and a well-managed cooling solution ensures that the system is capable of handling a range of demanding workloads, from AI-assisted tasks to content creation and gaming.

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Performance and Testing

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro integrates the AMD Radeon 890M GPU, which operates at 2.9GHz and features 16 compute units. While it lacks the power of a dedicated high-end GPU, it is capable of handling mid-tier gaming and graphical workloads. During testing, Call of Duty: Warzone was run on high settings, achieving playable frame rates without an external GPU. Performance remained stable, though demanding titles with ray tracing and high-resolution textures exhibited performance limitations. The system supports external GPU expansion via OCuLink, and testing with the Minisforum MGA1 eGPU—equipped with an AMD Radeon 7600M XT (32 compute units, 8GB GDDR6 memory, 120W TDP)—significantly enhanced graphical capabilities, particularly for ray tracing and high-resolution gaming.

The OCuLink expansion port enables a direct PCIe-level connection to external GPUs, providing higher bandwidth than Thunderbolt-based solutions. When using the MGA1 eGPU, performance improvements were immediately evident, with games running at higher frame rates and improved graphical fidelity.

This configuration allows users to scale graphical performance without replacing the base system, making it an efficient option for users requiring additional power for AI tasks, rendering, or high-end gaming.

However, OCuLink accessories are currently less common than standard eGPU enclosures, which may limit hardware compatibility options.

In terms of using the Minisforum X1 Pro in more NAS deployment utilities, the testing is still in progress (and I will make a separate video and article soon), but early testing has been very positive. Uutilized half of the available threads as vCPUs in 12 Windwos 11 VMs (each with 2GB Memory) and they ran great (at that point, my own recording machine and the UI itself became the only limitation.

Likewise, with PLEX Media server, I was able to stream 8x 1080p 100Mb (bitrate) video files at once without stressing the CPU, then 10x 4K 60Mb – still positive. Finally, I went into 8K media (something that PLEX itself is poorly optimized for) and streamed 5x 8K High end files at once (mixed native and on-the-fly conversions). In all cases, the Minisforum X1 Pro worked like a charm!

The rest of the performance benchmarks on the individual m.2 slots are still undergoing testing, as well as connecting a 4x M.2 NVMe SSD expansion device from Aoostar via Oculink.

These will be published on the YouTube channel soon.

AI processing is a core feature of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, which boasts up to 80 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) and a dedicated 50 TOPS NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI-assisted tasks. Benchmarks using Geekbench AI indicated strong performance in OpenVINO-based workloads, with a 5024 overall AI score.

Image-related AI tasks, including image classification, object detection, and segmentation, demonstrated higher inference speeds on OpenVINO compared to ONNX, with quantized processing delivering the best overall efficiency. AI-driven tasks such as style transfer, depth estimation, and pose estimation showed notable acceleration compared to traditional CPU-only inference. Testing with ONNX-based AI models resulted in a lower AI benchmark score of 3614, reflecting reduced optimization for this framework. Despite this, the system still delivered usable performance for machine learning inference and AI-based enhancements, though OpenVINO remained the preferred framework for faster execution times and more efficient workload handling. AI-assisted image enhancement and real-time video analysis tasks performed well, making the system suitable for workflow acceleration in content creation and automated AI-based applications.

Category	Specification
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro (64-bit) (Linux support: Ubuntu, RHEL)
CPU Architecture	AMD Zen 5 / Zen 5c (TSMC 4nm FinFET)
PCIe Support	PCIe 4.0 (16 lanes total, usable for NVMe, OcuLink, USB4 SSDs)
Native USB Support	2x USB4 (40Gbps), 3x USB 3.2 (10Gbps), 3x USB 2.0
Max Memory	96GB DDR5 (dual-channel, 5600MHz)
Storage Performance	Up to 7,000 MB/s (PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs)
AI Engine	80 TOPS total (50 TOPS NPU)
Geekbench AI Score (OpenVINO)	5024
Geekbench AI Score (ONNX)	3614
Power Consumption (Idle)	19-23W
Power Consumption (Load)	59-63W (CPU & GPU at 50% load)
Cooling & Thermal Performance	Efficient airflow, low thermal footprint (lower heat than UniFi Wi-Fi 7 AP)
AI Performance Metrics (Benchmark Results)
Image Classification (SP)	OpenVINO: 549 IPS, ONNX: 512 IPS
Object Detection (Q)	OpenVINO: 7400 at 593 IPS
Pose Estimation (SP)	OpenVINO: 7072 at 8.25 IPS
Style Transfer (AI Filters)	OpenVINO: 72K IPS, ONNX: 30K IPS
Super Resolution (Upscaling)	OpenVINO: 3969 IPS, ONNX: 2235 IPS
Machine Translation (AI Text Processing)	OpenVINO: 4351 at 74.9 IPS
Gaming Performance
Call of Duty Warzone (Native, No eGPU)	Playable at High Settings
Cyberpunk 2077	Limited without eGPU, decent with OcuLink external GPU
External GPU (OcuLink, eGPU tested with Minforum eGPU)	Massive improvement in ray tracing performance
Best Use Cases
AI-powered Video & Image Processing	Great for 4K upscaling, AI-style transfer, motion tracking
AI-assisted Creative Workflows	Optimized for Adobe AI tools, DaVinci Resolve AI features
Real-time AI Automation & Security	Object recognition, face detection, smart surveillance
AI-assisted Audio & Text Transcription	Speech-to-text, real-time subtitle generation
Gaming (Casual to AAA, with eGPU Support)	Decent native performance, great with eGPU via OcuLink
Limitations
✘ Not Ideal for LLM Model Training	Lacks high-end CUDA acceleration for AI model training
✘ ONNX Performance is Weaker	Better results using OpenVINO for AI inference
✘ No Built-in 10GbE	Only 2x 2.5GbE, no native 10GbE option
Connectivity & Expansion
eGPU Support	OcuLink, USB4 (Supports external RTX 4090 or similar GPUs)
Max Displays	4 Monitors (4K/8K multi-monitor setup)
External USB4 Storage	Achieved 3GB/s read speeds (USB4 SSD tested)

The X1 delivers capable performance in graphical processing, AI workloads, and high-speed storage applications. While the integrated GPU is suitable for mid-range tasks, external GPU expansion significantly enhances performance. AI capabilities, particularly with OpenVINO, demonstrate strong inference speeds for image processing, object detection, and machine learning inference. Storage performance meets expectations, with Gen 4 speeds available on the primary slots and USB4 providing high-speed external storage options. These features position the system as a versatile solution for power users, AI developers, and content creators. But keep your expectations realistic and in perspective for a mini PC nonetheless!!!

13/02/25 Update from Minisforum, re: AI local Deployment:

Minisforum AI X1 Pro Review – Conclusion and Verdict

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro is a compact but powerful mini PC designed for users seeking a balance of CPU performance, AI acceleration, and expandability. It features the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, which delivers strong multi-core performance with 12 cores, 24 threads, and a 50 TOPS NPU for AI workloads. The integrated AMD Radeon 890M GPU provides adequate graphical performance for mid-tier gaming and GPU-accelerated applications, though it benefits significantly from external GPU expansion via OCuLink. With support for up to three M.2 NVMe drives, dual USB4 ports, and dual 2.5GbE networking, the system is versatile in both storage and connectivity. While the lack of native 10GbE may be a drawback for high-bandwidth network users, the Wi-Fi 7 support provides a wireless alternative with high-speed connectivity options.

In terms of real-world performance, the system delivers strong results in AI-driven applications, particularly those optimized for the OpenVINO framework, where it achieved higher inference speeds compared to ONNX-based workloads. Gaming performance is reasonable on the integrated GPU, but ray tracing and high-end graphical tasks require an external GPU, such as the Minisforum MGA1 eGPU with an AMD Radeon 7600M XT, which was tested and demonstrated significant performance improvements. The internal 140W PSU eliminates cable clutter, but its placement above the M.2 slots is unconventional and may require additional SSD heatsinks for efficient cooling. Thermal management is well-executed, with a dual-fan system and metal heatsink design keeping temperatures stable during sustained workloads.

The Minisforum AI X1 Pro is best suited for AI developers, content creators, and users requiring a small yet powerful workstation. It provides AI acceleration, high-speed storage, and expandable graphics options, making it a versatile hybrid between a mini PC and a desktop-class solution. While not ideal for intensive LLM training or high-end gaming without an external GPU, it excels in AI-assisted workflows, video processing, and multi-tasking applications. The inclusion of OCuLink for PCIe expansion allows for long-term scalability, giving users the option to upgrade GPU or storage performance as needed. For those seeking a high-performance compact system with AI processing capabilities, the Minisforum AI X1 Pro is a capable and well-rounded option.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  

Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US

    

 

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Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is the latest entry in the company’s expanding lineup of travel routers, bringing Wi-Fi 7 support, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a compact, portable design aimed at users who need reliable internet access on the go. Designed with remote workers, frequent travelers, and security-conscious users in mind, it includes built-in VPN support, an interactive touchscreen interface, and multiple failover options, making it a versatile networking solution for those moving between different public and private networks. However, while it is marketed as a Wi-Fi 7 device, it notably lacks support for the 6GHz band and 320MHz channel width, meaning it cannot take full advantage of some key Wi-Fi 7 improvements. This raises questions about whether its performance truly surpasses high-end Wi-Fi 6E routers or if it is more of an incremental upgrade over its predecessors. In this review, we will break down the Slate 7’s design, connectivity options, and real-world performance, ultimately determining if it is a standout travel networking device or simply a modest refinement of previous GL.iNet offerings.

UPDATE – the $96 super early bird price is now over, but the early bird price is still available at the time of writing (link here or via banner below)

Note, several times in the review I reference the Gl.iNet Puli AX SIM Tracvel Router. Find out more about that router in the full review HERE on YouTube and HERE on the blog.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Quick Conclusion

The GL.iNet Slate 7 is a versatile and security-focused travel router, offering Wi-Fi 7 support, dual 2.5GbE ports, built-in VPN capabilities, and a touchscreen interface in a compact, low-power design. While it excels at secure networking, multi-device connectivity, and WAN failover options, its lack of 6GHz and 320MHz channel width means it does not fully utilize Wi-Fi 7’s potential. Wireless performance is solid on 5GHz, reaching 2-2.1Gbps, but latency improvements and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) help stability rather than raw speed gains. Wired performance is strong, but USB storage speeds are capped at 130-140 MB/s, limiting its use as a high-speed file-sharing device. The touchscreen adds convenience for quick settings adjustments, and power consumption remains low (~7-8W), but the lack of a built-in battery reduces portability compared to SIM-enabled or battery-powered alternatives like the Puli AX. With pricing between $96-$149, it is a strong value for users needing a secure and flexible travel router, but those prioritizing top-tier Wi-Fi performance may prefer a Wi-Fi 6E router with 6GHz support. The Slate 7 is an iterative upgrade rather than a groundbreaking innovation, making it a reliable but not revolutionary choice for portable networking.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Design

The GL.iNet Slate 7 follows a familiar compact and lightweight form factor, measuring 130 x 91 x 34 mm and weighing 295 grams. This makes it highly portable, fitting easily into a backpack or even a pocket, which is essential for a travel-focused device. The matte black chassis gives it a more industrial and professional look compared to some of its predecessors, with foldable external antennas that can be adjusted to optimize signal reception.

Unlike the Puli AX, which includes a built-in battery, the Slate 7 requires USB-C power input, keeping it lightweight but also limiting its standalone functionality when an external power source isn’t available.

A major upgrade in this model is the touchscreen interface, a rare feature for travel routers.

The small LCD display allows users to scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi access, toggle VPN connections, monitor real-time network speed, and check network status through color-coded indicators for different modes such as Ethernet, Repeater, and Tethering.

While not a full replacement for web-based or app-based management, it provides a quick and convenient way to adjust settings without needing to log into a separate interface.

The physical button on the device is another useful addition, allowing users to assign it to toggle VPN services or other networking functions. This means users can activate or deactivate a secure tunnel instantly, ensuring encrypted traffic without needing to open a mobile app or browser. The button’s customization adds another layer of convenience, particularly for those frequently switching between standard and VPN-protected connections.

Build quality is solid, with a sturdy plastic shell that feels durable enough for travel but lacks the ruggedized features found in some other portable routers. There are no IP-rated dust or water resistance claims, so users should be cautious when using it in more demanding outdoor environments.

The absence of a built-in battery and no SIM card slot means it relies entirely on external power and tethered internet sources, making it less versatile than some cellular-enabled competitors. However, for users who mainly rely on wired and wireless networks, the design choices make sense, keeping the device compact while offering practical features for on-the-go connectivity.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Connections

The GL.iNet Slate 7 offers a versatile range of wired and wireless connectivity options, making it one of the most adaptable travel routers in its class. Its standout feature is the inclusion of two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, which can be configured as either WAN or LAN. This flexibility allows users to connect to high-speed wired networks while also providing a multi-gigabit local network for devices that support it. Unlike previous models that typically included only one multi-gig port, the Slate 7 allows for higher-speed networking between wired devices without needing an additional switch.

On the wireless side, the router supports Wi-Fi 7 with dual-band functionality, offering speeds of 688 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 2.8 Gbps on 5GHz. However, despite its Wi-Fi 7 branding, it does not support the 6GHz band or 320MHz channel width, meaning it lacks two of the most significant advantages of the latest wireless standard.

This means performance improvements will be limited compared to full-featured Wi-Fi 7 routers, though Multi-Link Operation (MLO) support helps improve stability and throughput when using simultaneous band connections.

For users needing additional network redundancy, the Slate 7 supports multiple failover options. In addition to its WAN/LAN ports, it can also connect to the internet via Wi-Fi repeater mode or USB tethering.

The USB 3.0 port allows users to connect a smartphone for cellular tethering, effectively turning the router into a backup mobile hotspot. This is a valuable feature for travelers who may find themselves in locations without reliable wired or Wi-Fi access, ensuring they remain connected through a tethered mobile device.

The router’s software-based networking features further expand its connectivity potential. Users can configure WAN failover, ensuring a seamless switch between different internet sources when one becomes unavailable.

Additionally, it supports multiple SSIDs and VLAN segmentation, allowing for separate networks for guests or different device types. These features are particularly useful for users who frequently switch between public and private networks, ensuring that personal devices remain isolated from potentially unsecured connections.

Another key connectivity feature is the USB storage functionality, which allows the Slate 7 to act as a mini NAS. When a USB drive or external SSD is connected, it can be accessed over the network using Samba, DLNA, WebDAV, and FTP protocols.

However, performance testing showed that USB file transfer speeds over Samba maxed out at around 130-140 MB/s, meaning that while the feature is useful for basic file sharing or backups, it is not optimized for high-speed storage applications.

While the inclusion of USB-based storage sharing is a welcome addition, the performance bottleneck limits its full potential.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Software

The GL.iNet Slate 7 runs a customized version of OpenWrt 23.05, providing a flexible and feature-rich networking environment. The web-based management interface is similar to previous GL.iNet routers, offering a mix of beginner-friendly controls and advanced networking settings.

Users can configure WAN failover, VLANs, multiple SSIDs, and port forwarding, making it adaptable for various networking scenarios. The addition of a touchscreen interface allows for quick network monitoring, Wi-Fi access via QR codes, and VPN toggling, reducing the need to log into the full web interface for basic tasks. However, while the core interface is functional, it lacks detailed guidance for advanced settings, which could be a challenge for less experienced users.

One of the key features of the Slate 7 is its VPN support, allowing users to configure over 30 VPN services, including OpenVPN and WireGuard. With WireGuard speeds reaching up to 540Mbps, it provides a fast and secure connection for users needing encrypted traffic on public networks. The physical VPN button is a welcome addition, enabling users to instantly toggle VPN protection without accessing the interface.

VPN failover support is also included, allowing users to switch between multiple VPN providers seamlessly. However, while basic VPN setup is straightforward, more advanced configurations—such as split tunneling and custom DNS settings—require manual setup with limited on-screen guidance.

The Slate 7 also features a built-in app store, allowing users to install additional networking tools such as AdGuard Home, ZeroTier, and Tailscale. This extends the router’s functionality beyond basic networking, enabling ad-blocking, remote access solutions, and encrypted tunneling services.

While the app store adds valuable features, its interface feels somewhat outdated, and the selection of available apps remains limited compared to broader OpenWrt repositories. Users comfortable with command-line customization can access root-level OpenWrt settings, unlocking more advanced network configurations for those with the expertise to fine-tune their setup.

In file-sharing and storage management, the Slate 7 supports Samba, DLNA, FTP, and WebDAV, allowing connected USB storage to function as a basic NAS for network file sharing. The setup process is fairly straightforward, with a step-by-step wizard to create shared folders and manage user permissions.

Framing things in terms of a mobile router vs a more aggressive desktop model with 6Ghz,  the Slate 7 remains a capable software-driven router, offering a solid combination of security, customization, and network flexibility, albeit with some interface and performance limitations that may require firmware optimizations in future updates.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Testing

Performance testing on the GL.iNet Slate 7 revealed a mix of strengths and limitations, particularly in Wi-Fi speeds, wired throughput, and storage performance. In wireless performance tests, the 5GHz band consistently delivered 2-2.1Gbps throughput, aligning closely with its 2.8Gbps theoretical maximum when using a Wi-Fi 7 USB adapter. However, the absence of 6GHz and 320MHz channel width meant that it could not take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7’s higher bandwidth capabilities. In practical use, latency remained low, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) improved overall network stability, but competing Wi-Fi 6E routers with 6GHz support may still offer better overall performance in less congested environments.

Wired performance testing was strong, with 2.5GbE Ethernet connections delivering 230-240 MB/s transfer speeds, which is within expected limits for a multi-gigabit network. However, in USB storage performance tests, speeds were notably lower than expected. Using Samba over a 2.5GbE connection, file transfers to a connected USB SSD capped at 130-140MB/s, well below the full bandwidth potential of USB 3.0 or 2.5GbE Ethernet. This suggests either a software bottleneck or an underutilized hardware controller, limiting its effectiveness as a high-speed portable NAS.

In power consumption tests, the Slate 7 remained highly efficient, idling at 6-7W and peaking at 8.1-8.2W under full load with multiple active connections. This makes it one of the lowest-power travel routers in its class, making it ideal for users who need to power it via a laptop, power bank, or low-power USB source.

However, the lack of an internal battery means it requires a power source at all times, reducing portability compared to battery-equipped alternatives like the Puli AX. Here is the power draw of the Slate 7 when I was running my iPerf3 Tests:

VPN performance was in line with expectations, with OpenVPN reaching speeds of ~100Mbps and WireGuard peaking at ~540Mbps. This makes it suitable for secure remote access and encrypted browsing, but users requiring gigabit-level VPN throughput will need a more powerful router or a dedicated VPN server.

The physical VPN toggle button proved highly useful, allowing for instant encryption activation without navigating the web or mobile interface. However, GL.iNet’s software interface lacks clear guidance on advanced VPN configurations, which could be a barrier for less experienced users.

Gl.iNet Slate 7 Router Review – Conclusion & Verdict

The GL.iNet Slate 7 stands out as a compact, feature-rich travel router that brings together Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, dual 2.5GbE ports, and a touchscreen interface in a low-power, highly portable design. It is clearly aimed at travelers, remote workers, and security-conscious users who require flexible connectivity options and encrypted internet access while moving between different networks. With built-in VPN support, USB tethering, and multiple WAN failover options, it effectively serves as a secure gateway for multiple devices when using public Wi-Fi or mobile data connections. The inclusion of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) further enhances stability by allowing simultaneous band connections, while the physical VPN toggle button adds a convenient layer of security. However, the absence of 6GHz support and 320MHz channel width raises concerns about whether it truly takes full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 technology or simply refines the capabilities of existing Wi-Fi 6E travel routers.

In real-world performance, the Slate 7 delivers respectable wireless and wired speeds, but its Wi-Fi 7 implementation feels incomplete. While the 2.5GbE ports allow for high-speed wired networking, the lack of 6GHz means users won’t experience the full benefits of the latest wireless standard, particularly in low-interference, high-bandwidth environments. USB storage performance is another notable limitation, with Samba transfers capping at 130-140 MB/s, suggesting either a software bottleneck or underpowered hardware handling file transfers. The touchscreen interface, while useful for quick access to network settings and VPN controls, does not replace the depth of web or mobile-based configuration tools, which still require some technical knowledge to fully optimize the router’s capabilities. Additionally, while power consumption remains impressively low at around 7-8W under load, the lack of an internal battery means it must always be tethered to an external power source, reducing its portability compared to battery-powered alternatives like the Puli AX.

At a price range of $96 (early bird) to $149 (retail), the Slate 7 offers strong value for users prioritizing security, network flexibility, and multiple connection options over cutting-edge Wi-Fi performance. It is not the fastest travel router available, but it excels in delivering encrypted and stable internet access in a variety of challenging connectivity scenarios. For users who primarily require a portable router for VPN security, network redundancy, and secure multi-device management, the Slate 7 is one of the most capable options on the market. However, those seeking the absolute best wireless performance may find Wi-Fi 6E routers with 6GHz support to be a better choice for future-proofing. While GL.iNet has positioned the Slate 7 as a next-generation travel router, it ultimately feels more like an evolution rather than a revolution, making it a solid but not groundbreaking addition to the travel networking space.

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UniFi U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall WiFi7 Mesh APs Review

UniFi continues to flesh out its Wi-Fi 7 portfolio at the start of 2025, and, hot on the heels of the launch of their latest router and gateway devices, we see this brand start to roll out new Wi-Fi 7 access points intended to challenge both the price point and the hardware level of market alternatives for scaling out your Wi-Fi right now. UniFi has introduced the new compact Wi-Fi 7 U7 Lite access point, and at just $99, this is easily the best-value Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE PoE-equipped mesh access point in the market—full stop! Alongside this, UniFi has upgraded the compact wall-deployed range with the new U7 In-Wall access point at $149, featuring three 2.5GbE ports, PoE power, and PoE pass-through network ports, as well as Wi-Fi 7 support. Needless to say, these are ideally designed for deployment in an existing UniFi network, but they are not strictly locked into that, and for some, they could be used for slow migration away from their existing wireless mesh setup via integration into third-party systems and eventually replacing it with a UniFi setup over time. But are these actually any good? How do they stack up against the current U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max Wi-Fi points? Ultimately, what have you lost in these due to this reduction in size that you may well be missing out on if you just go for the more established and available UniFi Wi-Fi 7 access points in their portfolio? Let’s discuss it in today’s review and testing.

UniFi U7 Lite & U7 In-Wall Review – Quick Conclusion

The UniFi U7 In-Wall and UniFi U7 Lite have clearly been designed for more modest and small-scale deployments, where the current range of UniFi Wi-Fi 7 APs may be overkill for some. You cannot fault the pricing strategy that UniFi has gone for here, especially when it comes to affordability. Notwithstanding the convenience of deploying PoE access points, that $99 price tag to scale up a Wi-Fi 7 AP that isn’t going to throttle the network bandwidth down to standard gigabit speeds is going to be hugely desirable. Equally, as UniFi has been upscaling a number of their PoE switches and gateway devices to feature 2.5GbE PoE, it is no coincidence that these Wi-Fi 7 PoE APs are rolling out at the same time. Power consumption seems pretty impressive, and whether you want to trust the UniFi Controller to manage your devices across individual bands and frequencies, or manually bind devices to specific frequencies, is totally at your disposal. This provides a neat balance between the novice user and the network enthusiast, allowing different levels of control based on user expertise. The only major downfall you can throw at either of these Wi-Fi AP devices is the lack of support for the 6 GHz frequency. It’s an important distinction for those who understand the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 and MLO, as the ability to access more available bandwidth is significantly reduced without the 6 GHz spectrum, resulting in less wireless sandbox to work with. That being said, these models are clearly designed to be as affordable as possible, and it could be argued that the less tech-savvy user might not even realize this feature is missing. However, if you are opting for either of these wireless AP devices or upgrading your Wi-Fi network to Wi-Fi 7 and truly want to maximize its potential, I would say spend the extra and get the U7 Pro or U7 Pro Max. For single-device Wi-Fi networks, the U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall are more than sufficient for these needs and are phenomenally great value.

BUILD QUALITY - 9/10

HARDWARE - 7/10

PERFORMANCE - 7/10

PRICE - 10/10

VALUE - 10/10

8.6

PROS

Affordable Pricing – The U7 Lite ($99) and U7 In-Wall ($149) provide excellent value for those looking to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 without the premium cost.
2.5GbE PoE Support – Both APs support 2.5GbE uplink, ensuring faster network speeds without being throttled to 1GbE.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) – Allows better stability and throughput by utilizing multiple bands simultaneously, even without 6 GHz.
Flexible Deployment – The U7 Lite is ideal for mesh expansions, while the U7 In-Wall adds extra wired connectivity with two additional 2.5GbE ports (one with PoE pass-through).
Easy Network Management – The UniFi Controller software allows both automated and manual control, catering to both novices and power users.
Efficient Power Consumption – These APs remain power-efficient, making them suitable for multiple deployments without excessive energy costs.

CONS

No 6 GHz Support – Without Wi-Fi 7\'s 6 GHz band, these models lack access to the full 320 MHz bandwidth, potentially leading to higher congestion in busy environments.
Limited for High-Density Networks – While they support 200+ clients, they lack the higher spatial streams of the U7 Pro and Pro Max, making them less suitable for very crowded networks.

UniFi U7 Lite & U7 in-Wall Review – Design and Hardware

The UniFi U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall are the latest additions to UniFi’s Wi-Fi 7-enabled access points, offering more budget-friendly alternatives to the U7 Pro and Pro Max. While these new models lack 6 GHz support, they retain many of the advantages of Wi-Fi 7, such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and higher bandwidth options for improved connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 introduces several key improvements over its predecessors, including Multi-Link Operation (MLO), wider bandwidth support, and higher efficiency for multiple connected devices. However, one of its most significant advantages comes from its ability to use the 6 GHz band, allowing for 320 MHz channel widths and significantly lower interference. While the U7 Pro and Pro Max fully leverage these benefits, the U7 Lite and In-Wall models are limited to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, making them less capable in high-density environments but still powerful for general use.

Despite lacking 6 GHz capabilities, the U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall can still take advantage of MLO, allowing them to combine multiple frequency bands for improved stability and speed. This means that in practical use, they can still offer impressive throughput and reliable performance, even though they cannot reach the peak speeds of their Pro counterparts. For users who do not yet have many Wi-Fi 7-enabled devices, or who primarily need strong 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz coverage, these models offer a cost-effective solution that integrates well into UniFi’s ecosystem. That said, users looking for future-proofing and high-performance networking should still consider the U7 Pro or Pro Max, as they provide higher spatial streams, full 6 GHz access, and better support for high-density Wi-Fi environments. These factors make the Pro models a better fit for large offices, multi-device households, and advanced networking setups, while the U7 Lite and In-Wall models are more suited for smaller deployments and cost-conscious expansions of existing UniFi networks.

UniFi U7 Lite Hardware

The U7 Lite is designed as a compact ceiling or wall-mounted AP, delivering 115 square meters (1,250 square feet) of coverage with dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz support. It features a 2.5GbE PoE-powered connection and requires 13W at full power draw. Unlike the In-Wall model, it lacks additional Ethernet ports but still provides Wi-Fi 7 capabilities with up to 4.3 Gbps (BW240) and an 8 dBi antenna gain.

While compact, the U7 Lite is optimized for general wireless expansion in homes, offices, and mesh network deployments. It supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO), allowing it to operate across multiple frequencies for more stable connections. The plastic enclosure makes it lightweight, and its ceiling-mountable design ensures broad, unobstructed coverage.

Below is a hardware comparison table summarizing key specifications of the U7 Lite:

UniFi U7 In-Wall Hardware

The U7 In-Wall, priced at $149, is a versatile Wi-Fi 7 access point designed for wall-mounted deployment, making it a great fit for structured networking setups. It provides 115 square meters (1,250 square feet) of coverage and supports over 200 clients simultaneously, making it suitable for home and office environments. Like the U7 Lite, it supports dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) but offers three 2.5GbE ports, including PoE pass-through on one of the outputs. This feature is particularly useful for powering additional devices like VoIP phones or cameras directly from the AP, reducing the need for extra power adapters.

The U7 In-Wall is designed for both wired and wireless expansion, making it stand out from simpler access points. The PoE+ uplink port (13W max) ensures efficient power delivery while enabling a seamless connection to an existing UniFi network. The metal wall mount design adds durability and stability, making it ideal for multi-room home setups or business deployments. Additionally, with 8 SSID support, it allows for network segmentation, a crucial feature for separating guest, IoT, or business traffic without requiring additional hardware.

Compared to the U7 Lite, the In-Wall model offers significantly greater wired networking flexibility. The addition of two extra Ethernet ports—one with PoE pass-through—makes it ideal for deployments that require a mix of wired and wireless devices. The Lite, in contrast, is more focused on providing general Wi-Fi coverage in open spaces without built-in wired networking expansion. This means that while the Lite is well-suited for broad Wi-Fi coverage, the In-Wall excels in scenarios where wired device connectivity is necessary.

Both models share several core benefits, including Wi-Fi 7 support, 2×2 MIMO on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO). However, their lack of 6 GHz support and 320 MHz channel width capabilities means they cannot take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7’s highest potential speeds. Unlike the U7 Lite, which primarily targets budget-conscious users looking for general wireless coverage, the In-Wall is geared toward users who need wired connectivity and centralized networking within a single unit. In contrast, the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max offer full 6 GHz support, unlocking higher bandwidth, lower interference, and greater efficiency in high-density environments. These premium models also include higher spatial streams and the ability to support more than 500 clients, making them a better fit for large offices, high-traffic environments, or future-proof setups. While the U7 Lite and In-Wall deliver strong performance at a lower price, users with demanding Wi-Fi 7 use cases may still find the U7 Pro series to be a superior long-term investment.

The U7 In-Wall is a versatile Wi-Fi 7 access point designed for wall-mounted deployment, making it a great fit for structured networking setups. It provides 115 square meters (1,250 square feet) of coverage and supports over 200 clients simultaneously, making it suitable for home and office environments. Like the U7 Lite, it supports dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), but it enhances flexibility with three 2.5GbE ports, including PoE pass-through on one of the outputs. This feature is particularly useful for powering additional devices like VoIP phones or cameras directly from the AP. Unlike the U7 Lite, the U7 In-Wall is optimized for wired networking expansion while maintaining strong wireless performance. The PoE+ uplink port (13W max) allows for efficient power delivery, ensuring seamless integration into existing UniFi networks. The metal wall mount design provides durability and stability, making it ideal for permanent installations in commercial or multi-room home setups. The 8 SSID support allows for network segmentation, an essential feature for businesses and shared environments.

While the U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall share several similarities, such as dual-band Wi-Fi 7 support and 4.3 Gbps max speeds on 5 GHz, the In-Wall model stands out due to its extra Ethernet ports and PoE pass-through. These additions make it the better choice for users who need both wireless and wired expansion in their setup. The Lite, on the other hand, is geared more towards general Wi-Fi coverage in open areas, lacking the physical networking enhancements of the In-Wall model. In terms of shared benefits, both models lack 6 GHz support, meaning they do not leverage the full 320 MHz bandwidth available in Wi-Fi 7. However, both utilize Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to improve connectivity stability, ensuring strong performance even without access to 6 GHz channels. Additionally, their MIMO configurations (2×2 on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) allow for consistent speeds across multiple devices, making them solid choices for Wi-Fi 7-enabled networks.

When compared to the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max, the In-Wall and Lite models are more budget-friendly but also less feature-rich. The Pro and Pro Max benefit from 6 GHz support, higher spatial streams, and greater client capacity, making them ideal for high-density environments with demanding workloads. While the Lite and In-Wall are excellent for general networking, users needing future-proofing, greater bandwidth, and larger-scale deployment capabilities will still find the U7 Pro and Pro Max to be the superior choices. The U7 In-Wall, priced at $149, is a step up from the Lite version, integrating additional networking flexibility. Like the Lite model, it offers Wi-Fi 7 support on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, but it distinguishes itself with two additional 2.5GbE LAN ports, one of which supports PoE pass-through. This makes it ideal for users needing wired connections for additional devices. The metal wall mount design ensures a stable and durable setup, making it a great option for expanding mesh networks. Let’s start the tests!

UniFi U7 Lite & U7 In-Wall Review – Performance Tests

To put these devices to the test, I conducted a series of benchmarks comparing them directly against the UniFi U7 Pro. The tests included file transfer speeds, internet speed tests, and long-range performance in different real-world conditions, helping illustrate where each access point excels and where certain compromises arise.

IMPORTANT – In every test, I let the client Windows laptop have it’s frequency and band be dictated by the USB WiFi 7 adapter AND the UniFi AP. I ran the ‘optimization’ scan on each UniFi AP once up to the first connection, but after that I trusted the Access Point to manage the connection and frequency position. I KNOW I could have manually adjusted/bonded bands and frequencies to each device for the tests (and most likely improve the results of each device), but this likely would not represent the average novice user experience, who would want to ‘trust’ the AP to handle their connection. So remember, that if you are connected to a UniFi U7/U7 Pro/U7 Pro Max/UY Lite/U7 In-Wall AP and you are getting low speeds, it might serve you well to log into your UniFi controller and set your bands/frequencies manually for priority devices.

• Router/Gateway: UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)
• Internet Connection: 1Gbps Down / 100+ Mbps Up
• Testing Device: Windows 11 laptop with a Wi-Fi 7 USB adapter HERE 
• NAS for File Transfer: TerraMaster F4-424 Max (10GbE NAS) and a 10GB 4K .MP4 File
• Testing Distance: 10m (clear indoor), 5m (two walls in between), 20m & 30m (outdoor testing)

This setup aims to simulate typical deployment scenarios while factoring in both simple and obstructed line-of-sight conditions.

File Transfer Speed Test (10m, Clear Indoor)

• U7 Pro: 3 minutes 18 seconds (2.8 Gbps connection)
• U7 In-Wall: 4 minutes 31 seconds (1.4 Gbps connection)
• U7 Lite: 3 minutes 38 seconds (1.4 Gbps connection)

Analysis:

• The U7 Pro benefits from 6 GHz support and 320 MHz bandwidth, enabling significantly higher throughput, especially at close range with minimal interference.
• The U7 Lite comes surprisingly close to the Pro’s performance despite lacking 6 GHz, showing that its 5 GHz performance and MLO are still quite strong under optimal conditions.

• The U7 In-Wall is slower than the U7 Lite by almost a whole minute, yet it remains competitive for most home or small office needs.

Internet Speed Tests (Ookla Speed Test – 10m, Clear Indoor)

• U7 Pro: 689 Mbps Down / 79 Mbps Up
• U7 In-Wall: 491 Mbps Down / 82 Mbps Up
• U7 Lite: 479 Mbps Down / 88 Mbps Up

Analysis:

• The U7 Pro again comes out on top, showcasing the advantage of 6 GHz in an environment where the internet connection can exceed typical 2.4/5 GHz bandwidth.
• Both the U7 Lite and U7 In-Wall achieve around 500 Mbps, which is more than adequate for everyday use. Their slight gap compared to the Pro is expected given their lack of 6 GHz.

• Upload speeds are fairly close among all three, indicating stable performance on the 2.4/5 GHz bands even without the Pro’s extra frequency options.

File Transfer Test (5m, Two Walls in Between)

• U7 Pro: 13 minutes 31 seconds (fluctuated between 800 Mbps – 2.8 Gbps)
• U7 In-Wall: 5 minutes 1 second (consistent 1.2-1.4 Gbps)
• U7 Lite: 8 minutes 2 seconds (locked at 720 Mbps)

Analysis:

• The U7 Pro suffers here because it constantly attempts to leverage 6 GHz and MLO. Thick walls and interior interference can cause frequent band-switching, disrupting throughput consistency. I still want to investigate this, as it seems unusually slow – TBC
• The U7 In-Wall excels by settling quickly on a steady 5 GHz link, showing that fewer available bands can sometimes reduce overhead and yield consistent speeds.

• The U7 Lite offers moderate performance; it didn’t dynamically switch to multiple bands, so its stable but lower throughput (720 Mbps) resulted in a middling transfer time.

Long-Range Performance (20m & 30m, Outdoor)

• At 20m:

  • U7 Pro: Maintained a 6 GHz connection at 612 Mbps
  • U7 In-Wall: Used MLO (2.4 & 5 GHz) – 146 Mbps / 154 Mbps
  • U7 Lite: Maintained a 5 GHz connection at 680 Mbps

• At 30m:

  • U7 Pro: Dropped to 720 Mbps / 367 Mbps
  • U7 In-Wall: Maintained MLO connection at 146 Mbps / 172 Mbps
  • U7 Lite: Maintained a single 5 GHz connection at 136 Mbps / 324 Mbps

Analysis:

• U7 Pro’s 6 GHz signal offers high peak speeds, but 6 GHz can degrade faster over distance or through obstacles. Once it drops down, it’s still fast, yet its throughput can vary as it switches.
• U7 In-Wall uses MLO to combine 2.4 and 5 GHz, prioritizing reliability over sheer speed, which makes it ideal for consistent coverage in multi-floor homes or offices.

• U7 Lite sticks to 5 GHz, delivering a surprisingly solid signal at 20m and 30m. This approach prevents the frequent channel shifts seen on the Pro, resulting in smoother, if not top-tier, long-range performance.

Overall, these tests highlight the trade-offs each model makes:

• U7 Pro or U7 Pro Max: Best raw performance and peak speeds, but can suffer from complex band-hopping in tricky environments.
• U7 In-Wall: Balances wired flexibility with reliable 5 GHz coverage, ideal for consistent performance and versatile setups.
• U7 Lite: Compact and cost-effective, with speeds that rival the Pro at shorter distances but without the Pro’s complexity—well-suited for simpler mesh expansions.

Whether you prioritize peak throughput (U7 Pro), flexible wired connectivity (U7 In-Wall), or affordability and easy placement (U7 Lite), each model has distinct strengths to suit different user needs.

UniFi U7 Lite & U7 in Wall Review – Verdict and Conclusion

The UniFi U7 In-Wall and UniFi U7 Lite are well-positioned as affordable, small-scale Wi-Fi 7 solutions, offering dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connectivity, 2.5GbE PoE support, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for improved stability. At $149 for the In-Wall and $99 for the Lite, they provide a cost-effective way to expand a UniFi network while avoiding the higher price points of Pro-tier APs. The U7 In-Wall stands out with its two additional 2.5GbE ports, including PoE pass-through, making it particularly useful for wired and wireless networking in a single unit, ideal for structured setups. Meanwhile, the U7 Lite serves as a simple and efficient mesh expansion option, making it a great fit for users looking for broad Wi-Fi coverage at a low cost.

However, the most significant limitation of these models is their lack of 6 GHz support, meaning they cannot leverage the full 320 MHz bandwidth that Wi-Fi 7 is capable of, potentially leading to higher congestion in busier environments. While MLO helps compensate, users in high-density areas may find that spending extra on the U7 Pro or U7 Pro Max is the smarter choice for future-proofing and superior performance. Still, for budget-conscious users or those expanding a smaller network, both the U7 In-Wall and U7 Lite are exceptional value, providing strong performance, power efficiency, and seamless UniFi integration without the premium price tag.

Pros of the U7 Lite / U7 In-Wall AP

Cons of the U7 Lite / U7 In-Wall AP

Affordable Pricing – The U7 Lite ($99) and U7 In-Wall ($149) provide excellent value for those looking to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 without the premium cost. 2.5GbE PoE Support – Both APs support 2.5GbE uplink, ensuring faster network speeds without being throttled to 1GbE. Multi-Link Operation (MLO) – Allows better stability and throughput by utilizing multiple bands simultaneously, even without 6 GHz. Flexible Deployment – The U7 Lite is ideal for mesh expansions, while the U7 In-Wall adds extra wired connectivity with two additional 2.5GbE ports (one with PoE pass-through). Easy Network Management – The UniFi Controller software allows both automated and manual control, catering to both novices and power users. Efficient Power Consumption – These APs remain power-efficient, making them suitable for multiple deployments without excessive energy costs.

No 6 GHz Support – Without Wi-Fi 7’s 6 GHz band, these models lack access to the full 320 MHz bandwidth, potentially leading to higher congestion in busy environments. Limited for High-Density Networks – While they support 200+ clients, they lack the higher spatial streams of the U7 Pro and Pro Max, making them less suitable for very crowded networks.

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Samsung Unveils 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD with Up to 14,800 MB/s Speeds and 8TB Capacity

IMPORTANT – The Samsung 9100 Pro SSD is Now LIVE and my Review can be found HERE on YouTube or HERE on the Blog.

(Original Article Below)

Samsung has officially launched its 9100 PRO Series, marking its first full-fledged PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD and its most powerful consumer storage solution to date. Designed to meet the growing demands of AI workloads, high-performance computing, 8K video editing, and gaming, this SSD delivers sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s, making it nearly twice as fast as its predecessor, the 990 PRO. The 9100 PRO lineup includes capacities of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, catering to both professionals and power users requiring high-speed data access and extensive storage capacity. With the introduction of a more power-efficient 5nm controller, improved thermal management, and a choice between heatsink and non-heatsink versions, Samsung aims to push PCIe 5.0 adoption forward while setting a new benchmark for consumer SSDs.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Hardware and Specifications

The Samsung 9100 PRO is built using Samsung’s in-house PCIe 5.0 controller and V-NAND TLC (V8) flash memory, providing a significant increase in performance, reliability, and efficiency. Unlike its predecessors, the 9100 PRO utilizes the NVMe 2.0 protocol, enabling better optimizations for high-speed workloads. It is equipped with LPDDR4X DRAM-based caching to further enhance performance, ensuring that data retrieval and transfer speeds remain consistent under heavy loads. Power efficiency has been improved by 49% compared to the 990 PRO, allowing the drive to operate at lower power consumption levels, with an active power draw ranging from 7.6W to 9.0W depending on the model. For added security, the 9100 PRO supports AES 256-bit encryption, TCG Opal 2.0, and Microsoft eDrive, making it a viable option for enterprise-level security and personal data protection.

Samsung 9100 PRO Specifications

Samsung 9100 Pro vs Samsung 990 EVO and EVO Plus

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD is a pretty big jump in storage performance, surpassing previous consumer SSDs like the 990 EVO and EVO Plus in nearly every metric. While the 990 EVO and EVO Plus were developed to meet the needs of mainstream users looking for a balance of performance and affordability, the 9100 PRO is engineered specifically for professionals, power users, and high-performance computing environments. One of the most significant differences is the interface upgrade, with the 9100 PRO utilizing PCIe 5.0 x4—a major step up from the 990 EVO’s PCIe 4.0 and the EVO Plus’s PCIe 3.0. This translates to dramatically higher sequential read and write speeds, where the 9100 PRO reaches up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds, whereas the 990 EVO maxes out at 5,000 MB/s read and 4,800 MB/s write, and the EVO Plus is limited to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,200 MB/s write. These figures alone make the 9100 PRO nearly three times faster than the EVO Plus and close to three times faster than the 990 EVO, delivering unprecedented speed for workloads like 8K video editing, AI processing, and high-resolution content creation.

Beyond raw speed, the 9100 PRO also dominates in efficiency, endurance, and storage capacity, areas where Samsung has significantly improved upon its previous SSD lineup. The 9100 PRO features an endurance rating of up to 4,800 TBW (Total Bytes Written) for the 8TB model, whereas the 990 EVO and EVO Plus are capped at 600 TBW, meaning the 9100 PRO can handle up to eight times the write cycles before reaching its lifespan limit. This enhanced durability makes it ideal for workstations and AI applications where large datasets are continuously processed and rewritten. Furthermore, Samsung has introduced an 8TB model in the 9100 PRO lineup, a first for its consumer NVMe SSDs, whereas the 990 EVO is limited to 4TB and the EVO Plus maxes out at 2TB. Power efficiency has also been improved by up to 49%, thanks to the 5nm controller used in the 9100 PRO, allowing it to maintain higher performance while consuming less power per operation. These advancements make the 9100 PRO not just an incremental upgrade but a transformative SSD in Samsung’s lineup, aimed squarely at professionals who demand uncompromising speed, reliability, and storage capacity.

TurboWrite – What is it?

The 9100 PRO Series introduces Samsung’s Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0, a highly optimized SLC caching system that significantly improves write speeds and overall performance consistency. amsung TurboWrite is a technology used in Samsung SSDs to make them faster. Think of it like a temporary speed boost for writing data.

1. Creates a Fast Cache – The SSD sets aside a small part of its storage as a high-speed buffer (like a VIP lane for data).
2. Speeds Up Writes – When you save files, they first go into this super-fast buffer, making it seem like the SSD is writing faster.
3. Moves Data in the Background – Later, when the SSD is idle, it moves the data from the fast cache to the main storage.

Faster file transfers (especially for small/medium-sized files).
Better everyday performance (like booting Windows, opening apps, or saving documents).
Slows down for big files – If you copy very large files that fill up the TurboWrite cache, the speed drops to the SSD’s normal (slower) write speed.

Unlike conventional SSDs, which experience a performance drop once the primary cache is exhausted, TurboWrite dynamically allocates NAND capacity as an extended cache, maintaining peak speeds for longer durations. The cache size is based on drive capacity, with 114GB allocated for 1TB models, 226GB for 2TB, and up to 442GB for 4TB variants. This feature ensures high-speed data transfers and minimizes write slowdowns, especially beneficial for video editors, software developers, and content creators working with large datasets.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Durability and Endurance

The Samsung 9100 PRO is designed with long-term endurance in mind, featuring Total Bytes Written (TBW) ratings of up to 4,800TB for the 8TB variant. This translates to 0.328 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD), meaning users can rewrite roughly one-third of the drive’s full capacity daily for five years without exceeding its rated lifespan. This makes it ideal for sustained workloads, AI processing, and enterprise environments that require consistent, high-speed storage. Compared to previous-generation SSDs, the 9100 PRO offers significantly improved durability, reducing the risk of performance degradation over time.

Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Pricing and Release Information

The Samsung 9100 PRO SSD will launch in March 2025 with the following pricing:

• 1TB – $199.99
• 2TB – $299.99
• 4TB – $549.99
• 8TB – Coming in H2 2025 (pricing TBD)

The heatsink versions will be available for $20 more per model. Given its groundbreaking performance, improved efficiency, and increased storage capacity, the 9100 PRO is set to become one of the leading PCIe 5.0 SSDs in the market, competing with Seagate’s FireCuda 540 and Crucial’s T700.

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UniFi Dream Router 7 Review

When it comes to the hardware in your network environment, UniFi has always been one of those companies where you are either fully invested in practically every network appliance in its ecosystem or have nothing to do with it. A UniFi ecosystem is designed to allow you to easily and efficiently manage your entire network environment. In recent years, the brand has expanded beyond simple network appliances into a lot more IoT and client-edge tech found in homes and offices, further expanding this ecosystem. In the last year alone, we’ve seen them double down on surveillance, introduce network-attached storage, open up third-party hardware integration, and more. Today, I want to discuss their latest router, the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR 7), a new scaled-up 10G and WiFi 7 refresh of their existing WiFi 6 desktop-style router. Arriving at the mid-range price of around $279, it sits comfortably between affordable entry-level WiFi 7 routers from the likes of TP-Link while significantly undercutting pricing of bigger network routers from Amazon, Netgear, and Asus. Arriving with the UniFi Network and Router operating systems, as well as support for numerous UniFi software appliances, the UDR 7 marks a significant step up for comparatively domestic routers as we enter the seventh generation of wireless connectivity. Can this router be used in your network alongside non-UniFi equipment? And will this router serve you long-term as your client hardware scales up in line with modern tech innovation? Let’s find out.

UniFi Dream Router 7 Review – Quick Conclusion

As appealing as the UniFi router and network software that this system is bundled with are, the main praise I have to give the UDR 7 is that everyone is going to feel the benefits of this router in their network at this price point. The small compromises it has compared to the previous UDR system (such as fewer PoE ports) are immediately outweighed by its versatility, which would be hard to find at a better price elsewhere. The fact that all LAN ports are 2.5G and that the two WAN/LAN ports are 2.5G and 10G SFP+ respectively puts this router massively ahead of most competitors in the sub-$300 market. Equally, support for the UniFi Protect surveillance software and the included WD Purple SD card storage are nice extras that you don’t commonly find elsewhere—let alone the inclusion of a PoE 2.5G port. The router and network management software is, of course, quintessentially UniFi in its presentation. Striking a balance between usability and information is a tough challenge, and the UniFi software almost succeeds. It excels in its presentation and management via the mobile app, though the desktop UI could be a touch more intuitive. How could you make wireless and wired network management truly user-friendly? That said, the UDR 7 is a genuinely WiFi 7-ready router, offering 2×2 6GHz coverage and taking advantage of all the frequency and bandwidth benefits afforded to true WiFi 7 6GHz clients. Add a simple $20 USB WiFi 7 adapter to your system, and you can immediately enjoy base-level 2.8Gbps wireless connectivity, scaling this up substantially with the right WiFi 7 wireless NICs. Even if you’re not in love with the UniFi software platform or handing management of your services over to Ubiquiti’s remote services, you can still set up the device without a UI.com account. You do not need to deploy it with UniFi Network equipment, and VPN and encrypted protocol services can still be managed via popular third-party options if preferred.

Buying a router for your home or business instead of relying on the one supplied by your ISP can often feel like an unnecessary expense. However, considering the price point and the network advantages the UDR 7 provides, I believe this system is worth it. Some of its services might require additional polish over time, and greater network capabilities on this router will be realized as technology progresses, but I wholeheartedly recommend the UDR 7 for the majority of setups.

BUILD QUALITY - 10/10

HARDWARE - 9/10

PERFORMANCE - 9/10

PRICE - 8/10

VALUE - 9/10

9.0

PROS

WiFi 7 Support – Offers Genuine 6GHz connectivity with 320MHz channels, enabling faster speeds and lower latency.
Multi-Gig Networking – Includes three 2.5GbE LAN ports and a 10GbE SFP+ WAN/LAN port, making it highly future-proof.
Comprehensive UniFi Software – Provides robust network management features, including VLANs, QoS, IDS/IPS security, and VPN support.
Integrated UniFi Protect Support – Comes with a pre-installed 64GB WD Purple SD card, allowing local video storage for security cameras.
Flexible WAN/LAN Configurations – Supports dual WAN for failover or load balancing, or repurposing the 10GbE SFP+ port as LAN.
High Customization & Security – Offers advanced firewall controls, application-aware filtering, and in-depth traffic analytics.
User-Friendly Mobile App – Easy setup and management via the UniFi mobile app, with intuitive controls and real-time monitoring.
No UI.com Account Required – Can be set up locally without requiring an online UniFi account, providing more control over network privacy.

CONS

Limited PoE Support – Only includes one PoE-enabled 2.5GbE port, which may be a drawback for users looking to power multiple UniFi cameras or access points.
6GHz Band Availability Varies by Region – While WiFi 7 delivers significant improvements, the 6GHz spectrum and 320MHz channels may not be fully available in all areas, limiting real-world performance.
Not the Most Budget-Friendly Option – Although competitively priced for a WiFi 7 router, there are still more cost-effective alternatives on the market, especially for users who don’t need UniFi’s ecosystem.