In the beginning, the only interactive thing you can do with the screen is an Internet speed test. You can swipe between this screen’s pages to view different sets of settings, including port status, the total amount of data transferred per period, the number of connected clients, and the router’s IP addresses. Ubiquiti’s idea of putting a touchscreen on a router started with the AmpliFi HD, but the Alien is where it shines. Overall, it’s slightly taller and narrower in diameter than the SURFboard mAX Pro.Īnd then, there’s this beautiful bright color 4.7-inch vertical (274 x 1268) touchscreen on the front, similar to that of a high-end smartphone. The router feels solid, and at 2.65 lb (1.2 kg), it’s heavy enough not to topple easily. Out of the box, the Alien is a black cylindrical box with matte soft plastic skin that’s 9.84-inch (250 mm) tall 4.33-inch (110 mm) wide. The router comes in a packaging generally reserved for expensive gifts - like a nice bottle of cognac or something fancy of a similar shape. If the name itself is not enough, everything else about the Alien’s look is about putting on a great first impression. Generally, home users should go with AmpliFi instead of UniFi. Still, Ubiquiti’s UniFi products can be overwhelming and overkill in many cases. And the UDR further solidifies that approach. In a way, it’s a bridge between the two product lines. The UDM is the first UniFi product that also works well as a home router, thanks to the friendly design. They are simple Wi-Fi routers, ease-to-use but with a limited feature set. On the other hand, the AmpliFi family, represented by the HD Wi-Fi system or the Alien, is for the home environment. They are comprehensive routers that can also function as the central controllers of various products. The UniFi family - represented by the Dream Machine (UDM), UDM-Pro, UDM-SE…, or the Dream Router (UDR) - aims at business/pro users. They serve two demographics and therefore have different architectures and separate mobile apps and web user interfaces. UniFi and AmpliFi are two major networking product lines from Ubiquiti. The AmpliFi Alien feels solid and has a good heft. Best Wi-Fi routers: Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5ĭong’s note: I first published this review on December 9, 2019, and, per the requests of many, updated it on March 1, 2022, after extra testing using the latest firmware, which, among other things, has the support for the 160MHz channel width.Wi-Fi routers explained: How to pick that perfect one.Best mesh Wi-Fi systems: Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5.Wi-Fi mesh systems explained: What it is and how to best use multiple broadcasters.Wi-Fi standards: Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E | 5.9GHz Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Home Wi-Fi explained.Dual-band vs Tri-band vs Quad-band: Is the more, the merrier?.Best Routers for a Multi-Gig wired network.VPN: Ubiquiti Teleport vs Asus Instant Guard.Ubiquiti AmpliFi hardware: AmpliFi Alien| AmpliFi Alien mesh set | AmpliFi HD. Ubiquiti UniFi hardware: Unifi Dream Router (UDR) | UniFi Dream Machine (UDM) | UniFi Beacon HD.And in that case, for the price, you’d get a lot more with the Asus GT-AX11000 or TP-Link GX90 instead. And I dare say you may even love it.īut, if you’re expecting standard settings and the ability to customize your home network to a great extent, the Alien is just a bit, well, out of this world. Here’s the deal: If you’re looking for a dead simple-to-use and reliable router that will deliver any sub-Gigabit broadband connection in full, the Alien is your friend, still totally worth its current street price of around $450 today. However, it manages to have some valuable and unique features. This router is somewhat similar to the Asus RT-AX92U in hardware specs but without a full web interface and extensive network settings. I’ve reviewed dozens more Wi-Fi 6 routers in the past couple of years, yet none was like the Alien. That was my initial impression more than two years ago, and it’s even more so today. In a good way, Ubiquiti’s AmpliFi Alien has been a weird router.
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