Zyxel today introduces four new business Wi-Fi access points to its existing Wi-Fi 7 portfolio, including the NWA90BE PRO BE6500 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point (model NWA90BE PRO), the NWA50BE PRO BE6500 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point (NWA50BE PRO), and their non-PRO variants.
These new APs are pretty different from Zyxel’s previous Tri-band models. The first thing to note is that all of them are dual-band, or “dual-radio,” as Zyxel puts it. The second is that two of them, the PRO versions, actually have the 6GHz. And finally, all of these are practically the same. How come?
Let’s find out more!
Zyxel’s four new dual-band Wi-Fi 7 access points: Largely the same
As mentioned, these new access points include two main models, NWA90BE and NWA50BE , each with its PRO version.
Both PRO versions have something the non-PROs don’t: They come with the 6GHz option. However, they are still dual-band hardware because you can use only the 6GHz band or the 5GHz band at a time, in addition to the 2.4GHz band. On the other hand, the non-PRO versions are limited to 2.4GHz and 5GHz. They are more straightforward dual-band hardware.
In real-world usage, the 6GHz band is likely to be rarely used, as in most cases, the 5GHz band is more frequently needed. While having the option to use the 6GHz is always a plus, the PRO versions don’t really have much of an advantage.
The table below shows the hardware specs of the new access points. Apart from the 6GHz notion of the PRO models, they are essentially the same hardware and all share the same design and physical shape. In fact, they are so similar that I’m unsure why there are four models and not two.
Zyxel dual-band Wi-Fi 7 access points: Hardware specifications
| Zyxel NWA90BE PRO BE6500 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point | Zyxel NWA50BE PRO BE6500 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point | Zyxel NWA90BE BE5100 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point | Zyxel NWA50BE BE5100 4-Stream WiFi 7 Dual-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | NWA90BE PRO | NWA50BE PRO | NWA90BE | NWA50BE |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Dual-band BE6500 | Dual-band BE5100 | ||
| Broadcasting Power | US (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 26/25/22dBm EU (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 20/25/22dBm |
US (2.4GHz/5GHz): 26/25dBm EU (2.4GHz/5GHz): 20/25dBm |
||
| 6 GHz Speeds (channel width) |
2×2 BE: Up to 5764 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) Selectable with the 5GHz band |
None | ||
| 5 GHz Speeds (channel width) |
2×2 BE: Up to 4324 Mbps (20/40/80/160/240MHz) Selectable with the 6GHz band |
2×2 BE: Up to 4324 Mbps (20/40/80/160/240MHz) |
||
| 2.4 GH Speeds (channel with) |
2×2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
|||
| Number of SSIDs | 8 (single or multiple bands) |
|||
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) |
Yes | Yes | ||
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) |
No) | No | ||
| Operating Mode | Standalone, NebulaFlex cloud controller |
|||
| Roaming Standard | Pre-authentication, PMK caching, and 802.11r/k/v | |||
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11/axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b | |||
| Power over Ethernet (PoE) | 802.11at (PoE+) | |||
| Max Power Draw | 16W | |||
| Injector Included | No | |||
| DC input | DC 12 V | |||
| Adapter Included | Yes | |||
| Multi-Gig port | 1 x 2.5GBASE-T PoE+ (uplink) 1 x 2.5GBASE-T |
|||
| Gigabit Port | none | |||
| Wireless Security Methods | WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3 | |||
| Authentication | IEEE 802.1X/RADIUS | |||
| Access Management | L2-isolation/MAC filtering/Rogue AP detection | |||
| Mobile App | Zyxel Nebula | |||
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 5.91 x 5.91 x 1.38 in (150 x 150 x 35 mm) |
|||
| Weight | .91 lbs (412 g) | |||
| Processing Power | Quad-core Qualcomm chipsets | |||
| Operating Environment | Temperature 0°C to 50°C / 32°F to 122°F Humidity 10% to 95% (non-condensing) |
|||
| Release Date | September 29, 2025 | |||
| US Launch Price (Check street prices!) |
$99.99 | $89.99 | $79.99 | |
Practically the same hardware
As shown in the table, there aren’t many differences between these access points. In fact, if you pick the RO or non-PRO versions, they are virtually the same. All of them can work either as standalone standard access points or part of Zyxel’s NebulaFlex system, and share virtually the same feature set and hardware characteristics.
Zyxel is quite ambiguous about how to differentiate these new access points. There’s no extra detail other than this marketing language:
“The NWA90BE PRO and NWA90BE are designed for businesses such as cafes, hotels, clinics, and shops that offer guest WiFi access. They have robust security features, including RADIUS Authentication and Captive Portal, enabling businesses to manage guest connectivity and brand the login experience securely.
The NWA50BE PRO and NWA50BE are ideal for small businesses and SOHO users seeking a cost-effective, high-performance upgrade. Ideal for home offices, compact workspaces, and residential use.“
So, maybe they are targeted at different user demographics. In reality, you can use these four access points interchangeably and likely with the same real-world experience.
That aside, it’s totally fine to get confused between them because they are all quite affordable, with little difference in pricing.
Pricing and availability
Zyxel states that the NWA90BE and NWA50BE, as well as their PRO version, are now available at the suggested retail prices of $89.99 and $79.99, respectively, each with an additional $10 for the PRO version. As usual, their street prices will vary.
At these friendly price points, these dual-band access points are safe purchases for those who need modest Wi-Fi 7 bandwdith. So, check them out today!