EnGenius Cloud AP Lite vs Standard EnGenius Cloud – New affordable cloud-managed access points by EnGenius

I am currently in the process of reviewing the new EnGenius ECW516L Wi-Fi 7 access point, which is part of the new Cloud AP Lite series.

The EnGenius Cloud AP Lite series is designed to provide affordable, reliable Wi-Fi solutions for small businesses, focusing on essential connectivity needs without the complexity or cost of advanced enterprise features.

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Key Features of EnGenius Cloud AP Lite Series

1. Target Audience:
   • Small businesses with limited budgets and technical expertise, such as small offices, retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and small hotels.
   • Designed for environments with 1 to 50 users or employees.
2. Cost-Effective Solution:
   • No ongoing software licensing fees, making it affordable for small businesses.
   • One-time hardware investment with essential Wi-Fi functionalities.
3. Simplified Management:
   • Centralized control via the EnGenius Cloud platform, enabling remote management of multiple devices across various locations.
   • User-friendly cloud app for quick setup, remote monitoring, and minimal downtime.
4. Essential Wi-Fi Features:
   • Supports up to 8 SSIDs per band, VLAN per SSID, captive portal, Wi-Fi scheduling, access control, and basic security protocols like WPA3.
   • Bandwidth control, AP diagnostics, channel utilization, and topology view are available but may have performance limitations compared to Pro models.
5. Hardware Options:
   • ECW516L: Wi-Fi 7 tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz), up to 13.7 Gbps, supports 200 devices, 2.5 GbE PoE+ port, $199 MSRP.
   • ECW212L: Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz), up to 3.5 Gbps, supports 100 devices, 2.5 GbE PoE+ port, $169 MSRP.
   • ECW210L: Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz), up to 3 Gbps, supports 100 devices, 1 GbE PoE port, $99 MSRP.
6. Integration:
   • Works seamlessly with EnGenius Cloud-managed devices, including gateways, switches, PDUs, and soon IP cameras.
   • Compatible with both Lite and Pro devices under the same cloud management platform.
7. Upgrade Options:
   • Lite devices can be upgraded to a Pro plan for advanced features, enabling unified management with other Pro devices.

Differences Between EnGenius Cloud AP Lite and Standard Cloud Access Points

1. Target Market:
   • Lite Series: Small businesses with basic connectivity needs (1-50 users).
   • Standard Cloud APs: Medium to large businesses (100+ users) requiring advanced features.
2. Advanced Features:
   • Lite Series: Focuses on essential Wi-Fi features like basic captive portal, VLANs, and WPA3 security. Lacks advanced features like MyPSK, Google/LDAP authentication, and dynamic VLANs.
   • Standard Cloud APs: Supports advanced features such as MyPSK, Google/LDAP, Azure AD, tunneling, and advanced security protocols.
3. Performance and Capacity:
   • Lite Series: Supports up to 100 concurrent devices per AP (recommended below 100 for optimal performance).
   • Standard Cloud APs: Supports up to 1,000 concurrent devices per AP with higher performance capabilities.
4. Licensing:
   • Lite Series: No licensing fees for basic features; optional Pro plan upgrades for advanced capabilities.
   • Standard Cloud APs: Freemium license model with optional Pro licenses for advanced features.
5. Hardware and Pricing:
   • Lite Series: Lower-cost hardware (99−99−199) with compact designs, targeting small-scale deployments.
   • Standard Cloud APs: Higher-cost hardware with more robust designs, targeting larger-scale deployments.

The following table provides an easy-to-visualise difference between the ECW Pro range and ECW Lite Pro

*Available for S models with dedicated radio only (i.e ECW-xxxS)

Summary

The EnGenius Cloud AP Lite series is ideal for small businesses needing simple, cost-effective Wi-Fi solutions with basic features. It differs from the standard EnGenius Cloud access points by offering fewer advanced features, lower device capacity, and a more affordable price point, making it a practical choice for small-scale environments.

While this new series does start to make the EnGenius product line up quite confusing, it does make a lot of sense. It seems especially appealing to MSPs where you may have a mixture of small, medium and big clients. The new ECW Lite range allows you cater for smaller clients all within the same EnGenius Cloud interface as larger clients which therefore simplifies management for all your clients.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

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