Choosing The Right Compact UnIFi: Cloud Gateway Max or Ultra?

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Unifi Express Review

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Chapters
00:00 UniFi Express
00:42 Cloud Gateway Max Or The Cloud Gateway Ultra
02:10 Tech Comparison of Gateway Max and Ultra
03:34 When To Choose The Cloud Gateway Ultra

[rangergun]

I'm just happy they have more affordable options that I can deploy to small offices. Every dollar courts these days.

[CBRDriver]

I use a DVR, and only have the option for copper at less than Gb speeds with my ISP.

I bought the express, but wasn't happy because I already have 3 AC-Pro's, 1 USW-8-Lite (Poe) and a Flex Mini. Being restricted to only 4 additional Unifi devices already had me hitting the ceiling.

I decided to buy the UCG Ultra.
For MY use case. This is perfect.
It gives me the headroom for future expansion, while giving me the room for what I already own.

[Mashnut]

UniFi have a problem with their naming scheme, the Ultra and Max really don't denote their place in the line. The Ultra name means nothing when comparing it the Max's capabilities.

[mrwalter]

I bought the UCG-Ultra for my own home use, since I live in a smallish apartment and cannot install cameras. Saving that cash to invest into a U7-Pro instead of a U6-Plus for the newer WiFi-6E/7 compatibility felt very worthwhile to me.

[bt]

Just picked up an Ultra and it's perfect for my 1G fiber. 8-port PoE switch feeds a couple APs for a slew of IoT devices, IoT hubs, flex switches for the office and entertainment room, and every device is happy. Also your lighting is incredible.

[richcreedy]

i bought the cloud gateway 2 weeks before they released the max, had i realised the max was coming out i would have waited for that.

[JPEaglesandKatz]

I got my Cloud gateway max a couple of days ago and outside my existing unifi 10gb switch and being relatively new to the unifi eco system, I love it... I'm comming from opnsense/pfsense in my homelab and those willl serve as backup.
But atm I can highly recommend it.. Plan to hookup a few cameras in the future. I do notice unifi devices get TOASTY hot...
But so far zero issues.. Adoption of my 10gb switch was obviously a breeze and resetting up my network was as well.
I do hope they expand the logging and filtering capabilities a lot as this is so barebone. And the firewall rule system could use a bit of work.

[vmat]

In Australia, the UCG-Max can only be had with the 512Gb SSD.. which makes the Ultra the better value choice, especially if you don't need the NVR.

[SKcdman]

my only complain for all this new white boxes from UBN - they massivly overheat. There is zero holes or any vents to dissipate heat. We monitor temperatures in all Rack cages our customers have and Unifi white boxes even old CLoudkey2 are 50+ celsius without any usage at all. This all can be "OK" but imagine to have it for 5 years unattended in a rack. Of course those office racks are not in laboratory 21C air conditioned dedicated rooms...

[MactelecomNetworks]

Great video Tom. Loving the gateway max

[LinHolcomb]

I am installing a CGMax in my parents network. Also installing upgrading a regular USG to a Gateway Max at a short term rental house. The sites will all be tied with VPN and the latter is over Starlink. My house is on a UDM pro. I think this could be an interesting setup as it’s a really good use case for short term rental owners. If we do any future sites I’ll probably stick with Cloud Gateway Max and a small PoE switch, 3 AP 2 inside one outside, 4 cameras a doorbell.

[patrickbuswell]

What should we install at our tiny customers? Edge router X was our go to.

[thpar]

If I have a separate system for cameras and only want a unit to run my network I assume the Ultra is fine and I’m not gaining much by doing the Max? I’m replacing a nest WiFi system and just want a more reliable set up.

[kevinnjkp]

A few months ago, I purchased and installed the Cloud Gateway Ultra. The house I bought a few years ago had a couple of older Unifi APs and I controlled them on the web. That was a real PIA. I am not interested in any of the other UniFi stuff only the APs. I have StarLink as my ISP and the router I was replacing was an old Peplink Balance 20. I have upgraded and replaced some real old APs from Ubiquiti that I had.
For me the CGU was perfect. Easy to setup with a very attractive price for so many useful features.

[JimmySelgenNielsen]

I got the Ultra in my summerhouse. It replaced an aging UDM (pill shaped). I was looking for something without an AP as the router itself will likely last longer than the AP, and the Ultra fit the bill. Granted, the max wasn’t out at the time, and had I known, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the ultra.

Still, it has 2 functions, it provides gigabit internet access over WiFi to my summerhouse, and maintains a site to site connection to my gateway at home, and the Uitra does that just fine. It took 5 years for me to upgrade from 200/200 to gigabit, and only because gigabit was cheaper, so for the needs I have there, the Ultra will probably do just fine for 5-8 years.

Cameras are handled by HomeKit Secure Video in the summerhouse. I have protect at home, but being a small house, I didn’t have room to setup a “large” NVR or UDM Pro, so I went with WiFi only cameras, which has worked surprisingly well.

[finder]

I feel there is a lot of marketing on Unifi devices that allows them to claim one thing and deliver the other. UDP/SE both have 1g backplanes. The Ultra (which I own) has a 2.5g wan but can't deliver above 1g? On these smaller devices switching capacity is never stated. For the record, I really like Unifi stuff.

[max_imus]

Perfect, I watched your previous video on Unifi and this helps me a lot. Thanks.

[MarkD]

So, the UniFi Console is all rolled into these devices?

[robinmordasiewicz]

Dang, I've loved your videos for so many years, thank you.

[chriscooper]

I have been running a Unifi Express now for a few months in my house, not had any issues so far.
The only thing I will say is that the UI can be a little slow.

Recently paired a UK Ultra (Swiss Army Knife) onto it via Mesh which is also working well.