Cloud Gateway Max: A Solid Non-Wi-Fi Router

If you want an UniFi console but find the pricing of the UDM-SE or the newly released UDM-Pro Max a bit too stiff or feel taken aback by these “large scale” consoles’ sizeable rackmount physical appearance, the Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max), first announced on July 16, is the answer. It’s a compact eyecandy.

However, as it turns out, the cool design is the least exciting thing about it. At the suggested retail price starting at only $199 (no storage included), the UCG-Max, among other things, is the best non-Wi-Fi router you can get. It’s a super powerful piece of hardware that has almost everything—so much so that its lack of 10Gps ports is so painful for those who want everything.

Here’s the bottom line: If you’re happy with the 2.5Gbps multi-Gigabit wired grade, get the Cloud Gateway Max today, and when you’re at it, also grab a U7 Pro Max on the way out to complete your network with Wi-Fi 7.

You won’t be disappointed.

Dong’s note: I first published this piece on July 16, 2024, as a preview and updated it on September 7 to an in-depth review after thorough hands-on testing.

Cloud Gateway Max: Impressive power in a tiny box

In most cases, you can think of the Cloud Gateway Max as a non-Wi-Fi router—it has no built-in Wi-Fi access point. And that’s a good thing since all you need is an AP to create a Wi-Fi network. For this reason, the gateway itself never gets “obsolete”—like the case of the UDR. If you get one of the available UniFi APs, you can manage them directly from the gateway itself since it’s a UniFi controller.

However, per design, this gateway is a UniFi console, a compact version of the UDM-SE or the UDM Pro Max. They share the same UniFi OS and can host the full suite of UniFi applications for device management in Ubiquiti’s “Enterprise of Things” approach.

Specifically, you can use the Cloud Gateway Max to handle multiple hardware categories (called “applications” by Ubiquiti) for different services, including:

• Network: All things related to the function of a network, including network settings/features, Wi-Fi, mesh, and the support for Wi-Fi access points, etc. This is the default application of any UniFi controller and is where it works similarly to a traditional “router”.
• Protect: The support for IP cameras as a surveillance system. The controller can work as the NVR. This is where the storage console’s local storage is necessary.
• Talk: The support for Voice over IP phones. This app also uses the console’s storage to hold recordings.
• Access: A “platform designed for Access Control Systems”—per Ubiquiti. Examples are door-related security IoT devices, such as doorbells, keyfobs, locks, etc.
• UID (UniFi Identity): A premium feature for enterprises that allows single sign-on across multiple hardware platforms and applications.
• Connect (currently in Early Access): A fully integrated “Enterprise of Things” hardware and software solution that works with UID to simplify IT management for organizations.

The new compact gateway is inferior to the said full-size consoles in the sense that, no matter how many among the above apps you want to use simultaneously, it can handle a maximum of up to only 30 UniFi devices (such as Wi-Fi access points or IP Cameras/phones). The thing is, 30 UniFi devices are plenty for most homes and small businesses. In terms of end devices used by users, the gateway can handle up to 300 concurrent clients. So, the UCG-Max is plenty powerful enough in most cases.

The table below shows the specs of the UCG-Max and the UDM-SE.

Cloud Gateway Max vs. UDM-SE: Hardware specfications

Entry-level Multi-Gig, no PoE, NVMe storage-ready

As shown in the table above, the Cloud Gateway Max comes with five 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig ports and, per Ubuiqiti, features multi-WAN with load-balancing or failover—you can turn any of its LAN port into a WAN. Unfortunately, there are no 10Gbps ports, which is the only reason I’d not replace my UDM-SE with it—more on this below.

Another minor point is none of Cloud Gateway Max’s ports feature PoE. Chances are you’ll need to get a PoE switch, such as the Enterprise 8 PoE, if you want to host UniFi access points.

On the upside, the Cloud Gateway Max comes with an NVMe slot to host an internal SSD as its local storage to host data for different applications—you don’t need it when using the gateway purely as a router. You can buy it with storage already included and then replace it with an SSD of your own.

If you feel a bit disappointed that there’s no USB port to host external storage device like the case of many routers, you’re not wrong. However, considering the compact design, and the fact NVMe SSD has gotten so large in storage space and quite low in cost, this internal option makes a lot more sense.

Extra note on the Cloud Gateway Max’s storage

If you buy the non-storage version of the gateway, the SSD lot is there, but the required caddy is not included. That said, even if you plan on getting your own storage, you’ll still need to buy the lowest storage version (512GB) to have access to the caddy, which comes in a separate box that also includes the opening tool for the slot.

The caddy itself is easy to open with a hex screwdriver and can accommodate an NVMe SSD of all standard lengths, from 2030 all the way to 20110. In my trial, I replaced the included 1GB Kingston 2080 drive with a number of NVMe SSDs from different vendors with capacities ranging from 250GB to 4TB, and all worked without issues.

Note that you need to turn the console off before swapping out the SSD—the console will restart if you remove the drive without turning it off. However, replacing the drive will not cause the gateway to reset—you won’t have to re-setup it from scratch—but only lose all the recording content from the Protect or Phone applications.

Cloud Gateway Max’s performance: A satisfying experience

As mentioned, for this review, I used the Cloud Gateway Max in a network with a couple of UniFi devices, including an Enterprise 8 PoE, a U7 Pro Max, and a G5 camera. During the over 10 days of testing and real-world trial, I was thoroughly impressed.

The UCG-Max performed without any hiccups and delivered the same experience as the much larger UDM-SE. And, like the case of the U7 Pro Max, it did better than what Ubiquiti said it would. Specifically, even with all the security turned up to the max, I was able to consistently get over 2Gbps of sustained real-world speed on both the LAN and WAN side—the latter was out of my 10Gbps fiberoptic plan.

Sharing the same firmware and app as the full-size consoles, the Cloud Gateway Max has well-organized features that are easy to access and manage for both home and advanced users. And it has everything you’d ask for regarding network features and settings without requiring additional payment or subscription.

In the end, the only complaint I had was that there were no 10Gbps ports. Again, that’s the only reason I’d keep my UDM-SE.

In terms of raw speed, the Cloud Gateway Max had the best 2.5Gbps performance, as you can see in the chart. It was the fastest among all 2.5Gbps routers and switches I’ve tested, albeit by a small margin. As shown in one of the screenshots above, when connected to a 10Gbps broadband, the gateway consistently had sustained Internet speeds of over 2Gbps.

In terms of heat, the gateway did get quite warm—mostly on its underside. However, it wasn’t hotter than previous UniFi devices I’ve used, such as the U7 Pro Max. I’d even be generous to say that it was among the least hot UniFi hardware I’ve tested. And considering it’s completely silent—there’s no internal fan—and the compact, aesthetically pleasant design, the Cloud Gateway Max is indeed one of the coolest UniFi consoles or non-Wi-Fi routers you can find.

The takeaway

The new Cloud Gateway Max is easily one of the best, if not the best, 2.5Gbps non-Wi-Fi routers you can find, and that’s just the UniFi Network app alone. The fact it can work as an NVR recorder for an IP-based camera surveillance system or a host for IP phones, not to mention the UniFi apps, means it has more to offer than any home or most small businesses ever need. So, if you’re looking for the best non-Wi-Fi router, get it today!

However, the Cloud Gateway Max is not perfect for lacking 10Gbps ports. While that’s not a huge deal in most cases—2.5Gbps is plenty fast—it’s a deal breaker for those with 2.5Gbps or faster broadband. In this case, the UDM-SE (or the UDM-Pro Max) is the only (barely) fitting option within the UniFi ecosystem.