Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 Review: WiFi 7, 10GbE, and Full UniFi in One Box

Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 blends WiFi 7, 10GbE, PoE, UniFi apps, and robust security into a compact all-in-one gateway for home and SMB use.

Ubiquiti’s newly released Dream Router 7 is a compact, all-in-one desktop device that combines a high-performance router, firewall, NVR, and managed switch into a single, streamlined unit. Launched in March along with Ubiquiti’s new 10G cloud gateway portfolio, we recently received one for review. We found it to be an ideal solution for small home and business networks or users looking to enter the UniFi ecosystem without the complexity of a multi-device setup.

The Dream Router 7 builds upon its predecessor, the Dream Router, with significant upgrades that elevate performance and connectivity to the next level. At its core is a new quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, offering a noticeable boost in processing power. This upgrade enhances the device’s ability to manage routing, deep packet inspection, and UniFi Protect video streaming simultaneously with improved responsiveness and efficiency. In terms of networking, the Dream Router 7 introduces support for WiFi 7, 10GbE SFP+ uplinks, and 2.5GbE RJ45 WAN connectivity, making it one of the most advanced all-in-one units in its form factor. These enhancements deliver next-generation wireless and wired speeds in a compact form factor, making them ideal for modern smart homes and prosumer setups.

At the time of review, the UbiquitiDream Router 7 is priced at $279.00 on the Ubiquiti store (affiliate link), offering an affordable price point for users seeking robust functionality and 10G networking in a single device.

Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 – What’s New?

As mentioned, the Dream Router 7 brings several notable improvements over the original model. While the first Dream Router featured a dual-core ARM processor, this new model is equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.5 GHz, doubling the core count. This provides more headroom for UniFi applications, such as Protect, Network, Access, and Talk, resulting in improved overall performance and increased capacity.

Another major upgrade is the introduction of an integrated WiFi 7 tri-radio system, covering the 6GHz, 5GHz, and 2.4GHz bands. The 2×2 (DL/UL MU-MIMO) radio design supports coverage of up to 1,750 ft² (160 m²), making it well-suited for small homes or apartments. It also supports mesh networking with UniFi access points, offering flexibility for expanding coverage as needed.

On the wired side, Ubiquiti has updated the Ethernet layout with three LAN ports, one of which is PoE-enabled, supporting 2.5GbE/1GbE/100Mbps/10Mbps speeds. For WAN connectivity, the Dream Router 7 features a 10GbE SFP+ port and a 2.5GbE RJ45 port, giving users flexible high-speed uplink options to match modern fiber and multi-gigabit broadband internet services. Once up and running, either WAN port can be reconfigured to work for local network connectivity.

Dream Router 7 Build & Design

The Dream Router 7 retains the same distinctive pod design as the original Dream Router. It measures 7.3 inches tall with a 4.3-inch diameter, and weighs 2.4 lbs, making it compact enough for desktop placement while still offering solid performance. The device is enclosed in a durable white polycarbonate shell, giving it a clean, modern aesthetic that blends well into home or office environments.

On the front of the unit is a 0.96-inch status display that provides quick access to basic system information such as WAN utilization, IP address, and connected client count. The top features the familiar UniFi LED ring, glowing in blue or white to indicate device status. For management, the Dream Router 7 supports both Ethernet and Bluetooth connectivity and can be configured using the UniFi Network web interface or mobile app, available on iOS and Android platforms.

In terms of ports, the rear of the unit includes the three aforementioned LAN ports, with the top port providing 15.4W PoE output, and all support multi-gigabit 2.5GbE/1GbE/100Mbps/10Mbps speeds, making it suitable for powering a small access point or security camera. Below those for WAN connectivity, it offers both a 10GbE SFP+ port and a single 2.5GbE RJ45 port, giving users flexible, high-speed uplink options. UniFi Protect is supported out of the box via a pre-installed 64GB microSD card, enabling up to five 1080p streams, two 2K streams, or one 4K stream to be recorded directly without the need for additional storage hardware. The system is powered by an internal 50W AC/DC power supply and includes a 120/240V AC power cord. Additionally, the Dream Router 7 supports up to 2.3 Gbps of IDS/IPS throughput, enabling advanced threat detection and packet inspection without compromising network performance.

Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 UniFi Application

Much like our previously reviewed UDM Pro Max, the Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 features the same intuitive UniFi web console interface. This unified management platform provides complete remote access to the device while also enabling local access via the gateway’s IP address. This local fallback is especially helpful during WAN outages or internet disruptions, allowing the administrators to troubleshoot and restore connectivity without relying on the cloud.

The Dream Router 7’s compact and affordable design makes this level of control especially impressive, coming in at nearly half the price of the UDM Pro Max. Despite its small footprint, it provides full access to the UniFi ecosystem, enabling seamless management of connected devices, including access points, cameras, and endpoints. With built-in support for UniFi Network, Protect, Talk, and Access, users can configure firewall rules, set up alerts and notifications, manage system-wide policies and users, all from a single interface without the need for additional hardware.

What sets the Dream Router 7 apart is Ubiquiti’s commitment to offering a consistent feature set across its platforms. This small gateway includes the full firewall features under security and routing. In previous versions, firewall features were located under the Network option; now, firewall and security are unified under the Policy Engine option, which is accessible under Routing. These advanced configurations are typically found in much larger, more expensive devices. Users have access to Various controls, including Firewall, Policy-Based Routing, Quality of Service (QoS), Port Forwarding, Static Routing, OSPF, BGP, DNS, NAT, and Layer 3 ACLs, for routing and gateway offloading.

Beyond core networking features, the Dream Router 7 also includes enhanced security capabilities through UniFi Cybersecurity. This feature builds on Ubiquiti’s traditional advanced firewall and introduces tools like Active Detection, which blocks common threats with updated IDS/IPS rulesets. Users can also take advantage of honeypot features, ad or region-based blocking, and content or application filtering, all of which are manageable within the console. Users can choose between a traditional firewall rule style or a feature called Zone-Based Firewall, introduced in Network Version 9.0.92. This feature allows for effortless conversion of existing rules with minimal changes and simplifies rule creation by organizing them into logical “zones.”

For those seeking stronger threat defense, Ubiquiti now offers CyberSecure by Proofpoint, an optional paid upgrade for $99 per year. This adds enterprise-grade protection with over 22,000 advanced threat signatures, updated daily by the Proofpoint Threat Research Team, providing hands-off, high-level security for home or SMB environments.

Note: These advanced features require the latest UniFi Network 9.1.xxx or above software. Ensure your Dream Router 7 is updated to the latest firmware and OS version to access the full range of security and related functionality.

On the monitoring side, the Dream Router 7 supports rich traffic analytics, including NetFlow (IPFIX), Flow Logging, Syslog-based activity logging, customizable data retention, and SNMP monitoring for compatible devices. This level of observability is rare in gateways of this size and price point. Furthermore, like the previous model, it has full UniFi Protect integration, which further expands its security capabilities. Below is a live view from a single G6 bullet, a 4K camera, at the StorageReview office.

Lastly, the Dream Router 7, like many of Ubiquiti’s Cloud Gateways, includes robust VPN capabilities. It supports both server and client configurations using OpenVPN, WireGuard, and L2TP. Ubiquiti’s Teleport app provides secure and straightforward mobile VPN access, while more advanced setups can utilize site-to-site VPN support via OpenVPN or IPsec. Multi-site SD-WAN connectivity is also streamlined with Site Magic, which enables secure, automatic gateway-to-gateway links with minimal configuration. With the introduction of its updated Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, the Dream Router 7 is expected to benefit from improved performance and throughput when handling VPN traffic.

Conclusion

The Ubiquiti Dream Router 7 reflects UniFi’s ongoing commitment to refining its all-in-one desktop gateway concept by building on the success of earlier models, such as the original Dream Router. With each iteration, Ubiquiti continues to push more enterprise-grade features and modern connectivity into compact, affordable devices, making high-performance networking accessible to a broader audience. The Dream Router 7 embodies that vision, offering a powerful blend of routing, switching, wireless, security, and full UniFi application hosting in a single desktop unit.

By introducing key upgrades, such as a quad-core ARM processor, increased memory, WiFi 7 support, 10GbE SFP+ and 2.5GbE uplinks, and the complete UniFi firewall, the Dream Router 7 takes a significant step forward over its predecessor. These improvements increase throughput and responsiveness, unlocking features typically reserved for larger, more expensive UniFi gateways. Whether it’s managing UniFi Protect cameras, setting up site-to-site VPNs, segmenting traffic across VLANs, or leveraging active threat detection through CyberSecure, the UDR7 handles it all with impressive efficiency.

Ubiquiti has also maintained its user-friendly approach, with a modern design, simple setup, and unified management across UniFi applications. The result is a gateway that is as well-suited for smart homes and home labs as it is for small businesses or branch offices.

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