PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Fortinet FortiAP 441K
Fortinet FortiAP 441K
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (WiFi 6)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2 MU-MIMO (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 1.77 Gbps (2.4GHz 574 Mbps + 5GHz 1.201 Gbps)
  • Radios: Dual-band (2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n/ax, 5 GHz 802.11a/n/ac/ax)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x Gigabit Ethernet (PoE)
  • Max Clients: 256+ concurrent clients
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ 30W (802.3at)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade WiFi 6 performance with dual-band MU-MIMO support; Tight FortiOS integration enables seamless security policy enforcement and guest network isolation; Cost-effective mid-range option for branch offices or SMB deployments; Excellent range and coverage per unit with built-in antenna design; PoE-powered simplifies deployment without requiring external power
  • ✘ Cons: 2x2 MIMO is entry-level for WiFi 6 compared to higher-end 4x4 models; Gigabit uplink becomes bottleneck in high-density deployments with multiple APs; Limited native support for advanced features like spectrum analysis without external tools; Requires FortiOS network controller for optimal management (additional cost); No integrated PoE input for daisy-chaining to powered switches
  • Est. Price: $450 - $650

Compare Against

Cisco Catalyst 9178i
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 204.8 Tbps (full chassis)
  • Forwarding Rate: 204.8 Tbps
  • Ports: Up to 288 u00d7 10/25/40/100 Gbps (via modular line cards)
  • Layer: L2/L3
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units via Stacking Cables)
  • Chassis Type: 3-slot modular chassis
  • PoE Budget: Up to 5.6 kW per module (optional PoE+ modules)
  • Max Power Consumption: 10.2 kW (full chassis)
  • Backplane Bandwidth: 204.8 Tbps
  • Throughput per Port: Up to 100 Gbps per port
  • Cooling: Redundant, variable-speed fans
  • Uplinks: Multiple 100 Gbps QSFP28 capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 204.8 Tbps switching fabric supports next-generation high-density deployments; Modular architecture allows flexible line-card configurations for different port densities and speeds; Full redundancy support (PSU, fan, uplinks) ensures carrier-grade reliability; Native support for Cisco DNA Center and SD-Access intent-based networking; Excellent in-service upgrade capabilities with no traffic disruption
  • ✘ Cons: Significantly higher capital cost compared to fixed-configuration switches; Requires skilled technical staff for modular line-card installation and configuration; Power and cooling infrastructure overhead for large deployments; Complexity of managing modular chassis in smaller networks may be overkill; Limited flexibility in port mix compared to disaggregated options
  • Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000

Popular Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAP 441K vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Fortinet FortiAP 441K vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Fortinet FortiAP 441K vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Fortinet FortiAP 441K vs Cisco Catalyst 9178i Fortinet FortiAP 441K vs Cisco Catalyst 9176I (CW9176I)