Max Clients: 250+ (official Ubiquiti tech specs; some retailers list 300+)
PoE Requirement: PoE powered, 44-57V DC input, 13W max consumption; 802.3af/at not specified by Ubiquiti; no PoE injector in the spec listing
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Wi-Fi 6 with 4x4 MU-MIMO on 5 GHz for good multi-client performance; Aggregate throughput up to 5.3 Gbps across both bands; Low 13W power draw compared with higher-end APs; Works with UniFi Network controller for centralized management; Ceiling or wall mounting with included Pro Mount; Compact, low-profile design (about 197 mm diameter, 35 mm height)
✘ Cons:Only a single 1 GbE uplink, which can bottleneck the 5 GHz radio on fast networks; No 2.5 GbE or multi-gig port; PoE standard not clearly specified, so verify your switch or injector supplies enough power; PoE injector is not included with the US model, which adds cost; Client capacity is lower on the official spec (250+) than some retailer marketing claims (300+); Requires a UniFi controller for full feature use
Est. Price:
$159 - $185
Compare Against
Cisco Catalyst CW9172I
★ 3.3 Value Score
Technical Specifications
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), with 802.11ax/ac/n backward compatibility
Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2.4 GHz: 2x2:2; 5 GHz: 2x2:2 (4x4:4 when 6 GHz is disabled); 6 GHz: 2x2:2
Aggregate Throughput: 9000 Mbps aggregate data rate (PHY up to 9 Gbps on 2x2 320 MHz 6 GHz)
Radios (bands): Tri-radio: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, plus dedicated scanning radio and BLE/802.15.4 IoT radio
Uplink Port Speed: 1x RJ-45 multigigabit uplink (100M/1G/2.5G); additional 1G LAN ports and pass-through port per reseller listings
Max Clients: Not published for the whole AP; Cisco deployment guide cites 256 clients per radio
PoE Requirement: 802.3bt (UPOE, Class 5, 32 W, USB supported); 802.3at (25.5 W); 802.3af (12.95 W, 1x1 at 1G, no USB)
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) tri-radio across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz; 9 Gbps PHY on 6 GHz 2x2 320 MHz; Multiple PoE options including 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt; Built-in BLE and 802.15.4 IoT radio; Trust Anchor security with secure boot and image signing; Works with cloud, on-premises, or hybrid management via Catalyst 9800 controllers
✘ Cons:4x4:4 on 5 GHz only available when 6 GHz is disabled; 6 GHz radio disabled in countries without regional approval or software support; Requires Cisco Networking Subscription (Wireless Essentials or Advantage); Needs Catalyst 9800 controller or Catalyst 9000 SDA/EWC and IOS XE 17.15.2b or later; Performance derates between 40 and 50 °C; Larger and heavier than the 9172H variant
