PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Ubiquiti U6 Pro
Ubiquiti U6 Pro
★ 4.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 6 total: 5 GHz 4x4 (DL/UL MU-MIMO); 2.4 GHz 2x2 (UL MU-MIMO)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 5.3 Gbps (combined; 4.8 Gbps 5 GHz BW160 + 573.5 Mbps 2.4 GHz BW40)
  • Radios (bands): Dual-band: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x 1 GbE RJ45
  • 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 9136I
Cisco Catalyst 9136I
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E), including 6 GHz band
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 on 2.4 GHz; 8x8 on 5 GHz; 4x4 on 6 GHz (with 802.3bt power). Under 802.3at: 2x2 / 4x4 / 2x2
  • Aggregate Throughput: Up to 10.2 Gbps aggregate PHY data rate (radio PHY, not achievable client throughput)
  • Radios (bands): 3 radios: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, plus dedicated Bluetooth/BLE
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2x multigigabit RJ-45 ports (100M/1G/2.5G/5G); combined link aggregation capped at 5 Gbps
  • Max Clients: 400 per radio and 1,200 per AP (per Cisco deployment guide; not stated on datasheet)
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3bt (UPOE) for full performance, 47.3 W max; 802.3at (PoE+) supported at 24.4 W with reduced radio config; 802.3af for staging only with radios off
  • Dimensions (W x L x H): 9.9 x 9.9 x 2.2 in (25.1 x 25.1 x 5.6 cm), excluding mounting brackets
  • Form Factor: Indoor ceiling/wall-mount access point with internal antennas

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E with dedicated 6 GHz radio; High aggregate PHY rate of up to 10.2 Gbps; Two multigigabit uplinks (2.5G/5G) for higher wired throughput; 8x8 on 5 GHz radio with 802.3bt power; Dual-PoE port redundancy (one active, one standby); Integrated Bluetooth for IoT and location services; Supports 400 clients per radio and 1,200 per AP; Managed through Cisco Catalyst/IOS-XE wireless controllers and Cisco DNA tooling
  • ✘ Cons: Wired uplink throughput capped at 5 Gbps even with both ports aggregated; Full performance requires 802.3bt (UPOE) power, which many switches may not provide; Thermal downgrade above 40 C ambient (5 GHz drops to 4x4, uplinks drop to 1G); Max client and throughput numbers are PHY or deployment-guide figures, not datasheet guarantees; Higher cost than Wi-Fi 6 entry-level APs, with reseller prices varying widely; Requires Cisco wireless controller infrastructure for full management features
  • Est. Price: $1,966 - $3,010

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