PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Aruba AP-515
Aruba AP-515
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 MIMO (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 1.73 Gbps
  • Radios: Dual-band (2.4GHz: 574 Mbps; 5GHz: 1.20 Gbps)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 GbE
  • Max Clients: 256 concurrent
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (30W)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 performance with 4x4 MIMO for high-throughput coverage; Excellent dual-band design supports dense deployments with strong backward compatibility; 802.3at PoE+ simplifies installation without external power supplies; Advanced security features including built-in threat detection and encryption; Strong support for IoT and mobile device density; Proven reliability in campus and distributed enterprise networks
  • ✘ Cons: 1 GbE uplink can become bottleneck in high-density deployments (>100 clients); Requires PoE+ infrastructure; Higher initial cost compared to Wi-Fi 5 alternatives; Requires Aruba controller or Instant On mode for advanced management; 2.4GHz band maxes out at 574 Mbps, limiting legacy device throughput; Some advanced features require Aruba licensing or subscriptions
  • Est. Price: $600 - $900

Compare Against

Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max
Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max
★ 5.0 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: WiFi 7 (802.11be)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 8 Streams (6GHz: 2x2, 5GHz: 4x4, 2.4GHz: 2x2)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 15.1 Gbps
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4, 5, 6 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2.5 GbE RJ45
  • Max Clients: 500+
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ (802.3at)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading WiFi 7 performance, massive 15.1 Gbps aggregate throughput, dedicated spectral scanning engine for interference analysis, and excellent price-to-performance ratio.
  • ✘ Cons: Requires PoE+ power, needs 2.5GbE infrastructure to reach full potential, and 6GHz range is inherently shorter than lower bands.
  • Est. Price: $279 - $295

Popular Comparisons

Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Aruba AP-515 vs Cisco Catalyst 9178i Aruba AP-515 vs Cisco Catalyst 9176I (CW9176I)