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 UniFi U7 Pro
Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro
★ 4.6 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
  • Aggregate Throughput: BE19000 (approximately 19 Gbps)
  • 2.4 GHz Spatial Streams: 2x2 MIMO
  • 5 GHz Spatial Streams: 4x4 MIMO
  • 6 GHz Spatial Streams: 4x4 MIMO
  • Radios: Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 10 GbE
  • Max Clients: 300+
  • PoE Requirement: PoE++ (95W)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Wi-Fi 7 future-proofing with extremely high throughput; 10GbE uplink for backhaul capacity; Enterprise-grade build quality and management integration; Excellent performance in dense deployments; PoE powered for simplified installation
  • ✘ Cons: Premium pricing significantly higher than Wi-Fi 6E alternatives; Requires PoE++ power injection (standard PoE insufficient); Wi-Fi 7 client ecosystem still maturing with limited device adoption; Overkill for small/residential deployments; Generates notable heat requiring adequate ventilation
  • Est. Price: $449 - $549

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)