PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I)
Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I)
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2.4 GHz: 2x2:2, 5 GHz: 4x4:4, 6 GHz: 4x4:4
  • Aggregate Throughput: 7.49 Gbps
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) + Scanning + IoT (BLE)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x 100M/1G/2.5G Multigigabit
  • Max Clients: 1,200 total (400 per radio)
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ (802.3at) for radios; UPOE (802.3bt) for full functionality including USB

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Wi-Fi 6E support unlocks the 6 GHz band for massive capacity and low interference; Dual-persona capability allows switching between Catalyst on-prem and Meraki cloud management; Dedicated scanning radio (CleanAir Pro) for 24/7 security and spectrum analysis; Integrated BLE 5.1 for IoT and asset tracking.
  • ✘ Cons: Demanding power requirements (radios disabled on standard 802.3af PoE); High price point relative to standard Wi-Fi 6 access points; Internal antennas only with no external antenna option on this model; Transitioning between management modes requires a technical firmware migration process.
  • Est. Price: $1,150 - $1,450

Compare Against

Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall
Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall
★ 5.0 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 6 total (2x2 MIMO on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 10.7 Gbps
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2.5 GbE RJ45
  • Max Clients: 300+
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ (802.3at)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Supports the full Wi-Fi 7 standard including the 6 GHz band for low-latency performance; Massive 10.7 Gbps aggregate throughput; 2.5 GbE uplink prevents bottlenecking; Slim, aesthetically pleasing wall-mount design with optional table stand.
  • ✘ Cons: Lacks the integrated Ethernet switch/passthrough ports found on previous 'In-Wall' models; Requires PoE+ power due to higher 22W max consumption; Runs noticeably warm during operation.
  • Est. Price: $199 - $229

Popular Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I) vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Max Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I) vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I) vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I) vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Cisco Catalyst 9164 (CW9164I) vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro