PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Aruba (HPE) AP-735
Aruba (HPE) AP-735
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 MIMO (dual-band)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 1.73 Gbps
  • Radios: Dual-band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2.5 GbE
  • Max Clients: 512
  • PoE Requirement: High Power PoE+ (95W typical)
  • Form Factor: Indoor/Outdoor, Compact
  • Antenna: Integrated 4x4 MIMO
  • Security: WPA3, 802.1X
  • Management: Aruba Central cloud-managed

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) future-proof standard with high throughput; Dual 2.5 GbE uplinks for maximum backhaul capacity; Robust outdoor-rated construction with IP67 enclosure; Enterprise-grade security with WPA3 and 802.1X; Cloud-managed via Aruba Central for simplified operations; Excellent coverage range and client density; PoE powered for simplified deployment
  • ✘ Cons: High capital cost ($3200-$4500) limits deployment scale in budget-conscious environments; Requires PoE+ infrastructure (95W) which may demand upgraded switch PoE budgets; Wi-Fi 6 client adoption still incomplete—benefit limited if most clients are Wi-Fi 5 or older; Proprietary Aruba ecosystem creates vendor lock-in; Complex configuration options may be overkill for small/medium businesses; Outdoor models command premium pricing with limited alternative options at this performance tier
  • Est. Price: $3,200 - $4,500

Compare Against

Cisco Catalyst 9178i
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 204.8 Tbps (full chassis)
  • Forwarding Rate: 204.8 Tbps
  • Ports: Up to 288 u00d7 10/25/40/100 Gbps (via modular line cards)
  • Layer: L2/L3
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units via Stacking Cables)
  • Chassis Type: 3-slot modular chassis
  • PoE Budget: Up to 5.6 kW per module (optional PoE+ modules)
  • Max Power Consumption: 10.2 kW (full chassis)
  • Backplane Bandwidth: 204.8 Tbps
  • Throughput per Port: Up to 100 Gbps per port
  • Cooling: Redundant, variable-speed fans
  • Uplinks: Multiple 100 Gbps QSFP28 capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 204.8 Tbps switching fabric supports next-generation high-density deployments; Modular architecture allows flexible line-card configurations for different port densities and speeds; Full redundancy support (PSU, fan, uplinks) ensures carrier-grade reliability; Native support for Cisco DNA Center and SD-Access intent-based networking; Excellent in-service upgrade capabilities with no traffic disruption
  • ✘ Cons: Significantly higher capital cost compared to fixed-configuration switches; Requires skilled technical staff for modular line-card installation and configuration; Power and cooling infrastructure overhead for large deployments; Complexity of managing modular chassis in smaller networks may be overkill; Limited flexibility in port mix compared to disaggregated options
  • Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000

Popular Comparisons

Aruba (HPE) AP-735 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Aruba (HPE) AP-735 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Aruba (HPE) AP-735 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Aruba (HPE) AP-735 vs Cisco Catalyst 9178i Aruba (HPE) AP-735 vs Cisco Catalyst 9176I (CW9176I)