PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst CW9164
Cisco Catalyst CW9164
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2.4GHz: 2x2, 5GHz: 4x4, 6GHz: 4x4
  • Aggregate Throughput: 7.49 Gbps
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) + Scanning + BLE 5.1
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig
  • Max Clients: Up to 1,200 (Catalyst mode) / 1,536 (Meraki mode)
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at (PoE+) or 802.3bt (PoE++)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Supports ultra-wide 6GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E); Unique dual-boot capability for Meraki cloud or Catalyst on-prem management; Includes dedicated WIDS/WIPS security radio; High density client support.
  • ✘ Cons: Requires recurring licensing (Cisco DNA or Meraki); High price point for enterprise environments; Full throughput requires mGig switching infrastructure and high-power PoE.
  • Est. Price: $1,150 - $1,400

Compare Against

Ubiquiti U7 Pro
Ubiquiti U7 Pro
★ 4.9 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 6 (2x2 MIMO on 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 9.3 Gbps (5.8 Gbps 6GHz, 4.3 Gbps 5GHz, 688 Mbps 2.4GHz)
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4, 5, 6 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2.5 GbE RJ45
  • Max Clients: 300+
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ (802.3at)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: WiFi 7 support with 6 GHz band and 320 MHz channels; 2.5 GbE uplink prevents bottlenecks; Exceptional value-to-performance ratio; Seamless UniFi ecosystem integration.
  • ✘ Cons: Only 2x2 MIMO on 5 GHz band (reduction from U6 Pro's 4x4); Requires higher power PoE+; Includes an internal cooling fan which may concern some users for long-term reliability.
  • Est. Price: $189 - $210

Popular Comparisons

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