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 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 CW9164 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Max Cisco Catalyst CW9164 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall Cisco Catalyst CW9164 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Cisco Catalyst CW9164 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Cisco Catalyst CW9164 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro