Uplink Port Speed: 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 (1G/2.5G auto-negotiation)
Max Clients: 300+ connected devices
PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (44-57V DC input), approx. 21 W typical draw
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with 6 GHz support at a low entry price; 2.5GbE uplink lets it outrun standard gigabit wired backhaul; single-cable PoE+ power simplifies deployment; 300+ client capacity suits small-to-medium offices and homes; wall and ceiling mounts included; 2-year warranty; managed centrally through the UniFi controller ecosystem
✘ Cons:Only 2x2 MIMO per band, so it trails 4x4-class Wi-Fi 7 APs and the U7 Pro Max; no 10GbE uplink for high-throughput environments; requires a UniFi controller (UniFi OS or Network app) for full management; PoE+ budget leaves no headroom for power-hungry add-ons; street prices often sit above the $189 MSRP; no built-in PoE injector, so a PoE+ switch or injector is required
Est. Price:
$179 - $237
Compare Against
Cisco Catalyst CW9172I
★ 3.3 Value Score
Technical Specifications
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), with 802.11ax/ac/n backward compatibility
Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2.4 GHz: 2x2:2; 5 GHz: 2x2:2 (4x4:4 when 6 GHz is disabled); 6 GHz: 2x2:2
Aggregate Throughput: 9000 Mbps aggregate data rate (PHY up to 9 Gbps on 2x2 320 MHz 6 GHz)
Radios (bands): Tri-radio: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, plus dedicated scanning radio and BLE/802.15.4 IoT radio
Uplink Port Speed: 1x RJ-45 multigigabit uplink (100M/1G/2.5G); additional 1G LAN ports and pass-through port per reseller listings
Max Clients: Not published for the whole AP; Cisco deployment guide cites 256 clients per radio
PoE Requirement: 802.3bt (UPOE, Class 5, 32 W, USB supported); 802.3at (25.5 W); 802.3af (12.95 W, 1x1 at 1G, no USB)
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) tri-radio across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz; 9 Gbps PHY on 6 GHz 2x2 320 MHz; Multiple PoE options including 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt; Built-in BLE and 802.15.4 IoT radio; Trust Anchor security with secure boot and image signing; Works with cloud, on-premises, or hybrid management via Catalyst 9800 controllers
✘ Cons:4x4:4 on 5 GHz only available when 6 GHz is disabled; 6 GHz radio disabled in countries without regional approval or software support; Requires Cisco Networking Subscription (Wireless Essentials or Advantage); Needs Catalyst 9800 controller or Catalyst 9000 SDA/EWC and IOS XE 17.15.2b or later; Performance derates between 40 and 50 °C; Larger and heavier than the 9172H variant
