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 CW9171
★ 3.3 Value Score
Technical Specifications
Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E), 802.11ac, 802.11n v2.0, with 802.11a/b/g support
Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2:2 on each radio (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz or 6 GHz)
Aggregate Throughput: 6120 Mbps aggregate data rate (PHY rates up to 6.0 Gbps on 6 GHz, 2x2, 320 MHz channels)
Radios (bands): Dual-radio, tri-band: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz or 6 GHz, plus dedicated scanning/aux radio and IoT radio (802.15.4), plus BLE radio
Uplink Port Speed: 1x multigigabit RJ-45 at 100M/1G/2.5G (Cat5e/Cat6/Cat6A)
Max Clients: 256 per radio (per Cisco deployment guide; not stated on the datasheet)
PoE Requirement: 802.3at (PoE+) for full functionality; 802.3af (PoE) supports only a reduced 1x1 2.4 GHz radio with 1G link; 54V DC input also supported (max power 30W)
Power Consumption: 9.8W idle, 11.4W typical on 802.3at (dual radio)
Bluetooth / IoT: BLE radio (datasheet lists BLE 5.3 in features and BLE 6 upgrade path in specs); IoT radio supports 802.15.4
Form Factor: Indoor AP, 20 x 20 x 5.3 cm, 874 g; mounts with AIR-AP-BRACKET-1 or -2
Management: Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2+ with Catalyst 9800 controllers or Catalyst 9000 EWC; Meraki MR 32.1.5+ cloud management (CW9171I-RTG); requires Cisco Networking Subscription (Wireless Essentials or Advantage)
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 6 GHz support and 320 MHz channels; 6120 Mbps aggregate rate; 2.5G multigigabit uplink for a single PoE+ cable; dedicated scanning radio for security and RF monitoring; integrated BLE and 802.15.4 IoT radios; low power draw (about 11.4W typical); flexible management via Catalyst 9800 or Meraki cloud
✘ Cons:Only one uplink port, with no secondary Ethernet for redundancy or link aggregation; 2x2 radios trail 4x4 or 6x6 Wi-Fi 7 APs in high-density environments; full functionality requires 802.3at PoE+ (802.3af gives only a reduced 1x1 2.4 GHz radio); requires a paid Cisco Networking Subscription; max client count not published on the datasheet; BLE version is stated inconsistently across Cisco's pages
