Radios (bands): Tri-radio by default: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, plus a 2.4 GHz BLE 5 IoT radio and a scanning radio. Quad-radio mode with dual 5 GHz (dual 4x4) is a future software upgrade
Uplink Port Speed: 2x RJ-45 multigigabit (100M/1G/2.5G/5G)
Max Clients: 1200 total (400 per radio)
PoE Requirement: 802.3bt (UPOE) for full performance, 47.3 W max; 802.3at 24.4 W with 1x 2.5G and USB disabled; 802.3af 13.95 W for day-0 provisioning only
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Tri-radio Wi-Fi 6E design with a dedicated 6 GHz band for less congested high-throughput wireless; 8x8 5 GHz radio and 4x4 radios on 2.4 and 6 GHz; 2x multigigabit uplinks (up to 5G) for higher wired throughput; supports 1200 total clients (400 per radio); integrated Bluetooth 5 (BLE) radio for location and IoT use cases; USB 2.0 and container support for edge applications; managed by Catalyst 9800 controllers or Catalyst 9k switches in SDA mode with Embedded Wireless Controller; 0 to 50°C operating range
✘ Cons:Full performance requires 802.3bt (UPOE, 47.3 W) power, so 802.3at or 802.3af switches reduce port speed, disable USB, or limit setup to day-0 provisioning; the 802.3bt power injector (AIR-PWRINJ7) is an extra cost if the switch lacks UPOE; above 40°C the 5 GHz radio drops to 4x4 and the uplink falls to 1G; dual-5 GHz quad-radio mode is a future software upgrade, not available at launch; requires IOS XE 17.7.1 or later and a Catalyst 9800 or EWC controller for centralized management; 10.2 Gbps is a theoretical PHY rate, not measured throughput; no official Cisco list price was found, and reseller prices vary widely