Cisco Aironet 2602i vs Catalyst 9120AXI
The Catalyst 9120AXI is the Wi-Fi 6 replacement for the end-of-life Aironet 2602i, moving from 802.11n 3-stream at 450 Mbps to 802.11ax 4x4 at up to 5.38 Gbps with a multigigabit uplink. With the 2602i unsupported, all 802.11n Aironet sites should migrate to the 9120AXI or newer.
Cisco Aironet 2602i
Legacy 802.11n indoor access point with internal antennas, now end of life.
- 802.11a/b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4) dual-band
- 3x4:3 MIMO, three spatial streams
- Up to 450 Mbps data rate
- Gigabit Ethernet uplink; end of life and unsupported
Cisco Catalyst 9120AXI
Current Wi-Fi 6 indoor access point with 4x4 MIMO and a multigigabit uplink.
- 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) dual-band with dual 5 GHz capability
- 4x4:4 MIMO with OFDMA and uplink/downlink MU-MIMO
- Up to 5.38 Gbps aggregate data rate
- mGig (up to 2.5 Gbps) uplink and integrated security analytics
Cisco Aironet 2602i vs Cisco Catalyst 9120AXI: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Aironet 2602i | Cisco Catalyst 9120AXI |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| MIMO / spatial streams | 3x4:3 (3 streams) | 4x4:4 (4 streams) |
| Max aggregate data rate | Up to 450 Mbps | Up to 5.38 Gbps |
| 5 GHz data rate | Up to 450 Mbps | Up to 4.8 Gbps |
| 2.4 GHz data rate | Up to 217 Mbps | Up to 574 Mbps |
| OFDMA / MU-MIMO | No | Yes (uplink and downlink) |
| Uplink port | 1x Gigabit Ethernet | 1x mGig (up to 2.5 Gbps) |
| Antennas | Internal | Internal |
| Power | 802.3af / 802.3at PoE | 802.3at PoE+ (UPOE not required) |
| Lifecycle status | End of life | Current shipping product |
Choose Cisco Aironet 2602i if
There is no reason to deploy the Aironet 2602i today. It is end of life, runs obsolete 802.11n, and cannot be managed by current Catalyst or DNA-driven controllers without legacy software.
Choose Cisco Catalyst 9120AXI if
Choose the Catalyst 9120AXI for any indoor Wi-Fi refresh. Wi-Fi 6 with 4x4 MIMO, OFDMA, and a multigigabit uplink delivers far higher capacity in dense environments and is fully supported by Catalyst 9800 controllers and Cisco DNA/Catalyst Center.
Verdict
Replace the Aironet 2602i with the Catalyst 9120AXI. The 2602i is end of life and topped out at 450 Mbps on 802.11n, while the 9120AXI delivers Wi-Fi 6, four spatial streams, OFDMA, and a 2.5G uplink for roughly a 10x capacity jump. Note the 9120AXI is managed by Catalyst 9800 (not legacy Aironet controllers), so plan the controller and licensing side of the migration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the replacement for the Cisco Aironet 2602i?
The Catalyst 9120AXI is a strong Wi-Fi 6 replacement, with 4x4 MIMO, OFDMA, and a multigigabit uplink versus the 2602i's 802.11n radios.
How much faster is the 9120AXI than the Aironet 2602i?
The 9120AXI reaches up to 5.38 Gbps aggregate versus 450 Mbps on the 2602i, roughly a 10x increase, with much better performance in high-density areas thanks to OFDMA.
Is the Aironet 2602i still supported?
No. The Aironet 2602i is end of life and end of support, runs obsolete 802.11n, and should be replaced.
Does the Catalyst 9120AXI need a new controller?
Yes, typically. The 9120AXI is managed by Catalyst 9800 Series controllers (or embedded wireless), not legacy Aironet AireOS controllers, so plan the controller and DNA/Catalyst Center licensing as part of the upgrade.
More Aironet comparisons
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