Cisco Meraki MR46 vs MR57
The MR46 is a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band access point, while the MR57 is a Wi-Fi 6E tri-band AP that adds the 6 GHz band and roughly 2.6x the aggregate frame rate. Choose the MR46 for standard high-density Wi-Fi 6 coverage, and the MR57 when you need 6 GHz capacity, multi-gig uplinks, and headroom for the densest deployments.
Cisco Meraki MR46
Cloud-managed 4x4:4 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band indoor access point with a dedicated security radio.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 4x4:4 on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- 2.98 Gbps dual-radio aggregate frame rate
- 1x 2.5G Multigigabit (mGig) uplink, 802.3at PoE+
- Dedicated WIDS/WIPS scanning radio plus BLE radio
Cisco Meraki MR57
Cloud-managed 4x4:4 Wi-Fi 6E tri-band indoor access point with a software-defined flex radio and dual multi-gig uplinks.
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with the 6 GHz band added
- 7.78 Gbps tri-radio aggregate frame rate
- Software-defined flex radio (toggle 5 GHz or 6 GHz)
- 2x 5G Multigigabit uplinks, 802.3bt PoE
Cisco Meraki MR46 vs Cisco Meraki MR57: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MR46 | Cisco Meraki MR57 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax, adds 6 GHz) |
| Bands | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (dual-band) | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz (tri-band flex radio) |
| Spatial streams | 4x4:4 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) | 4x4:4 (all three bands) |
| Aggregate frame rate | 2.98 Gbps | 7.78 Gbps |
| Max data rate (5 GHz / 6 GHz) | 2,402 Mbps (5 GHz); no 6 GHz | 2,402 Mbps (5 GHz) / 4,804 Mbps (6 GHz) |
| Ethernet uplink | 1x 100M/1G/2.5G mGig (RJ45) | 2x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G mGig (RJ45) |
| PoE / power draw | 802.3at PoE+, 30W max | 802.3bt, 30W to 40W |
| Dedicated security radio | Yes (dual-band WIDS/WIPS) | Yes (dedicated scanning radio) |
| Bluetooth LE | Yes | Yes |
| Management | Meraki cloud dashboard | Meraki cloud dashboard |
| Warranty | Lifetime with advance replacement | Lifetime with advance replacement |
Choose Cisco Meraki MR46 if
Choose the MR46 for high-density Wi-Fi 6 environments where 6 GHz client adoption is still low and a single 2.5G uplink and 802.3at PoE+ already fit your switch budget. It delivers full 4x4:4 dual-band performance at a lower cost per AP.
Choose Cisco Meraki MR57 if
Choose the MR57 when you have Wi-Fi 6E clients, want 6 GHz spectrum to relieve congestion, or need multi-gig (up to 5G) uplinks and link aggregation for the densest, highest-throughput deployments. The tri-band flex radio future-proofs high-traffic sites.
Verdict
Both are 4x4:4 enterprise APs, so the decision is really about 6 GHz. If your client mix is moving to Wi-Fi 6E and you can supply 802.3bt power, the MR57 roughly triples aggregate capacity and adds dual 5G uplinks. For standard Wi-Fi 6 refreshes where 6 GHz is not yet a priority, the MR46 remains a strong, lower-cost choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Meraki MR46 and MR57?
The MR57 is Wi-Fi 6E and adds a 6 GHz radio (via a software-defined flex radio), raising aggregate frame rate from 2.98 Gbps on the MR46 to 7.78 Gbps. The MR57 also has dual 5G multi-gig uplinks versus the MR46's single 2.5G port.
Do I need 802.3bt power for the MR57?
Yes for full performance. The MR57 draws 30W to 40W and is designed for 802.3bt PoE, while the MR46 runs on 802.3at PoE+ at up to 30W. Plan switch PoE budget accordingly when upgrading.
Is the MR46 still a good buy, or should I jump to the MR57?
The MR46 is still excellent for Wi-Fi 6 deployments without many 6 GHz clients. If you are building or refreshing dense spaces and want 6 GHz headroom plus multi-gig uplinks, the MR57 is the more future-proof pick.
Are the MR46 and MR57 TAA-compliant for federal buyers?
Cisco Meraki offers TAA-compliant SKUs for federal and government procurement on both platforms. Confirm the exact TAA part number with your reseller, as it is ordered separately from the standard SKU.
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