Cisco Meraki MR18 vs MR36
The Meraki MR18 (MR18-HW) is an end-of-life 802.11n access point; the MR36 (MR36-HW) is its Wi-Fi 6 replacement, jumping from 600 Mbps to 1.5 Gbps with OFDMA and a dedicated security radio. For any refresh, deploy the MR36.
Cisco Meraki MR18 Cloud Managed Access Point
End-of-life entry 802.11n 2x2:2 dual-band cloud-managed access point.
- 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4), 2x2:2 dual-band
- Up to ~600 Mbps aggregate
- Single 10/100/1000 uplink, 802.3af PoE
- End of sale and end of support; no Wi-Fi 6
Cisco Meraki MR36 Wi-Fi 6 Indoor Access Point
Current entry Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2x2:2 access point with a dedicated scanning radio.
- 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), 2x2:2 dual-band
- Up to 1.5 Gbps aggregate with OFDMA and MU-MIMO
- Dedicated dual-band security and RF scanning radio
- Bluetooth/IoT radio; 802.3at PoE; supported lifecycle
Cisco Meraki MR18 Cloud Managed Access Point vs Cisco Meraki MR36 Wi-Fi 6 Indoor Access Point: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MR18 Cloud Managed Access Point | Cisco Meraki MR36 Wi-Fi 6 Indoor Access Point |
|---|---|---|
| Status | End of sale / end of support | Current shipping product |
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Spatial streams | 2x2:2 | 2x2:2 |
| Max aggregate rate | Up to ~600 Mbps | Up to 1.5 Gbps |
| OFDMA | No | Yes (uplink and downlink) |
| MU-MIMO | No | Yes |
| Dedicated security radio | No | Yes (third scanning radio) |
| IoT / Bluetooth radio | No | Yes (BLE) |
| Uplink | 1 x GbE | 1 x GbE |
| Power | 802.3af PoE | 802.3at PoE |
Choose Cisco Meraki MR18 Cloud Managed Access Point if
There is no scenario to choose the MR18 for new coverage. Keep existing units only until a refresh budget is in place, recognizing they are unsupported.
Choose Cisco Meraki MR36 Wi-Fi 6 Indoor Access Point if
Choose the MR36 for any refresh of legacy 802.11n coverage. Wi-Fi 6, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and a dedicated security radio greatly improve capacity in dense client environments.
Verdict
Migrate from the MR18 to the MR36. The MR36 more than doubles throughput to 1.5 Gbps, adds Wi-Fi 6 efficiency (OFDMA, MU-MIMO), and includes a dedicated scanning radio for always-on RF and security, all on a supported, cloud-managed platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Meraki MR18 still supported?
No. The MR18-HW has reached end of sale and end of support, so it no longer receives firmware or security updates. The recommended replacement is the Wi-Fi 6 MR36.
What is the replacement for the Meraki MR18?
The MR36 (MR36-HW) is the current entry-level Wi-Fi 6 access point that replaces the 802.11n MR18, offering higher throughput and modern features.
Do I need new licenses to move from MR18 to MR36?
Each MR access point requires its own Meraki Enterprise or Advanced license, so the MR36 needs current MR licensing; it is cloud-managed in the same Meraki dashboard as the MR18 was.
Does the MR36 support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?
Yes. The MR36 is an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) access point with OFDMA and MU-MIMO, a major step up from the MR18's 802.11n radios.
More Meraki MR comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.