Cisco Meraki MR26 vs Catalyst CW9164I
The MR26 is an end-of-life 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) access point; the Catalyst CW9164I is a current Wi-Fi 6E AP that can be Meraki cloud-managed. Replacing an MR26 with a CW9164I jumps you three Wi-Fi generations, adds the clean 6 GHz band, multigigabit uplink, and a long support runway.
Cisco Meraki MR26
End-of-life three-radio 3x3 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) cloud-managed indoor access point.
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), dual-band 3x3:3 MIMO
- Up to ~900 Mbps combined data rate
- Dedicated third radio for WIPS/WIDS and spectrum analysis
- End of sale and end of support; 2.4/5 GHz only, no OFDMA
Cisco Catalyst CW9164I
Current tri-band Wi-Fi 6E indoor access point, Meraki cloud-managed (MR mode).
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz
- Radios up to 4x4:4; aggregate data rate in the multi-gigabit range
- Adds the wide, interference-free 6 GHz band with OFDMA and 1024-QAM
- Multigigabit (mGig) uplink; manageable via Meraki dashboard or Catalyst 9800
Cisco Meraki MR26 vs Cisco Catalyst CW9164I: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MR26 | Cisco Catalyst CW9164I |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bands | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz |
| Radio architecture | Dual 3x3:3 + dedicated scanning radio | Tri-band (one 2x2 + dual 4x4) + dedicated radio |
| Max spatial streams | 3 | 4 (5 GHz / 6 GHz) |
| Max aggregate data rate | ~900 Mbps | Multi-gigabit (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| OFDMA / MU-MIMO | No | OFDMA + MU-MIMO (UL and DL) |
| Channel width | Up to 40 MHz | Up to 160 MHz (6 GHz) |
| Uplink port | 1 GbE | Multigigabit (mGig) uplink |
| Management | Meraki dashboard | Meraki dashboard (MR mode) or Catalyst 9800 |
| Lifecycle status | End of sale and end of support | Current shipping product |
Choose Cisco Meraki MR26 if
There is no reason to deploy a new MR26. Retain one only briefly until the CW9164I (or another current AP) replaces it, since the MR26 is past end of support.
Choose Cisco Catalyst CW9164I if
Choose the CW9164I for the refresh: Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band for dense, high-bandwidth environments, brings OFDMA efficiency and mGig uplink, and gives you flexible Meraki or Catalyst management on supported hardware.
Verdict
Migrate from the MR26 to the Catalyst CW9164I. The MR26 is a Wi-Fi 4 device at end of life; the CW9164I is a Wi-Fi 6E AP that adds the 6 GHz band, dramatically higher capacity, and modern management. The performance and lifecycle gap makes this an easy upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki MR26 end of life?
Yes. The MR26 is end of sale and end of support. Cisco's current indoor APs, including Catalyst Wireless models like the CW9164I, are the replacement options.
Can the CW9164I be managed by the Meraki dashboard?
Yes. The Catalyst CW9164I supports Meraki cloud management (MR mode) as well as Catalyst 9800 controller management, so it fits either operating model.
What is the benefit of Wi-Fi 6E over the MR26's 802.11n?
Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band plus OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and 1024-QAM, delivering far more capacity, lower latency, and less congestion than the MR26's 2.4/5 GHz 802.11n radios.
Do I need new licensing for the CW9164I?
Yes. In Meraki mode the CW9164I uses Meraki wireless licensing tied to the device. We can quote the correct license term alongside the hardware.
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.