Cisco Meraki MR62 vs MR36
The MR62 is an end-of-sale single-radio 802.11n access point; the MR36 is its current Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) replacement. For any active deployment, migrate to the MR36 for roughly 5x the throughput, dual-band concurrent radios, OFDMA, and continued Meraki cloud support.
Cisco Meraki MR62
Entry-level single-radio 802.11n cloud-managed access point built for small or low-density spaces.
- Single-radio 802.11n, 2x2:2 MIMO
- Up to 300 Mbps PHY rate
- End-of-sale and approaching end-of-support
- Meraki cloud dashboard managed
Cisco Meraki MR36
Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) cloud-managed access point for mainstream enterprise density.
- Dual concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 2x2:2 radios
- 802.11ax with OFDMA and MU-MIMO
- Up to 1.5 Gbps dual-radio aggregate
- Dedicated WIDS/WIPS scanning radio plus integrated BLE
Cisco Meraki MR62 vs Cisco Meraki MR36: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MR62 | Cisco Meraki MR36 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Radios | Single radio (2.4 GHz) | Dual concurrent 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz, plus dedicated scanning radio |
| Spatial streams | 2x2:2 | 2x2:2 |
| Max data rate | Up to 300 Mbps | Up to 1,201 Mbps (5 GHz) + 286 Mbps (2.4 GHz) |
| Aggregate frame rate | 300 Mbps | 1.5 Gbps |
| OFDMA / MU-MIMO | No | Yes (downlink and uplink) |
| Bluetooth | No | Integrated BLE radio |
| Uplink | 1x GbE (PoE) | 1x GbE (PoE) |
| Power | 802.3af PoE | 802.3at PoE+ |
| Lifecycle status | End of sale | Current / shipping |
| Management | Meraki cloud dashboard | Meraki cloud dashboard |
Choose Cisco Meraki MR62 if
Only keep the MR62 if it is already deployed in a low-traffic space and you are not yet ready to budget a refresh. It remains adequate for basic single-band connectivity but receives no future feature development.
Choose Cisco Meraki MR36 if
Choose the MR36 for any new deployment or refresh. Wi-Fi 6, dual concurrent bands, OFDMA, and BLE deliver far better client density, battery efficiency, and throughput on a platform Meraki actively supports.
Verdict
The MR36 is the clear upgrade path. With dual-band Wi-Fi 6, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and roughly 5x the aggregate throughput of the single-radio MR62, migration is worthwhile now rather than later, especially as the MR62 nears end-of-support. Plan a one-for-one swap and reuse existing PoE cabling.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki MR62 still supported?
The MR62 is end-of-sale and is moving through Cisco Meraki's end-of-support lifecycle. It still functions on the dashboard today, but it receives no new features and should be scheduled for replacement.
What is the direct replacement for the Meraki MR62?
The MR36 is the current mainstream indoor replacement. It upgrades the platform from single-radio 802.11n to dual-band Wi-Fi 6 while keeping the same Meraki cloud management.
Do I need new licenses to move from MR62 to MR36?
Yes. Meraki licensing is per device, so each MR36 needs its own Enterprise or Advanced license. Existing MR62 licenses do not transfer to a new SKU.
Can the MR36 reuse my existing PoE cabling?
In most cases yes. The MR36 runs on 802.3at PoE+ over the same single GbE drop, so a like-for-like swap on existing Cat5e/Cat6 cabling is typical.
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.