Cisco Meraki MX84 vs MX85
The MX84 is an end-of-sale mid-branch appliance; the MX85 is its direct replacement, roughly doubling firewall throughput and quadrupling VPN throughput while keeping a similar interface layout. For any branch still on an MX84, the MX85 is the recommended upgrade.
Cisco Meraki MX84
End-of-sale mid-size branch security and SD-WAN appliance for up to 200 users.
- 500 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 8x GbE RJ45, 2x 1G SFP, plus 2x dedicated WAN
- Recommended for up to 200 clients
- Past end-of-sale - capped at MX 18.1 firmware
Cisco Meraki MX85
Current mid-size branch security and SD-WAN appliance with four flexible WAN uplinks.
- 1 Gbps stateful firewall throughput
- 8x GbE RJ45 LAN, 2x 1G SFP, 4 flexible WAN uplinks
- 1 Gbps VPN throughput, up to 250 clients
- Current platform with ongoing firmware support
Cisco Meraki MX84 vs Cisco Meraki MX85: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MX84 | Cisco Meraki MX85 |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 500 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| Advanced security throughput | 320 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
| VPN throughput | 250 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| Recommended max clients | 200 | 250 |
| Dedicated WAN uplinks | 2 | 4 (2x 1G SFP + 2x 1GbE RJ45) |
| GbE RJ45 LAN ports | 8x | 8x |
| SFP ports | 2x 1G SFP | 2x 1G SFP |
| Cellular failover | USB 3G/4G modem | USB 3G/4G modem |
| Max concurrent VPN tunnels | 100 | Higher (current platform) |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-sale (capped at MX 18.1) | Current / supported |
Choose Cisco Meraki MX84 if
Keep the MX84 only if it is already deployed and meeting needs short-term; there is no new-purchase reason to choose it over the MX85.
Choose Cisco Meraki MX85 if
Choose the MX85 for any mid-branch refresh: it doubles firewall throughput, quadruples VPN throughput, adds two more flexible WAN uplinks, and stays on the current firmware track.
Verdict
Migrate to the MX85. The MX84 is end-of-sale and capped at MX 18.1, while the MX85 doubles firewall throughput to 1 Gbps, lifts VPN to 1 Gbps, and adds flexible WAN uplinks. Keep the MX84 only as a short-term bridge until you can cut over.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki MX84 end of life?
The MX84 is past end-of-sale and capped at MX 18.1 firmware. The MX85 is the current direct replacement for mid-size branches.
What is the replacement for the Meraki MX84?
The MX85 is the modern successor to the MX84, with double the firewall throughput, higher VPN throughput, and four flexible WAN uplinks.
How much faster is the MX85 than the MX84?
The MX85 offers 1 Gbps stateful firewall throughput versus 500 Mbps on the MX84, and 1 Gbps VPN throughput versus 250 Mbps.
How many WAN uplinks does the MX85 have?
The MX85 supports four flexible WAN uplinks (two 1G SFP and two 1GbE RJ45), compared with two dedicated WAN ports on the MX84.
More Meraki MX 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.