Cisco Meraki MX90 vs MX85
The Meraki MX90 is an end-of-life medium-branch security appliance, and the MX85 is its current cloud-managed replacement. The MX85 doubles firewall throughput to 1 Gbps, adds modern SD-WAN and Advanced Security with current Meraki dashboard support, so the MX90 should be replaced.
Cisco Meraki MX90
End-of-life medium-branch Meraki MX security appliance for roughly 125 users.
- 500 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 8x GbE plus 2x GbE SFP ports
- Up to 200 site-to-site VPN tunnels
- End-of-life; no longer sold or refreshed
Cisco Meraki MX85
Current cloud-managed SD-WAN and security appliance for small to medium branches up to ~250 users.
- 1 Gbps stateful firewall throughput
- 750 Mbps Advanced Security throughput
- Mixed copper and SFP WAN/LAN with PoE port
- Cloud-managed SD-WAN, current Meraki dashboard support
Cisco Meraki MX90 vs Cisco Meraki MX85: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MX90 | Cisco Meraki MX85 |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall throughput | 500 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| Advanced Security throughput | 225 Mbps | 750 Mbps |
| Site-to-site VPN throughput | Not published at MX85 level | 500 Mbps |
| Max site-to-site VPN tunnels | 200 | 200 |
| Recommended users | ~125 | Up to 250 |
| WAN interfaces | GbE (shared with LAN/SFP) | 2x GbE SFP, 2x GbE RJ45 (1 PoE) |
| LAN interfaces | 8x GbE, 2x GbE SFP | 8x GbE RJ45, 2x GbE SFP |
| SD-WAN | Basic (legacy) | Full Meraki SD-WAN |
| Management | Meraki cloud dashboard | Meraki cloud dashboard |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-life | Current, fully supported |
Choose Cisco Meraki MX90 if
There is no reason to deploy a new MX90. It is end-of-life, cannot be relicensed long-term, and will eventually lose dashboard support. Keep one only as a stopgap until your MX85 arrives.
Choose Cisco Meraki MX85 if
Choose the MX85 for any current medium-branch deployment or to replace an aging MX90. It doubles firewall throughput, adds full SD-WAN and stronger Advanced Security throughput, and remains under active Meraki support and licensing.
Verdict
Replace the MX90 with the MX85. The MX85 doubles firewall throughput to 1 Gbps, triples Advanced Security throughput, and adds modern SD-WAN, all while the MX90 is end-of-life and losing licensing and dashboard support. Migration is straightforward because both are managed from the same Meraki dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki MX90 end of life?
Yes. The Meraki MX90 has reached end-of-life. It is no longer sold, and Cisco Meraki has published end-of-sale and end-of-support milestones, after which dashboard support and licensing renewals are discontinued.
What replaces the Meraki MX90?
In the current MX lineup the MX85 is the closest medium-branch replacement, offering 1 Gbps firewall throughput and full SD-WAN. Larger branches may step up to the MX95 instead.
How much faster is the MX85 than the MX90?
The MX85 delivers 1 Gbps of stateful firewall throughput versus 500 Mbps on the MX90, and 750 Mbps of Advanced Security throughput versus roughly 225 Mbps on the MX90.
Can I manage the MX85 from the same dashboard as my MX90?
Yes. Both appliances are managed through the same Cisco Meraki cloud dashboard, so migrating from an MX90 to an MX85 keeps your existing dashboard, policies, and templates.
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.