Cisco Catalyst 3850-12X48U vs Catalyst 9300-48UXM
Both are multigigabit UPOE switches, but the 3850-12X48U is end-of-support while the C9300-48UXM-A delivers the same 12 mGig / 36 2.5G layout on UADP 2.0 with more UPOE budget, modular high-speed uplinks, and IOS XE 17.x. Migrate to the 9300 for Wi-Fi 6/6E and 90W endpoints.
Catalyst 3850 48-Port mGig UPOE (IP Base)
End-of-life multigigabit UPOE switch with 12 mGig and 36 fixed Gigabit ports on the original UADP ASIC.
- 12x mGig (up to 10G) + 36x 1G, all UPOE
- ~960W PoE/UPOE budget
- StackWise-480 (480 Gbps) stacking
- Past end-of-support; no IOS XE 17 or DNA
Catalyst 9300 48-Port mGig UPOE (Network Advantage)
Current-gen multigigabit UPOE switch with 12 mGig and 36 2.5G ports on UADP 2.0 with IOS XE 17.x.
- 12x mGig (up to 10G) + 36x 2.5G, all UPOE
- 1130W UPOE budget, 90W UPOE+ capable
- Modular uplinks up to 8x10G or 2x40G
- UADP 2.0, IOS XE 17.x, DNA/Meraki ready
Catalyst 3850 48-Port mGig UPOE (IP Base) vs Catalyst 9300 48-Port mGig UPOE (Network Advantage): spec comparison
| Spec | Catalyst 3850 48-Port mGig UPOE (IP Base) | Catalyst 9300 48-Port mGig UPOE (Network Advantage) |
|---|---|---|
| Multigig ports | 12x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G mGig | 12x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G mGig |
| Other access ports | 36x 10/100/1000 RJ45 | 36x 100M/1G/2.5G (2.5G mGig) |
| Power over Ethernet | UPOE (60W), ~960W budget | UPOE (60W) / UPOE+ (90W), 1130W budget |
| Uplinks | Network module: 2x10G/4x10G | Modular: 4x10G/8x10G/2x25G/2x40G |
| Switching capacity | 272 Gbps | Up to ~592 Gbps (with uplinks) |
| ASIC | UADP 1.0 | UADP 2.0 |
| Stacking | StackWise-480 (480 Gbps) | StackWise-480 (480 Gbps), up to 8 units |
| StackPower | Yes (StackPower) | Yes (StackPower, up to 1480W) |
| Default DRAM / flash | 4 GB / 2 GB | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Software | IOS XE 16.x (EoS) | IOS XE 17.x |
| Management | Prime / CLI | Catalyst Center (DNA) / Meraki dashboard |
| Warranty | Enhanced Limited Lifetime | Enhanced Limited Lifetime |
Choose Catalyst 3850 48-Port mGig UPOE (IP Base) if
Only retain the 3850-12X48U if you must briefly extend an existing multigig stack; it is end-of-support and cannot support 90W UPOE+ endpoints or modern Wi-Fi 6E AP density.
Choose Catalyst 9300 48-Port mGig UPOE (Network Advantage) if
Choose the C9300-48UXM-A for Wi-Fi 6/6E uplinks, 90W UPOE+ devices, 2.5G to the desk, modular 10G/40G aggregation, and a current support lifecycle with Catalyst Center and Meraki.
Verdict
For a multigigabit UPOE access layer, upgrade to the C9300-48UXM-A. It matches the 3850's mGig layout but adds UPOE+ 90W, a larger 1130W budget, 2.5G fixed ports, UADP 2.0 performance, and current IOS XE 17 support, while the 3850 is end-of-support. Keep the 3850 only as a short-term measure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the replacement for the Catalyst 3850-12X48U?
The Catalyst 9300 multigig models, specifically the C9300-48UXM-A, are the direct successor with the same 12 mGig layout plus UPOE+ and modern uplinks.
Does the C9300-48UXM support 90W UPOE+?
Yes. The 9300 multigig switches support UPOE+ at up to 90W per port, which the 3850 generation does not, enabling high-power endpoints and dense Wi-Fi 6E APs.
What is the difference in the 36 non-mGig ports?
On the 3850-12X48U they are 1G ports, while the C9300-48UXM provides 36 ports capable of 2.5G, giving more multigigabit capacity to the access edge.
Is the multigig Catalyst 9300 good for Wi-Fi 6E?
Yes. Its mGig 10G ports and UPOE+ power make it well suited to high-throughput Wi-Fi 6 and 6E access points that exceed Gigabit and standard PoE limits.
More Catalyst 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.