Cisco Catalyst 3850-24P vs Catalyst 9300-24P
The Catalyst 3850 reached end-of-support, so the C9300-24P-A is the direct upgrade: it nearly doubles stacking bandwidth, adds modular uplinks and UADP 2.0 silicon, and runs IOS XE 17.x with full DNA/Meraki manageability. Migrate unless you only need to keep a 3850 alive short-term.
Catalyst 3850 24-Port PoE+ (IP Base)
End-of-life 24-port Gigabit PoE+ stackable switch on the original UADP ASIC and IP Base licensing.
- 24x 1G RJ45 with 435W PoE+ budget
- StackWise-480 (480 Gbps) stacking
- Fixed uplink network modules (1G/10G)
- Past end-of-support; no IOS XE 17 or DNA
Catalyst 9300 24-Port PoE+ (Network Advantage)
Current-gen 24-port PoE+ stackable access switch on UADP 2.0 with StackWise-480 and IOS XE 17.x.
- 24x 1G RJ45 with 715W PoE+ budget
- StackWise-480 + StackPower (1480W)
- Modular uplinks up to 8x10G or 2x40G
- UADP 2.0, IOS XE 17.x, DNA/Meraki ready
Catalyst 3850 24-Port PoE+ (IP Base) vs Catalyst 9300 24-Port PoE+ (Network Advantage): spec comparison
| Spec | Catalyst 3850 24-Port PoE+ (IP Base) | Catalyst 9300 24-Port PoE+ (Network Advantage) |
|---|---|---|
| Access ports | 24x 10/100/1000 RJ45 | 24x 10/100/1000 RJ45 |
| PoE/PoE+ budget | 435W (PoE+) | 715W (PoE+) |
| Uplinks | Network module: 4x1G, 2x10G, or 4x10G | Modular: 4x1G/4x10G/8x10G/2x25G/2x40G |
| Switching capacity | 92 Gbps (24-port models) | 208 Gbps |
| Forwarding rate | Up to ~65 Mpps | Up to ~155 Mpps |
| 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 24-Port PoE+ (IP Base) if
Only choose the 3850-24P if you are temporarily extending an existing stack and cannot fund a refresh now; it is past Cisco end-of-support with no further software or security updates.
Choose Catalyst 9300 24-Port PoE+ (Network Advantage) if
Choose the C9300-24P-A for any new or refreshed deployment: more PoE, flexible high-speed uplinks, longer support runway, and native automation through Catalyst Center and Meraki.
Verdict
For a 24-port PoE+ access layer, migrate to the C9300-24P-A. It is the sanctioned successor with more PoE headroom, modular 10G/40G uplinks, UADP 2.0 performance, and a current IOS XE 17 support lifecycle, while the 3850 is end-of-support and a security liability. Keep the 3850 only as a stopgap.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Catalyst 3850 end of life?
Yes. The Catalyst 3850 line is past Cisco's end-of-sale and end-of-support milestones, so it no longer receives software or security maintenance. The Catalyst 9300 is its replacement.
Can I stack a Catalyst 3850 with a Catalyst 9300?
No. The two platforms cannot be mixed in the same StackWise stack. Plan a full stack cutover to C9300 rather than mixing generations.
Does the C9300-24P-A include the same PoE as the 3850-24P-S?
It exceeds it. The C9300-24P provides about 715W of PoE+ budget versus roughly 435W on the 3850-24P, so it powers more PoE devices per switch.
Is the Catalyst 9300 TAA compliant for federal buyers?
Cisco offers TAA-compliant Catalyst 9300 configurations suitable for US federal procurement and GPC-payable orders. Confirm the exact TAA SKU at quote time.
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.