Cisco Meraki Z1 vs Z3
The Z1 is a long-discontinued 802.11n teleworker gateway; the Z3 is its modern replacement, doubling firewall throughput, upgrading to 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi, and adding a PoE port. If you are still running Z1 units, the Z3 (or its successor Z4) is the upgrade path.
Cisco Meraki Z1
End-of-life cloud-managed teleworker gateway with 802.11n Wi-Fi for remote workers.
- 50 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 4x GbE LAN ports (no PoE)
- Dual-radio 802.11n (2.4 and 5 GHz), 2x2 MIMO
- End-of-life - no longer supported
Cisco Meraki Z3
Cloud-managed teleworker gateway with 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi and a PoE port.
- 100 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 5x GbE ports including 1 PoE (802.3af) port
- Dual-radio 802.11ac Wave 2, 2x2 MU-MIMO
- Z3C variant adds an integrated LTE modem
Cisco Meraki Z1 vs Cisco Meraki Z3: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki Z1 | Cisco Meraki Z3 |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 50 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
| VPN throughput | 10 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| Recommended clients | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| GbE ports | 4x | 5x (4 LAN + 1 WAN) |
| PoE port | None | 1x 802.3af PoE |
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11n (dual-radio) | 802.11ac Wave 2 (dual-radio) |
| MIMO / streams | 2x2 MIMO | 2x2 MU-MIMO |
| Max data rate | 600 Mbps | 1.3 Gbps |
| Integrated cellular | No | Yes on Z3C (CAT 3 LTE) |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-life | Mature / superseded by Z4 |
Choose Cisco Meraki Z1 if
There is no current reason to choose the Z1; it is end-of-life. Replace it with a Z3 or the newer Z4.
Choose Cisco Meraki Z3 if
Choose the Z3 over a Z1 for any teleworker refresh: double the firewall throughput, 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi, a PoE port for a VoIP phone, and an optional integrated-LTE variant.
Verdict
Migrate off the Z1. It is end-of-life with only 802.11n Wi-Fi and 50 Mbps throughput; the Z3 doubles throughput, adds Wave 2 Wi-Fi and a PoE port, and supports integrated LTE on the Z3C. Note the Z3 itself is now succeeded by the Z4, so for brand-new buys consider jumping straight to the Z4.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki Z1 end of life?
Yes. The Z1 is end-of-life and no longer supported. Replace it with a Z3 or the newer Wi-Fi 6 Z4.
What is the difference between the Meraki Z1 and Z3?
The Z3 doubles firewall throughput to 100 Mbps, upgrades Wi-Fi from 802.11n to 802.11ac Wave 2, adds a PoE port and a fifth GbE port, and offers an integrated-LTE variant (Z3C).
Does the Meraki Z3 have PoE?
Yes. The Z3 includes one 802.3af PoE port, which the Z1 lacked, so it can power a VoIP phone or small access point at a teleworker site.
Should I buy a Z3 or a Z4 to replace a Z1?
Either is a major upgrade over the Z1. The Z3 is the like-for-like successor, but the Z4 adds Wi-Fi 6 and much higher throughput, so for new purchases the Z4 is usually the better long-term choice.
More Meraki Z 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.