Cisco Meraki Z3 vs Z4
The Z3 is a mature 802.11ac Wave 2 teleworker gateway nearing end-of-sale; the Z4 is its modern replacement, adding Wi-Fi 6, roughly 5x the firewall throughput, and a PoE+ port. For new teleworker deployments, the Z4 is the recommended choice.
Cisco Meraki Z3
Mature cloud-managed teleworker gateway with 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi.
- 100 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 5x GbE ports including 1 PoE (802.3af) port
- Dual-radio 802.11ac Wave 2, 2x2 MU-MIMO (1.3 Gbps)
- Z3C variant adds an integrated CAT 3 LTE modem
Cisco Meraki Z4
Current Wi-Fi 6 cloud-managed teleworker gateway with a PoE+ port.
- 500 Mbps stateful firewall throughput (about 5x the Z3)
- 5x GbE ports including 1 PoE+ port
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2x2 MU-MIMO (1.5 Gbps)
- Z4C variant adds an integrated LTE modem
Cisco Meraki Z3 vs Cisco Meraki Z4: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki Z3 | Cisco Meraki Z4 |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 100 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
| VPN throughput | 50 Mbps | 250 Mbps |
| Advanced security throughput | Lower (1st-gen) | 200 Mbps |
| Recommended clients | Up to 5 | Up to 15 |
| GbE ports | 5x | 5x |
| PoE port | 1x 802.3af | 1x 802.3at PoE+ |
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11ac Wave 2 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| MIMO / streams | 2x2 MU-MIMO | 2x2 MU-MIMO |
| Max data rate | 1.3 Gbps | 1.5 Gbps |
| Integrated cellular | Z3C (CAT 3 LTE) | Z4C (integrated LTE) |
Choose Cisco Meraki Z3 if
Keep the Z3 only if it is already deployed and serving a handful of devices adequately; there is no new-purchase reason to choose it over the Z4.
Choose Cisco Meraki Z4 if
Choose the Z4 for any teleworker refresh or new buy: Wi-Fi 6, roughly 5x the firewall throughput, a PoE+ port, and support for up to 15 devices instead of 5.
Verdict
Migrate to the Z4. It delivers Wi-Fi 6, about 5x the firewall throughput of the Z3, 5x the VPN throughput, a PoE+ port, and triple the recommended client count. Keep the Z3 only as a short-term bridge until you can replace it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Meraki Z3 and Z4?
The Z4 upgrades Wi-Fi from 802.11ac Wave 2 to Wi-Fi 6, raises firewall throughput from 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps and VPN from 50 Mbps to 250 Mbps, adds PoE+, and supports up to 15 devices instead of 5.
Is the Meraki Z3 being discontinued?
The Z3 and Z3C are mature and heading toward end-of-sale, with the Z4 and Z4C positioned as their replacements. For new deployments, choose the Z4.
Does the Meraki Z4 have Wi-Fi 6?
Yes. The Z4 supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MU-MIMO and a 1.5 Gbps max data rate, versus 802.11ac Wave 2 on the Z3.
Does the Z4 support cellular failover?
Yes. The Z4C variant includes an integrated LTE modem for backup cellular uplink, similar to how the Z3C added LTE to the Z3.
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.