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Goal of this article: give you a no-nonsense, buyer-centric price comparison that translates specs into total cost and business value, so you can choose the right Cisco AP for each floor and get a clean quote from network-switch.com.
Why a “price comparison” for Wi-Fi 6 / 6E needs more than a sticker price
For enterprise WLAN, the number on the product card is only one piece of the total. Budgeting correctly means comparing:
- Hardware (AP, mounting kit, external antennas if using “E” SKUs)
- Licensing (Cisco DNA Essentials/Advantage terms, support/SW entitlement)
- Switching & power (PoE/PoE+/UPOE+, mGig/10G uplinks, backup PSU)
- Installation (cabling, ceiling works, validation survey, cutover)
- Operations (firmware lifecycle, monitoring, remote hands, helpdesk)
- Lead time risk (6E SKUs and accessories may have longer ETAs in some regions)
Models covered in this guide
- Catalyst 9105 — C9105AXI (ceiling), C9105AXW / AXWT (wall-plate/teleworker)
- Catalyst 9115 — C9115AXI (internal antenna), C9115AXE (external antenna)
- Catalyst 9120 — C9120AXI / C9120AXE / C9120AXP
- Catalyst 9130 — C9130AXI / C9130AXE (high-density, flexible radio)
- Catalyst 9136 — C9136I (Wi-Fi 6E, tri-band with 6 GHz)
- Catalyst 9162 — C9162I (Wi-Fi 6E value option)
Price tiers at a glance
To avoid region-specific MAP/discount policies, we use a relative index where “1.0” ≈ a typical street price baseline for C9105AXI. Everything else is expressed as “~× baseline”. Use this to compare value bands fairly, then request an exact quote.
| Series / Key SKUs | Wi-Fi Gen | 6 GHz | Antenna form | Typical PoE class* | Uplink | Price Tier (Index) | Primary sweet spot |
| C9105AXI / AXW / AXWT | 6 | — | Internal / wall-plate | af/at (mode-dependent) | 1G | 1.0 – 1.2× | Small offices, dorms, hotel rooms |
| C9115AXI / AXE | 6 | — | Internal / external | at | 1G / mGig | 1.2 – 1.6× | Open offices, classrooms |
| C9120AXI / AXE / AXP | 6 | — | Internal / external | at (some modes bt) | mGig | 1.6 – 2.2× | Mid-density, voice/video |
| C9130AXI / AXE | 6 | — | Internal / external | at/bt (HD modes) | mGig | 2.2 – 3.0× | High-density floors, events |
| C9162I | 6E | Yes | Internal | at | 1G / mGig | 1.8 – 2.4× | Entry to 6 GHz, smaller floors |
| C9136I | 6E | Yes | Internal | bt | dual 5G | 3.2 – 4.2× | 6 GHz at scale, premium UX |
| 9164 / 9166 / 9166D1 | 6E | Yes | Internal/external | at/bt (model-dep.) | mGig | 3.0 – 4.5× | High-density 6E, special antennas |
| 9163E (outdoor) | 6E | Yes | External (IP rated) | bt | 1G / mGig | 3.5 – 5.0× | Outdoor campus, stadium perimeters |
Capacity-per-dollar: who gives you more usable airtime per budget unit?
To compare value, consider a simple planning metric:
Value Score = (Estimated usable throughput per AP × concurrency factor × 3-year duty cycle) ÷ Price Index
- Usable throughput/AP: engineering estimate considering PHY/MAC efficiency and client mix (e.g., ~30–50% of PHY).
- Concurrency factor: how many real clients the AP can serve at acceptable latency/jitter (varies by model and spectrum).
- 3-year duty cycle: a weighting for lifecycle (most enterprises refresh WLAN in 4–6 years; we normalize to 3 for budgeting).
- Price Index: from the previous table.
Rule of thumb (typical enterprise client mix):
- Best “value score” on Wi-Fi 6: C9115AXI if density is moderate; C9130AXI wins in dense floors where it reduces AP count.
- Best entry into 6E: C9162I is the cost-effective on-ramp; C9136I wins where 6 GHz will be heavily used (modern laptops, high-bandwidth collaboration).
- When to shortlist 9164/9166/9166D1: you want 6E and special antenna patterns or higher radio counts to cope with auditoriums, lecture halls, or long corridors.
What actually makes one AP cost more than another?
1) Radios and spatial streams. More concurrent radios (tri-band, dual 5 GHz, 6 GHz) and higher spatial streams add both BOM and performance.
2) Antennas and form factor. External-antenna “E” SKUs cost more and require extra spend on directional/omni antennas and mounting kits—but can halve the AP count in difficult spaces.
3) Power delivery. 802.3bt (UPOE+) for high-end 6E can increase switch cost (or require powering restrictions on lower PoE budgets).
4) Uplinks. mGig (2.5G/5G) uplinks protect your investment as 5 GHz/6 GHz speeds rise—treat this as future-proofing rather than a luxury.
5) Software & support. DNA Essentials vs Advantage, 3/5-year terms, and SMARTnet levels are part of your effective price and support experience.
Bill of Materials
| BOM Item | When you need it | How it moves price |
| AP hardware (chosen SKU) | Always | Core driver; higher tiers = more radios/streams/features |
| Mounting kit / safety accessories | New installs, seismic ceilings, anti-theft | Small, but mandatory in many ceilings |
| External antennas (“E” SKUs) | Directional coverage, high ceilings, outdoor | Medium to high (depends on pattern and gain) |
| DNA license (Essentials/Advantage) | Central mgmt, assurance, automation | Medium (varies with term length) |
| PoE switches (af/at/bt; mGig) | New floors, power upgrades, 6E | Medium to high—plan early |
| Cabling / conduit / patching | New runs, PoE upgrades | Medium; avoid surprises by surveying |
| Survey & validation services | Any production WLAN | Medium; this saves APs and re-work |
| Outdoor enclosures & surge (9163E) | Outdoor runs | Medium; compliance-driven |
Channel price comparison and why authorized matters
| Channel | Authenticity | Discounting | Lead time | Support & RMA | Best for |
| Cisco direct | High | Enterprise programs | Varies | TAC + official | Strategic umbrella deals |
| Authorized reseller: network-switch.com | High | Competitive + bundle savings | Fast, with allocation advice | End-to-end (licensing, PoE, RMA) | SMB-to-enterprise rollouts |
| Grey-market marketplace | Risky | Looks cheap | Uncertain | Weak/none | Not recommended for production |
Pro tip: If your goal is total cost and uptime, authorized is almost always cheaper by the time you add support, license correctness, and RMA speed.
Action: Send your RFQ or floor plan to sales@network-switch.com and ask for bundle pricing (AP + PoE + mounts + validation).
How to Choose your right AP?
Three buyer profiles
1) “Renovate the branch this quarter” (20–40 users/branch)
- APs: C9105AXI (open areas), C9105AXW/AXWT (rooms)
- Why: Low price index, compact, easy PoE
- Upgrade path: Add a few C9162I later if 6E clients grow
- What to ask us: “Small-site bundle” with 8-port PoE switch
2) “Fix meeting-heavy floors” (100–250 users/floor)
- APs: C9115AXI across open office; C9130AXI in huddle/meeting zones
- Why: Best Wi-Fi 6 cost-to-capacity mix
- Upgrade path: Introduce C9162I in pilot zones for 6 GHz
- What to ask us: Assurance license + mGig uplink plan
3) “Commit to 6E for the next 5 years” (modern endpoints)
- APs: C9136I where capacity is critical; C9162I in surrounding areas
- Why: Premium 6 GHz for collaboration; balanced cost elsewhere
- Extended: 9164/9166/9166D1 for special antenna patterns; 9163E outdoors
- What to ask us: UPOE+/bt power map + 6E compliance review
Example “price vs. density” matrix
| Area type | Client density | Latency sensitivity | 6 GHz adoption (12–24 mo) | Recommended mix | Cost impact | Notes |
| Hotel rooms / dorms | Low–med | Low | Low | 9105AXW/AXWT | $ | Wall-plate form factor simplifies cabling |
| Open office pods | Medium | Medium | Medium | 9115AXI | $$ | Best Wi-Fi 6 sweet spot |
| Training rooms / classrooms | Medium–high | Medium–high | Medium–high | 9120AXI/AXE | $$–$$$ | Consider external antennas in deep rooms |
| Executive conference cluster | High | High | High | 9130AXI + 9162I | $$$ | Dual-band density + starter 6E cluster |
| All-hands / auditorium | Very high | High | High | 9130AXE / 9166D1 | $$$$ | Directional antennas pay off |
| Outdoor plaza | Medium | Medium | Medium | 9163E | $$$$ | Outdoor compliance & surge add to cost |
| Future-proof pilot zones | Medium | High | Very high | 9136I | $$$$ | Budget for bt power & mGig |
(Dollar icons indicate relative hardware budget only; ask us for an itemized quote with licensing and services.)
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) quick math
Use these planning templates (you’ll get them as Excel when you request a quote):
3-Year TCO
TCO(3y) = Hardware(APs + antennas + mounts)
+ Licensing(3y DNA)
+ Switching(PoE, mGig uplinks, optics)
+ Install(cabling + labor)
+ Ops(maintenance + monitoring + tickets)
+ Energy(PoE draw × tariff × hours)
5-Year TCO adds: one mid-life site survey, two major firmware windows, and potential AP relocation for density tuning.
Hidden cost traps (Caution)
- PoE headroom too tight: high-end 6E may down-shift features if powered below target—budget bt where needed.
- mGig afterthought: if you deploy high-end 6/6E but keep 1G uplinks everywhere, APs may bottleneck during busy hours; at least give choke points mGig.
- Wrong antenna choice: “E” SKUs without the right directional antennas waste money and airtime; we’ll help select patterns.
- License mismatch: DNA tier/term must match your operations model; verify before ordering to avoid re-papering.
- Regulatory domain & 6E: 6 GHz channels/power vary by country; confirm SKU and allowed bands per site.
When to choose 9164 / 9166 / 9166D1 / 9163E?
- 9164 / 9166 / 9166D1 (indoor 6E): For lecture halls, arenas, and dense boardroom clusters where antenna patterns or higher tri-band capacity matter. Yes, they sit in a higher price tier—but they often reduce AP count and stabilize latency under peak loads, improving the cost-per-seat.
- 9163E (outdoor 6E): For campus quads, stadium perimeters, security cameras, and guest Wi-Fi beyond the building envelope. Budget for outdoor brackets, grounding/surge, weatherproofing, and country-specific 6 GHz rules.
Ask network-switch.com for a side-by-side proposal: “9136I vs 9166D1 for our auditorium” or “9162I vs 9136I for executive floors.” We’ll show you the AP count deltas and the PoE/mGig differences so you can compare real costs.
FAQs
Q1: Can I mix Wi-Fi 6 and 6E in one floor?
A: Yes. Many customers lead with C9136I or C9162I in conference clusters and use C9130/9120/9115 elsewhere. This keeps the average price-per-AP competitive while giving premium 6 GHz where it pays off.
Q2: Is 6E worth the higher index now?
A: If you have modern laptops and collaboration workloads, value shows up in lower retries and higher sustained throughput; if your client base is legacy-heavy, begin with C9162I pilots and phase 6E in as devices refresh.
Q3: Do I need mGig everywhere?
A: No. Start with busiest areas, closets serving high-density spaces, and any floor with many video calls. We’ll mark the closets that truly need it in your quote.
Q4: What if my PoE is mostly 802.3af?
A: Use C9105 and C9115 where appropriate or plan a PoE+ refresh on critical floors. For 6E, expect 802.3at/bt to unlock full features.
Q5: What you’ll get when you request a quote from network-switch.com?
- An itemized Pricelist per floor (APs, mounts, antennas, PoE switches, optics) .
- Two price plans: good/better/best mixes that hit your budget targets.
- Lead-time guidance and alternates if a SKU has a long ETA .
- Optional validation survey and remote cutover assistance
Let’s turn plans into numbers
- Send your RFQ or floor plan to sales@network-switch.com with target timelines.
- Or fill out our short AP Sizing & PoE Budget form on network-switch.com and we’ll reply with a bundle quote (AP + PoE + mounts + licenses) and delivery schedule.
Compliance & disclaimers
- 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E): available channels/power differ by country/region. We will recommend the correct regulatory SKU.
- Prices: the “index” values are directional. Final pricing depends on term licensing, support level, and project volume.
- Compatibility: verify controller versions, management mode (9800/EWC), and antenna part numbers before ordering.
Add-on tables
Licensing tiers and budget impact (directional)
| DNA Tier (per AP) | What you get | Budget effect |
| Essentials | Inventory, assurance basics, software entitlement | Low |
| Advantage | Advanced assurance/telemetry, automation APIs | Medium |
PoE budget cheat sheet
| AP family | Typical max draw (mode-dep.) | PoE ask | Switch implication |
| 9105 / 9115 | ~12–16 W | af/at | Works on most PoE+ floors |
| 9120 / 9130 | ~20–26 W | at / bt | Prefer PoE+; consider bt for HD modes |
| 9162 (6E) | ~20–23 W | at | Entry 6E works on PoE+ |
| 9136 (6E) | ~30–40 W | bt | Budget UPOE+/bt and mGig where busy |
| 9164/9166/9166D1 (6E) | model-dependent | at / bt | Confirm with us per plan |
| 9163E (outdoor 6E) | model-dependent | bt | Outdoor power & surge planning |
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