Start with the client and coverage design, then compare radio chains, spatial streams, antenna format and wired uplink capacity. Confirm the PoE operating mode, controller and software support, mounting location and country-specific regulatory suffix before ordering.
Begin with client mix, coverage, capacity and mounting location. Radio specifications, wired uplink capacity, PoE mode, controller support and regulatory domain must all fit the same deployment.
| Decision area | Compare these specifications | Practical selection rule |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Client and band requirementsDefine the client generations, required bands and lifecycle expectations for the deployment. | Wireless Standard; Radio Design; Software Support | Choose the radio generation and band support around actual clients and channel design. A newer standard alone does not guarantee better performance in an unchanged RF environment. |
| 02 Capacity and concurrencyEstimate client density, application demand and simultaneous traffic in each coverage area. | MIMO Profile; Spatial Streams; Maximum Aggregate PHY Rate; Radio Design | Use MIMO and spatial streams to understand radio capability, but do not treat aggregate PHY rate as expected application throughput. Client capability and channel conditions also constrain results. |
| 03 Antenna and placementMatch antenna format and mounting to the intended room, corridor, wall plate or external-antenna design. | Antenna Design; Mounting; Operating Environment | Choose internal, external or wall-plate hardware for the RF plan. Antenna format changes coverage behavior and cannot be corrected by comparing PHY rate alone. |
| 04 Wired pathEnsure the switch port and cabling can carry aggregate wireless traffic and any local wired-device traffic. | Ethernet Uplink; Wired LAN Downlink Ports; Connector Types | Match uplink speed and connector to the access switch. A high aggregate radio rate can be constrained by a slower wired uplink, but the two figures are not measured in the same way. |
| 05 PoE operating modeConfirm the available PSE standard and whether the access point has feature restrictions at lower input power. | PoE Input Options; Maximum Power Draw at PD; Reduced-power Behavior | Verify full-function operation with the deployed switch and power standard. Maximum PD draw is device consumption, not the same value as a switch's total PoE budget. |
| 06 Control and regulatory fitValidate the management architecture, software release and country-specific order code before purchase. | Supported Controllers; Management Model; Deployment Model; Software Support; Regulatory Domain | Confirm controller and software compatibility for the exact Product ID. Regulatory suffixes identify approved market variants and are not performance tiers. |
The matrix holds the regulatory suffix constant where possible. A suffix is an orderable regional difference, not a performance upgrade, and it must match the deployment country.
| Product ID | Wireless Standard | Radio Design | MIMO Profile | Maximum Aggregate PHY Rate | Ethernet Uplink | PoE Input Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C9105AXI-A | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 2x2 radios | 2x2 MU-MIMO with two spatial streams | 1.488 Gbps | 1 x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3af PoE or 802.3at PoE+; AIR-PWRINJ5= or AIR-PWRINJ6= injector |
| C9115AXI-A | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 4x4 radios | 4x4 MU-MIMO with four spatial streams | 5.38 Gbps | 1 x 100/1000/2500BASE-T multigigabit RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3at PoE+, 802.3bt Cisco UPOE/UPOE+, or 802.3af PoE; supported Cisco injectors |
| C9105AXI-E | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 2x2 radios | 2x2 MU-MIMO with two spatial streams | 1.488 Gbps | 1 x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3af PoE or 802.3at PoE+; AIR-PWRINJ5= or AIR-PWRINJ6= injector |
| C9115AXI-E | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 4x4 radios | 4x4 MU-MIMO with four spatial streams | 5.38 Gbps | 1 x 100/1000/2500BASE-T multigigabit RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3at PoE+, 802.3bt Cisco UPOE/UPOE+, or 802.3af PoE; supported Cisco injectors |
| C9105AXW-E | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 2x2 radios | 2x2 MU-MIMO with two spatial streams | 1.488 Gbps | 1 x 100/1000/2500BASE-T multigigabit RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3af PoE or 802.3at PoE+; AIR-PWRINJ5= or AIR-PWRINJ6= injector |
| C9115AXE-E | Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) | Dedicated dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 4x4 radios | 4x4 MU-MIMO with four spatial streams | 5.38 Gbps | 1 x 100/1000/2500BASE-T multigigabit RJ-45 PoE uplink | IEEE 802.3at PoE+, 802.3bt Cisco UPOE/UPOE+, or 802.3af PoE; supported Cisco injectors |
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Wireless specifications describe theoretical radio capability and platform configuration, not guaranteed client throughput. Keep PHY rate, MIMO, spatial streams, Ethernet capacity and PoE operating mode distinct.
The combined theoretical physical-layer signaling rate published for the supported radio configuration.
The transmit and receive radio-chain configuration, such as 2x2 or 4x4, supported by a radio.
The number of independent data streams a radio can transmit or receive simultaneously under supported conditions.
The wired interface carrying AP traffic to the access switch at its supported link rates.
PoE input identifies supported power standards; maximum PD draw identifies the access point's stated maximum consumption.
The country or regional radio-approval variant represented by the orderable Product ID suffix.
Browse the full Cisco wireless aps catalog, or open an available model page to review product details, request pricing and confirm availability.
Shop Cisco wireless productsCompare the radio design, MIMO and spatial streams, antenna format, wired uplink and PoE mode. Then verify controller, software, mounting and regulatory-domain compatibility.
No. Maximum PHY rate is a theoretical physical-layer signaling value for the stated radio configuration. Client capability, channel width, interference, protocol overhead and the wired uplink all affect usable throughput.
Cisco wireless Product IDs use regional suffixes tied to radio approvals. The suffix must be valid for the deployment country even when the base hardware family looks similar.
Some models support reduced-power modes, but feature availability may change. Compare the documented PoE input and feature mode before assuming full operation.
MIMO describes the radio antenna configuration, while spatial streams describe simultaneous data streams supported in a stated band or mode. Keep both values attached to the same radio configuration when comparing access points.
Internal antennas simplify standard ceiling or wall deployments, while external-antenna models support selected antennas and more specialized coverage patterns. Verify connector type, antenna compatibility, mounting and regulatory approval together.