MR36 vs. MR44: Which Meraki Access Point Fits Your Deployment?

The Meraki MR36 and MR44 are both cloud-managed Wi-Fi 6 access points, but they are designed for different capacity and infrastructure requirements. The right choice depends on client demand, uplink speed, available PoE, budget, and how long the deployment is expected to remain in service.

The MR44 is the more capable model on paper. That does not mean every office, branch, classroom, or hospitality deployment will benefit from paying for the additional capacity.

For many standard environments, the MR36 may be sufficient. The MR44 becomes more compelling where 5 GHz performance, client density, and multigigabit switching matter.

MR36 vs. MR44 at a glance

The MR36 uses 2x2:2 radios on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and provides an aggregate frame rate of up to 1.5 Gbps.

The MR44 uses 2x2:2 on 2.4 GHz and 4x4:4 on 5 GHz. It provides an aggregate frame rate of up to 2.7 Gbps and includes a 2.5 GbE multigigabit uplink.

The MR44’s main advantage is greater 5 GHz capacity and a faster wired uplink. Whether that advantage matters depends on the clients, traffic, switch ports, cabling, and access-point placement.

When the MR36 may be the better fit

The MR36 is generally the more cost-controlled option when:

• Client demand is moderate.
• The access switch provides standard 1 GbE ports.
• Users primarily need normal office, classroom, retail, or branch connectivity.
• The organization wants to match an existing MR36 deployment.
• The device is being purchased as a spare or direct replacement.
• Additional MR44 capacity would provide little practical benefit.

The MR36 still provides enterprise Wi-Fi 6, Meraki cloud management, a dedicated security-scanning radio, Bluetooth functionality, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA.

When the MR44 makes more sense

The MR44 may be a stronger choice when:

• More active clients will share each access point.
• 5 GHz performance is a priority.
• Voice, video, collaboration, or other demanding traffic is common.
• The network already supports 2.5 GbE.
• The deployment needs additional capacity headroom.
• The organization is standardizing around MR44 hardware.

An MR44 can operate on a 1 GbE uplink, but a multigigabit connection is required to take full advantage of its higher wired-uplink capability.

Power requirements matter

The MR44 prefers 802.3at PoE+ for full operation. With reduced available power, some capabilities can be limited, including uplink speed and radio functionality.

Before choosing either model, verify:

• The PoE standard available at the switch
• Total PoE budget
• 1 GbE or multigigabit support
• Cabling capability
• Expected client density
• Application traffic
• Access-point placement

Purchasing an MR44 without the infrastructure to support its capabilities may reduce the value of the upgrade.

MR44 does not automatically mean greater coverage

The MR44 offers more capacity, but it should not be treated as a simple way to cover a much larger area.

Wireless coverage and performance also depend on:

• Walls and building materials
• Interference
• Channel width
• Transmit power
• Client capabilities
• Mounting position
• User density
• Application requirements

In many environments, several properly placed MR36 units may produce a better experience than fewer MR44 units positioned too far apart.

Lifecycle should influence the decision

Cisco has announced End-of-Sale for both the MR36 and MR44. The last date to order the affected products is December 31, 2026, and the published Last Date of Support is December 31, 2031.

Cisco lists the CW9172I as the migration product for the MR36 and the CW9174I for the MR44.

That does not make either model unsuitable today. It does change the buying context.

MR36 or MR44 may still make sense for:

• Expanding an existing deployment
• Replacing a failed unit
• Building a spare pool
• Supporting a project scheduled to end before 2031

For a new wireless standard expected to remain in place well beyond 2031, Cisco’s newer Wi-Fi 7 portfolio deserves consideration.