Cisco 9200-48P vs 9300-48P: Key Differences in PoE Power, Stack, and Features
Selene Gong
The Cisco Catalyst 9200-48P and 9300-48P are both 48-port PoE+ switches designed for enterprise access-layer deployments. While they share similar port densities and support IEEE 802.3at PoE+ standards, they differ significantly in stacking, power capabilities, feature sets, and intended use cases.
If you're deciding between the two, understanding their hardware differences, PoE power budgets, and supported software features is essential.
Both switches support IEEE 802.3at (PoE+) with up to 30W per port. However, the 9300-48P models support Cisco UPOE (up to 60W per port) and even UPOE+ (up to 90W per port) on some variants, ideal for powering high-wattage devices like access points, IP phones, and video endpoints.
C9200-48P: Max 740W PoE budget with two 1100W PSUs.
C9300-48P: Max 1440W PoE budget with UPOE (with dual PSUs + UPOE SKUs).
If you're deploying power-hungry IoT or collaboration devices, the 9300 series provides a significant advantage.
Stacking and StackPower Comparison
StackWise Bandwidth:
C9200: 160 Gbps
C9300: 480 Gbps
The Cisco 9300-48P supports StackWise-480, enabling high-performance stacking for enterprise-grade scale and failover. The C9200-48P supports StackWise-160, sufficient for smaller environments but less resilient in high-throughput use cases.
StackPower: Only the C9300-48P supports StackPower, Cisco’s power-sharing technology across stack members. This allows for power redundancy and dynamic PoE budget allocation between switches.
Use Case Recommendations
Licensing and Feature Differences
The 9300 series runs Network Advantage by default, enabling advanced routing, segmentation, and automation features. The 9200 typically ships with Network Essentials, which covers Layer 2 and basic Layer 3 capabilities. Optional upgrades are available.
FAQs
Q1.Does the Cisco 9200-48P support UPOE?
No, the Catalyst 9200-48P only supports PoE and PoE+ (up to 30W per port). For UPOE (60W) or UPOE+ (90W), choose the Catalyst 9300 UPOE models.
Q2.Can you stack 9200 and 9300 series switches together?
No. Cisco 9200 and 9300 series use different StackWise versions and are not stack-compatible.
Q3.What’s the maximum PoE power the 9300-48P can provide?
Up to 1440W with dual 1100W power supplies, depending on SKU and power configuration.
Q4.Does the 9200-48P support StackPower?
No. StackPower is only available on Catalyst 9300 and higher platforms.
Q5.Is the Cisco 9200-48P sufficient for Wi-Fi 6 access points?
For lower-end or mid-range APs, yes. But for full-power Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E APs (like Cisco 9136 or 9166), 9300-48P with UPOE is recommended.
Final Thoughts
If your deployment requires advanced PoE capabilities, higher stacking bandwidth, and modular uplink flexibility, the Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P is the clear choice. For smaller sites or cost-effective Layer 2 access, the Cisco 9200-48P offers solid performance at a lower price point.
