In today’s connected world, choosing the right wireless access point (AP) is critical for delivering fast, reliable Wi-Fi. Two popular models from Aruba — the AP315 and AP515 — are often compared by network professionals when designing enterprise and mid-size wireless networks.
This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-ready, and trustworthy comparison between them, focused on key technological differences and real-world implications.
We’ll explore:
✔ Architecture and Wi-Fi generation
✔ Performance and throughput
✔ Feature sets and advanced capabilities
✔ Deployment scenarios
✔ Cost and value
✔ Practical recommendations
2. Overview: AP315 vs AP515
Aruba AP315 — Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2)
Part of the Aruba 310 Series — dual-radio access point
Supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) with MU-MIMO
Designed for indoor enterprise environments
Includes Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) support for location services
Offers integrated ClientMatch technology for optimized client distribution
Peak data rates in the 5 GHz band ~1,733 Mbps and ~300 Mbps in 2.4 GHz, with a total aggregated capability around ~2 Gbps range arubanetworks.com+1
The AP315 is a solid mid-generation access point suitable for legacy enterprise deployments or networks where Wi-Fi 6 isn’t yet required.
Aruba AP515 — Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Part of the Aruba 510 Series — dual-radio, next-generation access point
Supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and advanced spectrum efficiency
Integrated Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee radios for IoT and location services
Delivers higher throughput, better multi-client performance, and improved efficiency
Ideal for mid-density to high-density environments like offices, campuses, and retail spaces
The AP515 represents a step up in both technology and network capability, designed to handle modern IoT devices and Wi-Fi 6 clients.
3. Wi-Fi Generations Explained
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) – AP315
Wi-Fi 5, also known as 802.11ac, marked a major improvement over previous standards by introducing broader channel widths and MU-MIMO for better throughput and client management.
However:
✔ It doesn’t support OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access).
✔ Client efficiency in crowded environments is limited.
✔ Maximum real-world performance depends heavily on client capabilities.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – AP515
Wi-Fi 6 is the current mainstream high-performance standard:
✔ Supports OFDMA → divides channels into multiple resource units
✔ Enhanced uplink/downlink MU-MIMO
✔ Target Wake Time (TWT) for enhanced battery life in IoT devices
✔ 1024-QAM for improved spectral efficiency
✔ Better performance in dense client environments
Result: AP515 can deliver significantly better network performance in both speed and user experience — especially when many devices are active simultaneously.
4. Technical Specifications Comparison
Here’s how both APs stack up technically:
Wi-Fi Technology
| Feature | AP315 | AP515 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Generation | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| MU-MIMO | Yes (Wi-Fi 5) | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| OFDMA | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Peak Throughput | ~2 Gbps aggregate | ~4.8 Gbps (5GHz) + ~0.575 Gbps (2.4GHz) |
| Multi-Client Efficiency | Moderate | High |
| BLE Support | Yes | Yes (Bluetooth 5 + Zigbee) |
5. Performance & Throughput
AP315 Performance
Because the AP315 uses Wi-Fi 5:
✔ Good for devices that don’t support Wi-Fi 6
✔ MU-MIMO helps with multiple simultaneous streams
However:
❌ Throughput cannot match modern Wi-Fi 6 APs
❌ Less efficient handling of dense client environments arubanetworks.com
AP515 Performance
The AP515’s Wi-Fi 6 design delivers:
✔ Better spectral efficiency → more usable throughput per client
✔ Faster aggregate speeds (~5.4 Gbps combined)
✔ More intelligent client distribution via Aruba ClientMatch
✔ Better handling of mixed client device populations
These capabilities translate to significantly better network performance, especially in enterprise and dense environments.
6. Features & Capabilities
ClientMatch Technology
Both models support Aruba’s ClientMatch feature, which intelligently steers client devices to the best radio and AP — optimizing performance and reducing user interference.
In AP315, this is within the limitations of Wi-Fi 5
In AP515, ClientMatch benefits from Wi-Fi 6’s enhanced telemetry and efficiency
IoT & BLE Support
Both APs include integrated BLE radios, but the AP515 goes further with Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee support — enabling broader IoT and asset tracking use cases without additional infrastructure.
Security Features
Modern enterprise APs require robust security.
Both AP315 and AP515 can support advanced security measures:
✔ WPA3
✔ Enhanced Open
✔ Enterprise authentication
✔ Centralized policy enforcement (when deployed with controllers)
However, because Wi-Fi 6 includes advanced encryption features optimized for modern traffic, AP515 has a slight advantage in efficiency with secure connections.
7. Deployment & Management
Controller vs Instant Modes
Both devices can be deployed:
✔ In a controller-based system (centralized management)
✔ In Instant mode (controllerless) — useful for smaller deployments
Density & Client Counts
Because of Wi-Fi 6’s improved architecture:
✔ AP515 supports more simultaneous active clients — making it a better choice for offices, retail, campuses, and hotels. arubanetworks.com
✔ AP315 is suitable for small-to-medium deployments with fewer devices.
8. Practical Use Cases
When to Choose AP315
Best fit if:
✔ Budget constraints exist
✔ Deployment is small — like local offices or branch sites
✔ Mostly Wi-Fi 5 devices are used
✔ Lower throughput and capacity needs
Note: AP315 may become outdated quickly as more clients migrate to Wi-Fi 6.
When to Choose AP515
Ideal for:
✔ Modern enterprises with Wi-Fi 6 client devices
✔ Environments with many users/devices
✔ IoT use cases involving BLE or Zigbee
✔ Future-proofed deployments
AP515 is future-ready and generally delivers better long-term value.
9. Pros & Cons Summary
AP315 (Wi-Fi 5)
Pros
✔ Mature, proven technology
✔ Lower cost
✔ Simple deployment
Cons
❌ Limited throughput vs Wi-Fi 6
❌ Not optimized for high client density
❌ Older Wi-Fi standard
AP515 (Wi-Fi 6)
Pros
✔ Faster data rates
✔ Superior multi-client handling
✔ Enhanced efficiency and IoT support
✔ Better futureproofing
Cons
❌ Higher price
❌ Requires Wi-Fi 6 capable clients to fully benefit
10. Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?
Both APs are solid enterprise-grade access points, but they serve different eras of Wi-Fi technology:
🔹 AP315 — Great for legacy Wi-Fi 5 support and smaller deployments.
🔹 AP515 — Best choice for modern environments, heavy usage, IoT deployments, and future readiness.
If you’re planning a new network or upgrading existing infrastructure, AP515 almost always delivers better performance and long-term value.
11. Final Thoughts
Choosing between Aruba AP315 and AP515 means understanding not just raw specs but how networks behave in the real world. Wi-Fi 6 isn’t just about speed — it’s about efficiency, capacity, multi-client fairness, and future ecosystem growth.
Aruba AP515 clearly outpaces AP315 across key metrics and is the better option for most modern enterprise deployments.
