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Cloud Appliances UK. Published 21 October 2026. Cisco lifecycle dates are taken from Cisco’s own end-of-sale bulletins and can change, so check the bulletin for your part number before you order.
Quick answer: For a new UK branch office in late 2026, the best Cisco router is the Cisco C8151-G2 for a small site, the C8151H-C-G2 if you want built-in 5G backup, the C8231-G2 or C8231-E-G2 for a busier site that needs gigabit-plus WAN and security inspection, and the C8235-E-G2 for a larger branch that needs module slots. The ISR 1100 reaches its last ship date on 27 October 2026, and the Catalyst C8200-1N-4T reaches end-of-sale on 31 July 2027, so avoid building new designs around either. Cloud Appliances UK, a Cisco and Meraki specialist since 2008, can check any router shopping list through its online Cisco and Meraki quote service.
Cisco is replacing its branch router range, and three end-of-sale notices land within a year of each other. Buyers who pick a model from a 2023 article may now be choosing hardware that is about to leave the price list.
| Router family | Key date (from Cisco bulletin) | Cisco-named replacement |
|---|---|---|
| ISR 1100 and ISR 1100X | End-of-sale: 28 July 2026 Last ship date: 27 October 2026 Last date of support: 31 July 2031 | C8151-G2 or C1121X-8P for the 4-port models. C8235-G2 or C8200-1N-4T for the 6-port models. |
| Catalyst C8200-1N-4T and C8200L-1N-4T | Announcement: 27 July 2026 End-of-sale: 31 July 2027 Last ship date: 31 October 2027 Last date of support: 31 July 2032 | C8235-E-G2 and C8231-E-G2, respectively. |
| ISR 4331 and ISR 4321 | End-of-sale: 7 November 2023 Last date of support: 30 November 2028 | C8200-1N-4T (now itself on the end-of-sale path). |
One detail catches people out: Cisco’s own ISR 4000 bulletin points to the C8200-1N-4T, but that model now has its own end-of-sale date. Anyone migrating an ISR 4331 today should plan for the newer 8200 secure routers instead. Sources: Cisco end-of-sale bulletins for the ISR 1100 series (28 July 2025), the Catalyst C8200-1N-4T and C8200L-1N-4T (27 July 2026) and the ISR 4000 series (7 November 2022).
Choose by four things: the WAN speed you actually pay for, whether you need security inspection switched on, whether you need a module slot for extra WAN or voice interfaces, and how you want to back up the primary line (a second fibre or broadband line, or cellular). Throughput figures on datasheets are measured with features off, so size on the inspection figure, not the headline.
Summary: Cisco’s entry model in the current secure branch router line, built for small sites. Cisco describes the 8100 Series as purpose-built for small branch environments. The C8151-G2 has two 1 Gigabit combo WAN ports (RJ-45 or SFP), two flex ports and six 1 Gigabit LAN ports, plus an optional pluggable module for LTE or 5G. Cisco lists forwarding at 5.6 Gbps, IPsec at 1.5 Gbps, SD-WAN at 900 Mbps and threat protection at 1 Gbps (512 byte packets, EMIX for threat protection). Choose it if: your branch has a line well inside the 900 Mbps SD-WAN figure Cisco lists and you want one box that Cisco names as the ISR 1100 successor. Do not choose it if: you need a NIM slot for serial or voice interfaces. It has none.
Summary: The 8100 router with an embedded 5G RedCap modem and dual nano SIM slots. Built-in cellular saves a module, an antenna lead and a line item on the quote. The C8151H-C-G2 has one 1 Gigabit combo WAN port and one 10G BASE-T WAN port, and shares the C8151-G2 throughput figures above. It suits retail units, pop-up sites and any branch where a single fixed line is a risk. Choose it if: you want cellular failover out of the box. Do not choose it if: mobile signal at the site is poor. Check coverage with a test SIM first. Cisco’s page lists conflicting LAN port counts for this model (6 and 8), so confirm the exact port layout on the datasheet for your part number.
with security inspection Summary: A desktop 8200 secure router with 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WAN options, from Cisco’s newer generation. Cisco lists the C8231 models at 19 Gbps forwarding, 5 Gbps IPsec and 4 Gbps SD-WAN, with 1 Gbps of threat protection throughput. The C8231-G2 has two 1/10 GE SFP+ ports and two 2.5 GE ports on the WAN side, two flex ports and four 1 GE LAN ports, with 8 GB of memory. Cisco states support for up to 1,500 IPsec tunnels on IOS XE 26.2.1 and later (700 on earlier releases), which matters for a hub that terminates many branches. Choose it if: you have multi-gigabit WAN or want headroom for years. Do not choose it if: you need a module slot. The C8231-G2 has none.
module slot Summary: The rack-mount sibling with one NIM and one PIM slot, and Cisco’s named replacement for the C8200L-1N-4T. The E models are 1U, with an internal 140 W supply, one NIM slot and one PIM slot. Cisco lists the C8231-E-G2 as the migration product for the C8200L-1N-4T. The E version offers an optional 150 W power supply with a 120 W PoE budget. Choose it if: you are refreshing a C8200L-1N-4T or need a rack unit with expansion. Do not choose it if: you want a desktop router for a comms cupboard shelf.
hub Summary: The higher-memory 8200 secure router, and Cisco’s named replacement for the C8200-1N-4T. The C8235-E-G2 has 16 GB of memory, upgradeable storage and the same module slots as the C8231-E-G2. Cisco lists its threat protection throughput at 2.4 Gbps, against 1 Gbps for the C8231, and up to 2,500 IPsec tunnels on IOS XE 26.2.1 and later. The C8235-G2 variant is also named by Cisco as a replacement for the ISR 1100 six-port models. Choose it if: your branch runs heavy inspection or doubles as a regional hub. Do not choose it if: you have a 100 Mbps office. You would be paying for capacity you will not use.
existing estate Summary: Still orderable until 31 July 2027, which makes it a like-for-like spare rather than a new design choice. If you run a fleet of ISR 4331 or C8200 routers and need identical hardware for a replacement or small expansion, this model is still available. Cisco’s bulletin gives 31 July 2027 as end-of-sale and 31 October 2027 as the last ship date. Support runs to 31 July 2032, so it is a reasonable spare, not a reasonable foundation for a new multi-year rollout. Choose it if: you must match existing modules and configuration, and you will buy before July 2027. Do not choose it if: you are starting a new site design.
replacement for a simple site Summary: A compact router that Cisco names as a replacement for the 4-port ISR 1100 models. Cisco’s ISR 1100 bulletin lists the C1121X-8P alongside the C8151-G2 as a replacement for the ISR1100-4G and ISR1100X-4G. It suits a small office that needs routing and a handful of LAN ports rather than SD-WAN headroom. Check the current datasheet and your ordering guide for licence and interface details before quoting, as this guide does not reproduce its full specification. Choose it if: your site is small, simple and cost-led. Do not choose it if: you expect to add gigabit lines or heavy inspection within three years.
The Catalyst 8300 sits above these models for large branches and hubs. Note that Cisco’s 27 July 2026 bulletin lists the C8300-2N2S-4T2X and C8300-2N2S-6T with end-of-sale on 31 July 2027 and no migration product. Other 8300 variants are not in that notice, so check the exact part number before you order.
If a branch needs mostly internet breakout, a firewall and simple site-to-site VPN, and your team prefers cloud management, a Meraki MX appliance can be a better fit than a router. The trade-off is flexibility: routers give you module slots and deeper routing control. Our guide to Cisco dynamic routing explains when that control matters.
Check licence and term on the quote, the UK power cord, modules and optics, and the stock status of each line. Our 12-point Cisco quote checklist covers each item. Cloud Appliances UK is a Cisco Premier Integrator and Select Partner, sources Cisco hardware through official channels only, and offers next business day delivery in England on eligible in-stock orders placed before 2pm (see delivery information).
For most UK branch offices, choose the C8151-G2 (or the C8151H-C-G2 where cellular backup matters). Step up to the C8231 or C8235 models only when your line speed, tunnel count or inspection load needs it. Buy the C8200-1N-4T only to match an existing estate and before July
Browse the full Cisco router range, or see the Cisco 8200 routers.
The Cisco C8151-G2 is the best fit for most small sites, with 1.5 Gbps IPsec throughput and an optional LTE or 5G module. Choose the C8151H-C-G2 if you want 5G built in.
Only briefly. Cisco’s end-of-sale date was 28 July 2026 and the last ship date is 27 October
Support continues to 31 July 2031.
Cisco names the C8235-E-G2 as the migration product. The C8200L-1N-4T is replaced by the C8231-E-G2.
Cisco’s ISR 4000 bulletin names the C8200-1N-4T, which is itself on the end-of-sale path. For a new purchase, look at the C8235-E-G2 or C8231-E-G2.
Yes. The C8151H-C-G2 has embedded 5G RedCap. The C8151-G2 and C8235 models take a 4G or 5G pluggable module.
Yes. Send your list through the quote form and an engineer will check models, licences, modules and delivery before you order.
Planning a branch refresh? Send your router list to Cloud Appliances UK for a free check against current Cisco lifecycle dates.