ASUS RT-AX86U Pro (AX5700) Wi-Fi 6 Expandable Dual-Band Gaming Router, 2.5G Port, Game Port, Mobile Game Mode, Port Forwarding, Subscription-Free Internet Security, VPN, AiMesh Compatible
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router delivers ultra-fast WiFi speeds of up to 5700Mbps and is packed with advanced technologies including Mobile Game Mode for a lag-free and quiet mobile gaming experience. RT-AX86U Pro supports Internet connections up to 2Gbps, allowing you to unleash the full potential of high-speed networking for both wired and Wi-Fi connections.
- Next Generation WiFi 6 - Enjoy lightning-fast speeds of up to 5700Mbps with the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and 160MHz channels
- Mobile Game Mode - Reduce lag and lag in mobile games with just one tap from the ASUS Router app
- True 2Gbps wired and wireless speeds - 2Gbps total WAN connection, 2.5Gbps wired port, Wi-Fi 6
- Business Security Everywhere - Protect your home network with AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro. ASUS Instant Guard software gives you a secure VPN for one-click sharing on the go.
- Easily expand your network Enjoy seamless roaming with rich and advanced features by adding any AiMesh compatible router.
Pros: It's lightweight and stands upright, which is fine for me. The user interface is excellent. You can really dive in and see/know what's going on. I live in an older house which makes it very difficult for my provider to advertise fees online. I'm looking for a system from a trusted name and supplier that doesn't try to force a subscription model on me. After some difficulties it worked fine I even use AIMesh with my ASUS Blue Cave device to get a signal in my house. Also, they have good customer support. WiFi signal is fast.
Bad: The firmware didn't work for me. I had to deal with weeks of spotty internet and plenty of customer support time to reset the device and tweak the optimal and recommended settings with them. The wired connection works now, but only a few devices connect to my entertainment center.
The ugly part: Asus firmware is to blame. Before the Internet becomes reliable again, I had to think outside the box and install a third-party firmware called Merlin (find it up).
Bonus tip: If you have older devices such as smart plugs and IoT devices that only use 2.4GHz, configure separate 2.4 and 5.0GHz channels. Don't use their Smart Connect because it's really not very smart.
If it drops to 2.4GHz on its own (it can't be seen, even though the device is 5.0 and the wiring is correct) and restarting the device doesn't bring it back, look at the interface d admin and switch to another channel and hit the apply button. Wait a few minutes and the 2.4GHz band will magically appear and reconnect all your old 2.4GHz devices. I only had to do this a few times in 3 months, probably because I live in an area with a lot of internet traffic/other users nearby.
Overall, I'm much happier with this upgrade, but unless you want to take some time off the learning curve, it might not be for you. . If you enjoy immersing yourself in your technology but don't want to pretend to be an engineer, this could be an option for you.