Best Products > Networking The 6 Best Asus Routers of 2023 A trusted networking brand with top Wi-Fi speeds By Jesse Hollington Jesse Hollington Twitter Writer Jesse Hollington is a tech writer with 10+ years' experience. He has written for iLounge, Forbes, Yahoo, The Independent, and iDropNews, among others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 2, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Networking The Ultimate Router Buying Guide Asus is known for making highly versatile routers that punch well above their weight in everything from range and performance to sophisticated features and versatility. The best Asus routers offer up to 5,000 square feet of coverage and top-notch speeds, and the company has eagerly embraced technologies like tri-band Wi-Fi 6 and mesh wireless across its entire modern lineup. Thanks to the inception of its Republic of Gamers (ROG) product line in 2006, Asus also makes some of the best gaming routers on the market, packing in powerful multi-core CPUs that eliminate network latency, plus a wealth of other game optimization features. However, this expertise spills over into all of its routers since any company that can build a router to meet the demands of high-octane gamers can easily tackle things like streaming, video calling, and security. The best Asus routers include AiProtection by Trend Micro, built right in, with no subscription fees required. This gives you everything you need right out of the box to protect your network from malware and keep your kids safe online. The Rundown Best Overall: Asus RT-AX88U at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Asus RT-AX55 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Asus RT-AX89X at Amazon Jump to Review Best Mesh: Asus ZenWiFi XT8 at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Gaming: Asus GT-AX11000 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Design: Asus Blue Cave at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Asus RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router 4.7 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Advanced Wi-Fi 6 support Excellent performance Eight LAN ports What We Don't Like Only Dual-Band Wi-Fi Pricey Asus AX6000 RT-AX88U Router Review Finding a router that strikes the perfect balance of price, performance, versatility, and range can be challenging, but we think that Asus’ RT-AX88U nails it on all four counts, making it easily our top pick for the brand. While some of Asus’ other routers may excel in specific areas like gaming or range, typical users will be thrilled with what the RT-AX88U offers. Packing in the latest 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology, the AX88U offers up to 6Gbps of bandwidth across all channels, plus a staggering 5,000 square feet of coverage, making it an excellent choice for even the largest homes. Thanks to its four powerful beamforming antennas and 4x4 MU-MIMO support, it can easily handle the needs of a busy family with multiple users streaming in 4K and gaming without slowing each other down. Around the back, the RT-AX88U packs in a whopping eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, so you’ll have plenty of room to hardwire in those devices that either lack wireless or need maximum performance. It also includes AiProtection by Trend Micro to help protect you from online threats—with no ongoing subscription required. Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen Best Value Asus RT-AX55 AX1800 Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Router Asus View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Affordable Wi-Fi 6 technology AiMesh support Smaller footprint What We Don't Like Lacks USB ports Middling 2.4GHz performance Asus’ RT-AX55 is a great way to dip your foot into Wi-Fi 6 technology without breaking the bank. It’s an especially great choice for users in medium-sized homes with few devices making demands on internet bandwidth and isn’t looking for advanced features. That doesn’t mean it can’t handle a busy household, of course, since OFDMA and MU-MIMO support still makes sure that every one of your devices gets its fair share of bandwidth without slowing each other down. However, its AX1800 rating means you will only have about 1.8Gbps to share around your home—574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1.2Gbps on the 5GHz side. That’s still enough for a couple of devices to enjoy 4K streaming and online gaming. While the RT-AX55 supports all of Asus’ standard AiProtection and AiMesh features, it’s a reasonably spartan router by Asus’ usual standards. Instead, Asus has gotten down to the core basics here to provide an affordable Wi-Fi 6 router for users who don’t need advanced features like USB ports, wider 160MHz channel support, or game traffic optimization. On the upside, however, it does support Asus’ AiMesh technology, making it a great companion to a more powerful Asus router for those looking to expand their network coverage. Best Splurge Asus RT-AX89X 12-stream AX6000 Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Router Asus View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Adorama.com What We Like Dual 10Gbps Network Ports Unique Design Excellent Wi-Fi performance What We Don't Like Bulky design Internal fan If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi router that pulls out all the stops, then Asus’ RT-AX89X is the one to get. While it doesn’t come cheap, the higher price tag is easily justified if you need a router that can handle the busiest homes and fastest internet plans without skipping a beat. The RT-AX89X is a beast of a router, even by Asus’ usual standards, and the design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s hard to argue that it will make its presence known. The RT-AX89X is one of the most capable Wi-Fi 6 routers today, with eight powerful antennas delivering ultra-fast wireless speeds that can easily reach gigabit levels at close range. The RT-AX89X also packs in a staggering collection of ports around the edges. There’s a pair of 10Gbps Ethernet and SFP+ ports—a rare inclusion on home routers that will have you more than ready for the fastest internet plans. Eight Gigabit Ethernet ports and no less than two 5Gbps USB 3.2 ports join. That said, the RT-AX89U is a dual-band router, not a tri-band, so even though it supports Asus’ AiMesh technology, we wouldn’t recommend it for a wireless mesh system. You can, however, use the 10Gbps ports to link two or more of them around your home in a wired configuration to create an insanely high-performance Wi-Fi network. Best Mesh Asus ZenWiFi XT8 AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Adorama.com What We Like Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 Excellent coverage Very versatile What We Don't Like Advanced settings can be confusing ASUS ZenWiFi XT8 AX6600 Review Even though almost all Asus routers support its AiMesh technology, the ZenWifi XT8 represents the router maker’s more holistic approach to mesh networking. It’s a system expressly designed with units that work together to become more significant than the sum of its parts. While many mesh Wi-Fi systems focus on dumbing down the user experience, the ZenWifi XT8 is one of the most advanced and highly configurable solutions we’ve yet seen. It’s a move that’s not surprising for Asus, with its reputation for versatility, but it’s still not common among mesh systems. That doesn’t mean the XT8 is hard to set up, but power users will love the ability to dig down beneath the configuration wizards and tweak this system to their heart’s content. The system supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6, each delivering 2,750 square feet of coverage. This means that you could cover an 8,000-square-foot home with three units. Plus, the system still supports Asus’ AiMesh technology, so you can add just about any other Asus router into the mix. Best of all, Asus’ penchant for reconfigurability means you get to decide how to use your Wi-Fi bands rather than forcing the router to do it for you. Lifewire / Rebecca Isaacs Best for Gaming Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Wi-Fi 6 Router 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Advanced Wi-Fi 6 support Extremely fast performance Cutting-edge gaming features What We Don't Like Large footprint Expensive User interface can be a bit daunting Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Router Review Asus' GT-AX11000 is the most-powerful gaming router on the market right now, packing in the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies with combined wireless throughput of up to 10Gbps thanks to its tri-band wireless. Each of the two 5GHz bands offers 4.8Gbps of bandwidth, with advanced band steering features that let you keep your gaming PC on a separate channel to avoid being dragged down by other 5GHz devices on your network. The eight beamforming antennas can also push a strong enough signal to cover a 5,000-square-foot home. A special 2.5Gbps gaming port joins four Gigabit Ethernet ports around the back, so you can also hardwire your rig for maximum performance. Where the GT-AX11000 shines, however, is in the high-performance quad-core CPU that powers its gaming optimization features. There's full VPN support, including Asus' VPN Fusion feature to keep your VPN up while gaming without slowing things down, and dynamic game-focused QoS to prioritize your gaming traffic and the WTFast Gamers Private Network (GPN) to make sure it always goes to the fastest game servers. The ROG Game Dashboard adds other gamer-centric features like Game Boost, Game IPS security, and route-optimized low latency servers on the GPN, so you'll enjoy lag-free gaming. Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen The 9 Best Wireless Routers of 2023 Best Design Asus Blue Cave Dual-Band Wireless Router Asus View On Amazon What We Like Nice, unique aesthetic Smart home features Highly configurable What We Don't Like Slow storage speeds Design isn't for everyone If you’re looking for something eclectic in a Wi-Fi router, then Asus’ Blue Cave is an intriguing pick. Unlike most Asus routers, which generally look like something out of a Syd Mead exhibit, the Blue Cave is designed to be a conversation piece that could fit right into your home decor. The big hole in the middle creates a unique look, and as a bonus, it can glow different shades of blue as the router does. Don’t let its aesthetics fool you, though, as this little box is a surprisingly capable router in its class. It offers up pretty impressive performance and range when it doesn’t have a single antenna protruding in any direction. It also delivers powerful AC2600 dual-band Wi-Fi, reaching up to 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz channel, plus the typical set of four Gigabit Ethernet ports around the back of a single USB 3.0 port for sharing a hard drive or printer. It’s also a cinch to set up, thanks to an Asus smartphone app. It also includes integration with Amazon Alexa and Asus’ AiProtection security suite to protect your home network from malware and your kids from darker corners of the internet. Not only that, but it also supports the same AiMesh technology as other Asus routers. This makes it a great way to extend your network from one of Asus’ bigger and bolder routers tucked away in your basement or home office. Lifewire / Rebecca Isaacs What to Look for in an Asus Router Range The worst discovery is purchasing a top-of-the-line router only to discover that it can’t adequately cover your property. Blazing-fast speeds are great, but if your router can’t provide Wi-Fi to your entire home, there might not be a point. Ensure that the router can cover the proper square footage needed. Speed Are you sending emails, playing video games, or streaming videos? Not everyone’s needs require routers with rocket-fast speeds, so consider how you use your internet before purchasing. AC routers are currently the fastest available option, but those not doing much gaming or video streaming should still be happy with the last-generation N routers. Smart Features Routers are much more intelligent than they were years ago. Check for special abilities such as parental controls, built-in firewalls for security, mobile application access, and prioritization for significant traffic. Smart routers allow you to be entirely in control of your Wi-Fi. Lifewire / Yoona Wagener FAQ Should you buy a Wi-Fi 6 router? For most people, there’s likely no need to rush out and replace your current router with a Wi-Fi 6 version just yet, as relatively few devices support this newest standard. However, if you’re in the market for a new router, we’d recommend taking the plunge into Wi-Fi 6, since it’s going to be the way ahead for new devices. It’s already supported in all of Apple’s newest iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, along with Samsung’s flagship smartphones and Sony’s PlayStation 5, and in these cases, you’ll get better performance—especially on busy networks—and even improved the battery life on your mobile devices. What are the advantages of a gaming router? While almost any high-performance router will do just fine for streaming and video calling, gaming requires a different kind of network performance known as low latency. Even today’s fast-paced online games don’t need nearly the same bandwidth as 4K streaming, but they do require a router that can process all the back-and-forth traffic that passes between the gamer and game servers without delay. Gaming routers pack in powerful CPUs that make sure your games run lag-free, so you won’t find your games stalling just as you’re about to make those critical shots. How many Ethernet ports do you need? Wi-Fi technology has come a long way in recent years, so you may find that there’s far less of a need to hardwire devices into your router. While devices that don’t include Wi-Fi, like desktop PCs, will naturally need to be plugged in, you’ll likely find that game consoles, smart TVs, and laptops will do just fine on Wi-Fi, as long as you have a router that offers the range and bandwidth that you need. Most routers include at least four Ethernet ports, but you’ll find some of the best Asus routers actually push that up to eight. Just make sure they’re Gigabit Ethernet ports, as all but the most budget class routers will offer better Wi-Fi performance than mere Fast Ethernet ports. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit