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Soon your home network speed will get a considerable boost. Asus announced today a new lineup of ultra-fast 802.11ax Wi-Fi solutions, including the ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 router, the AiMesh AX6100 WiFi System, and the RT-AX88U router. All feature the next-generation 802.11ax Wi-Fi standard.
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000: Gamers’ tri-band delight
The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is the upgrade to the GT-AC5300. It's slated to be the world's first tri-band 802.11ax gaming router. Asus says the router can deliver up to 1148Mbps on the 2.4Ghz frequency band and up to 4804Mbps on each of its two 5GHz bands. The router has a quad-core processor and plenty of system memory.
What's more, the GT-AX11000 includes a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for better local bandwidth. Like its predecessor, it includes Game Boost adaptive QoS feature that automatically analyzes network activity and prioritizes Internet bandwidth for online games. And for the first time, it has a new Turbo Key located on the outside on its case. Users can use this key to quickly toggle on or off various functions, instead of using the web interface.
Update: View the full review of the GT-AX11000 here.
Asus RT-AX88U: Top-tier dual-band router
The RT-AX88U is the upgrade to the existing RT-AC88U and shares the same design with eight Gigabit LAN ports. It's a dual-band 802.11ax router with up to 1048Mbps on 2.4GHz and up to 4804Mbps on 5GHz. It uses the same processor as that of the GT-AX11000 above.
The router has two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports to host a storage device and a printer. You can also use one of these ports with a 4G dongle as a backup WAN connection.
Update: View the full review of the RT-AX88U here.
AX6100 WiFi System: First AiMesh system from the ground up
Earlier this year, Asus released AiMesh as a free update to many of its existing routes. The new AX6100 WiFi System (RT-AX92U 2-Pack), however, is the first purpose-built AiMesh system.
Update: View the full review of the RT-AX92U here.
It comes in two relatively small identical tri-band units capable of delivering the aggregate throughput up to 6100Mbps. Its first 5GHz band features 802.11ax band has a top speed of 4804Mbps. The second 5GHz is a 2x2 802.11ac with up to 866Mbps. Finally, its 2.4GHz band uses 2x2 802.11n and with up to 400Mbps.
Asus says the RT-AX92U system is compatible with all existing AiMesh routers working as nodes. Also, all of the company's ax routers will support AiMesh, either at launch or via firmware updates.
Availability
Asus' new 802.11ax routers and Wi-Fi system will be available in the third quarter of the year. Their pricing will be announced then.
I’m considering the RT-AX92U… I need link aggregation for a NAS though (so, using two LAN ports). There’s conflicting info on whether it can be done. Most ads and reviews indicate it can on the main/primary unit…but an Asus rep on a forum posted that it only has WAN port integration and can’t do the LAN ports at all. The website is silent and doesn’t list it under the specs like it does with other routers. Anyone know the definitive answer??? If it can’t, better I go with the or GT-AX11000 or RT-AX88U as my main unit…and maybe a single 92U as a node only…
I haven’t reviewed the RT-AX92U but using the GT-AX11000 as the main router and it as node should work, Monica.
For your need, don’t use the RT-AX92u as the main router.
If you want to use NAS server, it’s a good idea not to use the RT-AX92U as the main AiMesh router.
I can, Monica. Full review: https://dongknows.com/asus-rt-ax92u-review/
I currently don’t really need mesh, but I foresee needing it before my next router replacement. Should I go for the ax92 over the 88? The third channel seems better suited for building out mesh in the future? But I’m not very knowledgeable on networking hardware! Thoughts?
If you don’t need a mesh, Stefan, then I’d recommend the Netgear RAX120 (or RAX200.)
Dong, thanks for your reply. I don’t need mesh right away, but I am moving soon to a large place and will likely need mesh then, so I want to make sure what I buy now is the best option for either scenario. If I get the 88u and then add a 92u down the line, I wouldn’t have a dedicated back channel, right? Really not sure what the differences are or if it makes more sense to buy one or the other given I’ll need mesh in a few months.
Dong, I have an RT-AC5300 with two RT-AC68U AiMesh Nodes. I have Ethernet backhaul set to Ethernet instead of Auto, but AIMesh still “stole” my 2nd 5GHz band for DWB (Dedicated Wireless Backhaul), which it doesn’t need. Do you know if there is a reasonable way to configure without DWB? I’m fine even if I have to drop the nodes, reconfigure the main, then reattach the nodes. If they are going to force the DWB I may just move the main router to the front of the house and DWB to my sister’s across the street (estimate 100 feet) so she can have free Internet.
It doesn’t steal that band, it just doesn’t let you name it the same name as the other band. You can just name it to your liking and use it as a separate network. You should give your sister free Internet access, anyway, when you can. 🙂
Hi Dong, great review & thank you for the analysis. It really helps.
I need to buy two Asus routers using the AiMesh function to extend the wireless coverage.
My options:
1. Two RT-AC86u
2. One RT-AC88u + RT-AC68u
3. One RT-AX88u + RT-AC68u
My questions:
I have quite a number of devices like TV, PS4, cable TV, Apple TV, and LAN routing to the bedrooms room desktops etc., connecting to the main router. Option one will have only 4 ports in the main using an extra 8 ports Ethernet giga port device. Will this affect speed as compared to option 2 since I can have direct connection to the AC88u with a total of 8 ports?
I can also go with option 2 but I wish to get your advice. For option 3, it must be most powerful but it’s most expensive.
Please give me your advice if my needs are 4K movies, various LAN ports for desktop computer, PS4 gaming, good Wi-Fi coverage for a number of iPhones on video streaming, in a apartment with a few rooms separated by brick walls.
Thank you.
Michael.
Hi Mike,
Option 1 and 2 will deliver the same performance for wired clients as long as you use a gigabit switch for 1. Option 2 has link aggregation which is great if you have a NAS server that also supports LG. Don’t go with any AX router yet. Wait at least a year or so.
Hope this help!
-Dong
Thank you Dong! It really helps. I think I will go for two 86u. However, I heard that 86u can overheat easily causing the unit to crash. Have you heard about this & what is your experience on overheat issue?
Thanks again,
Michael
Hi Mike,
I use a few 86u units myself and haven’t experienced the heater issue. But you can substitute it with the Blue Cave. https://dongknows.com/asus-blue-cave-router-review/
Thanks Dong!
I am thinking of 3 units of which 2 would be linked via Ethernet and the 3rd not. I am willing to invest prematurely in AX capable routers before the clients arrive.
So in regards to wireless throughput for current AC clients, would the AX units technically or theoretically be or preform better than the existing AC units such as the AC86U?
Thanks again.
Technically and theoretically, yes. As far as how AX will pan out, with or without AiMesh, we’ll have to wait and see.
Thank you again for your advise and feedback!
Dong,
What do you think would be the best to invest in to set up a system for AirMesh?
1. New RT-AX-88U x2 or x3
or
2. New RT-AX-6100 (which is 2 RT-AX92U units)
Which will perform best?
Thanks
Alan
Hi Alan!
#1 definitely works well though you can also go with the RT-AC86U, which is newer (though has fewer network ports.). #2 is “likely” better, but I’m not sure since it’s not available yet.
If you’re going to link the units together using network cables, there’ll be no difference between the two (unless you have AX clients, which, again, are not available yet.)
Hope this helps! 🙂