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Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: A Pair of quad-band Wi-Fi 6E Beasts

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If you're looking for an ultimate Wi-Fi 6E router, this Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300 will help.

Since the end of 2022, these two have been the ultimate standalone Quad-bad Wi-Fi machines representing the two popular networking vendors.

Considering Wi-Fi 7 is around the corner, they will likely remain the cream of the crop for their Wi-Fi 6E standards. And that means they will remain relevant for years in the future.

The Netgear Orbi RBRE960 is another quad-band Wi-Fi 6E router, but it's far inferior on all accounts.

That said, picking one out of this pair can be tricky. This post will push you in the right direction, but each router's in-depth review will provide more information. Give them a good read.

The Asus GT-AXE16000 can produce quite a light show when its programmable ROG Aura is lit up.You can swivel the TP-Link AXE300's eight non-removable antennas 360 degrees around, but you can't pull them outward.
Asus GT-AXE1600 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Both routers are massive squarish boxes.

Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Two (almost) equally excellent routers

The Asus GT-AXE1600 and the TP-Link AXE300 have lots in common.

Both are massive Wi-Fi 6E routers with eight external non-removable antennas. Both have three Multi-Gig ports, high processing power, and feature top-tier Wi-Fi specs. And both come with a robust web user interface and an optional helpful mobile app.

With that, let's check out their hardware specifications.

Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Hardware specifications

Asus GT-AXE16000 Gaming Router's Aura lightTP-Link AXE300 Wi-Fi 6E Quad band Router has 8 antennas
ModelAsus GT-AXE16000TP-Link AXE300
Wi-Fi BandwidthQuad-band 
AX16000
Quad-band 
AX16000
2.4GHz
(channel width)
4ร—4 AX: Up to 1148Mbps
(20/40MHz)
4ร—4 AX: Up to 1148Mbps
(20/40MHz)
5GHz-1
(channel width)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
5GHz-2
(channel width)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
6GHz
(channel width)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6E
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
4x4 Wi-Fi 6E
Up to 4804Mbps
(20/40/80/160MHz)
Backward Compatibility802.11a/b/g/n/ac802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Wireless SecurityWPA / WPA2 / WPA3WPA / WPA2 / WPA3
Operation RolesRouter (default)
 Access Point
Repeater
AiMesh node (router or satellite)
Media Bridge
Router (default)
Access Point
Mesh-readyYes 
(AiMesh)
Yes 
(OneMesh)
Gigabit Network Port4x LAN
Multi-Gig Network Port1x 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig LAN WAN/LAN
2x 10Gbps Multi-Gig LAN LAN/WAN
1x 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig WAN/LAN
1x 10Gbps Multi-Gig LAN/WAN
 1ร— 10Gbps Multi-Gig/SFP+ Combo LAN/WAN
LAN Link AggregationYes 
(LAN ports 1 and 2)
LAN only
(LAN2 + LAN3)
WAN Link AggregationYes (WAN + LAN4)No
Dual-WANYes (WAN + USB 
or any other LAN port)
No
USB1x USB 3.0
1x USB 2.0
1x USB 3.0
Web User InterfaceYes
Dynamic DNS
with Remote Access
Yes
Mobile AppAsus Router
(login account optional)
TP-Link Tether
(login account required)
Processing Power2.0 GHz quad-core CPU, 
256MB Flash, 2GB RAM
2.0 GHz Quad-Core CPU,
1GB RAM, 256MB Flash
Power Intake100-240V
Power Usage
(over 24 hours)
หœ 475 Whหœ 465 Wh
Antennas8x External
Dimensions10.4 x 10.4 x 2.9 in 
(26.4 x 26.4x 7.4 cm)
9.1 ร— 9.1 ร— 2.7 in
(232 ร— 232 ร— 68 mm)
Weight5.3 lbs (2.4kg)3.75lbs (1.7kg)
Firmware Version
(at review)
3.0.0.4.386_487861.0.3 Build 20220907
Release DateJune 2022October 2022
US Price
(at launch)
$699$599.99
Asus GT-AXE1600 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Hardware specifications

Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: The differences

Despite the similar hardware specs, the two have some big differences.

First, the TP-Link Archer AXE300 uniquely features a 10Gbps Multi-Gig/SFP+ Combo LAN/WA portโ€”it can work in either form and either WAN or LAN role. This makes it more flexible in terms of device support.

For example, you can use it with an SFP+ Fiber-optic ONT or host an SFP+ NAS server. In this case, the Asus GT-AXE16000 would require a converterโ€”not a good idea.

On the other hand, the Asus proved to be a much more versatile router that:

  • supports Aggregation on both the WAN and LAN side.
  • features Dual-WAN with extremely flexible network port configurations.
  • has all available operating roles for a router (access point, repeater, media bridge, etc.).

On top of that, while the two are mesh-ready, Asus's AiMesh is much superior to TP-Link's OneMesh.

As a result, the GT-AXE16000 can be a robust Multi-Gigabit mesh member. In contrast, the Archer AXE300 can only handle a few low-end extenders with, for now, no possibility for a mesh with wired backhauling.

Asus GT-AXE16000 quad-band Wi-Fi 6E Router's portsTP-Link Archer AXE300 Ports Multi-Gig
Asus GT-AXE1600 vs. TP-Link AXE300: The latter is more interesting in the network port department, with the Multi-Gig/SFP+ combo.

Finally, the Asus's USB ports can handle a lot more network storage and other USB-based applications than the TP-Link counterpart. That's always a good thing for those looking to make the most out of their purchase.

Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: General grading and performance

Asus GT-AXE16000's Rating

8.9 out of 10
Asus GT-AXE16000 Quad band Wi-Fi 6E Router 3
Performance
9 out of 10
Features
9.5 out of 10
Ease of Use
9 out of 10
Value
8 out of 10

Pros

Powerful hardware, quad-band with Wi-Fi 6E support, three Multi-Gig ports (one 2.5Gbps and two 10Gbps)

Stellar performance throughout

Excellent set of game-related, online protection and monitoring features, full AiMesh 2.0 support

Unmatched port flexibility, including interchangeable WAN, Dual-WAN, and LAN/WAN Link Aggregations

Beautiful ROG Aura lighting

Cons

10Gbps ports' sustained rates and NAS performance (when hosting a storage device) could be better

Awkward backhaul band design in a wireless AiMesh setup, no UNII4 (5.9GHz) support, no SFP+

Bulky design, not wall-mount-ready

Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300 Multi-Gig wired, Wi-Fi, and NAS (when hosting a USB portable SSD) performances
Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Multi-Gig wired, Wi-Fi, and NAS (when hosting a USB portable SSD) sustained throughputs.

TP-Link Archer AXE300's Rating

8.5 out of 10
TP-Link AXE300 Wi-Fi 6E Quad band Router other retail box
Performance
9 out of 10
Features
8 out of 10
Design and Setup
8 out of 10
Value
9 out of 10

Pros

Top-tier hardware with excellent performance; three flexible Multi-Gig ports and LAN Link Aggregation support

Robust web user interface; lots of network and Wi-Fi settings and a handful of valuable features for home users

Comparatively cheaper than competitors

Wall-mountable; useful optional mobile app; OneMesh-ready

Cons

No option for Gigabit WAN, Dual-WAN, or fast mesh with wired backhauling

HomeShield Pro requires a subscription, mobile app, and login account

Bulky design, the USB port's performance could be better

Asus GT-AXE1600 vs. TP-Link AXE300: Which to get

If you're looking for a standalone router for a demanding home, either of the two will make an excellent choice. Each will give you true Multi-gigabit wired performance and top Wi-Fi throughput on all available bands.

Of the two, the TP-Link AXE300 is the only one that has built-in support for SFP+. If you need this port, it's the sensible choiceโ€”you won't have to resort to a switch.

Asus GT-AXE16000 Fancy LightWhen in action, the TP-Link Archer AXE300's top lighting is relatively modest.
Asus GT-AXE1600 vs. TP-Link AXE300: The former has fancy RGB programmable game light, while the latter is a bit mundane on this front.

However, if you're looking to scale up Wi-Fi coverage later and have the most featuresโ€”including game-related onesโ€”without having to pay extra, or if you want to get the best USB-based applications, the Asus GT-AXE16000 is the one to pick.

Whether Asus's extras are worth the higher price tag, it's your call. Other matchups on Wi-Fi solutions are available here.

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18 thoughts on “Asus GT-AXE16000 vs. TP-Link AXE300: A Pair of quad-band Wi-Fi 6E Beasts”

  1. With TP-Link AXE300, if you have remote management enabled it takes over port 80, even if you have port forwarding setup for port 80 to go to a server on the network. I messaged TP-Link support about this and they told me straight out that this is the way it is with the TP-Link AXE300. Do you know if this is true with the Asus AXE1600? I want to be able to have a web server on my network and remote management enabled on the router.

    Reply
    • All Asus routers allow you to change this port number, DKC. In fact they force you to when you enable web-based remote access.

      Reply
  2. I still can’t decide between these two. And both are on sale. I don’t have fiber optic so the ASUS may serve my needs better. Or should I look at the new WiFi 7 gear? Thanks

    Reply
  3. I have a little question, wich hardware to add a aimesh node to asus AXE16000 ?

    i want extend wifi an AXE16000 but i don’t know what the best solution to use aimesh.

    Thanks

    Reply
  4. Hi Dong,
    If these were setup with their corresponding mesh routers what will be the preferred network or suggestions?
    Asus GT-AXE16000 with Et12 mesh VS TP-Link AXE300 with Deco XE200 mesh?

    Reply
    • The TP-Link AXE300 is not a mesh router the way the Asus is, B. Read the reviews or follow the related links, for more.

      Reply
  5. Hi Dong, Just thought I would provide some feedback to you on the AXE 16000 from Singapore

    1. DUAL WAN has some issues with a number of ISP’s where it is very unstable to the point it is unusable.
    2. There is a known issue with 2.5G WAN slowing upload speed with the workaround requiring that the LAN1 port is reprovisioned as a WAN port. This fixes the poor upload speed but the issue is if you are using a faster connection than 1Gbs you will be limited to 1Gbs. I did read but haven’t confirmed that the 10gbs port also has some issues. I have sent my logs to ASUS so hopefully they can get an update out to fix the 2.5G WAN upload issue

    Reply
  6. Use of blue & green colors in Performance Matchup table is confusing ie in header, ASUS is green but is bl;ue in the color key at bottom of table.

    Reply

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