🛒
ASUS first announced the ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI at CES 2025, and it took the company until mid-October to make it available in the US, initially only at Best Buy.
That was a long wait, given that the new router was much anticipated for its “AI-driven” features. Depending on your expectations, I’d say this router is both worth the wait and still not ready for prime time.
Specifically, from the perspective of previous ASUS routers, it’s excellent, proving in real-world testing to be the fastest beast to date. However, if you have high hopes for it as a “container” host device that can run Docker while also serving as a traditional Wi-Fi router, it falls short—at least with the initial launch firmware.
Here’s the bottom line: Even with much of its full potential unrealized at the current state, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI is an excellent performer and, comparatively, worthy of its hefty $900 price tag. Considering Wi-Fi 8 is on the horizon, it’s safe to say it’s ASUS’s best Wi-Fi 7 router and one of the best on the market.
That said, looking for a beast of a Wi-Fi 7 router? Get the GT-BE19000AI today! Or wait a few months until a few rounds of firmware updates have worked out the kinks. It’ll likely be more widely available then, anyway.
Dong’s note: I initially published this post as a news piece on January 6, 2025, when the router was first announced at CES 2025, and updated to an in-depth review on November 3, 2025, after thorough hands-on testing.
ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI: ASUS’s totally new (gaming) Wi-Fi 7 beast
ASUS planned to release the GT-BE19000AI during the summer with a $100 lower suggested price. I’d blame tariffs and the political uncertainties for the delay and the higher price.
In any case, ASUS is not new to gaming routers. In fact, the company has produced the most options over the years. So, the GT-BE19000AI is first and foremost another router in this category.
However, its “AI” notion and the over-the-top hardware specs scream that it’s going to be different. And different the GT-BE19000AI sure is! It’s unlike any ASUS router you’ve known, notwithstanding the seemingly similar appearance.
New hardware approach disguised in the same old appearance
Out of the box, the GT-BE19000AI looks simply like the white version of the GT-BE98 Pro, which used to be ASUS’s most potent gaming router.
The two are both massive and share the same “spider” design, featuring eight large, non-removable antennas around the body and an ostentatious programmable ROG RGB Aura light on top.
That’s to say the Wi-Fi 7 router looks bold. On the one hand, it might give you a good dose of much-needed adrenaline. On the other hand, it likely won’t pass that harsh “spouse approval” hurdle, as most Asus ROG gaming routers of the same design, starting with the Wi-Fi 5 GT-AC5300. (Just give up and look for an alternative, I’d say!)
The two routers also share the same number of ports and port grades. Among them, most notably, there are two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports (one WAN and one LAN), enough to build a true top-tier wired network with a 10Gbps switch. If you only care about entry-level multi-Gigabit speeds, there are also four 2.5Gbps ports.
But their similarities end there. On the inside, the GT-BE19000AI is totally a different beast.
For one, it’s a tri-band router rather than a quad-band one. The consequence is that, on paper, it has less wireless bandwidth: 19000Mbps compared to the 30000Mbps of the GT-BE98 Pro.
However, these numbers are one-sided. Since the 6GHz band of the GT-BE98 Pro is split into two sub-bands, its chance of forming a 320MHz channel (required for top Wi-Fi 7 speed) is also cut in half. The point is that there are likely more performance benefits in the natural tri-band Wi-Fi 7 than in the quad-band option.
Other than that, the GT-BE19000AI is thoroughly better in both hardware specs and firmware. The “AI” notion alone is entirely new.
The GT-BE19000AI has “intelligent AI-optimized” features and is powered by a tri-core system that includes a CPU (central processing unit), an NPU (neural processing unit), and an MCU (microcontroller unit) to form an on-device AI, or “AI Ege”. Specifically, it can perform AI-enabled tasks on its own without invoking a cloud-based server.
Additionally, the new router features Docker via Portainer, enabling it to function as a “container” device, similar to Ubiquiti’s UniFi consoles—more on this below.
The table below shows the hardware specifications of the GT-BE19000AI and the GT-BE98 Pro.
Hardware specifications: GT-BE19000AI vs. ASUS GT-BE98 Pro
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | GT-19000AI | GT-BE98 Pro |
| Antennas | 8 x external | |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE19000 | Quad-band BE30000 |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM (all bands) | |
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz: up to 1376Mbps | |
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz: up to 5762Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz: up to 11,525Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) (all channels) | 6GHz-1: up to 11,525Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) (lower channels) |
| 4th Band (channel width) | None | 6GHz-2: up to 11,525Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) (upper channels) |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | Yes (unavailable with initial firmware) | Not at launch (might be added via future firmware) |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | |
| Network Features | Web User Interface ASUS Mobile App ASUS Core Features | |
| Gaming Features | Asus’s AI-driven Gaming features | ASUS Gaming Features |
| Mesh-Ready | Yes (AiMesh) | |
| Processing Power | Quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, 64GB Flash, 8GB DDR4 RAM | Quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, 256MB Flash, 2GB RAM |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN, 1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 3x 2.5GBASE-T LAN | |
| Gigabit Port | 1 x Gigabit LAN | |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 | |
| Hardware Buttons | Power Switch, Reset Button, WPS Button, LED Control | |
| Dimensions (with antennas) | 14.12 x 14.12 x 8.77 in (358.6 x 358.6 x 222.8 mm) | |
| Weight | 4.41 lbs (2 kg) | |
| DC Power Adapter | 100~240 V | |
| DC Power Adapter | Input: 100-240V Output: 12v, 5A | Input: 100-240V Output: 19.5v, 3.33A |
| Release Date | October 2025 | Q1 2024 |
| Firmware (at review) | 3.0.0.6.102_40032 (ASUSWRT 6.0) | 3.0.0.6.102_32882 (ASUSWRT 5.0) |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 540 Wh (as tested) | ≈ 560 Wh (as tested) |
| US Launch Price | $899.99 | $799.99 |
GT-BE19000AI: Lots of processing power with ASUSWRT 6.0 at the helm
As shown in the table above, aside from the tri-band vs. quad-band distinction, the GT-BE19000AI appears, at a glance, similar to its predecessor, the GT-BE98 Pro.
However, looking deeper, there are three significant differences:
- The GT-BE19000AI has significantly more processing power, featuring four times the RAM and 256 times the internal storage. In fact, it has the highest processing power of any Wi-Fi router.
- Among ASUS hardware, the new router is the first to run a major new release of its Linux-based ASUSWRT firmware, version 6.0 (build 3.0.0.6.102_40032), though it’s unclear which part of the firmware version marks the cut-off from ASUSWRT 5.0.
- The GT-BE19000AI is the first router to feature AI Edge (or Edge AI), which processes AI tasks directly on the device via an AI Core that can also host Docker to run multiple independent applications, such as home automation or network video recorder (NVR), making it more than simply an advanced router.
In my trial, the GT-BE19000AI indeed features a new web user interface, which resembles that of the ExpertWiFi family, but with more options and features. Still, it’s a menu-based single-task interface—you can’t open multiple windows within the web page.
In any case, in terms of features and settings, the GT-BE19000AI generally has everything previous ASUS routers have and then some.
For example, the AIProtection features now include ad-blocking. There’s a new AI section with lots of options and apps, and the all-new AI Game Boost section refines existing gaming-related features.
Additionally, so far, the new router has proved to be much more responsive, taking just a fraction of the time compared to the GT-BE98 Pro to apply changes. At the same time, it retains all the goodness found in previous ASUS routers, including (as confirmed in my trial):
- Flexible WAN/LAN configurations:
- The GT-BE19000AI uses its 10Gbps WAN port as the default WAN port, but you can use any other port as the WAN and use both 10Gbps ports as LANs.
- The GT-BE19000AI features dual-WAN. You can turn one of its LAN ports or the USB port into a second WAN port.
- Use the USB port as a third WAN source to host a tethered smartphone or cellular modem.
- The GT-BE19000AI features Link Aggregation but only on the LAN side, where you can combine its first two 2.5Gbps LAN ports into a 5Gbps bonded link.
- Universal backup restoration: Despite the new web user interface, the GT-BE19000AI can accept backups from almost any other ASUS router, making upgrading from one router to another quick and easy. I tried using the backup files of the GS-BE18000 and a few others, and they loaded without any issues. (Note, though, that not all settings can be ported, depending on the models, and generally, it’s best to set up a router from scratch.)
- Robust web user interface with optional ASUS Router mobile app. You can set up the router as you would any standard router via its default IP address, 192.168.50.1.
- AiMesh support. GT-BE19000AI works best with wired backhauling, but thanks to MLO, you can use multiple units in a wireless setup (not a mixed hardware setup).
- Built-in Parental Controls and online protection (AiProtection) plus other traffic-related features. It also features AdGuard, which is a third-party premium service for added protection and ad blocking.
- All available USB-based features (cellular tethering, network storage, media streaming server, etc.)
- The router supports all advanced VPN protocols, including WireGuard and Instant Guard, as a VPN server or a VPN client.
- Tons of helpful network/Wi-Fi settings, tools, and other features, including the new Quality of Experience (QoE), which replaces Quality of Service (QoS) and web-based remote management via Dynamic DNS.
- In addition to the default router mode, the GT-BE19000AI can also function as an access point (either as a single unit or as part of a system) or as an AiMesh satellite node. Unlike other ASUS routers, it doesn’t support repeater (extender) or media bridge mode.
Note the two supported Docker apps (Home Assistant and Frigate) that require Docker to be running first. However, getting Docker ready can be challenging, as noted in the Performance section below.
The AFC promise
It’s worth noting that, apart from the MLO feature, the GT-BE19000AI is slated to be the second ASUS router to feature Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC), after the GS-BE18000. And that’s excellent news for those wanting to get the most out of the 6GHz band.
On this front, as with the GS-BE18000, the GT-BE19000AI didn’t have AFC enabled in its initial firmware, which will likely be added in an upcoming version. When that happens, expect the same behavior as the GS-BE18000, specifically:
- AFC is only available in the region where it’s allowed. For now, that’s generally North America.
- For the AFC to work, the router must report precise real-time coordinates, and on this front, ASUS routers generally rely on a GPS-enabled client, such as a smartphone, running the ASUS Router mobile app with access to the device’s real-time location.
It’s worth noting that the GS-BE18000 was also initially available only at Best Buy, and it was buggy until it became available at other retailers. That was also when its AFC-enabled firmware became available. It seems this GT-BE19000AI follows this release pattern, both in firmware and in where you can buy it.
GT-BE19000AI: The most advanced ASUS gaming router to date
As mentioned, the GT-BE19000AI is not ASUS’s first gaming router, far from it. The table below lists those I’ve worked on (I might have missed a few).
| Multi-Gig Port | Gaming Private Network | ROG First, Game Radar | Gaming Port | GeForce Now | Aura Lights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT-BE19000AI | 2x10GbE 4×2.5GbE | GTNET | Yes | No | Yes | |
| TUF-BE6500 | 4×2.5GbE | WTFast | No | Yes | No | |
| GS-BE18000 | 8×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-BE86U | 1x10GbE 4×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-BE88U | 1x10GbE 1xSFP+ 4×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-BE96U | 2x10GbE | No | ||||
| GT-BE98 Pro | 2x10GbE 4×2.5GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX88U Pro | 2×2.5GbE | WTFast | No | |||
| GT6 (mesh router) | 1×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AXE16000 | 1×2.5GbE 2x10GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX11000 Pro | 1×2.5GbE 1x10GbE | WTFast | Yes | |||
| GT-AXE11000 | 1×2.5GbE | Outfox | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX11000 | 1×2.5GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX6000 | 2×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GS-AX5400 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GS-AX3000 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX88U | None | WTFast | No | |||
| RT-AX89X | 1x10GbE 1xSFP+ | No | ||||
| RT-AX86U | 1×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-AX86S | None | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-AX82U | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX92U (canned mesh) | None | WTFast | No | |||
| TUF-AX5400 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
All of these routers have the standard set of ASUS’s gaming features, including Mobile Game Mode, Open NAT, Gear Accelerator, and VPN Fusion.
Among these, the GT-BE19000AI proved to be the most powerful. Aside from processing power, it also offers the most features, including support for GTNet, which, according to ASUS, “uses AI-powered technology to instantly find the fastest and most stable network route for you.” The goal is to provide users with “lower latency, smoother gameplay, and a more stable gaming experience” regardless of where they are in the world.
I don’t have an account with GTNet, but I did try out the router’s gaming features, and they seemed to work as intended. Truth be told, these features are mostly helpful when you have a slow or modest broadband connection. Via my 10Gbps fiber-optic line, they didn’t make much of a difference, other than the cool feature and the extra ping-related information they offer.
ASUS GT-BE19000AI: Top-notch performance with unfinished features (or bugs)
For this view, I tested the GT-BE19000AI for almost two weeks using its initial firmware, version 3.0.0.6.102_40032—the router actually came with a pre-release version.
I was hoping a new post-release version would be available during this time, but it wasn’t. That said, I might re-evaluate the router when a new firmware update comes out if that makes a big difference. And I would hope so.
The temperamental Docker support
That’s because, at the current state, the GT-BE19000AI’s primary new function—namely, Docker support—is still extremely buggy, if not unfinished.
It took me a long time to follow the steps to install it and create a Portainer.io account, and after that, I wasn’t able to install any apps. Often, the connection timed out, and I was asked to restart Docker without being shown how—rebooting the AI Board or restarting the router itself didn’t make any difference.
That said, until a new firmware is available, you can simply forget about the “container” notion of the GT-BE19000AI. But that’s likely not why you’d want this Wi-Fi router, anyway.
Excellent performance as a traditional Wi-Fi 7 router
Contrary to the lackluster Docker support, the GT-BE19000AI, as a Wi-Fi router, excelled in my testing, proving to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest, to date, topping the charts in almost all tests. In fact, it was the first router to sustain over 3Gbps when tested with a 2×2 Wi-Fi 7 client—the fastest client available on the market.
In terms of Wi-Fi coverage, the GT-BE19000AI was similar to the GT-BE98 Pro and other high-end Wi-Fi 7 routers. I tested it without AFC, and it could cover around 2500 ft2 (232 m2) when placed at the center—your mileage will vary. When the AFC feature is available, you can expect the router’s 6GHz band to have the same range as its 5GHz band.
The router’s ports performed well, too, with the 10Gbps ports delivering close to their grade, which is a considerable improvement over the GT-BE98 Pro or any other 10Gbps home router I’ve tested. Via these ports, the GT-BE19000AI delivered around 8,500Mbps of real-world download and upload speed for my 10Gbps fiber-optic broadband, which is generally as fast as you can get from such a service.
Finally, the GT-BE19000AI proved to be one of the fastest mini NAS servers when hosting a portable SSD via its USB 3.0 port, achieving a sustained read speed of nearly 400MB/s. At this performance, you can count on it as a viable network storage solution.
Other than that, the GT-BE19000AI passed my three-day stress test without any performance or connection issues. The router became slightly warm (but not hot) during operation and made no noise. It seemed to have no internal fan, though I didn’t open it to confirm.
ASUS GT-BE19000AI's Rating
Pros
Top-tier Wi-Fi 7 with excellent real-world performance
Refined ASUSWRT 6.0 firmware with lots of free, in-depth, and valuable features and settings (advanced VPN, AiProtection online protection, Parental Control, adblocking, virtual SSDs, AI-enabled gaming-related features, and AiMesh)
Two 10Gbps and four 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig ports with WAN/LAN flexibility; supports Dual-WAN and LAN Link Aggregations
No vendor required login account, silent performer, runs relatively cool
Cons
Bulky design, buggy Docker support (at launch), not wall-mount-ready
AFC unavailable (at launch)
A bit pricey
Conclusion
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI represents ASUS’s ambition to turn a traditional Wi-Fi router into something much more advanced, via the support for Edge AI and Docker.
At the current stage (current firmware), though, neither has a meaningful effect, and the Docker support seems even unfinished. Hopefully, all that will change via future firmware updates, which has generally been the case with ASUS Wi-Fi 7 routers. They often ship with buggy firmware initially.
These new fancy options aside, the GT-BE19000AI is a beast as a traditional Wi-Fi 7 router. It’s currently the fastest router on the market and will likely get even better when the AFC feature becomes available.
In any case, it’s as good as it gets for an ASUS gaming router. Until Wi-Fi 8 is available—relatively soon—chances are you won’t see anything better from the company. Consider it today!
Hi Dong, thanks for this thorough review.
I was wondering — did you have a chance to try the built-in speed test feature from the router’s web GUI using your 10Gbps symmetrical connection?
I’m referring to the one under “Game Acceleration → Internet Speed.”
I’ve tried that on my GT-BE98 (non-Pro), but it doesn’t seem able to saturate my symmetrical 10Gbps line — whereas on my PC running Ubuntu, with the BBR algorithm enabled and connected via Ethernet, I can get over 8 Gbps up and down.
I’m thinking that maybe, with its updated specs, the new GT-BE19000AI might be able to hit similar 8 Gbps / 8 Gbps results through the GUI speed test. I’d be curious to know if that’s the case.
No device can “saturate” expectations created by advertised speeds. I mentioned the broadband speeds in the review.
Got one. 15% off with a network device recycle at Best Buy. So far, so good. As always, thank you Dong!
Nice! Have fun with it, John. Don’t spend too much time on the Docker thingy though, until the new firmware.
How does that work with Best Buy? I’ve never heard of this before.
Here’s the link to the Best Buy Network Recycling Explanation. It’s in-store only.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/recycling/networking-recycling-offer/pcmcat1497300657381
Interesting development that leaves feelings running both ways. Obviously it is a giant leap with docker containers and it has the NPU. The convenience of network service integration and container management in one place is considerable. But … such things also represent a giant expansion in attack surface by turning a specialized routing device into an application server. How many zero day vulnerabilities does that open up?
Many of the advanced router features referenced can also be done with Merlin and AMTM scripts, all of which are open source, quite stable, and free. In fact, I am already pleased and nervous about how much of that I have loaded into my AX88U Pro. Other functions such as media server and NAS belong to companion mini-PCs DAS of various capabilities and a DAS, but all of them more powerful than this system in CPU and memory plus the high-end one has an AMD NPU for whatever they are worth in practice.
It is worth noting that the router does not run VMs. So, the question remains, how much should core router functions be the only thing on the router and other home network features be resident on other network servers? Also, “AI” is a noise word generally signifying nothing. It is not clear what the NPU is doing but that is the most single intriguing feature. Would love to know more about the services that it supports.
You generally should get a network server. A router can only do so much. In the case of this router, so far, its extra functions are extremely buggy.
Thanks Dong for the preview. I will watch this router but not buy it. Will continue to stick with my UCG-Fiber and 2x U7 Pros which will still be a cheaper setup than this Asus monstrosity. The bugs in Asus are beyond my threshold. Asus simply doesn’t even come close to Ubiquiti’s feature offerings and you know it!!
Have you not experienced any bugs with the Ubiquiti’s stuff? I sure have. The setup you mention saves what, about $100 before tax? It obviously has some technical disadvantages compared to the Asus, so what feature offerings are you using with your setup that the Asus doesn’t offer? Maybe you have your U7 Pros far enough apart that you get better WiFi coverage than the Asus could offer, but that not so much a feature as a hardware choice. A feature, in my mind, is something like greater than 2.5G for WiFi, or software support like running containers, maybe OSPF support or something along those lines.
I’m just curious. Not trying to says Asus is bug free or anything. Just curious why you made a comment here to talk about Ubiquiti’s stuff, but without mentioning anything specific about it other than you hardware you’re using. Sure, I can “get it” if you don’t vibe with the looks of the Asus, but it seems as if you want to dismiss it for unspecific reasons, which come off more as your trying to justify your hardware choice that help other make a good hardware choice. If that’s all you were doing, fair enough, but if you want to have a comment that’s more valuable to others, I imagine you could do better with a bit more effort.
It seems you’ve never actually used a UniFi setup, John. And maybe consider reading, too? In any case, try all that first before leaving such a comment. Remember: you’re in the no-nonsense zone.
What? {…}
You need to read the previous comments and the comment rules in full, John, and behave accordingly. You’re not entitled to voice anything else until you’ve done that. There’s enough BS on the Internet. This is not a place for it. Thanks.
I couldn’t reply directly to your last comment, so I’m responding here using the link to your previous one. If there’s a better way to continue this conversation, such as email, I’d be glad to take it there. FYI, I previously invited you to delete my earlier comment partly because I assumed you had my email and could clarify things privately if you wished.
This is a cut-down, more concise version of the initial reply I wrote, based on a suggestion and perspective I received from a LLM. I asked for help understanding your reaction, and it suggested that while my tone was respectful and my intent constructive, the length and analytical style might have clashed with your moderation approach, which favors brevity and clarity. It also pointed out that pressing for understanding, even politely, can be misread as challenging authority, especially in a space you curate.
From my perspective, your recent replies seem to rest on assumptions that I haven’t read the articles, the comment rules, or used a UniFi setup. I have. I also didn’t make claims your article refutes or ask questions it answers. My comment was directed at d5aqoep, inviting him to share specific features he values in his setup so others could benefit from a clearer comparison. That’s all.
I’m not trying to argue. I’m trying to understand. If you’re willing to point to a specific sentence or idea you found problematic, I’d genuinely appreciate it. If not, I’ll respect that choice, but I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t frustrate me. I’ve long appreciated your usual clarity and no-nonsense style, which is why this exchange has felt especially confusing.
John, I can see why it’s confusing for you. A few things:
1. We have lots of spam and nonsensical comments and I do intend to keep the site clean.
2. d5aqoep has post various of comments and their latest one is somewhat the continuation of their previous one in this post and different posts. It was a genuine statement of somebody who has followed the topics for a long time. In any case, his participation has been vetted.
3. Your very first comment seems contentious as though you wanted to bash UniFi and then your subsequent one seems trolling. In any case, for various reasons, your stuff was marked as “suspicious”.
You might have been misunderstood and if so, that was the result of the way you had commented. Hope this clears things out a bit.
I have used Asus RT-N56U, RT-AC68U, RT-AC88U, RT-AX88U, GT-AX6000 and finally GT-AX10000 Pro. This is usage of Asus routers exclusively in a span of 15 years. For me, the Dual WAN failover and fallback never worked on any of the routers having that feature. Countless times my routers got hacked and I had to factory reset them and new firmware to patch vulnerabilities never came or came extremely late. The UI looks dated/antiquated now. So finally last year, I made the jump to Ubiquiti and I haven’t looked back. Asus offerings “plain suck” compared to robustness of Ubiquiti. Sure there can be some bugs but Ubiquiti has the best Early Access program where they actively take feedback and try to fix issues compared to Asus where talking to them feels like facing a stone wall. No communitcation, no…. nothing.
You like using Asus.. well… power to you, I guess.
You’re the gold standard at networking hardware reviews Dong!
Ironically, I’ve had Asus network gear for years, and have been waiting for this router to come out since it was announced. However, as I waited month after month, I read more and more of your reviews of other brands and ended up overhauling my entire network with Ubiquiti and haven’t looked back.
Thanks, Peter. This one seems great, potentially worth the wait, but still not even close to a UniFi console in most aspects. You’re in a good place. 🙂
Hello, I’m excited to see it has 64gb of storage inside. Do you think we could maybe make an ssh connection and build a container in terminal to run a home server or any other service?
I would be happy to install an Ubuntu server and go from there like I do connecting to a Raspberry Pi.
Among other things, it’s for the new applications, like Docker and others. You can use an external drive, too, of course.
It looks like this is finally getting released on 10/24 (per Newegg). Based on your write-up, it looks like this might be a worthy upgrade to swap out some GT-BE98 Pro’s, but maybe I’ll wait for your official review.
some local Houston Best Buy stores gave them in stock now.
No mention of Auto Frequency Coordination on this one. I’m not buying another router with that. The non-AI version of this router was announced last summer, never arrived in the US. Asus must be having problems getting AFC to work. I’ll buy from whoever can get it done.
So far, David, the only hardware that officially support AFC is the UniFi E7. It’s more of an issue with certification, being approved by the goverment that is.
I had several ASUS routers, including the AX11000 PRO and AXE16000. Unfortunately, with each firmware version, the routers started to work worse and worse. IOT devices on the 2.4 GHz band disconnected constantly. The MESH system from this company is a disaster, it doesn’t work at all in the sense that the devices can’t switch between routers and not lose connection to the network.{…} It’s a waste of time on solutions that don’t work.
A bit harsh (and very troll-like), Mike, but yes, Asus stuff could have some improvement for sure on the firmware front.
As someone that has the AX11000 pro since its release its working great even on Merlin firmware
Its got more features than the stock firmware & more faster
Hey Dong,
The none AI version of this exact product (The black version) supports guest wireless pro and also vlan. Can you perhaps explain the difference here. I heard guest pro can function almost as a vlan for wifi devices and the actual vlan support is only for the lan ports? Is that true? Does the built in vlan functionality allow you to create vlans and control traffic with ACLs between the Vlans? I have the gt-axe11000 and im considering upgrading to this, and then using the gt-axe11000 in mesh/backhaul mode.
Yes, MP, that’s the case with all routers running AsusWRT 5.0 firmware. You can use the virtual SSIDs as part of the main subnet or one of its own as a VLAN. It might just need a firmware upgrade which lump Wireless and Guest Network Pro to Network.
Your chart has “Asus’s AI-driven Gaming features” under the GT-BE98 Pro.
Also, strangely, the global spec page for the ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI currently lists the same physical dimesons as the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro’s global spec page. I assume your listed size information comes from some other (press) source, and that it (rather than the global spec page) is correct.
I like the white color. I hope this is something they offer on future ROG branded models.
I wonder if Adaptive QOS 2.0 will actually be useful, and am curious if you will be able to show any difference in testing of it.
Fixed. Thanks. I have a bit of dyslexia.
The specs were those I got from Asus at at CES but by itself it seems to be about the same size give or take a bit, as you can see in the photos, so that’s a minor thing. We’ll have to wait till summer to see how it pans out.
I have similar difficulties, see “dimesons.”
I’m excited to hear your take on this “AI” stuff. Here’s hoping that the extra memory is well utilized and there’s something more to it than marketing,
Thanks for this update. Worth watching for release date, functions and price. Also, the comparison chart was helpful. All in all, good info!
I just updated the post with more info. More to come.
I just ordered two BE98PROs for a mesh configuration for my home (lowest price drop I’d seen so far) and was worried that Asus would announce a large evolution in devices during CES. The AI version of the BE98PRO is interesting to me, especially since its dropping a band – I’m looking forward to how it performs when you get your hands on one for a review.
I’ll probably stick with my BE98PROs and get them up and running versus waiting 6+ months for the “AI” tri-band system. (I’m upgrading from a dual-band 802.11ac orbi system and struggling with connectivity across our house).
I don’t know anything about the AI version of the GT-BE98 Pro, Joe, but the current one is as good as it gets. This one is not out yet, and unclear exactly when it’ll be.
Will be released in Dec 2025 when the next router will be announced. So it would already be outdated at launch. TBH, this AI nonsense is just Asus riding on the AI marketing hype train.
It does seem to have a lot of flash and RAM, so maybe there’s something. We’ll see.