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Asus just recently quietly made available the ZenWiFi BD4 to presumably rival the TP-Link BE3600 (which is a stripped-down version of the Deco BE25), at least in terms of cost.
At $129.99 per single router or $299.9 for a 3-pack, it’s one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 systems on the market. And like the Deco counterpart, it’s inexpensive for a reason.
This brief take will help you understand what to expect from this new Wi-Fi system and when to consider it. CES 2025 is around the corner, and there will soon be a lot more to take in, but for now, the gist is that the ZenWiFi BD4 is basically the dual-band version of the higher-grade full-band ZenWiFi sets, such as the BT8 or BT10.
Asus ZenWiFi BD4: The bare-minimum Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi
Like the case of the TP-Link BE3600, the ZenWiFi BD4 is minimum in Wi-Fi 7 specs. With a total theoretical bandwidth of 3600Mbps, it’s actually less than many Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E sets. The ZenWiFi XT8 and ET8, for example, each have 6600Mbps of total Wi-Fi bandwidth.
First dual-band Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi
The low bandwidth results from the fact the BD4 has only two bands—5GHz and 2.4GHz—instead of three, like the case of the BT8 or BT10. Additionally, its Wi-Fi hardware also has entry-level specs.
If you’re curious, per Asus’s naming convention, “BD4” means the hardware features dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with four streams in total. The cabinet below will give you more details.
ZenWiFi naming convention
Asus has a good selection of ZenWiFi models, such as CT8, XT8, XD4, ET8, XT12, ET12, BQ16, etc.
Dissecting the ZenWiFi model names
These model names include two letters and a number. Here is what they mean.
- The first letter indicates the Wi-Fi standard:
- The second letter indicates the number of Wi-Fi bands:
- D means dual-band—each hardware unit has two Wi-Fi bands.
- T means tri-band. This is for a system where each hardware unit has three Wi-Fi frequency bands.
- Q means quad-band, indicating that the hardware features four Wi-Fi bands, where either its 5GHz or 6GHz is split into two sub bands.
- The last digit indicates the number of Wi-Fi streams each broadcaster has.
An example: The ZenWiFi ET8 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E system, with each hardware unit having eight streams (including a quad-stream (4×4) 6GHz band, a dual-stream (2×2) 5GHz band, and a 2×2 2.4GHz band).
By now, this sans-6GHz approach has become familiar. There has been a lot of dual-band Wi-Fi 7 hardware, including Asus’s RT-BE88U or RT-BE86U routers. However, this is the first ZenWiFi set that has gone dual-band, and chances are it won’t be the last.
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 is a testament to the fact that the 6GHz band is complicated. The cabinet below includes some details about how this band is being adopted around the world.
How the 6GHz band is regulated around the world
The 6GHz band has a total width of 1200MHz, ranging from 5.925GHz to 7.125GHz, and is divided into 59 channels of 20MHz each. These channels are grouped to create “sub-bands,” which also vary from one region to another.
In the U.S., the FCC has designated four sub-bands across the entire spectrum, including U-NII-5, U-UNII-6, UNII-7, and UNII-8, for Wi-Fi use, though portions of the band may be reserved for other applications. The E.U. Commission, on the other hand, allows only the U-NII-5 equivalent part of the frequency, or 480MHz in width, for Wi-Fi.
Generally, Wi-Fi 6E needs a 160MHz channel to deliver the best performance, and Wi-Fi 7 requires double that, 320MHz. Due to spectrum availability and other reasons, real-world hardware tends to use narrower channels in most cases.
Overall, the use of the 6GHz frequency is complicated and is the main reason a Wi-Fi broadcaster made for one region might not work in another.
The table below shows its current adoption worldwide. The “Considering” portion is generally slated to be finalized in 2025, though that’s not a done deal.
| Country | Status | Spectrum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Andorra | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Argentina | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Australia | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Austria | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Bahrain | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Belgium | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Brazil | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| CEPT | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Canada | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Chile | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Colombia | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Costa Rica | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Dominican Republic | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Egypt | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| El Salvador | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| European Union | Adopted | 5945-6425 MHz |
| Faroe Islands | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| France | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Germany | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Gibraltar | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Guatemala | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Honduras | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Hong Kong | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Iceland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Ireland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Isle of Man | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Japan | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Jordan | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Kenya | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Liechtenstein | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Luxembourg | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Malaysia | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Mauritius | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Mexico | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Monaco | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Morocco | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Namibia | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Netherlands | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| New Zealand | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Norway | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Oman | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Peru | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Portugal | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Qatar | Adopted Considering | 5925-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Russian Federation | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Saudi Arabia | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Singapore | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| South Africa | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| South Korea | Adopted | 5925-7125 MHz |
| Spain | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Switzerland | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
| Thailand | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Togo | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Tunisia | Considering | 5925-6425 MHz |
| Turkey | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| United Arab Emirates | Adopted | 5925-6425 MHz |
| United Kingdom | Adopted Considering | 5945-6425 MHz 6425-7125 MHz |
Compact design, only two ports
The ZenWiFi BD4 shares the same design as previous Wi-Fi 7 hardware in the family but is significantly smaller. In return, it has only two auto-sensing network ports, both of which are 2.5Gbps, making it similar to the dual-band Deco sets.
Considering the entry-level Wi-Fi Wi-Fi specs, which generally have Gig+ real-world sustained rates, these low-end Multi-Gig ports make sense. The table below shows how the ZenWiFi BD4 is stacked up against the dual-band Decos.
Hardware specifications: Asus ZenWiFi BD4 vs. TP-Link BE3600 vs. TP-Link Deco BE25
| Asus ZenWiFi BD4 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | TP-Link BE3600 Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | TP-Link Deco BE25 BE5000 Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Model | ZenWiFi BD4 | Deco BE23, TP-Link BE3600, Deco WB10800 | Deco BE25, Deco BE5000 |
| Pre-Synced Hardware | Yes | ||
| Possible Dedicated Backhaul Band (default) | None | ||
| Wired Backhaul | Yes | ||
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 5.51 x 2.76 x 5.51 in (140 x 70 x 140 mm) | 5.91 × 5.91 × 2.44 in (150 × 150 × 62 mm) | |
| Weight | 1.21 lbs (549 gram) | 1.12 lbs (508 gram) | |
| Processing Power | Quad-core 1.5 GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 128MB Flash | undisclosed | |
| Wi-Fi Bandwith | Dual-band BE3600 | Dual-band BE5000 | |
| 1st Band (2.4GHz) | 2×2 BE: Up to 688Mbps (20/40MHz) | ||
| 2nd Band (5GHz) | 2×2 BE: Up to 2882Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | 2×2 BE: Up to 4324Mbps (20/40/80/160/240MHz) | |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | N/A (only applicable to the 6GHz band) | ||
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | ||
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11ax/ac/n/g/a/b | ||
| Guest Network | Smart Home Master via AsusWRT 5.0 | Yes (one SSID assigned to one or both bands) | |
| IoT Network | Smart Home Master via AsusWRT 5.0 | Yes (one SSID assigned to one or both bands) | |
| Mobile App | Asus Router | Deco | |
| Web User Interface | Comprehensive | Simple (status only, no local management) | |
| AP Mode | Yes (as a router or a mesh) | ||
| USB Port | None | ||
| Gigabit Port | None | 2x Auto-Sensing | None |
| Multi-Gig Port | 2x 2.5Gbps Auto-Sensing | None | 2x 2.5Gbps Auto-Sensing |
| Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation | No | ||
| Firmware Version (at review) | Not yet tested | 1.0.13 Build 20241108 Rel. 48139 | |
| U.S. Release Date | December 2024 | November 19, 2024 | |
| Power Specs | Input: 100-240V Output: 12V 1.5A | Input: 100-240V Output: 12V 0.8A | |
| Real-World Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | TBD | ≈ 195 Wh (router) ≈ 135 Wh (satellite) | |
| U.S. Launch Price | $299.99 (3-pack) $229.99 (2-pack) $129.99 (single router) (buy now!) | $199.99 (3-pack) (buy now!) | $299.99 (3-pack) $199.99 (2-pack) $129.99 (single router) (buy now!) |
A familiar ZenWiFi system
Despite the dual-band specs and low-performance grade, the BD4 remains a variant of the ZenWiFi family. As a result, you can expect it to be similar to, if not the same, the rest of the family in terms of hardware configurations, network settings, and features applicable to its hardware specs and ports. Specifically, it’ll have:
- The MLO feature: The hardware comes with MLO out of the box. In fact, by default, it’ll use an MLO link as the wireless backhaul, a.k.a. “Smart Haul”.
- Pre-synced hardware: When you get a pack, the identical hardware units are pre-synced. As a result, all you need to do is pick one unit to set up as the primary router—one likely has a removable label suggesting that it’s the “Main Unit”, though you can pick any—and the rest will be part of the system when plugged in.
- AsusWRT 5.0 firmware and core features:
- Multiple SSIDs via the “Smart Home Master” feature.
- Safe Browsing with DNS filters via specific servers.
- Useful Parental Controls and advanced VPN feature set, which includes VPN Fusion and Instant Guard.
- Advanced QoS and online protection (via AiProtection) to keep your network and devices safe.
- A comprehensive set of network settings and features managed via the web user interface or the (optional) Asus Router mobile app that requires no login account or subscription.
If you’ve used an Asus router before, the new ZenWiFi BD4 will be a familiar experience. And like most Asus hardware I’ve tested, chances are you can even load the setting backup files of other Asus routers onto it, making it an easy replacement.
In terms of performance, you clearly won’t get more than 2.5Gbps out of the hardware due to its port. That said, generally, you can have Gig+ Wi-Fi performance out of it, making it a reasonable system for those with Gigabit broadband. Finally, like all dual-band systems, it’s best to use it in a home already wired with network cables since you’ll get the best performance via wired backhauling.
Asus ZenWiFi BD4's PRELIMINARY Assessment
Pros
Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with two 2.5Gbps ports; affordable
AsusWRT 5.0 has lots of customizations and free-for-life high-end features (VPN, Parental Controls, Online Protection, Smart Home Master, etc.).
Robust web user interface and helpful optional mobile app; easy-to-blend-in design
Compact with no internal fan
Cons
Only two network ports; entry-level hardware specs
Not wall-mount-ready
The takeaway
Considering the Deco BE25 (and its variants), the new ZenWiFi BTD 4 is an eventual development from Asus. Chances are you’ll find a few other variants in the near future. While the new hardware is not earth-shattering, it has enough to deliver Gigabit-class real-world performance, especially when used in a wired home. That, plus the comprehensive set of features known among Asus’s ZenWiFi hardware, will make it a formidable contender among the dua-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh crowd.
There’s more to come, but if you’re in the market for Wi-Fi 7 that won’t dig a hole in your wallet, consider a set today!
Is it possible to use Ethernet backhaul for my Asus mesh system through an unmanaged switch while also connecting other Ethernet devices to the same switch? Specifically, one port of the mesh node is used for WAN, and the other available port should connect to a switch that allows multiple devices and another satellite mesh node via Ethernet backhaul. Would this setup work?
Unsure what node you’re taking about, this post will help. Check out the related links, too.
Thanks, Dong.
I asked about using Asus BD4 with Ethernet backhaul via a switch since it has only two 2.5G ports. One is for WAN, leaving only one for LAN devices and another BD4 satellite unit.
Yes you can use a switch. The previously linked post will explain more in detail. Give it a good read!
Thank you again. Much appreciated!
Has anyone seen the BD4 outdoor version in the wild? I can see adverts but no offers for sale….
More info on that one will be available at CES.
Thank Dong. I have a CD6 x 3 units in a modest 3 bedroom home (UK). Works well for us. However, I’ve just noticed about a week ago that it’s end of life re support. A lot of of UK companies are still selling this as if it current!
I was thinking could I “front end” with a unit like this and benefit from updated security, whilst keeping the CD6 satellites. Our browsing needs are modest.
Many thanks for any advice as I always enjoy and respect your insight.
I’d not worry about “end of life”, Ray. The current hardware should still work for a long time. If you are still concerned, get a Wi-fi 6 AiMesh router as the primary unit. Mixing 7 and 5 is not a good idea.
Thank you Dong. A very helpful reply 😊.
👍
Hey Dong,
Been a long time fan since the old CNET days and am always happy to hear your thoughts on equipment.
Thanks for the honest and practical advice, as it’s saved me a lot in helping avoid succumbing to the FOMO over WiFi 7 (especially when my home network has been running smoothly for the past 2-3 years and prices will inevitably come down).
👍
I’ve been looking at the BD5 which is sold through Best Buy. I’ve was hoping you’d do a review and as usually it helped me make the decision. According to Asus website they have the same specs except the BD5 has BE5000 performance of 688+4323 Mbps. They are only $50 more. I’m going to use them with BE88U to extend around the house via wired backhaul. This is an upgrade to my AX86U and XD4s which I’ve had good luck with for a few years.
Your observation is correct, Jeremy. The BD5 is more like the Deco BE25 than the BD4 which is more like the Deco BE23 (not yet announced but a BE3600 grade). It seems Asus won’t officially announce the BD5 until CES.
I get so lost here. Why is this 5000 one offered with advertised speeds surpassing the 2.5g port ability? What am I missing as to how this is relevant or why this would be worthwhile versus the WAN capability?
That’s why it’s called “advertized” speed, Rory. More here.
Not sure if you’re able to say but, which in your opinion is the “bang for buck” for Gig+ service between these (sale prices): BE63/65 ($450), this BD4 ($300), BE25 ($250), X55 Pro ($190). I bought the 3 Decos on Amazon (yet to arrive) in a panic before deals expired… and now an affordable Asus. Please help an indecisive consumer!
I’d take the BD4 over the BE63 and the X55 pro over the BE25. So the X55 Pro is the best b4b by far in terms of connectivity. But Asus has *much* more in features, all free. So, it’s your call. Make sure you read the reviews for the little details.
I have 3 x ET12 (one ET12 as the router) and 7 x XD4 in my apartment as all the walls are constructed with concrete blocks. All have the latest firmware with AsusWRT 4.0
In 2025 Asus will be upgrading the ET12 to Asus WRT 5.0 but not the XD4. Will WRT 5.0 and WRT 4.0 work together or will I have to eventually replace the XD4s (with Wi-Fi 7 devices such as the BD4)? I was looking forward to the IOT Network, but I imagine this won’t work?
Yes, the two versions generally work with each other. But mixing hardware is always tricky.
Do you have insight if XD6 will get Asus WRT 5.0.
I too suffer from concrete blocks, XD6 two deices unable to service 50sq.m (duplex 100sq.m) unit.
Likely not, Yasin. But i don’t know fo sure. In any case, AsusWRT 5.0 won’t help with range. Run a netwok cable.
Yes, sure I will add new nodes (asuswrt 5.0) for coverage.
Having asuswrt 5.0 could help old nodes as backup WAN links and extend same parental/security feature of new nodes.
👍
Added EBR63 as node to existing XD6.
I don’t really see the point of these as compared to WiFi 6E units. What advantages does WiFi 7 offer on such hardware?
Close to nothing if you compare to Wi-Fi 6e. But all Wi-Fi 6e hardware of the same price point doesn’t have two Multi-Gig ports.
Can this handle up to 60+ connections with TV/game streaming? I’ve been using ZenWiFi 8 AX for the past few years without any issues with dropping. Thanks!
It’s impossible to tell, David, but if the XT 8 is working well, I’d recommend not replacing it just yet. That’s generally the case with all things Wi-Fi.
With this system does it include the Router and then 2 satellite or do I have to purchase a router separately?
ZenWiFi generally includes identical units, Devon, they are all mesh routers, as mentioned in the post. So you get 3-pack or 2-pack according to your needs…
You can also add any AiMesh-ready router to the mix.