🛒
Since first announced on January 10 this year, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro has been an intriguing and highly anticipated mesh system. As it finally becomes available for purchase, I’d say it’s worth the wait—a completely different experience from the similar yet anticlimactic hardware that is the TP-Link Deco BE95.
Indeed, the Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the first Wi-Fi broadcaster that has everything of the Wi-Fi 7 standard, including support for MLO and a taste of AFC. Additionally, featuring the latest AsusWRT 5.0 firmware, it also has everything in features and network settings one would expect and then some. Most importantly, in my testing, it proved an all-around excellent home networking machine.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’ve been holding your breath for the Wi-Fi 7 mesh system that covers all the bases of your home network, literally and figuratively, the wait is finally over with the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. The new mesh is totally worth its hefty retail price tag of $1299.99 for a 2-pack or $699.99 for a single unit—street price will vary.
Best Buy exclusively offers a 3-pack for $1699.99, called ZenWiFi BE33000.
On the other hand, like all of Asus’s new hardware, the system likely will need a few rounds of firmware updates to be bug-free. So, it might be wise to wait a bit, and hopefully, the price will come down, too.
Dong’s note: I first published this post as a new piece on January 10, 2024, and updated it on May 30, 2024, to an in-depth review after weekslong hands-on testing.
Asus Wi-Fi 7 BQ16/Pro: The true multi-Gigabit experience
Like the case of the recently available GT-BE98 Pro gaming standalone AiMesh router, the BQ16—the first member of Asus’s new Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi BQ series that will include more hardware options down the line—is also available in two variants: the BQ16 Pro and BQ16.
The two are identical quad-band hardware with one exception: The BQ16 Pro has two 6GHz bands, and the non-Pro BQ16 has two 5GHz bands—they use band-splitting in different frequencies. The former is for the U.S. market, which I used for this review, but you can expect the latter, available elsewhere, to deliver a similar experience.
This practice is likely caused by the fact the 6GHz frequency is more complicated in terms of regulations and adoption in different parts of the world than the 5GHz band, which has been available for Wi-Fi for years. For the same reason, Asus recently introduced the RT-BE88U, which forgoes the band altogether. In that sense, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is more “special” than the non-Pro version. It has double the 6GHz privilege.
The 6GHz journey: Curious about how the 6GHz is available around the world? Open the drawer below.
The adoption of the 6GHz Wi-Fi
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 UNII-5, 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 UNII-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 |
With that out of the way, the new mesh hardware is the most powerful in the ZenWiFi family to date. It features top-tier Wi-Fi 7—up to 30000Mbps of total bandwidth, 320MHz channel width, 4K-QAM, Multi-Link Operation, and other standard goodies—and is the first to come with two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports.
Each Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro mesh router is quite huge and has a good heft—that’s a large hand. Still, it’s significantly more compact and lighter than competing Wi-Fi 7 hardware of similar caliber, such as the TP-Link Deco BE95 or the Netgear RS700S, while remaining fanless.
The only-two-multi-Gigabit-port blue
As mentioned, each ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro unit has two 10Gbps ports and three Gigabit ports. That’s disappointing, considering the Deco BE95 goes all Multi-Gig ports plus the support for SFP+.
Still, two 10Gbps ports are a fundamental step up from having just one. With them, new ZenWiFi hardware enables users to have a robust multi-Gigabit network. Specifically, you can:
- Have a 10Gbps wired connection out of a single ZenWiFi BQ16 unit using two multi-Gigabit wired devices.
- Daisy-chain multiple units with 10Gbps wired backhauling.
- Host a 10Gbps broadband connection and a 10Gbps switch to the router (or a wired satellite) and increase the number of supported multi-Gigabit wired devices within the network.
- Run a Dual-WAN setup with one of the WANs being up to 10Gbps.
Additionally, in a wireless backhauling configuration, the MLO feature can help improve the link between hardware units. Overall, the ZenWiFi has the most bandwidth to offer to date, and with some effort, such as a switch, it can help speed up a home’s network to the fastest possible. Additionally, it has many more features to offer than the TP-Link counterpart, all of which are free.
The table below shows the final hardware specs of the new ZenWiFi BQ16 and the TP-Link Deco BE95.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro vs. BQ16: Hardware specifications
| Asus ZenWiFi BQ 16 Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | TP-Link Deco BE95 BE33000 quad-band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 7 System | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Model | ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro | Deco BE95 |
| Antennas | 13 internal | 12 internal |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Quad-band BE33000 | |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM (all bands) | |
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz: up to 1376Mbps (20/40MHz) | |
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz: up to 5762Mbps (20/40/80/160/240MHz) | |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz-1: up to 11,525Mbps (lower channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| 4th Band (channel width) | 6GHz-2: up to 11,525Mbps (upper channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| Mesh Availablity (at launch) | 2-pack, 3-pack, (identical routers) | |
| Mesh Technology | AiMesh with AsusWRT 5.0 | TP-Link Deco |
| 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 | |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN | 2x 2.5Gbps 1x 10Gbps 1x 10Gbps / SFP+ Combo (all ports are WAN/LAN auto-sensing) |
| Gigabit Port | 1x Gigabit WAN/LAN, 2x Gigabit LAN | None |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | |
| Network Features | Web User Interface Asus Mobile App with Smart Home Master | |
| Dimensions (each unit) | 8.43 x 14.12 x 2.83 in (214 x 174.2 x 72 mm?) | 5.04 × 5.04 × 9.29 in (128 × 128 × 236 mm) |
| Weight (each unit) | 2.79 lbs (1.27 kg) | 3.3 lbs (1.5kg) |
| Internal Fan | No | Yes |
| Processing Power | 2GB DDR4 RAM, 256MB Flash | Undisclosed |
| Hardware Availability (at launch) | 2-pack or 3-pack (identical routers) | |
| Web User Interface | Yes (full) | Yes (limited-unavailable without the mobile app) |
| Mobile App | Asus Router (optional but can replace the Web UI) | TP-Link Deco (required) |
| Free Features | Standard network settings, Dynamic DNS, Dual-WAN/Link Aggregation Online Protection via AiProtection, Parental Controls, Advanced VPNs with VPN Fusion and Instant Guard, Smart Home Master (virtual SSIDs) | Standard network settings, Dynamic DNS, Basic security, Basic parental control, Standard OpenVPN |
| Add-on Features (paid subscriptions) | None | Security+, Advanced Parental Controls, Total Protection |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | Early stage | unavailable at launch (possibly to be added via firmware) |
| Firmware Version (at review) | 3.0.0.6.102_34995 | 1.0.14 Build 20231124 |
| DC Power Adapter | 100~240 V | |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 530 Wh (measured at router unit) | ≈ 535 Wh (measured at router unit) |
| U.S. Release Date | May 26, 2024 | November 23, 2023 |
| Availability | North America | Worldwide |
| U.S. Price (at launch) | $1299.99 (2-pack) $699.99 (single router) (Buy now!) | $1199.99 (2-pack) $1799.99 (3-pack) $599.99 (single router) (Buy now!) |
A familiar ZenWiFi set, now with SmartHaul, Smart Home Master, and most importantly, AFC
Like all previous ZenWiFi hardware, the new BQ16 Pro uses the popular AiMesh feature to be compatible with all of its existing mesh-ready broadcasters. Generally, though, you should only use it with Wi-Fi 7 hardware. Otherwise, you might lose some of its significant improvements, including what Asus calls “Smarthaul” and “Smart Home Master.”
The former is basically the fact that the new mesh system features a Wi-Fi 7 MLO feature, which allows it to have super high bandwidth for both back- and front-hauling simultaneously. If you mix it with older hardware, such as that of the Wi-Fi 6 or 6E standard, MLO is no longer.
The latter, in a nutshell, is the latest capability of the AsusWRT 5.0 firmware that enables the hardware to deliver multiple virtual SSIDs to fit different scenarios. It’s the self-defined network (SDN) feature in the ExpertWiFi family, but without the business-related “scenarios.” The gist is that you can have multiple SSIDs to segment your network, and that’s quite significant considering the MLO feature—more below.
AsusWRT has so far gone through five major versions, including:
- AsusWRT 1.0: Available in pre-Wi-Fi 4 routers. It’s the initial AsusWRT firmware with the 3.0.0.4 kernel.
- AsusWRT 2.0: Available with Wi-Fi 4 hardware and added support for USB storage.
- AsusWRT 3.0: Available in Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 hardware and added the support for AiMesh starting with firmware build 3.0.0.4.384.xxx.
- AsusWRT 4.0: This version is available primarily in Wi-Fi 6 and 6E hardware, starting with firmware build 3.0.0.04.386.xxx. It added multiple levels of gaming and security. AsusWRT 4.0 is the final version with the 3.0.0.4 kernel.
- AsusWRT 5.0: This version was first available in late 2023 in Asus’s latest hardware, such as the new ExpertWiFi family and Wi-Fi 7 hardware. It uses the new 3.0.0.6 kernel. Among other improvements, it supports self-defined networks (SDNs), advanced VPNs, Gaming networks, and more.
The self-defined network (SDN) feature in AsusWRT 5.0 allows users to create multiple virtual SSIDs that fit different scenarios, such as office space, Guest Wi-Fi, IoT, etc. This feature has different names:
- SDN in Asus’s new ExpertWiFi business hardware.
- Guest Network Pro in its ROG gaming and high-end RT models.
- Smart Home Master in the Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi lineup.
What’s most significant is that the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is the very first Wi-Fi 7 hardware, where the 6GHz band had the same range as the 5GHz band in my testing, likely due to AFC (though Asus wouldn’t confirm that’s the case).
Other than that, the new mesh system shares the common core features available in all hardware that uses the same firmware. Consequently, you can expect a robust web user interface with lots of advanced settings, including (and not limited to):
- Safe Browsing with DNS filters via specific servers
- Comprehensive Parental Controls and an 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.
That said, if you’ve used an Asus router before, you’ll feel at home with the new ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. In fact, in my trial, the hardware showed that it also supported universal restoration, meaning you can load the settings backup files of most existing Asus routers on it, making it super convenient for an upgrade.
Overall, the only thing I found quite different is the Wi-Fi settings—more specifically, the way you handle the router’s many SSIDs. Let’s take a closer look.
Flexible, straightforward, yet complicated Wi-Fi settings
As mentioned, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro features Wi-Fi 7’s MLO feature. MLO can combine multiple bands into a single bonded link to deliver higher bandwidth and better signal quality.
For the main SSIDs, the way MLO works is like Smart Connect—you must use the same SSID and password for the bands to feature MLO.
If you want to use a band with an SSID of its own so that you can configure it to support legacy clients, for example, this band needs to be outside of the Smart Connect SSID. You have the option to use a separate SSID for each band’s primary network and then use a virtual SSID for MLO.
So, if you use a single ZenWiFi BE16 Pro as a standalone router, things are relatively simple: You can use MLO or not.
On the other hand, if you use more than one unit to form a mesh system, things can get complicated. That’s because the system has different backhaul settings depending on how you arrange the hardware units. As a result, the Wi-Fi availability might vary at a satellite unit, specifically:
- If you choose to turn MLO off, the system automatically uses one of the 6GHz bands (the 6GHz-1) as the satellite’s dedicated backhaul in a wireless setup. This band is only available to clients at the router unit. However, if you choose wired backhauling, all bands can be made available for clients.
- If you choose to use MLO, the MLO link will work as the fronthaul and backhaul for the entire system in a wireless setup. In a wired backhauling setup, this link only works for clients. You can also create a second MLO-enabled virtual SSID.
- With or without MLO, the hardware comes with multiple options for virtual SSIDs such as IoT, Guest network, Kids network, VPN network, etc., for different options. You can make these SSIDs available only on the router or at one or all satellite units.
Tip
Asus’s self-defined networks (SDNs), a.k.a. virtual SSIDs, can be set to be part of the same subnet as the primary network, which might or might not be the default option when you first create them. If picked not to be part of the primary subnet, a virtual SSID will be of a different subnet separated from the main network, which can cause local connection issues for those who are unaware.
Unless you’re fluent in handling multiple subnets, it’s best to use these SSIDs with the same subnet as the main network. To change the subnet, you might need to delete the SSID and recreate it.
It’s worth noting that the router takes a pretty long time, up to a few minutes, to apply new Wi-Fi settings, such as turning MLO on or off, adding/removing a virtual SSID, and so on. During this time, the network is unavailable.
Generally, you can use the initial setup wizard’s default settings (which have MLO enabled by default) and use the system that way. In this case, the initial setup process, which is similar to that of any AiMesh router or system, will take about 10 minutes.
However, if you want to try out all the different settings and available options of the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro’s Smart Home Master, that could take hours, if not days. I speak from experience.
ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro: Best Wi-Fi performance to date
I tested a 2-pack ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro for a couple of weeks and was really impressed. As the first hardware to officially support all Wi-Fi 7 features, the new mesh system, powered by a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, showed how the new standard is indeed a game changer in wireless connectivity.
The first noteworthy item is that its 6GHz band has a similar range as the 5GHz band. I used Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 clients to measure the reach, and the two bands consistently showed the same signal strength at the exact distances, including behind walls.
Neither Asus nor Broadcom revealed the details of the chip’s AFC, likely because this feature was still largely in work during 2024, but the boost in the range of the 6GHz band was evident with the ZenWiFi BE16 Pro. And that helped boost the significance of the MLO feature a great deal.
My Wi-Fi 7 test clients, running the Intel BE200 and Qualcomm NCM865 adapters, support MLO as long as they run Windows 11 24H2 or later. I tested a few of them with the early version of the OS, and they all indicated that they connected at the increased aggregated negotiated speed.
However, as shown in the charts, the MLO feature has only minor impacts on these clients’ real-world speeds. Instead, it significantly increases the backhaul link’s bandwidth for the broadcasters.
Specifically, from over 40 feet (12 m) away, the satellite connected to the primary router at a sustained speed of over 6.5Gbps via an MLO link, the fastest I’ve seen so far. Even with MLO turned off, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro’s 6GHz backhaul link was also speedier than the previous hardware.
The new mesh was also excellent when hosting clients. As a router or wired satellite, via a 10GBASE-T backhaul link, it was the first to break the 3Gbps barrier of sustained rates via a 2×2 Wi-Fi 7 client. In fact, the hardware was consistently the fastest when hosting clients of any previous Wi-Fi standards.
I tested both with and without MLO, and as a wireless satellite, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro was also the fastest to date, topping the charts in almost all scenarios.
The ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro also delivers excellent range. It’s tricky to put the range in a concrete number, but generally, if you leave a single unit at the center, it can handle around 2500 ft2 (232 m2) of space. Your mileage will vary, but you can use that to figure out how many units you’ll need. In most cases, the 2-pack is a great way to start since you can easily add more later if necessary.
In any case, note that while the 6GHz band’s range is increased, it’s not further than the 5GHz band or especially the 2.4GHz band. Still, the band’s farther reach and the MLO-bonded link will help clients at far distances have a more meaningful connection with the broadcaster.
As a single router or a 2-pack mesh, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro passed my 3-day stress tests without any disconnection. It proved to be reliable.
The hardware also remained relatively cool during my entire trial, despite having no internal fan. Even during heavy operation, it was much less warm to the touch than the Deo BE95, which is larger and comes with a relatively noisy fan.
But the ZenWiFi is not perfect, either.
Subdued, though relatively fast, network-attached storage performance; a bit buggy
Like most new routers from Asus, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro was a bit buggy during my trial. A couple of things to note:
- As mentioned above, the hardware can take a long time to restart to apply new settings, and many settings require a restart. Often, removing a guest network, turning the MLO on or off, or switching from wired backhauling to wireless could cause the system to be offline for a few minutes.
- MLO wireless backhaul can be unreliable—it was likely due to the development stage of the feature as a whole.
- Some settings didn’t apply correctly. For example, the “access intranet” option, which allows a virtual SSID to be part of the main network (instead of being isolated), intermittently behaves oppositely.
- My 2-pack system wasn’t pre-synced like previous ZenWiFi sets—I had to add the satellite manually to form a mesh system. Asus confirmed that that wasn’t representative of how the hardware should work.
Most of these are minors and will likely be worked out via future firmware releases, and Asus said it would release a new version imminently. That’s often the case with Asus Wi-Fi hardware, partly because it tends to have lots of features and settings to account for.
Note: If you intend to mix the ZenWiFi BE16 Pro with other AiMesh Wi-Fi 7 hardware, such as the GT-BE98 Pro, to form the “ultimate” gaming mesh, the combo will work if you use wired backhauling (recommended). It’s unlikely that you can use them with an MLO-enabled wireless backhaul.
One thing will likely remain the same, however: the router’s performance when hosting a portable SSD as its storage. I tested it with a 4TB SanDisk Extreme Pro, and the performance was modest considering the 10Gbps LAN port.
The router unit had sustained write and read speeds of around 130 MB/s and 175 MB/s, respectively. That was pretty fast until you compared it to other multi-Gigabit routers on the charts, including the TP-Link Deco BE95. At these rates, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro can pass for casual network storage needs. If you want more, it’s better to get a real NAS server.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro's Rating
Pros
Top quad-band Wi-Fi 7 specs with all features to deliver best-to-date real-world performance both in throughputs and coverage; two 10Gbps Multi-Gig ports
The latest AsusWRT 5.0 has lots of customizations and free-for-life high-end features (VPN, Parental Controls, Online Protection, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, Smart Home Master, etc.).
Robust web user interface and helpful optional mobile app; easy-to-blend-in design
Comparatively compact with no internal fan
Cons
Comparatively expensive; numerous settings require a lengthy restart to apply
Only two Multi-Gig ports; AFC still pending certification (by early 2025)
Not wall-mount-ready
Conclusion
Despite the innate, albeit manageable, backward compatibility issue of Wi-Fi 7’s MLO feature and the “standard” buggy stage of Asus hardware during launch, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro is easily the best home mesh system to date. It combines a vast amount of valuable features with the currently fastest performance into a relatively compact, aesthetically pleasant package.
While its top performance might not hold the record for long, considering more Wi-Fi 7 hardware on the horizon, it’s about as fast as anyone would want. That’s especially true if you use it via 10GBASE-T wired backhauling.
On the downside, the system’s $1300 price tag for a 2-pack can be stiff for many—so is Best Buy’s exclusive $1700 3-pack option—and the combo of high customizability and long restarts can be daunting if you’re impatient and assume it’d “just work” with all existing devices after the quick initial setup process with the default settings.
With that in mind, you might want to wait for the price to go down. Like previous Asus hardware, the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro will only get better over time—and it had a lot of room on this front—via firmware updates. But if you’ve been saving for a non-compromise mesh system that has (almost) everything, go for it today!
Hi Dong – thanks very much for the informative review (plus all the other stuff on your site).
You mention that in a daisy‑chain arrangement, the MLO backhaul is not available at the second satellite level.
Can I clarify that this also includes a scenario where the first satellite uses wired backhaul, and then the second satellite is connected wirelessly to the first satellite? That is, the second satellite would not be able to use MLO to backhaul to the first satellite, even though it is wired?
I was talking about a fully wireless setup, Andre. I haven’t tried a mixed one yet but my take is that depends on the hardware with a low chance of success. I’ve put a note to test that scenario going forward.
I’ve just tested it with three BQ16s – one satellite wired to the router, and then a second satellite set to prefer uplink to the first satellite. MLO is switched on.
It seems to have kicked the second satellite off MLO and onto one of the 5GHz bands (I’m using BQ16 non-Pro).
Hopefully ASUS allows for MLO in the future with these sort of wired to wireless daisy chain arrangements. Unless there’s some sort of limitation I’m not seeing, it would make sense given I’ve got 10G backhaul between the router and first satellite.
That’s what I’d suspect, too. Thanks for sharing, Andre!
Very thorough review Dong. This seems to be the best spec’ed system out there from a HW/performance perspective. I’m on the fence about purchasing because there are a lot more reviews online citing connectivity/reliability issues with ZenWifi than for other systems. Do you have a take on these issues and whether the cause is the product vs. user error?
It’s nuanced, Jake. If you don’t have time, go with non-band-splitting hardware.
Your review was the reason why I just picked up the BQ16 to replace my older Eero mesh system, so thank you for that! I don’t want to waste too much of your time and I need to do more troubleshooting here, but I finally set up the BQ16 this morning. Main unit connected to my modem and then second unit connected wired elsewhere in the house. Setup was fairly smooth, but the connection (wired and wireless) seems unstable. On the wired side, there are now pauses when trying to access my network folders on my Synology. Even just loading internet pages, sometimes it would load fast and other times it would stall. The issues are more glaring with wireless. My daughter noted that her iPad connection was slow (playing Roblux). Looking at my phone, I can see that the wifi connection keeps dropping off every 5 minutes and then reconnecting. In the ASUS app, it looks like there are periodic connection issues with the routers. I am assuming this is all related. Any ideas as far as a first step to troubleshoot. I didn’t mess with any of the router settings yet (aside from making sure the firmware was updated) as I was hoping out of the box the connections would be stable and then I could spend some time customizing. I ended up just disconnecting the BQ16 and reconnecting my old Eero for now since I have several kids getting grumpy at the poor wireless connection lol.
First, stop using the Asus app, Damien. If you used the app for the setup process, I’d recommend resetting the hardware and setting the system up from scratch using the web interface, make sure you updated the firmware during the process if prompted. More here. Secondly, what you mentioned seems more of an DNS issue. Pick Google or Cloudflaire as your servers when troubleshooting. Asus is very different from eero. The app-based approach of the latter tends to turn their users presumptuous in system settings, etc. So, drop the mobile app and take your time! Good luck!
Thanks so much for the quick response. Your love for the Eero ecosystem (including the privacy and pay to play issues) has been a big motivation for me to finally move on from Eero 🙂 . I will say, I have been running Eero for probably well over 5 years and it has just worked, but time to move on!
👍
Hi Dong,
Hopefully this is a stupidly obvious post from me, but I just want to check.
Modem to WAN1 on Satellite 1
Satellite 1 from 10G LAN to Satellite 2 WAN1
Satellite 1, will then have 2 spare LAN ports, Satelitte 2, will have 3 spare LAN ports?
Also will the usb drive on both satellites work at once? For instance Satellite 1 I could have a USB storage device attached and Satellite 2 I could have my phone plugged in for tethering?
Thanks
You don’t connect the modem to a satellite in a mesh setup, Dan. Or maybe you meant something else by “satellite.” In any case, this post will help. Good luck!
Hello, I mean like if I get a 2 pack, it comes with 2 nodes or whatever they’re called, units? Hehe not sure
Will all spare ports still work on both units, including usb?
Thanks
One is the primary router and the rest are satellites. Give the post I linked earlier a good read! You need it and it has all the answers.
hi, I would like to know if as of now (March 2025), wireless back hauling should work correctly ?
Yes, Loris, it’s been that way since months ago. You want to use MLO for the backhaul link. If you’ve used the hardware since it was first released, you might want to reset it to default and then set it up from scratch with the latest firmware. Good luck!
With the BQ16, can you still assign Vlans to ssid’s (i.e. guest) if the mesh is in AP mode? I have a separate firewall I want to use.
No, Dietrich. You can assign VLAN from the router to the entire AP hardware, via the port it connects, but not to its particular SSID. You can have a guest Wi-Fi network with it. Still, if you have to ask this question, I don’t think you should use VLAN. Things can get much more confusing and complicated.
Not to be combative but we are going to have to agree to disagree. I don’t find Vlans confusing or complicated.
In your “TIP” from the review, you write
“Asus’s self-defined networks (SDNs), a.k.a virtual SSIDs, can be set to be part of the same subnet as the primary network, which might or might not be the default option when you first create them. If picked to be not part of the primary subnet, a virtual SSID will be a VLAN that’s entirely separate from the main network and can cause issues for those who are unaware.”
Reading this seems to imply you could assign a Vlan ID to a virtual SSID. Similar to Ubiquity.
While I love Asus products, the manual is pretty weak. No information about what is or isn’t available in AP mode and nothing about what you describe in your note.
{…}
I looked at your question again. It seemed it was about Asus’s SDNs (virtual Wi-Fi networks) and not really about VLANs. The confusing part is where you mentioned your firewall which generally handle VLANs in different ways. So to answer you question: Yes, you still have Asus SDNs in the AP mode. But if you think you can manage those via your firewall’s VLANs, then the answer is no. That’s the spirit in my first answer. Again, it’s always in the little details and specificity is important. Things would have been much easiser if you had called your firewall “router” or skipped “VLANs” entirely. Instead just ask: “Can I still use the SDNs in the AP mode?”.
WOW, now your just making things up. I never said I wanted to manage SDN’s from my firewall/router.
It would have been much easier if you had just stated you don’t understand the question or more importantly, the topic of discussion instead of making assumptions.
The tone of your responses here and other locations shows this is more about your ego than helping others. What a waste of time. I’ll just order the unit, have it here in two days and get the answer in minutes.
Your going to have to find someone else to give you the stroke, I’m out.
You didn’t, but from my experience, that’s how it was unfortunately interpreted. Your comment is still there. I had many folks having issues with SDNs which was the reason I put up the tip, which you didn’t quote in its entirety. Unlike you, I had hundreds of questions a day. My ego is fine, but your bow-out is noted.
Thank you for your Feb 3, 2025, 9:50pm reply to my post, above, Dong (looks like I was overchatty and it wouldn’t let me add any more to that convo)! I’m going to switch over to using the GT-BE98 Pro as my primary router and see how it goes. I also just placed an order for the Asus USB-BE92 Nano USB Wifi 7 adapter {…} – I’m going to use it with my laptop until I get a new one with Wifi 7 built in, but I’m also going to try plugging it into my Meta Quest 3 to see if it has any performance effec there (even if only a placebo effect!). I’ll let you know, if so. In the meantime, thanks, as always, for everything!
👍
My Pro version lacks a VLAN tab, just like the non-Pro model, even though Asus’s website advertises VLAN support for the Pro.
Make sure you run the latest firmware version, Bryan.
Hello – finally got some time to setup two BQ 16 Pro’s. I have them connected wired via the 10 GBE port, as get 2 GB Fiber.
Only device I can’t get to detect to the IOT network are my Brilliance outdoor lights. I think I tried just about everything reading thru the above, but no luck. Will contact Brilliance this week.
Are you still recommending to turn MLO off when hardwiring with the Satellite? Was not sure if that changed with the most recent firmware updates.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Yes, if you have a wired backhaul, MLO is totally pointless. You can keep the SSID the same for all bands. Set up an IoT 2.4GHz-only SSID for your lights.
So, on the IOT I setup, I do have it for 2.4ghz. That is the one they won’t connect on for some reason.
Are you saying setup another IOT just for the lights?
Thank you!
Change the security settings and channel width of that SSID to the lowest level, or Auto.
Thanks. I have the IOT set at 2.4 ghz only band and WPA2-Personal.
Also – on the main router, two of the LAN ports are highlighted yellow in the settings, saying the Ethernet speeds could be improved in those ports. I tried switching to different wires, but still the same.
Sorry for all the questions. 🙂
Assuming the connected cables are up to snuff, that’s because your devices at their other ends use a slower Ethernet standard(s) than the ports themselves.
Read my previous answer again on the IoT SSID.
Security setting is WPA2-Personal, Channel Bandwidth is 20mhz and I am at 2.4 ghz. I think that is what you are saying. I changed to those settings and the outdoor lights still won’t connect. Thanks!
Is keeping the SSID the same for all bands your general recommendation?
I’m about to purchase two units (BQ16 or BE96U or BE98 Pro) to set up as a mesh network. Router/satellite will be wired, so I understand I should turn MLO off (I think the only Wifi7 client I have is my iPhone…so nothing else would benefit, right?).
Anyway…wouldn’t having each radio named the same cause jumping between bands? Is that desirable? Is jumping to a DIFFERENT band on the same SSID the same as “roaming”/handing off from one router/sat to another on the SAME band?
Or should I set up three SSIDs? 2.4GHz for older devices, outdoor cameras, far away things. 6GHz for anything compatible. Then 5GHz for everything else. Or is there a better combination or usage for a mesh network?
That depends, Brian. Give this post on Wi-Fi settings a good read.
Thanks a lot for your reviews here! Highest standard, highly appreciated!
I recently bought the TP-Link Deco BE85 but I will return it to the show. It annoys me because it does not provide an internal DNS proxy. DHCP sends the ISP’s DNS addresses directly to the clients, not the router’s IP. As a result, the BE85 is unable to resolve hostnames of devices within the LAN. There is not even an option to disable DHCP in router mode allowing to overcome this deficiency by using Pi Hole. Furthermore, I have heard that not even Netgear’s Orbi 970 has such a DNS service. Something of a scandal, in my opinion, given the cost of these devices!
However, do you know by chance how the Asus BQ16 is equipped in terms of DNS? The specs only say “DNS-over-TLS”, which does not clearly indicate if my needs are fulfilled. Have you observed during your tests that it alows to resolve hostnames of LAN devices?
Thanks again and kind regards,
Alex
Resolving host names for local devices is always tricky, Alex. Even enterprise-class equipment only has a certain level of success. But generally Asus gives a lot of options on this front.
Hi Dong,
Thank you for all your amazing reviews! I currently have a TP Link deco px50 mesh setup. I have 3 units. The main unit is upstairs in my “computer room” which is closest to being in the center of my home, one is on the main floor in the living room towards the front and the last is in the basement at the rear of my home for better yard coverage. I did this in hopes of minimizing overlap between the units. I have noticed that the claims of fast switching to the nearest router are greatly exaggerated. Are there any mesh setups that you have reviewed that handle this well? Thank you for your time!
The roaming is generally always hit or miss, Jeff. That’s especially true with Apple devices. More here.
Big question for me — i really need the Smart Home Master functionality of the BQ16 Pro to isolate my IoT and Appliances. With my extensive network (multiple servers, dual wan, etc) which is heavily wired and segregated, all my wireless ‘routers’ get configured as Access Points (AP mode). To properly isolate, I have separate subnets and I have two choices — one router/mesh per subnet, or use the Smart Home Master ability. Obviously, the later reduces hardware footprint and band interference. But it is NOT clear how Smart Home Master works when NOT on the main network (no examples anywhere) and it the same for if the functionality works when in AP Mode. Any thoughts or experience?
When you make a new virtual SSID that’s NOT using the same subnet as the primary network, it becomes a VLAN. If you don’t know how to handle VLANs in general, you should NOT use the SSID with a different subnet. Delete it and recreate it as part of the primary network’s subnet.
Hi Dong,
thank you for this great and complete review. Based on this review I bought a pack of 2 and I’m very happy with them.
I setup the mesh with a wired BackHaul and my understanding is that it is better to turn off MLO as it doesn’t bring much today and might create instability. Is this correct ?
Thank you
Yes, MLO is only significant in wireless backhauling, for now.
Your reviews are great! I have always purchased Orbi’s and was going to get the Netgear 970 two pack, until I read your Asus BQ16 Pro review. Sounds like a great wifi 7 router/mesh network.
What is baffling to me is why they went with 1gbe connections instead of 2.5 gbe connections like the Netgear 970. On such a high end router, seems really odd. If it did come with 2.5 gbe connections would make it a much better buy for me.
In reading your reviews it seems like you like the Orbi 770 or the 970. Thanks!
The Orbi can’t hold a candle to the ZenWiFi, Greg. Considering the price, you can easily get a switch to add more ports.
Thanks. Ok – will get the ZenWifi BQ16.
Is there a switch you recommend? Never used one before. Will have to read up on those now on your site.
You want a 10Gbps switch, Greg. I’ve used these three since their reviews and they have been great. Good luck!
Excellent review Dong. Appreciate all the hard work you do to bring us all this information. I ended up getting the two pack BQ16 Pro from amazon using your link. Going to set it up in a wired configuration and might add my existing BE98 Pro as well (wired of course). Oh boy I guess Christmas came early! 🙂
With the latest firmware and via wired backhauling, the combo will work out great. Good luck, Sev!
I am having such issues with this thing I can’t even imagine. All of my Apple devices are having connection issues where they act like they will not access the internet even though connected. Even my hardwirde PC is acting up. Sonos devices are completely messed up. I have separated my SSID and am having issues adding Sonos devices back. I am on latest firmware with MLO turned off. I am at my wits end here. Any suggestions?
Try this, Bret: Back up the router then reset the system to default setting. Afer that restore it, or better yet if your network is simple, set it up again from scratch. There are some big changes in firmware between the versions and some settings of the old version won’t work well with the latest one. You might have ignored that warning during the updates. Good luck!
Thanks. This is a brand new system for me. I simply updated to the newest firmware upon intial setup. So this has been an issue since the beginning. Do you think changing channels would help with the Sonos issues? Sonos always worked fine with my XT8 mesh.
It’s the general issue with Wi-Fi 7, Bret. It will be addressed but that will take time. For now, if you want to be on the cutting edge, some tweaking is necessary. If you have a Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster that works “well” with all existing devices, it’s NOT a Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster in practice. Don’t believe in the marketing language, you won’t have everything.
Hi Bret – I’m having the same issues with apple devices switching between nodes as well from the latest FW update – I have been in contact with Broadcom to see if I’m missing anything, but like Dong said set it up like new from scratch. The performance is amazing overall though, especially with a wired backhaul.
I have one of these unopened yet, as keep reading about issues on the above. I just don’t understand how anything this expensive that has been out a while now can have so many issues. Some of these WiFi routers have been out over a year now.
I am not reading about these types of issues with the Orbi 970. So, maybe will just get that instead and return this, as good as this router has the potential to be it has to work especially with Apple Devices and Sonos, etc…. Should not be this hard. 🙂
You should stay with Wi-Fi 6, Greg. Any Wi-Fi router that works well right out of the box today with legacy clients functions largely as a Wi-Fi 6 one.
You know what? I went to the firmware right before the latest and it fixed most of my issues. I knew it had to be something firmware related. Now if they can come out with a new new one that fixes everything it would be great.
Should we not expect WiFi 7 to work though with Apple, Sonos, etc? I am not reading about these issues with the Orbi 970 and I don’t think that functions as WiFi 6.
So, in your opinion Dong, the Orbi 970, Asus BQ 16 Pro or TP-Link Deco BE85 will not function out of the box with WiFi 6 devices or maybe not play nice at all with some WiFi 6 devices? Thanks! 🙂
As, always appreciate the help! 🙂
They don’t functioni exactly like that they work in compatibiliy mode. The eero Max 7, for example, has zero 6GHz in my testing. The Asus allows for tweaking, but tweaking needs understanding and nuances. Thinking it “should not be this hard” just won’t cut it. Also, the support takes two, the clients have to support the new requirments, too, and Apple is generally the worst on this front. More here. It will take Wi-Fi 7 another year or so to mature.
I’ve found what Dong states to be true. I had problems with legacy devices and the BQ16, so I returned the latter and purchased the ZenWifi ET12 (Wifi 6E) — got 2 for several hundred dollars less than a single BQ16, and I haven’t had a single problem since.
I have Apple devices and Sonos devices (many) all working fine with 2 BQ16 backhauled and MLO on.
@Paolo Got any 2.4 GHz devices on your network? That’s where I had trouble.
Yes I got 2.4 devices but I created another sub_network net_IoT for the devices 2.4 GHz.
Also in the professional of wireless settings I changed in the band 2.4 GHz the modulation scheme to “up to MCS 7 (802.11n)
Also as Dong suggested I never use the app to do changes. I always use the web interface.
I did a complete restore of my network, GT98 as the main, and another GT98 and 2 b16 pro’s, all wire backhauled all on the latest FW. Apple WIFI 6E devices work fine on different ap’s again, which was the only issue I had. Sonos is fine. I do have many 2.4 ghz devices and they all work fine too – but prior to going hardwired surveillance station cameras, I had issues with nest cameras. In general, Apple products work fine, but you will get a limited compatibility warning in your wifi settings but it still works fine.
The available “IOT” default network did not work well for me for many IOT devices. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to connect my devices that fail to connect. It seems like my older {…} router had no problems adding 2.4 ghz devices, but ASUS seems to have a huge issue with the 2.4 band for home automation.
That’s the case with ALL Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters, Greg. Read the post on the standard for more.
Honestly, I’d be interested in why Wifi 7 broadcasters are incompatible with 2.4 GHz ioT devices. I looked through your Wifi 7 essay and couldn’t find anything.
To be honest, I found that even with Wifi 7 turned *off*, I had at least one 2.4 GHz device that had trouble maintaining a connection with the Asus ZenWifi BQ16. I wound up returning it and getting an Asus ZenWifi ET12 instead.
Don’t look through! Read it! Or just stick with Wi-Fi 6. That’s the best for now.
Hi Dong – thanks as always for the thorough digging under the hood! So I bought a BQ16 Pro pair a few months ago and am thoroughly enjoying them. I still have a GT-BE98 Pro sitting around, though, and I’m wondering if firmware on the latter has caught up such that it would be able to form a part of the BQ16 mesh with all bells and whistles of both models turned on, including MLO. If yes, would you recommend I use the BE98 Pro as the master, or have it set as a node (my network is mainly for gaming, AV streaming, VR gaming, etc.).
Separately – I don’t know if you know anything about DTS Play-Fi, but it’s a nightmare to use – I love it when it works – streaming music throughout the house – but when it stops working during a gathering it can get pretty frustrating. Wondering if you have any thoughts on ideal settings for Asus routers and DTS Play-FI. Thank you!
I’ve never used DTS Play-Fi, Chris. I think with the latest firmwhere, the mentioned hardware should work well together now, but, like always, wired bakchauling is reommended if you want best relibility. Good luck!
Hello, I have the same hardware – a 2-pack ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro and a single ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro. Since you mentioned they work well together now over wired backhaul, I do have a question regarding which the “main” router should be. My Fibre ONT is on the ground floor, I have a basement below and a top floor above. Should I place the BE98 Pro on the ground floor since it is the most of a “dedicated router,” or am I good having it in the basement since that’s where my gaming PC is? In that scenario the ONT would be hooked up to one of the BQ16 Pro units, of course.
In a mesh, the gaming feature is determined by the router, not a satellite. So you want to use the GT-BE98 Pro as your primary router, Alessandro. More here.
Thank you for the information! May I follow up with just a self-ressaurance; having a single GT-BE98 Pro connected to the 2-pack BQ16 Pro to form a wired backhaul mesh setup isn’t worse than having x3 BQ16 Pro units right? In terms of compatibility? it’ll just work the same?
It’ll work the same in terms of compatibility. I’ve used that combo since the reviews. Make sure you use the latest firmware.
Hi Dong – I hope all is going well! I currently have an AI mesh system set up in my 3-floor Brooklyn, NY brownstone with a t-pack of BQ16 Pros. I also have a GT-BE98 Pro collecting dust in its box in a closet. I mainly use wifi for work-from-home, along with PC gaming and playing on my Meta 3 VR headset. Assuming my gaming laptop and my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra phone all have Wifi 7 enabled (unfortunately the Meta Quest 3 is only 6E) would it be worth it at all to add the BE98 Pro into the mesh, setting it to be the primary router and the BQ16 Pros acting as nodes? As of now I’m not able to run ethernet between floors, so I’ll only be using wireless backhaul. Or could having all 4 of these monsters running in what is not a big house potentially cause trouble?
AND – even though backhaul will be wireless, I will be able to plug each of the clients I care most about in terms of speed/latency (wireless multi-room speaker system, my phone, and TV) into one of either the primary router and the nodes’ 10GB LAN ports – I assume that can’t hurt, right? So even if those clients DON’T have Wifi 7 radios, if they’re directly plugged into the nodes’ LAN ports they’ll still be getting the benefit of the nodes and primary router all being WIfi 7 with all of the good that that entails? There will be some computers in the house that I won’t be able to plug into a LAN port, but some o them have Wifi 7 radios, so I’ll want to Keep ML enabled. Thank you!
For the plugged-in clients in terms of latancy, etc., check out this post, Chris. To answer your other questions, I think with the latest firmware having the GT-BE98 Pro as the priamry router will work out well. You can choose to use MLO or not for the fronthaul, by the way, even when you use MLO for the bakchaul. Makes sure you follow this setup guide. Good luck!
Hi Dong
I’m interested in purchasing the BQ16 non-pro here in the UK. From what I have read there are various bugs being squashed by firmware releases in the early stage of this product’s life cycle.
However I’m concerned that the most recent firmware for the BQ16 non-pro is nearly 3 months ago (23/08/2024) while the Pro version has been getting much more regular firmware updates – most recently 11/11/2024.
Do you have any insight on whether the non-pro is still being worked on? Or when the next firmware update will be? Will it currently be much more buggy than the Pro?
thanks
Paul
I have no experience with the non-Pro version, Paul. It’s not available in the US. Asus tends to release firmware of the same or similar version number for its same-class hardware around the same time, within a month or two apart. That said, you can look at the latest version of the Pro to kinda figure what and when the non-Pro will get.
Hi Dong,
I have been looking for an as detailed review of the non pro version, because the pro is not available in Denmark/EU yet.
As far as I can see the non pro support mlo but do you know if it supports afc? I have not been able to find this via asus, google or other reviews.
Best regards
Martin
I don’t know, Martin, since it’s not available where I am. But I’d say it’ll get AFC eventually where the feature is allowed by local regulations.
If the Wifi 7 spec isn’t entirely settled and there are few clients that implement it fully, wouldn’t it be wiser (more cost-effective) to go for a Wifi 6E router?
You got it, Odysseus. More here.
I also can confirm several issues, running on the latest software:
3.0.0.6.102_35462
1. The ui is very unstable, even the user manual have different screenshots.
2. no ability to changes security type, wpa2 for example. only wpa3.
3. under ‘professional’ mode, in 6 ghz (or any other band) – there’s no 4kQAM, only 1024 (mcs11) or mcs 9 – its clearly advertised to support this! – the consequence – getting approx – 4.3gb on 6ghz -320w channel (at max 4kQAM@320MHZ = 5750mbit)
4. under pro’ mode, clicking enable and disable radio – only then it shows “enable scheduler”
5. enable disbale radio from web gui doesnt reflect on mobile gui
6. just like number 5, but vise-versa (changing in app doesnt reflect in ui)
7. wifi issues! closing 2,4, and 5 bands, the 6 ghz band cannot connect!
8 long reboot times!
Thanks for the input. It seems you some unreasonable expectations. Here are my comments:
1. Generally the user manual can’t be changed so you only get the screenshot of whatever that was printed at the time. The actual UI can change via firmware update.
2. You must use WPA3 on the 6GHz band. There’s no other option.
3. You can’t count on absolute speed since that depends on the environment and many other factors. That’s always the case with Wi-Fi.
4. Scheduling is only available if the radio is enabled.
5. You should never use the mobile app. Always use the web UI. That’s my general advice.
6. See #5.
7. That’s the general issue when you opt to use certain specific Wi-Fi settings that require hardware, security levels, or features not available on the clients.
The gist is Wi-Fi 7 is still new and you want to use it mostly at the default setting to be compatible. Also, turn off MLO. More here.
so i tried and played in few settings – turned off MLO.
It seems that the BT10 ,all radios MUST be turned on, even if you dont want to use them.
For example, i just want to use the 6Ghz band – and want to turn off all others – I can see the new SSID if 6ghz, but i cannot connect to it, unless i turn on 2.4 and 5. (even though i dont have MLO or these SSID’s at all)
Very weird/annoying bug!
Yeap, which is why I haven’t tested it. It likely will take until next year for stuff to be worked out.
3- i’m talking about the UI – it is advertised to have this 4kQAM – but it’s not available..
4. scheduling is available – only if I turn on->off->on
5 . mobile app worked nicely, on my ax88u – but here does not. They really should QA their products, it’s half baked..
Hi Dong. Amazing review as usual.
2 questions.
1) have you heard of any hold up in Canada? Bestbuy and other major carriers done have them yet. ASUS and Amazon and smaller carriers yes. I’ve been trying to get a hold of the three pack.
2) is there still an issue with more than 2 nodes on wireless backhaul. I’ve heard sometimes the satellites disconnect. Maybe due to earlier firmware. I see some negative reviews but I don’t pay attention to that as configuration may be an issue for some users.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Randy,
1. Nope. I’m a big fan of Canada but I generally don’t keep tabs on distribution.
2. If you intend to go with wireless backhaul, I’d recomend waiting a bit longer for better firmware. Best, yet, get a set of Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 with UNII-4. So one of these. They are the best options all things considered.
Good luck!
Hi, thanks for the review! Do you think for us lost souls in Europe, that can’t order the Pro version, the normal BQ16, with 2 5ghz instead of 2 6ghz, could function in a mesh with a pro when it would be released later in 2025, if at all would be released?
Yes, but it’ll be problematic. I’d not count on it. More here.
Thx! Very good info.
Though question still arises whether or not the regular 16 is worth the buy when the pro version seems more future proof with the 6ghz dual ..
You could always just order the Pro version from the USA on Amazon and have it shipped to you in Europe for future-proofing… Although it might be sketchy, I don’t see any reason why it might not work. The range for 6Ghz is so short, even operating your routers in the 6425-7125 MHz ranges wont affect much your neighbours. Thats assuming you don’t live near any government restricted areas of course.
@Dong do you forsee any technical difficulties using the BQ16 Pro in areas that do not support the 6425-7125 MHz ranges at the moment? Thanks for your assistance.
I wouldn’t do that, Minh, not intentionally. You might end up in jail. These bands are regulated for a reason. Your question is irrelevant, it’s like asking if you’d have technical problems shooting a gun where guns are banned.
Hi Dong,
I’ve scoured through the Asus tech spec and manual of the BQ16 Pro and I can’t find it mentioning AFC anywhere.
How do you know it has AFC capabilities? The full fat manual PDF provided by Asus on their support doesn’t even mention AFC at all.
It has much longer range on the 6GHz band, Perry, and I talked to Asus and Broadcom in person.
Thanks for this information. FYI I chatted with Asus support a few moments ago and they stated that AFC is not supported.
However it did not seem like the agent was certain and seemed to only base this off publicly available information. {…}
AFC was there when I tested it. As mentioned, this feature is new and varies by locale so the answer will change depends on who you ask.
I can for sure confirm on afc being there on the bq16 pro. You won’t see any settings for it.
I tested against my be98 pro in same exact location, same exact settings and channels. The bq16 pro definitely was getting better wifi signals and much better speeds. I used wifiman and openspeed test doing local testing, not internet based testing.
I was quiet surprised how much better it was compared to the bq98 pro through 2 or 3 walls. It’s for sure there. Not the first time asus support has no idea. I highly recommend to turn off MLO as well since it caused some major headaches for me. I have both bq16 pro wired. Seperated all bands via ssid. Also have a IOT ssid with wifi 7 disabled and wpa2. All working flawless. Zero drops or issues. This recent firmware must’ve fixed some issues but I am overall really impressed. You pretty much have to run them in a wired configuration.
I am just amazed I am getting pretty much full 6 ghz bars everywhere in my home just running one unit initially. I added the second one which synced up on its own sitting next to it and then wired it up downstairs.
Oh its worth mentioning for 2.4 ghz you will need to change the modulation scheme to “up to mcs 7 (802.11n)” for it to become visible for phones at least. All my IOT devices connected automatically with no issues. I read about this at Merlins forums. So for those wanting to buy this I think with the latest firmware things are more stable but MLO is not ready yet. For a wireless backhaul it’s not time yet to buy this.
Thanks for clarifying that you found something in the interface referencing this!
I was calling from the US (but was connected to what appeared to be an overseas call center). However it didn’t seem they were very knowledgeable about it.
Thanks.
I recently purchased a BE30000 (3 node BQ16). After selecting the AIMESH icon I can see the reported signal levels. 6 GHz is consistently 6-10 DB below the 5 GHz level. That’s consistent with 6 GHz running 1/4 the power (6 DB) of 5 GHz.
Is there some way I can detect AFC operation on the web interface, or with ssh inside the box?
Thanks!
AFC unfortunately seems to have has been put on hold among Asus hardware due to certification, Gene. Right now, the only hardware that officially has AFC is Ubiquiti’s E7 lineup. But it’ll be ironed out within 2025 hopefully.
Comprehensive review! Thanks.
I would like to confirm power consumption. 530Wh is quite high, more than five 100w light bulbs. In LA where I live, baseline cost is 30cents/kwh and it will cost me over $1300 a year. 😢
Wrong math, Ernest. $60/year give or take.
Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro Review
Is the 3 pack being sold by BESTBUY a Pro version?
Thanks
Stanley
I haven’t seen it, Stanley, but my take is that it has to be. However, it’ll likely be slightly different from the official retail version so that the vendor can avoid “price match” etc.
+1 great Preview. But have the same question: Is the ZenWiFi BE30000 Hardware identical to the Zenwifi BQ16 Pro (and this just being the special designation for the Best Buy Exclusive 3-pack)? The specs seem to be the same and there wouldn’t be ‘price matching’ since the 3-pack is unique to BB, right?
It’s been a review since 5/30.
There will be a 3-pack in the standard version. But yes, I’d say the hardware is likely identical as it has to be.
It would be nice if they could make an access point of this model. It seems to dominate in speed over any current Wi-Fi 7 access point.
This model has the AP mode, as a single unit or a mesh.
Dong, thank you for your update, this really helps and confirms most of my assumptions – so kudos for making this real.
The device is still not available across the pond in the EU, via your Asus contacts do you know when it might be available ain EU? and if they will do a 3 pack ? {…}I also read some initial user feedback and it just looks like most have initial frustration in the set-up but once they get through that, it works really well (in most cases)
Read the review, Carlito.
Thinking more about the role of my BE98Pro…What if I reset it as a mesh remote and let the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro act as the main router (at least until firmware improves)? Any thoughts?
That might work if you have wired backhauling or turn MLO off, Bob.
Sorry Dong, I’m a bit confused when reading all the comments till this one. May I know if MLO can be turned on with BE98Pro as main router and BQ16 as wired satellite?
Yes.
Great review Dong! I pre-ordered the BQ16Pro, hoping to add 2 to mesh with BE98Pro. Saw your cautionary note, and I’ll just use the 2 Zens for now. Your warning surely saved me hours of aggravation! Bravo!
👍
Excited for this one for sure, good to mix with the BE98? Thanks for the in-depth review Dong!
I mentioned that in the review, Joey.
Dong – were you able to get any benchmarks of the performance of this versus the Deco BE85/95?
I am also curious how the thermal performance is – as you mentioned the Deco BE85/95 has a moderately loud fan and heat on its base router.
Is this Asus more silent?
Also did Asus just throw away their entire naming it as BQ16 Pro – because on Best Buy’s site it only says ZenWifi BE30000 with no mention of the BQ16 naming at all.
The full is review is up soon, Perry. 🙂
I just checked out Best Buy’s website, and the 3-pack, which lists for a whopping $1,699, is getting some less-than-stellar customer reviews. Hopefully, Asus will work out the bugs soon.
I have previously bought a ET12 for my son’s home as per your recommendation, and it has performed incredibly in terms of range and speed. I am planning to buy a new Wifi 7 mesh system for my new home this year. Do you think that this BQ16 Pro will be ASUS’s successor to the ET12? Or will there be a further update to ASUS’s mesh lineup that performs even better than the BQ16 Pro, based on your expert opinion?
I am currently considering waiting for ASUS to further update their lineup.
Yes, Nguyen. And eventually there will be something that’s even better than this one. It’s just a matter of time.
So, the 3-pack is showing available now @ BestBuy, and the 2 pack & single router is showing pre-order available on NewEgg, and Amazon is showing not yet available. Nowhere else seems to even be showing it…
It’ll arrive soon enough. 🙂
It’s been available for pre-order from B&H for a few weeks. a couple Best Buys near me have 2-3 of the 3pks in stock now.
Thank you for the new introduction of this router and really look forward to reading your indepth review. I am really interested to learn how is the wireless backhaul performance with 2 6G radios behind few walls . I am living in SF as well, and only wireless backhual is my option is expand the coverage.
It’s likely coming on the last day of this month if not this weekend. 🙂
Hello Dong,
If I buy the BQ16 Pro in the USA, will it works in the Netherlands (Europe)?
Thx.
It would but likely not with all of its bands the way they are intended for the US, etc. I wouldn’t do that on purpose, you might get in trouble
Thank you for your answer. No I don’t want any problems, but is it possible to use only the UNII-5 band? So temporarily disable UNII-6,7 and 8 until Europe gives permission to use the bands up to 7125 Mhz. This decision will probably be made in 2025 and it would be a waste of money to purchase the BQ16 now instead of the BQ16 Pro And as I read your previews, it is a beast of a (mesh) system.
I don’t know, but I think the best case scenario is the firmware would automatically make only the allowed portions of the frequencies work. Or it’d just work like it would in the US and cause you trouble for violating local laws. Or it doesn’t work as intended. Only one way to find out. 🙂
Thank you very much
👍
Thanks Dong for the update. Much appreciated.
Will all of the BQ16 Pro new features you mentioned be available via a firmware update on the GT-BE98 Pro? I am considering using three BE98 Pros together via AiMesh (wired backhaul). I will use the gaming features. I would like the new features you mentioned as well. I want it all of course!
Thanks so much,
Steve
I would say that’s likely the case by the end of the year, Steve, but I’m not Asus. If you intend to use wired backhauling (as you should!) it would make very little difference if at all between the 98 Pro’s current firmware and the future ones.
Thanks Dong. Appreciate it!
One other question: Setting size, aesthetics (wife test), cost, gaming features and Multi-Gig LAN ports aside, are there any real advantages the BQ16 Pro has over the GT-BE98 Pro’s at this point?
Thanks again,
Steve
That’s one I am interested in knowing also, if one knows already. Thanks Dong!
With those out, Steve and Tiago, the two are practically the same.
Thanks Dong,
I so much appreciate your help!
I will wait for your review of the BQ16 Pro in case there are any must haves that pop up. However I am leaning toward the BE98 Pro’s because of their added features, especially if I don’t lose anything compared to the BQ16 Pro.
Also, I can place the BE98 Pro’s discretely so they pass the wife test!
Thanks again. You do such a great job!
Steve
Excellent news! I can’t wait to upgrade my home network. We have the Orbi 852 which has been rather awful for our 2Gbps fiber. Looking forward to your in-depth review, Dong!
👍
Wow! $1,299 for two. That’s pricey and a lot more than their current ZenWifi options. I guess they’re targeting Orbi customers.
I’d say the ZenWiFi lineup is much richer than the Orbi in features alone. But pricey, indeed. Hope it’s worth it.
Well, if I drop $1,299 on a pair of BQ16 Pros, I’m definitely going to be in the dog house for a while. The only way I can see this working for me “budget-wise” is if I can get away with one. 😦
I think there’ll be cheaper variants down the line. Vendors often release the top-tier options first.
Hey Dong,
Do you think it would work great as main router for a XT12 satellite? Thanks!
Nope. Only to an extent.
The non pro version has a 5Ghz band that could be used as a wireless backhaul for the XT12 or am I missing something? thanks.
The X12 doesn’t have MLO, etc. Tiago. Mixing Wi-Fi standard is generally complicated in a wireless setup.
I think we’re getting close. I just checked the ASUS website, and the BQ16 Pro is now listed as Out of Stock and has a price of $699.99 for a set of two, which sounds like a good deal. I also noticed that some ASUS retailers are closing out the ET12, which is typically what’s done before a new model is released.
I’d imagine that’s the price of a single unit, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The website is indicating that the price is for a 2pk, but it does not explicitly say so. 699 does seem a bit low for what it is, but here’s hoping the price is accurate!
🤞
I keep googling to see if there’s anything new on the Asus BQ16 Pro in terms of actually going on sale, but just keep finding this same article (besides Asus’ own content). Hopefully the complete lack of ongoing press about this doesn’t mean it’s canceled or delayed. I figured a Q2 launch would mean we’d be seeing some reviewers getting pre-release versions to test by now, so hopefully at least that much is happening!
🤞
Dong, I’ve been following your reviews for a while, and I appreciate how you explain the networking topics in a clear and accessible way for different levels of expertise. I’ve made a small donation and wanted to express my gratitude.
I haven’t been a fan of Asus devices in the past, I usually preferred to build my own router + FW and use other brands. My first Asus device that I tried out was the Flashnas, which was a very affordable option for nvme (and I was impressed). Then I gave the GT-BE98 a chance and I started to like Asus more (even though there are some features that merlin offers) but it seems that Asus adopts most of those eventually (which makes things easier for me since I don’t have the time to maintain all my custom end points). I like their features, even their privacy to some extent, and I like that they are not going for a subscription model. I’ve been keeping an eye on the BQ16 since last year and reading your reviews… your write-ups are what convinced me to get them and they will be part of my new 10GB wired backbone. I should note that I have a complex 3 storey concrete home and most signals don’t penetrate well (so I’m wired plus have a lot of APs). I’ll be replacing some “not so old devices” that didn’t meet my expectations… I have very high hopes for the BQ16 and I can’t wait to test them soon.
One thing that I’ve been unhappy about Asus is their lack of or almost non-existent “Outdoor AP”. Do you know if they have any plans in this area? Otherwise I’ll have to mix with an Omada EAP670 or go for Ubiquity and then I ponder if Asus is the right choice for me. In an ideal world they would have an Outdoor AP 10GB POE (WIFI6/7) and it doesn’t make sense to me that they don’t have a solution in this area.
Thanks, Carlito…
There’s a new ExpertWiFi family that’s likely will include outdoor APs in the future. I’d keep an eye on it.
Thanks Dong for the excellent info and reviews! I’m eagerly awaiting the BQ16 Pro release, but there seems to be complete radio silence on it since January. We’re limping along with our 7 year old Orbi RBR50 hoping to stretch it to make the release date of the Asus BQ16 Pro. I’ve looked at the TP-link Deco but am concerned about privacy(and features requiring a subscription) and trust Asus more. Have you heard any updates on the BQ16 release date? Am i being too paranoid about TP-link? Thank you for all your insights!
The BQ16 should start shipping soon, Dean. Looks like it’s going to be worth the wait. You’re right to be concerned about privacy, plus the Asus has much more to offer. More on Deco in this post.
Thanks Dong! I really appreciate your answers, and the included references and links to them. It really increase the value of your site!
On Amazon they have a release date for the EU version of April 30th…. Its not the Pro version, which looks to be US only but suspect a similar date.
I’ve been tracking this device since last year….. its is what will form part of my new 10GB wired backbone, replacing some not so old devices that have not been up to the task… my exceptions are super high…
Went to Amazon to order only to see the delivery date range changed to 1 – 3 months
My educated guess is mid-June.
Hi Dong,
I hope you are well. Do you have any updates on the Asus BQ16 Pro and its availability? Do you know if Best Buy will be carrying this item? Thanks!
It’s not out yet, Kelly. The splitting of the 6GHz band is complicated. I think Asus wants to make sure it gets stuff right and not repeat the case of the Deco BE95.
Yeah, that makes sense. Will you be reviewing the Deco BE63? In addition to the soon-to-be-released BQ16 Pro, that’s another W-Fi-7 router I’m considering—especially since I’m limited to a 1GB FIOS connection and the BE63 is available now.
I’m anxious to replace my Synology RT2600AC/MR2200 mesh system, as it really doesn’t meet my needs.
Thanks, Dong.
Likely not but it’s very similar to the Deco BE85, Kelly. I might write a quick take on it later.
Hi Dong,
Thanks for the great insight as always. I live in Asia and wish to know if there is any technical issues (power and electricity issues excluded) if I buy the pro version router with two splitted 6G bands and use it in this region?
Thanks
Bill
That depends on where you are, Bill. I’d recommend getting the hardware intended for your region—often that’s enforced via firmware anyway. More here.
Thanks Dong for your prompt response even at your midnight. I live in Hong Kong and was wondering if I can use the pro version router here technically. If full 6G band is allowed, why a splitted band is not OK? I read your link but it’s about signal strength but not region restriction. Sorry if I understand differently
Is the BestBuy offer a “Pro”?
I am looking to upgrade my 2016 orbi system to something new and up to date. I loved Asus but they did not feature a mesh router at the time and extenders were awful to do a house. Glad to see I am just in time for this new system to drop soon since there latest lineup is like 3 years old now? I would have gone with Orbi again but they are wayyyy to expensive for newer models. I am hoping these are not 1k for 2 like you stated which is my only concern.
Asus has been light years ahead of Orbi for years. You can start with this post.
Dong,
Any idea when these are being released? I need a new router mesh setup now. Considering the Deco BE85 or maybe the XT12 Pro’s? Never had a TP-Link and always been Asus but I do need 3 units.
Only Asus knows but my guess is sometimes in this quarter, David, possibly later this month, David. Stay tuned!
Hi Dong,
Enjoyed all your insightful post! I’m shopping and building my first mesh system for a 4000 sqft house. I have 2.5GB fiber service and want to maximize value and internet coverage around the house as a fully wireless setup. I don’t know if I should invest in cabling to do wiredback haul path. So I just purchased RT-BE6U $650 as primary router and 2x ZenWifi PRO ET12 satellite bought used from Amazon $500. And seems to work ok. My furthest satellite is about 50ft away and upstairs from the router which is down stairs, and I’m getting about 1.1Gb upload and 1.3Gb upload 6ping 1 Jitter. Curious what you think!? Should I keep this setup or consider these cool new wifi7 mesh/routers ? 🤔
Unless you’re happy with the current performance, get your place wired, Ori. More details in this post.
Hi Dong, great review. Thanks for the update. I purchased, but I haven’t opened, an Asus ET12 based on your excellent review and recommendation. I intended to use two ET12s in a wired-backhaul configuration over Cat5e wiring.
One thing I really wanted was a TimeMachine backup solution. Unfortunately, and as you know, the ET12 doesn’t have a USB port, but the BQ16 Pro does. Given the fact that the BQ16 Pro pricing may be similar to what I paid, do you think I should hold off a few months and get the BQ16 Pro instead? My existing Synology RT2600 with (2) MR2200 is performing well, aside from the 8 Nest Battery Cams I have, but that may be a Google Nest firmware problem.
This is not a review, Kelly, not yet. I think it makes sense for you to wait and upgrade to Wi-Fi 7. Also, you might want to read this post on smart devices.
The 1 gig ports are a shame at this price point. The lack of SFP+ too. I currently use 2 XT8 at home. I work from home and need some devices to run through VPN at times and others not. My ISP has SFP+. Right now I use a media converter. With this setup which WiFi 7 system would you recommend? Our work laptops are MacBook Pros so Ethernet is out :(. The fiber port is completely on the other side of the apartment, so a mesh might be better, or a very strong WiFi router.
Get the UDM-SE and a couple of UniFi AP, Max. Or you can go with the Deco BE85.
Hopefully we get more specs.
Curious though how many devices would be supported. Would it be 200+ like TP-Link?
I’ve always been a huge ASUS fan and had to move on from the AC3100 to the XE75 Pro because I have over 100 connections. The TP-Link sucks.
I’ve been waiting for this announcement. I can’t hardwire my home so I’m at the mercy of a wireless dedicated backhaul.
The single point routers always have a better processor and more Ram so curious to see what this one will have as I’m waiting for the BQ16 Pro.
The only thing I question is…
Better to get this BQ16 Pro or buy two BE98 Pro’s and link through AI Mesh.
My home is really large (6000sqft including basement) and then I want outdoor coverage and well. While I need the coverage, I need very good speed (I know hard to do without the wired backhaul).
Any recommendations?
The number of devices is generally always 253, Randy — more here. The number given out by vendors are just pure marketing. Wired backhauling is the only way for your case, but that depends on what you want/expect. More in this post.
There is a third model BT10 which is better as it will not only be cheaper, but also have no band-splitting complicated nonsense.
Yeap, there will be more options in the new Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi BE series.
I may not be the intended market for this (regular home setup with 50 or so always connected devices and 4 gamers in home; wired back haul) but I feel like the 2 5ghz bands is “currently” the better choice and I wish that version was also coming to the US.
Not really, Mr. T. More in this post on Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Let me clarify…. I feel the (2.4 + 5 + 5 + 6) of the non-pro version is better for most homes vs the pros’ ( 2.4 + 5 + 6 + 6) as there are still not that many clients capable of 6ghz in most homes.
I didn’t misunderstand you, Mr. T. Give the post I linked earlier a good read.
Thanks Dong for keeping us informed. Much appreciated. I might have gone for this set, but probably not since it doesn’t have all Multi-Gig ports. Like you I am disappointed.
I hear you, Steve. A good network switch will fix that, tho.
Thanks for the update, Dong. I’m with Steve on this one – Asus should have added 2.5 Gig ports. I am eagerly awaiting your full review.
Yeap, Balajee. That’s what the “almost” notion is meant to convey.