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Unlike Asus’s previous Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi sets, the ZenWiFi BT6 is the first in the family to feature a single Multi-Gig port.
And that can be a deal breaker for many. In a wired backhaul setup, which is generally recommended, this mesh system’s satellite unit will have its bandwdith limited at Gigabit, rendering its support for Wi-Fi 7 less significant.
Here’s the bottom line: The Asus ZenWiFi BT6 is not a must-have. However, if you have an airy house without network cables, at the friendly cost that starts at $400 for a 2-pack, the ZenWiFi BT6 is the just-right Wi-Fi 7 mesh system for your Gigabit-class bandwdith needs. Consider one today!
Asus ZenWiFi BT6: That Single 2.5Gbps Port Pain
Like most ZenWiFi sets, The ZenWiFi BT6 combines multiple identical mesh routers into a 2-pack or a 3-pack. Pick one as the primary unit, and the rest will work as satellites.
These routers share the same “single-slot-toaster” design as the BT8. Each is a little box with internal antennas designed to stand vertically.
Asus ZenWiFi’s 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, with either 5GHz or 6GHz band 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).
Each ZenWiFi BT6 router has all of its ports on the back, including a 2.5Gbps WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port.
Note
Two things to keep in mind about this single 2.5Gbps default WAN port at the current firmware version:
- At the primary router: This port always works as a WAN port. It can’t switch roles (WAN vs. LAN) with another port.
- At a satellite: This port will not work as a LAN to host a wired client in a fully wireless setup, but it can work as the uplink port in a wired-backhauling setup.
Asus confirmed that item #2 was a bug that would be fixed in a future firmware release. All ports on the satellite are meant to work as LANs.
As you can imagine, in a wired setup, you’ll have to use one of the router unit’s Gigabit ports to connect to a satellite unit, resulting in a Gigabit backhaul link. That’s the biggest drawback of the BT6 compared to previous Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi sets.
This single-multi-gig-port approach was rather typical in Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E hardware. Asus alone had a bunch, including the XT8 and ET8, among others. However, it’s relatively rare with Wi-Fi 7 hardware, considering the standard’s much higher wireless bandwidth. This ZenWiFi BT6 is the second set I’ve seen after the Linksys Velop Pro 7.
The table below shows how this new ZenWiFi BT6 differs from the other two tri-band Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi options.
Hardware specifications: ZenWiFi BT6 vs. ZenWiFi BT8 vs. ZenWiFi BT10
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | ZenWiFi BT6 | ZenWiFi BT8 | ZenWiFi BT10 |
| Antennas | 7 internal | 8 internal | |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE9400 | Tri-band BE14000 | Tri-band BE18000 |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM | ||
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz 2×2 BE Up to 688Mbps (20/40MHz) | ||
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz 2×2 BE Up to 2882Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) | 5GHz 3×3 BE Up to 4323Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) | 5GHz 4×4 BE Up to 5762Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz 2×2 BE Up to 5762Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | 6GHz 3×3 BE Up to 8643Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | 6GHz 4×4 BE Up to 11,525Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | ||
| Network Features | Web User Interface Asus Mobile App with Smart Home Master | ||
| Mesh Technology | AiMesh with AsusWRT 5.0 | ||
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | TBD (unavailable at review) | ||
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | ||
| Hardware Availability | 2-pack 3-pack single router | ||
| Processing Power | Undisclosed CPU, RAM 1GB, Flash 128MB | 2.0GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 256MB Flash | |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN | 1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5GBASE-T LAN, | 1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN |
| Gigabit Port | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Max Wired Backhaul Speed (in a daisy chain) | Gigabit | 2.5Gbps | 10Gbps |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | ||
| Hardware Buttons | Power Switch, Reset Button | ||
| Dimensions (each unit) | 7.32 x 2.83 x 6.26 in (18.7 x 7.2 x15.9 cm) | ||
| Weight (each unit) | 1.8 lbs (.82 kg) | ||
| DC Power Adapter | AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max. 3 A current | ||
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 200 Wh (router unit) ≈ 185 Wh (satellite unit) | ≈ 270 Wh (router unit) ≈ 225 Wh (satellite unit) | ≈ 360 Wh (router unit) ≈ 250 Wh (satellite unit) |
| U.S. Release Date | Q1 2025 | Q3 2024 | Q3 2024 |
| Firmware Version (at review) | 3.0.0.6.102_56789 | 3.0.0.6.102_56236 | 3.0.0.6.102_36758 |
| US Release Date (check the street prices) | $600 (3-pack) $480 (2-pack) $250 (single router) | $900 (3-pack) $580 (2-pack) $280 (single-router) | $940 (3-pack) $610 (2-pack) $330 (single router) |
The three mesh routers are identical from all angles except from the back, where their network ports dictate their wired performance grades.
A wireless mesh system for Gigabit-class users
As shown in the table above, the BT6 cannot deliver entry-level (2.5Gbps) multi-gigabit performance in a wired backhaul setup due to the lack of a second 2.5Gbps port.
However, in a home where running network cable is not an option, there’s a chance it can deliver faster-than-gigabit performance when:
- You have a Gigabit or faster (but not faster than 2.5Gbps since then you’d want hardware with faster port grades) broadband.
- You can place the satellite unit at an ideal distance from the router unit.
In this case, thanks to the MLO feature, the meah system can have a fast wireless backhaul link, making the entire system robust enough to deliver the broadband connection in full throughout.
So, the BT6 can be an affordable alternative when getting your home wired is not an option and you don’t need super-fast bandwidth.
A familiar ZenWiFi mesh
As shown in the table, other than the port grade, the other main difference between the ZenWiFi BT6 and the other two is the fact it has the lowest (2×2) Wi-Fi specs instead of the top-tier 4×4. In other words, it has fewer Wi-Fi streams.
Wi-Fi bands vs. channels vs. stream
Wi-Fi uses three frequency bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. The width of each band is measured in MHz—the wider the band, the more MHz it has.
The 6GHz band is the widest of the three, with a total width of 1200MHz, ranging from 5.925GHz to 7.125GHz. Depending on local regulations, only a portion or portions of this entire spectrum are available for Wi-Fi applications.
In real-world usage, each band is divided into multiple portions, called channels, of different widths. Depending on the Wi-Fi standards and hardware, a channel can be 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz wide. The wider a channel is, the more bandwidth it has. The number of channels in each Wi-Fi band varies depending on the channel width, but there can only be so many.
The 6GHz band has enough space for three 320MHz channels or seven 160MHz channels.
Data moves in one channel of a particular band at a time, using streams, often dual-stream (2×2), three-stream (3×3), or quad-stream (4×4). The more streams, the more data can travel at a time. Thanks to the ultra-high bandwidth per stream, Wi-Fi 6 and later tend to have only 2×2 clients.
Here’s a crude analogy:
If a Wi-Fi band is a freeway, channels are lanes, and streams are vehicles (bicycles vs. cars vs. buses). On the same road, you can put multiple adjacent standard lanes (20MHz) into a larger one (40MHz, 80MHz, or higher) to accommodate oversized vehicles (higher number of streams) that carry more goods (data) per trip (connection).
A Wi-Fi connection generally occurs on a single channel (lane) of a single band (road) at a time. The actual data transmission is always that of the lowest denominator—a bicycle can carry just one person at a relatively slow speed, even when used on a super-wide lane of an open freeway.
Other than that, the ZenWiFi BT6 is similar to the rest of the family in terms of hardware configurations, network settings, and features. Specifically:
- MLO is there, but no AFC: 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.” On the other hand, the AFC feature is not included, and it’s unclear if it’ll be added via firmware in the future.
- 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, and the rest will become satellite nodes of the system when plugged in.
- Universal setting restoration: Like most Asus routers, the BT6 supports the backup file of other Asus routers, making it an easy upgrade/replacement. Note, though, that in this case, you’ll need to add the satellite note(s) manually.
- AsusWRT 5.0 firmware and core features:
- Multiple SSIDs via the “Smart Home Master” feature, including the support for MLO, Guest Wi-Fi, and IoT via virtual SSIDs.
- 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.
- Flexible port management with support for Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, and USB cellular tethering.
- 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.
- Robust network-attached storage when hosting a USB external drive.
Note that, like the ZenWiFi BT8, the ZenWiFi BT6 doesn’t feature advanced VLAN, which allows you to put one of its LAN ports into a different subnet. This feature is only available in top-tier hardware.
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 to be not 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.
The gist is that if you’ve used an Asus router before, the new ZenWiFi BT6 will be right up your alley. In fact, you can even load the setting backup files of most existing Asus routers onto it, making it an easy upgrade or replacement.
Asus ZenWiFi BT6: Excellent performance for the specs
Considering the relatively modest hardware specs and the lack of a 2nd Multi-Gig port, I didn’t expect much from the ZenWiFi BT6, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
I tested and used a 2-pack for almost ten days, and it proved to be an excellent performer. You can generally expect Gig+ sustained speed from within a reasonable distance, even at the satellite unit (via a wireless setup).
What is Gig+
Gig+, or Gig Plus, conveys a speed grade faster than 1Gbps but slower than 2Gbps. So, it’s 1.5Gbps, give or take a couple hundred megabits per second, and it’s not speedy enough to qualify as Multi-Gig Ethernet or multi-Gigabit. Intel coined the term to call its Wi-Fi 6E client chips—the AX210 and AX211—to describe their real-world speeds.
Gig+ applies mainly to the sustained speeds of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7—via a 2×2 at 160MHz connection—or broadband Internet speed.
In terms of range, the ZenWiFi BT6 was similar to the BT8 in my experience. Generally, it’s tricky to determine Wi-Fi coverage, but each BT6 unit will blanket around 1800 ft2 (167 m2) of indoor residential space, with a second unit adding about 60% more. Your mileage will vary.
Having no Multi-Gig LAN port, the ZenWiFi BT6 is not set to deliver top network-attached storage performance when hosting a portable drive via its USB port. And as it turned out, this performance didn’t warrant the need for a multi-Gigabit port, either.
I tested the router unit with a portable SSD, and the write performance was relatively modest, a few times slower than the read performance. In all, if you only need casual network storage, the BT6 will do, but it’s best to get a real NAS server.
Other than that, the ZenWiFi BT6 performed as intended and passed my three-day stress test without any hiccups. Having no internal fan, it was also completely silent and produced very little heat. The hardware felt only slightly warm after an extended operation and had relatively low energy consumption, as shown in the hardware specs table above.
Asus ZenWiFi BT6's Rating
Pros
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with MLO support and excellent performance
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
Single 2.5Gbps (WAN) port on the router, entry-level Wi-Fi specs
No VLAN; rigid WAN port; not wall-mount-ready
Conclusion
The ZenWiFi BT6 is a modest and affordable tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system. It’s an excellent buy if you have a home with Class or lower bandwidth needs. Consider it today.
Hi,
it is a good idea to set one BT8 as router and two wired BT6 as satellites (via 2.5Gb switch)?
Yes. Not as good as going all BT8s, obviously, but should be close. More here.
Thank you Mr. Dong.
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I realize I could still use a two pack of the BT6 as aimesh satellites. If I use the BE92U as the primary, would I be able to get the 2.5 G speed back wired with cat6?
Yes, Charles. Make sure you set up one satellite at a time. More here.
Thank you so much! I have learned so much from your articles!
The hardware availability on the comparison chart has one missing piece of information. The BT10 is also available in a 3 pack on Asus’ website which isn’t listed on the chart. It’s model BT10(W-3-PK).
Fixed, Sam. Thanks. I was using older info when the BT10 was launched.
Thanks Dong. The comparison charts on your BT8 and BT10 review pages also need to be updated with the 3 pack model.
One related question. I have a 2 story house with a basement. Each floor is about 35 feet by 40 feet and the basement is smaller. Would you recommend putting one satellite on each floor including the basement for the best coverage or am I risking the satellite coverage overlapping too much and stepping on each other?
I’d not worry about overlapping, Sam, but how you arrnage the harware depends on how things are in yoru place, and you’re already there. This post on mesh setup will help.