It also supports 4x4 MU-MIMO to allow many clients to connect at once and comes packing eight LAN ports. The AX88U supports up to 1024-QAM which allows it to send four times as much data per transmission as older 256-QAM systems.
For example, OFDMA increases spectral efficiency and network capacity. The router comes packed with useful features that improve performance and make the system easier to use. Despite all the other options like mesh networking and powerline adapters, if you still think you need a gaming router, the RT-AX88U is a great choice. Just note that at this price range for a single unit, you're almost better off going with an enterprise solution from someone like Ubiquiti. The RT-AX88U was one of the first Wi-Fi 6 routers to hit the market, however everything is backwards compatible which means the AX88U still offers incredible 2.4GHz and 5GHz performance to existing devices. Speeds listed in the marketing materials are often grossly exaggerated and you'll likely never achieve anything close to it. Modern games are almost always dependent on latency instead of bandwidth. Gaming routers are a tricky category and they aren't the best solution for everyone. This router is absolutely overkill, but if you need super fast speeds, the Asus RT-AX88U won't disappoint. Do note however this is a Wi-Fi 5 only system. They typically use dedicated channels for internal backhaul, while basic extenders leech off your main connection.Īlmost every major home networking provider has an entry in this market, but some are better than others, and Netgear's Orbi kit is competitively priced at $260. Today's mesh systems use advanced routing algorithms to maintain high speeds even at range. While boosters make it seem like you have good signal all around your house, they almost always deliver terrible speeds and poor reliability. A properly implemented mesh network will be leaps and bounds better than a traditional router with a cheap range booster. The Netgear Orbi was the best performer in our Mesh Wi-Fi roundup about a year ago, receiving top recommendations among several other competing systems. Mesh systems are more expensive than standard routers, but provide a host of benefits including extended range and seamless connectivity, an easy setup process, and advanced management interface. They are designed for medium to large houses where a single router doesn't reach every corner. Mesh Wi-Fi systems have become a popular segment. When testing the Asus RT-AX3000, we liked the simplicity of the setup process while still providing advanced features and customization. This gives you the benefits of both a standalone system and a mesh system. That's also significantly cheaper than some of the $600-700 flagship systems. This is a much better solution than buying a range extender since you won't have to deal with the confusion of multiple networks (or performance issues), letting you move around without having to reconnect.Īt around $170 each, you can pick up two of these and put together a killer Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for the same price as competing systems. If you purchase one of these devices now and realize later you don't have enough coverage, you can seamlessly expand your network down the road with other AiMesh routers. That's why we typically don't recommend mesh systems for smaller spaces.Īlong these lines however, the RT-AX3000 does ship with Asus "AiMesh" support, so it can build a mesh network with compatible devices if you ever need it. If you're wondering about a mesh system (see further down below for our recommendation), generally speaking, a standalone router will be faster since there is less overhead to deal with. Given the device's relatively low price, it's hard not to recommend it as our top pick for most households. Sure, it was measured right next to the router in an unrealistic environment, but it's still impressive.
At roughly 950Mbps, that is full gigabit wireless speed. In our tests, the Asus RT-AX3000 achieved the fastest Wi-Fi speed we've ever measured.