In this technology-driven world, Wi-Fi connectivity has arguably become the most crucial part of our daily lives. Luckily, brands like ASUS are leading the way with some of the fastest and strongest-performing routers, regardless of your home size, speed desirability, or pricing preference.
Offering some of the most popular and competitive models available today, ASUS is one of the biggest brands in the router world. To help you find a unit that best suits your future and current networking needs, this guide includes detailed reviews of some of the best ASUS routers, what makes the company stand out, and aspects to consider before purchasing this product.
So, make sure you stick through till the end before you finalize your purchase!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Asus Routers
Comparison Chart of the Best ASUS Routers
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Who is ASUS?
A multinational company that was established in 1989, ASUS is globally known for its high-quality motherboards, monitors, routers, personal computers, graphics cards, and other high-end technological products. Having humble beginnings, a couple of ambitious engineers with the dream of starting a beautiful and small company originally came up with the idea in a coffee shop in Taipei. Today, ASUS designs and builds smart next-generation technologies that provide wonderful experiences, enhancing the lives of people all around the world.
In 2018, the company received more than 11 awards from some of the most renowned and prestigious media groups and organizations, including being named among Forbes’ Top Regarded Companies, the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune, and being part of the Top 100 Global Technology Leaders by Thomson Reuters.
How Does ASUS Compare to the Competition?
One of the most popular and recognized companies in the technological world, ASUS produces quality products, including tablets, routers, laptops, and smartphones. Providing users with exceptional products, the company truly stands out from its competition. It excels in numerous areas, including:
Design
The look of all ASUS products is truly stunning. Designed with quality components, they all have an expensive look, regardless of their price range. The company has further received awards for the exceptional designs of the ZenBook and ROG series.
One of the greatest design features is the ScreenPad that first appeared on the ZenBook Pro. Replacing the traditional touchpad, it works both as an interactive LCD multifunctional display and as a touchpad.
Innovation
ASUS is always releasing newer and better models to ensure their customers are satisfied. Having received awards for their exceptional design, the ZenBook Pro and ROG Zephyrus are great examples of this innovation. They’re designed with unique features not offered by any other brands. As mentioned above, the ZenBook includes the exclusive ScreenPad, while the ROG Zephyrus is a gaming laptop that’s incredibly lightweight.
Price
All ASUS products are fairly priced and are worth every penny. While other brands may seem cheaper, they don’t feature the incredible specifications offered by ASUS. The company develops units with lower prices and greater specs, ensuring you get what you have paid for.
Quick Take - Best ASUS Routers
In a hurry? Below are our recommendations for the best ASUS routers:
Review of the Best ASUS Routers
Like all hardware vendors, ASUS also offers a long range of routers, each designed with different features. To help you make the right decision, the following are detailed reviews of some of the best ASUS routers available in the market. So, make sure you go through them all before making your purchase!
Best Overall:
ASUS AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of users were satisfied with their purchase and were impressed with its performance. They reported that it was extremely easy to set up, with one user stating they were online in seconds. Buyers also found the speeds on all clients to be incredibly fast, and the user interface to be easy to use, intuitive, and extremely user-friendly. However, some customers experienced connectivity issues with the AiMesh, while some reported they had to reboot it frequently.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Featuring MU-MIMO technology, it has a theoretical throughput of 1300 Mbps on 5GHz and 600 Mbps on 2.4GHz, adding up to combined speeds of 1900 Mbps. It is further designed with "Game Boost", enabling users to prioritize traffic for better performance when gaming online. Lastly, built-in TurboQAM technology helps in strengthening Wi-Fi signals, providing better and faster speeds.
Who Will Use This Most
An extremely fast and reliable unit, this model caters to all your gaming needs. With a dual-core 1GHz CPU, it enables users to enjoy seamless VoIP calls and 4K video streaming. The incredible speeds provided further ensure a lag-free online gaming experience.
Bottom Line
An excellent combination of speed and performance, this model truly comes out on top. Equipped with a dual-core 1GHz CPU and the latest 802.11 AC technology, it provides maximum speeds of up to 1900 Mbps, making it perfect for gamers. All in all, it’s a great unit if you’re not on a budget.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers were extremely happy with their purchase and stated that the Wi-Fi speeds were incredible. They loved its wide range, its lightweight design, and the customization options offered by the firmware. They also found it very easy to set up and stated that the USB interface was lightning fast, with almost no loading times. However, some customers reported receiving defective items, while some were disappointed with the unfriendly tech support.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The first router ever to feature both wireless-AC1750 dual-band and 802.11ac technology, this model stands out to us for numerous reasons. Firstly, the dual-core 1GHz CPU virtually eliminates bottlenecks when surfing, while simultaneously using the USB ports for media sharing. Secondly, the built-in router app allows users to control most parameters, eliminating the need for custom firmware. Lastly, AiProtection prevents DDoS attacks, keeping all sensitive data secure.
Who Will Use This Most
This model is perfect for individuals looking for a high bandwidth unit that features a wide coverage area. The 2.4GHz band can be used for simple tasks like file downloading and web browsing, while the clearer 5GHz band supports online gaming and allows HD streaming on multiple devices.
Bottom Line
A workhorse unit that truly gets the job done without breaking the bank, this model certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks. Offering speeds of up to 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, it’s designed with a USB-A port and four LAN ports for wired connections. However, it can overheat pretty quickly.
Best for the Money:
ASUS AC1200 Dual-Band Router
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost all buyers loved the price of this unit and were extremely happy with its performance. They loved its incredibly fast speed, wide range, and the strong signal. Users were particularly impressed with its software and found that it was simple to use, quite powerful, and well thought out. However, some customers felt that more detailed documentation could be provided, while some reported it was a bit slow at moving large files around.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model delivers exceptional performance when it comes to the 5GHz band. It offers excellent stability and signal strength, along with extremely fast upload and download speeds. In fact, this incredible performance can be easily compared to other pricier models. Although it’s not a high-end unit, it still offers countless features like traffic manager QoS, VPN server, guest networks, and parental controls.
Who Will Use This Most
Offering excellent value for money, this unit is ideal for those on a budget. ASUS AiPlayer enables users to stream music from any connected USB device, while the simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi can be connected to any Wi-Fi device. The four powerful antennas have wider coverage, making it perfect for larger homes, as well.
Bottom Line
A solid unit that delivers exceptional performance on the 5GHz band, this is certainly one of the best affordable models available today. Offering one Gbps Ethernet connections, countless useful features, and very good firmware, this unit provides excellent value for money. However, the 2.4GHz performance is a bit disappointing.
Best ASUS Router for Gaming:
ASUS RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers loved this model and stated that it performed flawlessly. They found the interface to be clean and responsive, the mesh to be excellent, and the unit to be extremely stable. Users were particularly impressed with its speeds, with one user stating they were able to get 115 Mbps file transfers from their laptop to their PC easily. However, some customers reported that it continuously dropped Wi-Fi and had to be frequently rebooted.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the few Wi-Fi 6 models available, this unit offers everything needed for an incredibly powerful networking device. The device is internally powered by a 1 GB RAM, 256 MB flash memory, and a quad-core 1.8GHz CPU. The dual-band router further provides speeds of up to 4.8 Gbps on the 5GHz band and up to 1.2 Gbps on the 2.4GHz band. These impressive speeds and exceptional performance are what make this unit truly stand out from the crowd.
Who Will Use This Most
Although wireless-AX devices are a bit scarce, this unit is still a must-buy for all serious performance enthusiasts. The Adaptive QoS enables users to prioritize game packets, making it perfect for gaming. Built-in WTFast further minimizes lag and game ping, ensuring smoother online play. The eight Gigabit LAN ports also allow users to host a LAN party at their home. All in all, it’s the ideal unit for gamers and for those looking to future-proof their office or home networks.
Bottom Line
Loaded with powerful software and countless robust features, this unit is undoubtedly the best model for gaming. Although it’s an extremely fast Wi-Fi 6 router, the speed advantage only becomes evident if compatible Wi-Fi 6 clients are used.
Best ASUS Modem Router and Best ASUS Gaming Router:
ASUS AC1700 Dual-Band Gigabit Router
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of buyers were extremely happy with their purchase and found that it offered excellent value for money. They stated that setup was extremely easy and all devices had a stable connection. Users also loved its customization options, incredibly fast speeds, and wide range. However, some customers felt that the user interface could have a better organization, while some reported that changing basic things disabled the internet connection.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The unit primarily stands out to us because of its ARM Quad-core Cortex A7 processor. An exceptional multi-tasker, it provides full support to USB and Wi-Fi applications and handles heavy traffic, while supporting an expanding network of systems and devices connected to it at the same time. The 802.11ac chipset and 256QAM technology further allow it to achieve throughput speeds typically only delivered by higher-end models.
Who Will Use This Most
The app and web-based UI offer countless options, making it perfect for both beginners and tech-savvy users. It also minimizes lag on time-sensitive apps, enabling seamless gaming, video streaming, and conferencing. Users can further browse the web and download files on the 2.4GHz band, while the 5GHz band can be used for online gaming and HD streaming.
Bottom Line
An incredible and inexpensive solution, this unit boasts impressive wireless performance on the 5GHz band. Designed with 256MB RAM, a quad-core processor, and the latest 802.11ac technology, it provides speeds up to 1700 Mbps. However, the design of the model could be improved.
Best ASUS Dual-Band Router:
ASUS AC1300 4-Port Gigabit Router (RT-ACRH13)
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost all buyers were impressed with this unit’s performance. They found the signal strength and speeds to be outstanding, and the GUI to be intuitive and useful. Users also stated that installation was straightforward and they did not experience any issues. However, customers were disappointed with the poor ASUS support, while some reported that it did not work with IPv6.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Being the best ASUS dual-band router, it stands out to us for several different reasons. Firstly, the device automatically switches connected devices between 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, ensuring a consistent connection. Secondly, the four 5dBi antennas provide a strong signal throughout your house. Lastly, the USB 3.0 network port provides users access to an external hard drive, as if the drive was connected to your computer.
Who Will Use This Most
A no-frills router, this is ideal for those looking for a unit that can handle most of their networking needs for fewer connected devices. So, if you need an inexpensive model that’s perfect for home use, this is the best option available.
Bottom Line
Boasting a better management interface, faster Wi-Fi speeds, and a network-attached 3.0 USB port, this unit certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks. Smart Connect further ensures consistent bandwidth, while the four 5dBi antennas enhance multi-device performance. However, IPv6 configuration might prove to be difficult for some.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?
Purchasing the right router can be a very technical and time-consuming task. To ensure you make the right choice and don’t end up wasting your money, here are some factors to consider before you settle on a model:
Range
There’s nothing worse than buying a high-end model, only to discover it is unable to cover your entire area properly. Lightning-fast speeds are essential, but if the unit cannot provide Wi-Fi to the entire house, it ends up being a waste of money. Make sure the model you choose can properly cover the required square footage.
Speed
Do you need a router to play video games, stream videos, or just to send emails? Everyone might not need rocket-fast speeds, so make sure you consider your internet usage before you finalize your purchase. AC models are the fastest ones available, but if you’re not going to do much video streaming or gaming, the last generation N routers would be suitable for you, as well.
Smart Features
Today, routers are designed to be more intelligent. Thus, it’s advisable to look for special features, like built-in firewalls for increased security, prioritization for important traffic, parental controls, and mobile application access. With a smart router, you’ll have full control over your Wi-Fi.
Conclusion
Choosing the right ASUS router is no easy task. Hopefully, this guide has helped narrow down your options. For us, the best overall router is the AC1900 Dual-Band Router, but make sure you consider all the aforementioned products to find the model that best suits your needs!
