The Asus RT-AX86U is a new Wi-Fi 6 router that is designed for consumers at home and gamers who need high-speed networking alternatives. This router gives you everything you need to optimize your home network for a lag-free gaming experience, including a 2.5 gigabit per second (Gbps) WAN/LAN connection, a dedicated gaming LAN port, and the capacity to provide 2 Gbps LAN rates via link aggregation.
The TP-Link Archer AX11000 is the current Editors’ Choice winner in the Wi-Fi 6 router and gaming router categories, and it costs less than the Asus RT-AX86U. It performed admirably in our close range test, offering more ports and more powerful gaming controls.
Design
The Asus RT-AX86U is a gaming router that employs a vertical design. This allows it to be more shelf-friendly due to its lower footprint and increased compactness. Additionally, there is no RGB in this router, despite the fact that some people may find that to be advantageous.
The router is a gaming machine that businesses can use to connect to the internet and power their devices. The back of the router has connections for power, wireless frequencies, and internet connection.
The gaming router has four 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, two USB 3.0 connections, a WAN port, and four 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports. Additionally, there is a recessed reset switch. It is smaller than most gaming routers, measuring 242 x 100 x 325mm (9.5 x 3.9 x 12.8 inches) WxDxH and weighing 814.5g (1.8 pounds) with the antennas attached. The size and the two USB ports are its main selling points, especially considering its MSRP of $249
Asus RT-AX86U review: Setup
RT-AX86U router installation instructions:
- Connect your Asus router to your home network.
- Choose the type of Asus equipment you own (PC, phone, or tablet).
- Install the RT-AX86U router software on your device.
- Connect your device to the router and plug everything in.
We could have distinguished between the 2.4- and 5GHz LANs when inputting the name and password for our new network. We decided to keep them under a single name and opened an Asus account after that. The router installed these settings and displayed a printable summary page for us in a minute. The RT-AX86U then updated its firmware to the most recent version. It worked the first time. ..
Features
The RT-AX86U is a dual-band AX5700-class router that supports Wi-Fi 6 and has a maximum 2.4GHz network speed of 861Mbps and a maximum 5GHz network speed of 4,840Mbps. 4Gbps over the air sounds really exciting, but most client devices aren’t yet able to fully benefit from these speeds. Many recent notebooks use Intel AX201 wireless cards, which “only” support rates of up to 2,400Mbps.
This router has a feature called “Dynamic Frequency Selection” which enables it to access different wireless channels that are only available for government services when activated in the router’s management system. Users can use these channels to experience improved Wi-Fi performance because they are less crowded.
RT-AX86U users can use AiMesh to build a mesh network with other compatible ASUS routers. This is useful because it enables you to build a mesh network without having to purchase a new mesh networking system.
ASUS routers come with a standard administration interface that is easy to use. There are several tabs for wireless settings, such as LAN settings, firewall, real-time traffic analysis, QoS, setting up guest networks, and more. ..
Internal Hardware
Since the RT-AX86U has an internal antenna, it must be removed in order to access its inside. One of the screws requires you to pull through a warranty seal, which is likely the strangest case that we have had to open thus far. When we examined the PCB, we found that there was an RFPCA3026-01 Rev01 from Walsin on it. This indicates that the RT-AC86U also has an internal antenna.
We located 256MB of Macronix flash storage on the board (MXIC MX30LF2G189C-TI), and after removing three screws, we turned the PCB over to reveal a sizable heatsink on the opposite side. In order to see the main circuits, we had to remove the heatsink. It has a few screws on top, but make sure to also remove the screw from the other side of the PCB. Here, we saw a NS777202 K2017 10/100/1000Base-T Quad Port Transformer Module and a SWAP B2007 NET NS892402 10/100/1000Base-T Single Port Transformer Module.
Asus RT-AX86U review: Security
RT-AX86U supports WPA3-personal, the most recent wireless security standard, which calls for a Wi-Fi 6 adapter on the client side. Additionally, it is backwards compatible with earlier protocols, including the more widely used (but less secure) WPA-2. AiProtection is the name given to Trend Micro’s network security, which is also included.
The router has a wide range of network security capabilities, including a Router Security Assessment, Malicious Site Blocking, Two Way IPS for DDoS assault defence, and Infected Device Prevention and Blocking. Be advised that AiProtection must be manually switched on because it is off by default. The network security subscription is free and included for the entire life of the router. ..
Asus RT-AX86U review: Performance
The Asus app has a lot of features that are helpful, such as the setup process that is straightforward and gives you the choice of combining 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands into a single network or dividing the two bands into separate networks with unique passwords. The web browser interface on a Mac or PC is also an option for users who are more experienced with network configuration.
Trend Micro offers a comprehensive malware protection system, including content filters for objectionable material and a scheduling feature to limit Internet access to certain hours. These features are superior to those offered by some of Asus’ router competitors, and we appreciate the fact that Asus does not attempt to impose additional subscription fees for them.
The Asus RT-AX86U is a good all-around Wi-Fi upgrade as a result, offering good range and coverage in addition to fast speeds for online gaming, streaming video, and other demanding tasks. ..
Pricing
The Asus RT-AX86U is a gaming router that retails for $249.99, but we found it on sale for a bit less. However, even at a reduced price, this piece of equipment is more in line with the low end of the midrange router market and is out of reach for a router’s budget. The RT-AX86U is one of the more reasonably priced gaming routers on the market, though Asus’ own RT-AX82U typically costs $20 less and offers comparable features, with the exception of one USB port and the presence of RGB lighting.
Conclusion
Asus RT-AX86U is the best router for gamers because it has a number of features that enhance your network, including multi-gig LAN ports, link aggregation, an optimised LAN port, and a few game acceleration utilities. It delivers quick, close-range throughput using the most recent Wi-Fi 6 technology. Strong parental controls and lifelong malware protection are also included. The TP-Link AX11000 is your best option if you need a Wi-Fi 6 router that provides faster overall performance but don’t need the extra features offered by the Asus RT-AX86U. ..
