ASUS AC3100 vs.ASUS AC3200 – both expensive, but one overcomes the other
Our experiences with routers have been varied ones – some good, some bad. In our quest to search for excellent routers in the market, we came across the Asus AC3100 and AC3200, which share similarities as being part of the same brand and are both AC routers, but are different in many ways.
ASUS is among the most famous brands in the market, and you might have considered getting one of them, like the AC3100 or AC3200. But this raises some questions: what makes these two different from each other? Why should you prefer one over the other?
In theory, the AC rating on Asus routers should not raise too many questions about their performance. What it denotes is that the AC3100 shows a theoretical speed of 3100 Mbps, while the AC3200 shows a theoretical speed of 3200 Mbps – though the actual performance can deviate from these expectations significantly. This is why it is always important to know why you are choosing a certain router over another – instead of just looking at the AC rating, examine other attributes and see whether it fits those needs.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between ASUS AC3100 and AC3200?
ASUS AC3100 |
ASUS AC3200 (Winner) |
|
Throughput speeds in close proximity (average) |
97.3 Mbps (2.4GHz), 537 Mbps (5GHz) |
86 Mbps (2.4GHz), 196 Mbps (5GHz) |
Ethernet ports |
4 |
5 |
Dimensions (inches) |
11.8 x 3.3 x 7.4 (the larger choice) |
11.4 x 2.3 x 7.4 (the smaller router) |
Upload speeds |
20 Mbps |
50 Mbps |
Download speeds |
200 Mbps |
150 Mbps |
ASUS AC3100 vs. AC3200 – How they compare
Appearance
The AC3100 is a very attractive router in appearance, measuring 11.8 x 3.3 x 7.4 inches and coming in a matte-black housing with angular sides and beveled top. The router’s front has the power LED indicator light, wireless activities for both bands. WPS, LAN and WAN connectivity, and USB port activity. The processor type is a 1.4GHz dual-core type.
Measuring 11.4 by 2.3 by 7.4 inches, the ASUS AC3200 is among the biggest routers we have tested, alongside the AC3100. It looks similar to the AC3100 in its angular design and black enclosure, but has six antennas rather than the four that you will find in the AC3100 – one on each side, and four at the rear.
Its front edge has nine LEDs, which include 5 and 2.4GHz activity LEDs, a power LED, WPS and Internet connectivity LEDs, and 4 Gigabit Ethernet LEDs. The rear holds all the ports, as well as a power switch, and reset and WPS buttons.
Setup
There are plenty of management features to expect with the AC3100, which you can access through a mobile app or web interface – both user friendly for beginners as well. On the General Settings page, you will see a network map and tabs that access the Guest Networks, as well as an Adaptive QoS page that allows for prioritization of specific applications.
The advanced settings will let you select security protocols, create wireless SSID names, bridge settings, and configure various wireless settings.
Similar to the AC3100, the AC3200 uses SmartConnect technology to connect the three bands to the wireless clients to promote optimal performance, and throughput is improved through beam forming technology. It will also support Dual WAN – a feature that allows you to supplement your primary connection by setting up a secondary WAN connection.
The AC3200 has plenty of management and multimedia features, all which you can access easily through a web interface. The General section will also contain a network map that tells you the USB devices that are connected, and the status of all bands.
Performance and Installation
The installation of the AC3100 is a breeze, and this is all thanks to the intuitive setup wizard that you get. It activates when you connect your desktop PC to your router and the internet, then switching on the router – when the console launches automatically, it will give you a choice of whether you want to configure the router automatically or use the wizard.
The performance of the AC3100 router is just as impressive, at least in the throughput department. In close proximity, the score turns out to be 537 Mbps on the 5GHz band, while the throughput drops very slightly to 302 Mbps at 30 feet – that is a good indicator that it has good range. The same principle applies to the 2.4GHz band, as close proximity reveals a score of 97.3 Mbps, and the 30-foot test reveals a score of 74.3 Mbps. The disappointment comes with the file transfer tests, with a write speed of 27.4 Mbps and a read speed of 31.9 Mbps.
The throughput score is impressive as well, giving us an average speed of 86 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band in close proximity, and 196 Mbps on the 5GHz band in close proximity. At 30 feet, the 2.4GHz band gives a speed of 65.7 Mbps, while the 5GHz band gives a speed of 160 Mbps. If you need a router that can handle mixed networks, the AC3200 is your best bet because of its expertise at handling a mix of 802.11ac and 802.11n client networks.
The disappointment, like in the AC3100, is in the file transfer performance. Like in the AC3100, we tested using the USB 3.0 port, and it revealed a reading speed of 29.5 Mbps and a writing speed of 23.2 Mbps.
ASUS AC3100 vs. AC3200 – A comparison review
ASUS AC3100 – Overview
- Ultra-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi router with a combined dual-band data rate of 3167 Mbps for low latency online...
- Broadcom NitroQAM technology boosts 5 GHz data rates up to 2167 Mbps and 2.4 GHz up to 1000 Mbps
The ASUS AC3100 router is a dual band router that comes with plenty of features, but it is quite expensive. It has solid support for high 5GHz throughput as well as MU-MIMO technology. Its build also includes four removal antennas –one on each side and two at the rear – and many ports that include a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port (at the front), eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, a power jack, and a WAN port.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you will need a MU-MIMO adapter to take advantage of this technology. The good news is that there are plenty of management options in a great user interface, making it our top choice among the high-end segment of routers.
Pros
- Enables MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output)
- Plenty of management features and ports
- Fast throughput performance in testing
Cons
- Very expensive
- Middling speeds in file transfer
ASUS AC3200 – Overview
- Smart Connect automatically selects the fastest band for all devices individually, based on their demands...
- Built-in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports for up to 10-times faster data transfers to USB storage devices1,...
The AC3200 router is a major pick in this review, even though it is a beefy device that can hardly fit in a constrained book space. It has a futuristic design, as well as six antennas that are all adjustable. Its throughput performance is solid and it comes with plenty of features – but it could improve on its file transfer performance. It is also quite expensive, and will serve you well if you have the money for it.
The AC3200 makes greater use of the AiProtection feature, which uses the Trend Micro Smart Home network that detects viruses and malware, and blocks any suspicious sites. There are also extensive parental controls and wireless professional settings that can change wireless parameters. Along with the setup wizard, it makes the router very easy to install – and when setting up, you can choose any of 5 connection types; the L2TP (VPN), PPoE, PPTP (VPN), Automatic IP (DHCP), and the Static IP.
Pros
- Good throughput performance, especially on the 5GHz band
- Multiple LED indicators
- Plenty of advanced features
Cons
- Middling performance on the file transfer front
- Very expensive
- Router has a large footprint
Verdict: So which is better? The AC3100 or AC3200?
Our clear winner for this review is the AC3200 – if you are experiencing struggles with your wireless network due to the demands of online gaming and multimedia streaming, this router can help you in plenty because of the QoS feature. This is due to the high throughput speeds and range performance.
Frequently asked questions
Are there some steps I can take to optimize my ASUS router?
Yes, as most cases will not need you to make extra investments. These are positioning of the antennas, placing the router in the best location, using the least used wireless channel, selecting the channel with the highest bandwidth, selecting appropriate encryption methods, and using the boosting options when possible.
Should I always allow QoS in my ASUS AC3200 router?
This applies to all ASUS routers – if the internet speeds are less than 250 Mbps and you are streaming or gaming, then it is best to enable QoS.
