Asus rt-ac1750 vs. RT-ac66U – Which router offers better performance
Identifying the right router can be tricky when you have two devices from the same company. In this review of Asus rt-ac1750 and rt-ac66u we run you through the key features that make this routers outstanding for home use.
A router is a great addition to most homes as it allows all the household occupants to use a common WI-FI spot to access the internet. You can also connect your IoT and printers to the router and enjoy flawless wireless connection. These routers that we are examining come equipped with the latest 4K video streaming and dual bands for faster connections.
If you have been using an old router then you should have noticed the slowness in speeds, subpar performance and lagging gaming connections. If you try to watch a video then you have constant buffering which dulls your experience. If you are in search for a faster router then read on.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Asus rt-ac1750 vs. RT-ac66U?
Model |
Asus rt-ac1750 |
Rt-ac66u (Winner) |
Processor |
5th generation chipset |
Broadcom BCM4706 600MHz chip |
Ports |
4 LAN Ethernet Gigabit ports, two 2.0 USB ports |
1 X10/100/1000 Mbps WAN, 4X10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports, 2 USB 2.0 |
Dimensions |
8.1 X 5.9 X 1.4 inches |
207 X 148.8 X 35.5mm |
Range and speed |
On the 5GHz band can reach speeds of 1.75Gbps |
Distance of 30 feet router delivers 189.0Mbps at 20 feet 525Mbps |
Availability |
Asus rt-ac1750 vs. RT-ac66U – How do they compare?
Design and firmware
The ac1750 has been greatly improved with new features like AiCloud and sleek design. You still have three detachable antennas and an all-black color. You can be mount the router on walls or place it on flat surfaces. The ac1750 comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, two 2.0 USB ports, and LAN port. You can use the router as a media bridge or WAN port. At the front of the router are LED lights that show you the status of your connections.
The ac66u measures a decent 1.7 X 8.5 X 8.5 inches. It features three non-removable adjustable antennas. The router rear has a WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports, power jack, 2.0 USB port and WPS buttons. At the front that is where you get your 3.0 USB port and LED activity lights.
A closer examination of the ac66U may confuse it with the RT-n66u. The router can lie flat or be mounted on walls. Since the router has two USB ports you can use one to attach your printer and another for your hard drive. The transfer speeds are decent and fast. You can use the AiCloud to manage all your devices that are synced to the device.
Performance and range
A 1GHz dual core CPU powers the rt-ac66u router. You also get 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash memory. The router is capable of speeds of up to 1,300Mbps at 5Ghz and 450Mbps at 2.4Ghz. It also supports some of the latest technologies like beamforming but lacks the MU-MIMO. This later technology comes in handy for simultaneous streaming of data.
The ac66u offers speeds of up to 1200Mbps which is quite adequate for 4k streaming and playing high intensive games without worrying about buffering. The router comes with 2 years warranty and 24/7 technical support. You have the latest router technologies in beamforming. Using the technology it will maximize signals on the three antennas.
Devices that need more bandwidth are prioritized and this ensures you eliminate buffering. Since the antennas are directional in nature it allows the beamforming technology to spread the signals efficiently. You can use a considerable number of devices on the router as you get 4 Gigabit ports. The only downside is you just have one UBS port. This can be a considerable downside if you take into account the number of devices that nowadays require USB porting.
A BCM47189 processor manufactured by Broadcom is used to run the ac1750. This enables the router to maintain its speeds even when you have ported multiple devices. It also the router to allocate the bandwidth more efficiently among your connected devices.
Installation and setup
What makes the rt ac66u outstanding is its range of customization software. You can install and manage the router settings through AsusWRT console or download the Asus router app for your iOS or Android phone. On the console you get your status panel to the right, advanced settings on the left and network map in the center.
The AiProtection is the section where you setup Trend micro network capabilities. This allows for Two-way IPS, malicious site blocking, router security assessment and infected device protection. You can assign network priority to your devices through the Adaptive QoS setting.
Here you give priority to your gaming devices and media streaming. The AiCloud is an innovative feature that allows you to access the router settings from anywhere. You can also configure the following in the advanced menu: radius server, mac filtering, WPS connection, beamforming, IPv6, VPN, upgrade firmware, system logs among others.
The ac1750 does come with some extras that are meant to enhance your browsing experience. The router firstly comes with a parental control feature that allows one to set the kind of sites your kids are surfing. You can block these sites using a set of keywords. The distribution of bandwidth among your connected devices is done through the QoS. This allows efficient delivery of signals.
The guest network feature is used to allow up to 2 guest networks per band into your network. You also have the VPN server setting that monitors the use of the PPTP protocols and VPN. Since the router is dual band your can enjoy some first streaming videos on the 5GHz band while those doing light browsing can use the 2.4Ghz band. The router offers reasonable speeds for most household needs without worrying about buffering.
Asus rt-ac1750 vs. RT-ac66U – A Comparison Overview
Asus rt-ac1750 – Overview
- 5th generation 802.11ac chipset gives you concurrent dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz for up to super-fast 1.75Gbps
- ASUS AiCloud service: Access, stream, share, sync - all on the go with unlimited storage expansion!
There has been a lot of improvements that have gone into the manufacture of the Asus rt-ac1750.Besides, it coming with USB ports for that printer connection, you also get a 5GHz band to support wireless-N users and AC. Performance has been improved and the device is now cloud based meaning you can monitor most of the router performance from anywhere.
The Asus rt-ac1750 has a sleek design and comes with three detachable antennas. Due to its size it occupies little space at your desk. To ensure you get the very best connection, it comes with four (LAN) gigabit Ethernet ports. You also get a WPS button and two 2.0 USB ports. This is quite a let down as most of the modern routers are now coming with 3.0 USB port.
The Asus rt-ac1750 features a 5th generation chipset that supports 802.11ac and with two frequency bands – 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The RAM is 256MB and if you are planning on using the router for gaming you can do so courtesy of NIVIDA GameStream. To help cool the system it also comes with its own cooling system and comes with DoS and SPI intrusion for extra protection.
You can set up the router through the CD that comes with it or login to the site web interface. The setup process involves a couple of wizards which when followed will help you in setup. This router comes with a host of setup settings like the parental control. Here you can specify a list of keywords with which you can prevent your kids from accessing some sites. The QoS feature is used for the allocation of bandwidth to your devices. It will determine how much a device needs and give it priority. This will come in handy when you are playing some high intensive games.
The router ideal for medium sized houses and the fact that it is dual band means you can use the 5Ghz band for video streaming, multiplayer games and HD movies. While part of the devices are on this band, the others can use the 2.4GHz band for web browsing and emails. The speeds are decent and you should expect to get 300Mbps for the 2.4Ghz band and 867Mbps for the 5GHz band. The device is quite suitable for small apartments and homes without too many walls or rooms.
What we liked:
- Dual bands
- Faster than its predecessor
- Compact design
- Cloud based storage
What we did not liked:
- A bit pricier in consideration to features offered
RT-ac66U – Overview
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If you are in the market for an affordable dual band router or are simply in search of an upgrade from your outdated router then the RT-ac66U is a perfect choice. Firstly, you get the option of four LAN ports, parental control settings, and a built in Trend Micro malware. You also get Asus innovative AiMeshtechnology, Trend Micro powered AiProtection, and a 3.0 USB port.
On the outside the router is medium sized and compact enough to fit in most home spaces. It measures a modest 1.7 X 8.5 X 5.8 inches and comes with long three non-removable adjustable antennas. At the front you have the latest 3.0 USB port for your printer connections, and activity LEDs. On the rear panel you will find a WAN port, Four gigabit LAN ports, a power jack and USB 2.0 port.
The speed on this router is higher than on its predecessors. Here it is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core CPU with 256MB of RAM and 128MB of flash memory. This enables the router to hit maximum speeds of 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Unlike most of the latest routers you do not have MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming but you can still transmit signals to clients through beamforming.
Setting up the router can be done through AsusWRT web-based console settings or you can download the Asus router app for Android and iOS phones. Some of the Trend security settings you can control include Two-way (Intrusive prevention system), malicious site blocking, router security assessment and infected device protection.
The router settings also come with Adaptive QoS that allows you to control application access and priority. Priority can be given to media streaming, games, web surfing as well as create your own custom presets. In the settings you can even go further and limit bandwidth allowances. You can control the settings for your router from anywhere through the AiCloud feature. The advanced settings allows you to go further and change the settings for IPv6, VPN, view system logs, MAC filtering, wireless bridge, radius server as well as some professional settings like beacon interval, RTS threshold, WPS connection and Beacon Interval.
What we liked:
- Four LAN ports
- Easy to control
- More speed for a decent price
- Host of parental controls
- Malware protection
What we did not like:
- Does not have MU-MIMO technology
Conclusion: which is better? Asus rt-ac1750 or RT-ac66U?
Choosing the right router when you have them been produced by the same company isn’t always easy. For one the devices will most probably have the same setup and installation details. However, one device outperforms the other when it comes to functionality or speed tests. In our review, we found the RT-ac66uto be the better router. It combines dual band frequencies at a reasonable price and you get some awesome features like parental control settings, Trend Malware protection and Quality of Service (QoS) settings.
FAQ
What is the difference between single, dual and tri-bands?
There are usually two frequency bands available in the market – 2.4GHz and 5GHz. When you purchase a single router you mostly find the router with one band – the 2.4GHz while a dual band router is capable of using both the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz. The dual bands are faster and more flexible. If you are looking for an even faster router choose one that has a 2.4Ghz band and two 5GHz bands.
What is beamforming technology?
With beamforming technology you have the router signal been sent to specific devices instead of it been spread out through a broadband antenna. This results in more reliable and stable connections. Most of the latest routers will come with beamforming and MU-MIMO technology.
