Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400 – Which offers the longest range

Choosing a home router can be challenging with all the large spaces and ceilings.Here you need something with the largest range and that comes with features like parental control. In this review of Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400 we check out this two router giants.

Having a home router is your ultimate solution to getting some work done over the Wi-Fi or streaming live movies. The right router for home use should come with a host of parental controls and anti-malware software. Since most home users are not IT gurus most of the routers come with easy to use setup screens that offer detailed installation options.

When it comes to the right router for home use, you need something that will transmit over walls and ceilings without losing connectivity. You also want the maximum range that any router can offer. In this regards, we examine two routers – Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400 and tell you which is the most suitable for your large home.

What are the differences between the Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400?

Model
TP link AC5400
Asus RT AC5300 (Winner)
Chipset
BCM4709C0 @1.4GHz
BCM47094 @1.4GHz
Flash
256MB
128MB
Power supply
12V/5A
19V/3.42A
VPN support
PPTP, OpenVPN
PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN
Antennas
8 x external
8 x 3.47 dBi RP-SMA
Speed Range
859.5 Mbps at 15 feet

733 Mbps at 5 feet

Uplink speed @5Ghz 156.5Mbps (17 feet)

Downlink speed @5GHz 173.7Mbs (17 feet)

 

Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400 – How do they compare?

Design and connectivity

The Asus RT AC5300 design is one that is quite intimidating. It is large and created for large homes that require a fast router with long range. It is also packed with some of the latest router technologies like MU-MIMO, game enhancement features, and 4X4 data transmissions.

The router will consume some of your desktop space as it measures a whopping 2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 inches. The colors used are the usual black and red Asus colors with the logo at the top. At the front you will get indicators for WPS, WAN and the tri-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz. At the back you get four Gigabit LAN ports, WAN port and 3.0 USB port for connecting your printer.

The TP link AC5400 like the Asus is big on gaming and is large. It measures 2.2 X 9.5 X 9.5 inches. While it is smaller than the Asus RT AC5300 it spots eight oversized non adjustable, removable antennas. The antennas are adorned with black and red colors that make them really stand out. At the back you have eight Gigabit LAN ports and a LED white light that turns red whenever the router connectivity is poor.  At the front of the router you will also find LED On/off buttons, Wi-Fi On/Off buttons, WPS and on the right two 3.0 USB ports.

Performance and range

A 1.4GHz dual core processor powers the Asus RT AC5300. This enables it to operate on the 802.11ac circuitry and alsoproduces three bands – two 5GHz and one 2.4Ghz. With the bands it is capable of achieving speeds of 2,167Mbps at 5GHz and 1000Mbps at 2.4GHz.

Been a 4X4 router it has four individual streams to help it deliver the most data. The Asus RT AC5300 comes with Smart connect technology that allows the router to choose the best band while the latest MU-MIMO technology allows it to do simultaneous streaming instead of sequential.

A 1.4GHz quad-core processor that enables it handle three co-processors with a memory of 1GB powers the TP link AC5400. By leveraging on 1024 Quadrature Amplitude modulation technology the TP link AC5400 is capable of reaching speeds of 2,167Mbps at 5Ghz and 1000Mbps at 2.4GHz. The TP link AC5400 will support MU-MIMO technologies and allows direct client signal transmissions. You can manage some of the router functions through the TP-Link tether app on both Android and iOS devices.

Technologies and safety

Management of the Asus RT AC5300 is through the ASUSWRT management console. Here you can make changes like setting up parental control, AiProtection and Adaptive QoS. The later allows you to change the quality of service prioritization, bandwidth monitor, and the traffic analyzer (with this you can check your current network statistics). The Asus RT AC5300 is created for those who are looking for a router for gaming. You will find the gaming acceleration service and game boost feature quite handy. You also have some advanced settings for the radius server, wireless MAC filter, WAN configuration among others. Installation is simple and fast, all you have to do is head to router.asus.com and follow the prompts by the setup wizard.

Setup for the TP link AC5400 is through TP-Link setup page. Here you can setup a set of parental controls based on the child’s age – child, pre-teen, teen and even adults. The parental controls will block any adult content surfing. The TP link AC5400 allows one to maximize on the Quality of Service (QoS) setting that allows one to give priority to certain clients or devices. For keeping your devices protected the TP link AC5400 has intrusion prevention system, Trend’s micro’s malicious content filter, and infected device quarantine anti-malware utilities. Since the TP-link app is available on cloud you can make your router settings from almost anywhere. The TP link AC5400 has better setup procedures than the Asus RT AC5300.

Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400 – Overview

Asus RT AC5300 – Overview

ASUS WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC5300) - Tri-Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, Gaming & Streaming, AiMesh Compatible, Included Lifetime Internet Security, Adaptive QoS, Parental Control, MU-MIMO
  • Tri band (Dual 5 GHz, single 2; 4 GHz) with the latest 802; 11AC 4x4 technology for maximum throughput...
  • Mu memo technology enables multiple compatible clients to connect at each client’s respective maximum...

The Asus RT AC5300 is one of the most impressive routers in the market. Firstly, its size; it is monstrous and coupled with astronomical speeds, this router is scares competition. The router is tri-band and delivers and amazing 1,000Mbps at 2.4Ghz and 2,167Mbps at 5Ghz. On the outside the eight antennas really stand out. You also have the black and red Asus colors with the iconic logo on the top. In addition, you get the latest BCM4709 chipset. For the memory you have 256MB of DDR 3 RAM and 128MB of flash.

The antennas are detachable so you can easily move it around. The router also comes with one 2.0 USB port and one 3.0 USB port. This is quite a let down especially if you have multiple devices that you want to connect to the router but it will work fine for your printer or an external drive. In addition, you also have one Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports. The router is quite popular with gamers and those who are interested in doing some 4K video streaming. It uses the latest 802.11ac technologies and with three radio bands it is worth the money.

To enhance your Wi-Fi connectivity experience, the Asus RT AC5300 has the latest MU-MIMO technology, game enhancement options for your multiplayer games, and 4X4 data transmissions. The Asus RT AC5300 is quite large at 2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 inches and the eight antennas are both adjustable and detachable. At the front of the router you get small LED indicators that inform you of the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connectivity plus power. The router also supports some cool functions like smart connect, signals sent directly to clients and it will automatically choose for you the best band.

The router setup system is pretty easy. You have the Asus web-based ASUSWRT management console. For maximum protection of your devices and children surfing, you have AiProtection that includes parental control and Trend micro malware protection. The Guest network allows you to control who enters your network while the traffic analyzer enables you to monitor daily traffic statistics. As stated this is an ideal router for gamers as they have the online game acceleration service, game boost feature and free subscription to the WTFast.

What we liked:

  • Numerous customization settings
  • Optimized for gaming performance
  • Tri-bands – 2.4GHz and 5Ghz
  • MU-MIMO optimized

What we did not like:

  • Very bulky

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TP link AC5400 – Overview

TP-Link AC5400 Wireless Wi-Fi Tri-Band Gigabit Router (Archer C5400)
  • BATTLE TESTED Enjoy 4K video and play online games simultaneously with ultra fast 802.11ac Wave 2 MU MIMO...
  • LIGHTNING FAST WIFI AC5400 Tri Band with 4 Stream and NitroQAM technology delivers up to 5400Mbps Wi Fi...

The TP link AC5400 is an easy to install router that will appeal to you – especially if this is your first purchase. For the dimensions it measures 2.2 X 9.5 X 9.5  inches and runs on a 1.8Ghz dual core processor with 1GB of RAM.. While it is a bit pricey it makes up for it with some excellent router speeds. The router itself does not stand out in terms of looks and unlike the ASUS AC5300 isn’t menacing at all.

The four Gigabit LAN ports are located at the rear and you have a modem WAN port connection. You also have the two 3.0 USB port for your printer. The 1.4GHz Broadcom ARM processor also has three co-processors that do a terrific job of data handling. Being tri-band you have two 5GHz channels and one 2.4GHz. The 2.4Ghz is connects at speeds of 1000Mbps and the 5GHz at 2,167Mbps.

Trend Micro powers the malware protection and you have a host of parental controls to keep your kids safe and secure when surfing. The TP link AC5400comes with eight adjustable non-detachable antennas with black and red colors. It also features eight Gigabit LAN ports with one being connected to the router while the other been compatible with NAS devices.

When the device is on and the connectivity good you will have a status LED light on the top of the router turning white. If there is anything wrong with the connection it turns red. At the front of the router your get Wi-Fi On/Off, WPS, LED On/Off buttons and on the right side you have the two 3.0 USB ports. The TP link AC5400 has the latest 802.11ac technologies coupled with MU-MIMO. It has a smart connect function that allows the router to pick the optimal band. You setup the TP link AC5400 through the TP-Link tether app for Android and iOS or you can do it through a web based console. In case, you are in search for knowing the upload speeds you can do it through the speed test button. The router allows various connections to the internet like PPTP, PPoE, L2TP and dynamic/static connections. The home settings enables one to make parental controls so that children are not exposed to adult content.

What we liked:

  • Several LAN ports
  • Fast throughput performance
  • Built malware and parental control settings
  • Superfast download speeds

What we did not like:

Large footprint

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Conclusion: So which is better?Asus RT AC5300 vs. TP link AC5400?

In this review, the Asus RT AC5300 really stands out. While the two routers are almost similar in speeds and specifications there is a slight difference. The Asus RT AC5300 stands out due to its gaming features which are optimized for multiplayer games. It also scores well in its use of the MU-MIMO technology and delivers fast connectivity speeds. The router is also aggressive looking with eight large antennas that deliver considerable range across large rooms and walls. If you are looking for high resolution graphics for your game then consider this router.

FAQ

What is the 3.0 USB port been used for in routers?

If you have taken a closer a look at most routers, you may have probably encountered 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports. The ports are used to connect a printer or laptop. Once you connect to the router you can move some of your stuff through the wireless router. This works like a small Network attached devise(NAS). You can also connect your hard disk to the USB router port and it works like it is in cloud. Once you connect your printer to the port you can then print some of your documents through the wireless network.

What’s the difference between 802.11ac and 802.11n?

Firstly, the 802.11ac is the latest Wi-Fi connection introduced sometime in 2013. The 802.11n has been around since 2007. The key difference between the two is clearly demonstrated in the kind of speeds offered. The 802.11ac is capable of handling speeds of up to 1300Mbps and is three times faster than the 802.11n. It can move at speeds of up to 162.5 Mbps. The 802.11ac can support up to eight antennas and this antennas can each do speeds of up to 400Mbps. The 802.11n can only support four antennas which can be a hindrance when you have many people using the router.

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