Everything you need to know about the ASUS RT-AX86U [A Review]

If you would want to get the most out of a seamless gaming experience, the main thing you would need is a router that delivers fast network speeds and lowerlatency. Let us take a look at the top features of the ASUS RT-AX86U gaming router and how it works to enhance your gaming experience.

In as much as having the best gaming PC and having purchased the top rated PC games has been a game changer to my gaming experience, I wasn’t satisfied until I had the best Wi-Fi connection. With this in mind, I had to find myself a router that would give me a guarantee of a dependable connection that would ensure continuous online gaming. However, the market is filled with multiple devices which made it slightly challenging to find the best gaming router to use at first.

Amid my search, I came across the ASUS RT-AX86U which has stood out for me and has ensured optimal network performance throughout my online gaming activity. Generally, ASUS is among the well renowned manufacturers of reliable gaming routers and seeks to provide you with a fast, strong and reliable connection for all your high bandwidth activities.

ASUS RT-AX86U Review and Breakdown

ASUS AC2900 WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC86U) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, WTFast Game Accelerator, Streaming, AiMesh Compatible, Included Lifetime Internet Security, Adaptive QoS

• Connector Type : USB
• Dual-band (2.4 plus 5 GHz) AC2900 wireless router with the latest 802. 11AC MU-MIMO technology for data...

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The ASUS RT-AX86U is a new generation Wi-Fi 6 gaming router that allows you to enjoy ultrafast gaming throughput speeds of up to 5700 Mbps. It features 160 MHz channels which further increase to faster speeds on your network. Its performance is optimized with a 4 transmit, 4 receive antenna design which provides exceptional Wi-Fi coverage over a range of up to 5,000 square feet.

It comes with 8 Gigabit LAN ports that allows you to simultaneously establish 8 wired connection to your devices and it is powered by a powerful 1.4 GHz dual core processor for efficiency. It features Mobile Game mode which significantly minimizes lag and latency for mobile gaming which you would need to enable on the ASUS router app. It offers true 2 Gbps wired and wireless speeds and you are able to create a seamless whole mesh network with other Aimesh compatible network devices.

When using the ASUS RT-86U, your connected devices need to be 802.11 ac compatible so that you are able to get the most out of its throughput and advanced features. Its Smart Connect feature automatically chooses the best band available for your Wi-Fi devices. Aside from that, you are assured of a secure Wi-Fi networking experience through its ASUS Protection software that is powered by Trend Micro.

Unfortunately, the ASUS RT-AX86U does not have mounting options which limits its deployment and it has very complex firmware that may be a process to work around. Also, the router app does not give you a chance to remotely manage and monitor your home network.

What we liked;

• Powerful 5 GHz performance
• Forms a mesh network with other Aimesh compatible devices
• Good wired connection
• MU-MIMO and beamforming technology
• Comes with USB 3.0

What we didn’t like;

• Intermittent dropping signals on 2.4 GHz band
• No mounting options which limits deployment
• No remote management of your home network
• Complicated firmware

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ASUS RT-AX86U Specifications

ASUS RT-AX86U Features

Design and Structure

The ASUS RT-AC86U has a sleek and fierce design which comes in a black color with red sections towards the front. It is a bulky router that has its dimensions at 8.6 x 6.3 x 3.3 inches and it weighs about 2 pounds. It is fitted with three high performing antennas that are detachable. It does not come with mounting options and it has been designed to sit vertically on a desk. Its limited deployment capabilities limit its flexibility into different areas of your home.

At the front, there are LED light indicators whose behavior tell you the power status of your modem and allows you to keep track of your internet connection status. Towards the back, it is fitted with 4 Gigabit LAN and one Gigabit WAN Ethernet ports alongside a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.1 port.  On the side, you can access the WPS button, the power button and the reset button.

Speed and Performance

The ASUS RT-AC86U is a dual band router that delivers combined throughput speeds of up to 2,900 Mbps to all your connected devices. The bandwidth speeds are distributed as 750 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 2167 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. It is powered by a 1.8 GHz dual core ARM processor which delivers a strong connection for your high bandwidth activities including online gaming and 4K/8K video streaming.

It is featured with MU-MIMO technology which allows the ASUS RT-AC86U to communicate with your multiple devices. This way it reduces the time that each device would need to wait for a signal which makes your internet connection faster. Its beamforming technology, on the other hand, directs and focuses the wireless signal towards your connected devices rather than having the signal spread in all directions from the antenna of your router. This in turn provides you with a faster and more reliable network.

It is further equipped with 1024 QAM modulation and it has 4 by 4 capability on the 5 GHz frequency and 3 by 3 capabilities on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Its QoS feature provides you with easy access to prioritizing the traffic on your network. Traditional QoS limits bandwidth and adaptive QoS gives you a chance to manually set which devices and traffic get priority.

Advantageously, the ASUS RT-AX86U comes with a free two week trial of GPN (Gamers Private Network) which is powered by WTFast. In as much as you would need to pay $10 after the trial is complete, it automatically selects the most efficient router for your game packets. However, this is optional.

Range and Capacity

The ASUS RT-AX68U has been designed to cover a range area of up to 5,000 square feet which makes it a suitable router for very large homes. Aside from that, it has a storage capacity of 256 GB of RAM and 128 MB of flash memory to store information.

Security and Network Control

The AiProtection by ASUS was fit into the RT-AC86U to provide you with a secure network. This provides extra protection for your connected devices from viruses and malicious internet attacks. In addition to that, AiProtection monitors your entire home network so that it can block and neutralize any of your connected devices are vulnerable to security threats. Also, it grants you access to parental controls where you can restrict the access to certain sites on your Wi-Fi devices. Through the ASUS router app, you are able to monitor and manage your network.

Who is it best suited for?

If you are heavily invested in online gaming and most of your devices are high bandwidth, the ASUS RT-AX86U would be ideal for you. It is also suitable for large homes.

Are there any alternatives to the ASUS RT-AX86U?

Yes. Among the alternative routers to the ASUS RT-AX86U are the Linksys WRT32X, the ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 by ASUS and the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 AC2350.

Features of the alternative routers

Final Verdict: So, should you get the ASUS RT-AX86U?

Yes. The ASUS RT-AX86U has been designed to provide you with the maximum throughput that you would require for your high bandwidth activities such as online gaming, file transfer and 4K/8K video streaming simultaneously. Additionally, it is easy to manage and install and it is a reliable option for all your gaming needs. Also, the ASUS RT-AX86U executes peak performance at longer distances which shows that it ensures full home Wi-Fi coverage.

FAQs

What chipset does my ASUS RT-AX86U gaming router run on?

The ASUS RT-AX86U gaming router runs on the Broadcom BCM4366E Wi-Fi chipset.

Does the AiProtection interface interfere with the already existing internet security software on my PC?

No, it does not.