ASUS Zenwifi AX vs. Orbi 6 – Which wifi 6 router has better performance levels
If you are searching for a router to upgrade your home connection, increase the surfing speeds in your home, or a simple setup, then you may have considered getting a router that supports the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity standard – such as the Netgear Orbi 6 or the ASUS Zenwifi AX router.
It is usually not enough to have one router supplying your entire home with a strong connection, and that is where a mesh network comes in. while this was a long mainstay of Wi-Fi 5 routers, it is now extending to Wi-Fi 6 routers, like the ASUS Zenwifi AX and Netgear Orbi 6.
However, getting a Wi-Fi 6 router is very expensive, and purchasing a mesh system of Wi-Fi 6 routers is quite the investment. Therefore, it is very important to consider various criteria before spending your money, and that sis where we come in. we initially thought these two routers offered the same performance standards, but our experiences with both offered surprising insights.
These routers both support the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity system, also known as 802.11ax, which is an upgrade from the 802.11ac system. The Wi-Fi 6 system offers better speeds and connectivity, but the routers are quite expensive, since they are still rare in the market.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the ASUS Zenwifi AX and Orbi 6?
ASUS Zenwifi AX (Winner) |
Orbi 6 |
|
Dimensions (inches) |
6.3 x 6.3 x 2.9 (smaller and more portable) |
11.7 x 9.6 x 8.3 (bulkier design) |
Average throughput speeds (close proximity) |
4.8 Gbps |
4.0 Gbps |
Download speeds |
825 Mbps |
800 Mbps |
Upload speeds |
271 Mbps |
250 Mbps |
ASUS Zenwifi AX vs. Orbi 6 – How they compare
Setup
When unboxing the ASUS Zenwifi AX, the first thing you notice is the two identical devices in the package. You can see either of them as the extender for the Wi-Fi network, while the other functions as the router – and that will give you a foolproof setup. Setting it up is very easy, as you will just need to plug in one of the devices and use an Ethernet cable to connect it to your router.
There are plenty of tools to help you monitor the network diagnostics and real-time traffic, while you can activate the AiProtection to set up a firewall that prevents online attacks. The problem here is that the protection levels are quite basic, especially when comparing them to the competition from other routers.
The Orbi also uses a mobile app to manage it, although you will notice a glaring lack of parental controls and antivirus components – though this might come in future updates. The Netgear web console is where you can find the access schedules, and also enter the website URLs you want to block.
The redeemable quality here is the easy setup, and the support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which will allow for checking internet speeds and enabling of guest networks.
The overall advantage here goes to the ASUS Zenwifi AX, as it provides a foolproof method of setup that is easy, and there are plenty of security features as well.
Design
When examining the hardware of the Zenwifi AX, it employs the same approach as the Wi-Fi 5 version of the ASUS router, with the difference of being a high-end version without drawing too much attention. The antennas are also internal, and you can confuse the routers for alarm clocks, smart speakers, or other pieces of technology you would use.
Each device has a multi-gig WAN port that supports a wired speed as high as 2.5Gbps, which is great if you are considering future-proofing your home. It also has four gigabit Ethernet jacks, and one LED light at the front.
In the case of the Orbi 6, the design is quite colorful. It also comes in a package of two devices, with one serving as the router and another as the extender. These devices communicate with each other courtesy of a dedicated 5GHz band, and they aim to provide a coverage of up to 5000 square feet. Each device measures 10 x 7.5 x 2.8 inches, and they are white in color with a silver trim, as well as a status LED that you find near the base.
The LED glows different colors as well – in the router device, it glowsflickering red if the firmware has some issues, solid magenta when there is no connection, solid green when the router is on, and solid amber when it is under booting. In the satellite device, it will glow amber when the connection is fair, magenta when there is no connection, and solid blue when the connection to the router is working.
The bad news here is the lack of a USB port in both units, although they have eight internal antennas, a 1GB RAM, a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, and a flash memory of 512 MB.
The Zenwifi is the better choice between the two – mainly because of the internal antennas, the appearance, and USB ports.
Performance
We found that the performance of the ASUS Zenwifi AX was impressive, just like the easy setup process. In fact, the immediate result of activating the system was an improvement of Wi-Fi stability, speeds, and range, regardless of your position. When compared to other AX routers, it is a mid-range router though; its performance is not as exemplary, as it experiences some issues (especially with the 2.4GHz band).
At close range, it manages a speed of 825 Mbps, and has a download speed of 271 Mbps, making it second to the Netgear Orbi 6 that has a download speed of 288 Mbps. While both of these routers have a very high speed when using then in an open-floor plan, the Zenwifi seems to be an overall better choice on this front when sustaining the performance over long distances.
The Orbi 6 gave us solid scores in throughput, as the close proximity score was 862 Mbps, while the 30-foot performance was 324 Mbps on average. Its satellite node had an average of 639 Mbps in close proximity and 550 Mbps at 30 feet, which places it slightly below the Zenwifi in both criteria.
The winner of this category is the Orbi 6, as its speeds on both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands are stable, even when comparing it to other AX routers.
ASUS Zenwifi AX vs. Orbi 6 – A comparison review
ASUS Zenwifi AX – Overview
- Connector Type : USB
- Banish WiFi Dead Zone—Tri-band mesh WiFi system with unique antenna placement delivers strong WiFi to...
When comparing the ASUS Zenwifi AX to other routers, this stands among the strongest ones we have tested – and what makes it even more surprising is the fact that it costs much less than its competitors that also use the Wi-Fi 6 standard.
Like the Orbi 6, it also uses a mesh system, comes at a relatively cheaper price, and boasts better range for each of its devices. It will also include a better range of app-based customizations and controls for the networks you create, and will allow you to utilize either device as an extender or router – something that the Orbi 6 lacks.
Pros
- Has full support for the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity standard
- Each device has a multi-gig WAN port
- Stable performance on its mesh network
- Comes in a tri-band design that has a dedicated wireless backhaul
Cons
- The 2.4GHz band has limited speeds
- The QoS (quality of service) engine will require you to use third-party data sharing
Orbi 6 – Overview
- Coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft. and for up to 100 devices. Extend coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. with each...
- Ultrafast AX6000 gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and...
This router is great when you want a two-piece system that can handle a large home comfortably, while being easy to manage and install through its mobile app. It also gives you great performance scores when putting it through a speed test, just as the ASUS Zenwifi does.
With that said, we expected more value of service from this router, especially considering how expensive it is. The most disappointing aspects were the lack of advanced settings, such as device prioritization (QoS), USB connectivity, anti-malware protection mechanisms, as well as parental controls.
Pros
- Solid throughput throughout its performance
- Easy installation and use
- Includes four LAN ports
- Multi-gig WAN ports
Cons
- Very expensive, especially when compared to other Wi-Fi 6 routers
- Lacks USB connectivity
- Lacks QoS, anti-malware, and parental control options
Verdict: So what is better? The ASUS Zenwifi AX or Orbi 6?
Both of these Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers are excellent at what they do, and we highly recommend them for an enhanced surfing and streaming experience. However, the ASUS Zenwifi AX comes out as our winner because it offers better value of service, as well as management options such as the QoS and parental controls, all while coming at a cheaper cost than what you would expect from the usual Wi-Fi 6 router.
FAQs
Can you operate all the nodes of the ASUS Zenwifi AX router while keeping their Ethernet backhaul open?
Yes, it is possible. In fact, this increases the reliability and speed of the connection, as it frees up the 5G band.
Is it possible to use the Orbi 6 with a VOIP phone and XFinity Dual band router?
Yes, and the Orbi 6 will still operate at an optimum.
