D link dir 895l vs. Asus rt ac5300 – which is the fastest router?
Having a home router is your ultimate solution to getting some work done while allowing the rest of the household enjoy some high-speed video streams or engage in multi-player games. In this review of D link dir 895L vs. Asus rt ac5300 we tell you which is the faster router of the two.
If you are thinking of working from home or have just bought some high end IoT devices then a high speed router is a must. A router will allow all your internet enabled devices access the internet at the same time and at high speeds. This means you can do your 4K video streaming or play some high intensive multi-player games without suffering from buffering.
The choice for the ideal home router boils down to range, speed and size. The D link dir 895L and the Asus rt ac5300 offer all the above. These routers are massive and are geared for speed. In this review, we tell you which is greater of the two.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the D link dir 895l and Asus rt ac5300?
Model |
D Link Dir 895L |
Asus rt ac5300 (Winner) |
Dimensions |
2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 |
5.8 X 16.4 X 10.3 |
Performance |
dual core BCM4709CO 1.4GHz chip |
dual core 1.4GHz processor |
Ports |
4 Gigabit LAN ports, I Gigabit WAN port, |
4 Gigabit LAN ports, I Gigabit WAN port, aggregate port 1 & 2 to get two LAN port |
Cloud features |
Mydlinkshareport app |
Asus AiCloud |
Distinctive features |
Intelligent QoS, Quick VPN |
Adaptive QoS |
Range and speed |
At 2 meters 250Mbps
File transfer speed @2m 258.96Mbps |
At 2 meters 222.2Mbps
File transfer speed @2m 235.29Mbps |
Availability |
D link dir 895l vs. Asus rt ac5300 – How do they compare?
Design
When it comes to design the dir 895L looks like a crawling bug from another planet. You get this triangular design with a glossy red finish. At the back you have multiple holes for heat dissipation. The router has eight external antennas and you have a mid strip LED indicator that shows you the status of your router. However, it won’t show you the performance of your WAN and LAN ports.
This may pose some challenges during troubleshooting. At the back you have four gigabit Ethernet ports, 3.0 USB port, 2.0 USB port and one gigabit WAN port. There is also a dedicated switch to turn the router into an extender – though most people won’t really need this feature. Coming in at 2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 inches the dir 895L is massive and larger than the Asus rt ac5300.
The Asus rt ac5300 while massive at 2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 inches isn’t as large as the dir 895L. The router is black in color while embossed in red trims. You have eight adjustable and removable antennas that serve the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. At the front of the router LED lights for display of the two bands, power, internet activity as well as WAN and WPS activity. To your left are 2.0 USB port and at the back you get your WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports, 3.0 USB port and power button. The router is large so you may need to find some open desk space otherwise it can be obstructing.
Performance and range
The dir 895L has the capacity to stream your 4K videos and providing gaming support for multiple devices. The router is powered by Broadcomm dual core BCM4709CO 1.4GHz processor that comes with 256MB of RAM. This processor enables the router to transmit through one 2.4GHz band and 5GHz band. To help you manage any heavy router traffic it also has 4 simultaneous data streams.
The router comes with smart connect that enables it to force your devices into the most suitable band for improved signal strength. This means depending on the signal strength you may find yourself surfing on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band. When you put the router to the test you are still able to get 300Mbit/s for the 5GHz even if its over walls.
The Asus rt ac5300 is powered by a dual core 1.4GHz processor that also maximizes on the 802.11ac circuitry. The router allows you to access the internet through two 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. You also get speeds of up to 2,167Mbps for the 5GHz bands and 1,000Mbps for the 2.4GHz band. The router offers you four individual streams for delivering and receiving data. The ac5300 supports a host of innovative technologies like MU-MIMO, best band for optimal throughput, and smart connect. The MU-MIMO feature allows you to stream simultaneously rather than through sequential streaming.
Installation and setup
The asusrt ac5300 installation settings are accessed through its web based ASUSWRT management console. Here you will have access to all your router customization options like guest network, AiProtection, Traffic Analyzer, Adaptive QoS and so much more. AiCloud 2.0 is a feature that allows you to access your devices that have been connected to the router via USB from anywhere. The QoS feature that gives network priority to users enables gamers to engage in high intensive games without any slow down in speeds. In the advanced router settings you can configure your beamforming, MU-MIMO, wireless scheduling, channel settings, and choose your router security methods.
Setting up the dir 895L is through the improved D-link user interface. Since it is based on the Linus OS the web interface has been made very easy to navigate. You have large display icons that offer you information on stuff like connected clients and USB devices. You can also enable parental control so that your kids do not access any unauthorized sites. Most of the router configuration settings get their own page and this makes it easy for users to navigate the sites. Another cool feature is the management tab that shows you the throughput for your connection interfaces. With the feature you can know which client on your network is using the most traffic and if you wish you can limit their bandwidth. When it comes to gaming the rtac5300 wins the show. However, if you are using the dir 895L you do get some decent features for port forwarding including the ability to distribute bandwidth within the network efficiently.
D link dir 895l – A Comparison Overview
D link dir 895l – Overview
The dir 895L stands out due to its alien like design. It comes in a triangular design with a glossy red paint on its surface. Additional holes on its back are used for heat dissipation. This design may pose problems when it comes to storing the router. You have LED lights that show you when the router is powered on but they come with the drawback of not showing when the WAN and LAN ports are activated.
At the back of the router are four gigabit Ethernet ports, 3.0 USB ports, WAN port and 2.0 USB port. The router is at the high-end of the scale and this means it is not the most favourable for home purposes. The router comes with eight external antennas and as one of D link most expensive router it is loaded with cool features like MU-MIMO technology. The router is a direct competitor to the Asus rt ac5300 in both performance and functionality.
The D link dir 895l is a tri-band router. With the smart connect feature you can connect your devices to the most suitable wireless band hence get the best signal. This means some devices will be allotted to the 5GHz or 2.4GHz band. With the 5GHz band you can achieve speeds of up to 1,300Mbps.
The firmware on the dir 895L matches the price and status of this impressive router. You will uncover an easy to use interface that is easy to navigate. Once you have powered up the router you will notice that configuring it is a breeze. The dir 895L features an improved Quality of Service (iQoS) software. The feature allows the router to assign priority to certain devices. The quick VPN enables you to connect to your home network securely even when you are abroad. You can enable VLAN through the advanced settings. The USB ports are quite fast when it comes to file sharing and you should expect to achieve speeds of up to 40.3MB/s read and 28.5MB/s write.
What we liked:
- Latest MU-MIMO technology
- Great wireless range
- Tri-band frequencies
- User-friendly interface
What we did not like:
Lack of printer sharing feature
Asus rt ac5300 – Overview
- 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 a humongous router that is designed for those with extremely large homes and need maximum bandwidth. This will enable you to get flawless connection and ability to stream 4K videos. The router operates on the latest 802.11ac technology and is a tri-band router. Besides all this you also have access to some of the latest router technologies like 4X4 data transmissions, MU-MIMO data streaming and some cool customization settings.
The Asus rt ac5300 is a large router so expect it to consume some desktop space, however, at 2.6 X 9.6 X 9.6 inches it is not as large as the dir 895L which measures 5.8 X 16.4 X 10.3 inches. On the outside the router comes with the iconic Asus black and red colors. You have eight large removable and adjustable antennas. On the front the router has small LED lights that indicate band signals and power. To your left is a 2.0 USB port while the back has 3.0 USB port, four Gigabit LAN ports, power button and WAN port.
A 1.4GHZ dual-core processor is used to power thert ac5300. The circuitry is the 802.11ac while the operating frequencies consists of two 5GHz and one 2.4GHz bands. This means you can hit speeds of up to 2,167Mbps for the 5GHz bands and 1,000Mbps for the 2.4GHz band. The Asus rt ac5300 supports the latest router technologies like smart connect, beamforming and MU-MIMO technology. This technology allows for simultaneous instead of sequential streaming.
When it comes to the setup and installation the router benefits a lot from some of Asus innovative technologies like AiCloud 2.0, Aiprotection, Guest network and adaptive QoS. Most of the Asus routers are geared towards gaming and this router is no exception. It comes with a one click QoS setting that enables online gaming acceleration. By giving your gaming devices priority you can engage in various high intensive multi-player games. The advanced settings will also allow you to setup things like port forwarding, WAN configuration, URL and keyword filtering.
What we liked:
- Uses innovative technologies like Aiprotection, QoS and AiCloud
- Fast processor speed
- Supports intensive gaming
- MU-MIMO technology
What we did not like:
The router is bulky
Conclusion: So which is better? D Link Dir 895L or Asus rt ac5300?
When it comes to getting yourself a fast router then the Asus rt ac5300wins in this round. The router offers some of the best speeds on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz throughput testing. It also has some really advanced customization settings that enhance your router connection experience.
The router also comes with some of the latest technologies like MU-MIMO. The downside is this is a very large router and you will have to allocate some considerable space for it. For those seeking an out of the world gaming experience then go with the Asus rt ac5300.
FAQ
How to look out for router speeds?
It can be confusing choosing the right router speed. The first router models where 802.11g and offered 11Mbps. Then come the 802.11n that offered speeds of between 150Mbps and 600Mbps. Today, the latest routers are 802.11ac and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 1Gbps. It is vital that you read the reviews for router speed tests as what is normally advertised is not what you get.
How do I get wide router range?
All the routers in the market will advertise their range. However, note that if you are going to be transmitting over walls or large rooms then the signal may not be that good. The alternative is to get a mesh network, a long range router, or bundle up several routers into one. It is also prudent you get a router with a dedicated app or have its settings available in cloud. This allows you to manage your router settings from anywhere. You can know what slows down your router and manage your client access.
