ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 review: Perfect for 2.5 Gbps internet!

After testing so many wireless routers for so long, it’s difficult for us to get excited about a new router unless there’s something extraordinary about it. Luckily, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is an extraordinary router in many ways, and this is obvious by looking both at it and at its price tag. When we got it a couple of weeks ago, we were curious to put it to the test and see for ourselves what it’s capable of. If you want to know more about this model and what makes it stand out in a crowded market, except for its premium price, read this detailed review:

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000: Who is it good for?

This wireless router is a suitable choice for:

• People with subscriptions to ultra-fast 2.5 Gbps internet connections
• Users who want one of the fastest Wi-Fi 6 routers ever made
• Gamers who often play online games
• Users who want a secure network with excellent antivirus and firewall protection
• Parents who are in need of efficient parental controls for their home network

Pros and cons

Here are the things we like about ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000:

• Can take advantage of 2.5 Gbps internet connections
• Offers one 2.5 Gbps LAN port too
• Futuristic design with RGB lighting
• It’s the fastest router we’ve tested so far
• 160 MHz channel width on Wi-Fi 6, with WPA3 security
• Powerful hardware that can handle many network clients
• Many features for gamers
• Fast USB 3.2 port, plus a second USB 2.0 port
• Top-notch security tools and parental controls
• Innovative VPN app that connects your mobile devices to your home network

There are a few downsides to consider as well:

• The price is not for everyone
• It would have been great for Dual WAN to work on both its 2.5 Gbps ports

Verdict

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is a beast in all regards. Its size is imposing, and so are its looks and RGB lighting. The hardware inside is very powerful, and it can handle ultra-fast 2.5 Gbps internet connections, as well as a large number of network clients. The Wi-Fi 6 connectivity it offers is the fastest we’ve seen so far and its price, well… Rapture GT-AX6000 is also one of the most expensive routers on the market. If you can afford it, you won’t be sorry you bought it. It’s truly a magnificent piece of technology.

Unboxing ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 comes in a large black and red cardboard box, with the Republic of Gamers logo and a generous picture of the router you just bought on the top cover. The packaging used for ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 On the sides, you find plenty of technical information about the router and its specifications. On the back of the box, ASUS explains several of its main features, like the speed advantage you get from using Wi-Fi 6, the gaming features of the router, commercial-grade security tools, and flexible network ports functions. When you unbox it, you find the following items: the router itself, its laptop-like power adapter, a network cable, the external antennas of the router, the quick start guide, some troubleshooting information, and the warranty card. Unboxing the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 The packaging of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is quite imposing through its size, colors, and design. It definitely makes you feel that you just bought a premium device. And when you first see the router, it definitely looks impressive. Inside the box, you find everything you need to get started.

Hardware specifications and design

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is an impressive router both through its size and looks. It weighs 1.12 kg or 2.47 pounds. Its size is 13 x 6.6 x 2.6 inches or 33.02 x 16.76 x 6.6 cm. The detachable antennas are quite thick and large, and the whole design is rather aggressive, definitely inspired by the Republic of Gamers brand. On the top, you see the RoG logo which can light up through RGB LEDs. However, the ROG letters on the top don’t light up, as they are part of the ventilation system. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 has four detachable antennas The ventilation system continues on the bottom of the router, where you also find the screws for accessing the insides of the router, two holes for wall mounting, and a sticker with information about the specific router you have. Holes for wall mounting are available On the back of the Rapture GT-AX6000, you find a WAN port that works at speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, one LAN port at 2.5 Gbps, and another four ports working at 1 Gbps. There’s also a USB 3.2 port and one USB 2.0 port. You’ll also find the power jack, the Power button, and the Reset button. There’s no WPS button on it. However, WPS can be turned on or off from the router’s firmware. The ports on the back of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 While this router supports Dual-WAN, unfortunately, the second internet connection must be plugged into one of the four 1 Gbps Ethernet ports. You can’t connect two 2.5 Gbps internet connections simultaneously on the Rapture GT-AX6000. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 offers Dual WAN The hardware inside the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is really powerful: it has a quad-core Broadcom BCM4912 System on a Chip working at 2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, and 256 MB of storage space for the firmware. The router is dual-band, and it works with all the modern standards including Wi-Fi 6, using the 160 MHz channel bandwidth, and WPA3 encryption. It offers both 4x4 MU-MIMO for wireless transfers and OFDMA. The total theoretical maximum bandwidth is 1148 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band, and 4804 Mbps for the 5 GHz band. For more information about the technical specifications of this router, visit this page: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Specifications.

Setting up and using the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 can be set up both from a web browser on your computer and the ASUS Router mobile app for iOS and Android. We usually go the browser route, but this time, we decided to use the mobile app instead. The initial setup is not that complicated. You have to connect your smartphone to the Wi-Fi emitted by the router, choose the series your router belongs to, and allow the app to use your location, at least temporarily. Setting up the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 from the ASUS Router app Then, you choose the type of internet connection you’re using, provide the connection details, set up the name and password for the Wi-Fi and the administrator account for the router. The app will apply your settings to the router, optimize the network, and then provide a summary. Once that is over, you can connect your devices to the network and enjoy using your internet connection. You can also continue using the app to fine-tune other settings. The ASUS Router app uses a special ROG skin for this router, as well as others of the same brand, to appeal to its target audience. The ASUS Router app has a ROG skin for this router The settings available in the app are fewer than those found in the firmware itself. However, you can use the ASUS Router app to remotely administer and troubleshoot your network from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. The admin interface accessible from a web browser also uses a ROG skin. Gamers might like it, but we prefer the classic interface used by ASUS as we consider it more pragmatic and a bit easier to use. However, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 offers tons of features, the maximum available from ASUS. For the complete list, check the Extra features section on the second page of this review. The admin user interface for ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 This router’s features are pretty well organized, and finding your way shouldn’t be difficult. One aspect that we appreciate a lot is the firmware auto-update capability. We recommend that you enable it and choose a late hour for it, when you’re likely to be asleep, to avoid being impacted while the router reboots to finalize the update. It’s comforting to know that the router takes care of staying up-to-date with the latest security patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements, without your manual intervention. You can set the router to update the firmware automatically The admin interface is available in 25 languages, and the help documentation is easily available with links towards the manual at the bottom of the interface. Gamers should not hesitate to familiarize themselves with this router’s firmware, as they will find many features targeted at them. They’ll also appreciate the RGB lighting on the router, with some good-looking effects that can be personalized from the admin interface. The RGB lighting on the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Performance-wise, we were very happy with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. We didn’t have any issues connecting our devices to it. To check the quality of the Wi-Fi broadcast by this router, we took a laptop and moved it to a room separated by one wall from the router. Then, we made several wireless transfers on it, using a specialized app that measured the average speed and the variability of the network transfer. When using the 2.4 GHz band and the Wi-Fi 4 standard, the average download speed was relatively fast (but not as fast as other routers), and the wireless transfer was quite stable. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 - a network transfer on Wi-Fi 4 When switching to the 5 GHz band and the Wi-Fi 5 standard, the average download speed increased significantly. Also, the wireless transfer remained very stable. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 - a network transfer on Wi-Fi 5 We then switched to the Wi-Fi 6 standard on the 5GHz band. This time, the download speed reached a whopping 1451.4 Mbps, showcasing the true potential of this 2.5 Gbps router. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 - a network transfer on Wi-Fi 6 This comparison shows a clear focus from ASUS on delivering a great networking experience on the 5 GHz band when using Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5. The older Wi-Fi 4 works well too, but it’s not as fast as it is on other more affordable routers. If you want to know more about the real-world performance offered by ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000, including comparisons with other wireless routers, go to the next page of this review.

Wireless network performance

Let’s look at the apartment used in our testing: the router is placed in the Living room. Unfortunately, in places like the Kitchen and the Medium balcony, the signal strength is not good for most wireless routers. The apartment where we tested ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 We have a fast 1 Gigabit Internet connection capable of upload speeds of up to 800 Mbps. We evaluated the Wi-Fi emitted by ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 using the following standards: Wi-Fi 4 on the 2.4 GHz band, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6 on the 5 GHz band. To get a better idea of the performance offered by ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000, we compared it to ASUS ROG Strix GS-AX5400 - a more affordable gaming router from the same manufacturer - and TP-Link Archer AX50 - a much cheaper AX3000 router from the competition. Unfortunately, so far, we didn’t test routers that are direct competitors to the Rapture GT-AX600, so we can’t include them in our comparison. We started with the 2.4 GHz band and the Wi-Fi 4 standard, and we measured the signal strength with NetSpot. In most rooms, Rapture GT-AX6000 was outmatched by its more affordable brother, ASUS ROG Strix GS-AX5400. However, slightly weaker signal strength doesn’t necessarily translate into lower performance, as you will see in other measurements. The signal strength on the 2.4 GHz band We used SpeedTest to measure the internet connection speed when connected to the 2.4 GHz band on Wi-Fi 4. As you can see below, the download speed offered by ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 did not impress. SpeedTest - Download speeds on Wi-Fi 4 The situation improved when measuring the upload speed. This time, the Rapture GT-AX6000 was the fastest router in most rooms. SpeedTest - Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 4 We used the PassMark Performance test to transfer data between two computers connected to the network on the 2.4 GHz band using Wi-Fi 4. In this test too, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 was outperformed by the routers we’ve compared it to. Download speeds on Wi-Fi 4 When measuring the upload speed, the picture changed again, with Rapture GT-AX6000 being the faster router in many rooms. Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 4 On the 2.4 GHz band, when using the Wi-Fi 4 standard, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 delivers satisfactory performance. However, other routers can deliver faster download speeds. For the next set of measurements, we analyzed the performance of the 5GHz wireless band using Wi-Fi 5. We looked at the evolution of the signal strength from room to room. The signal strength on the 5 GHz band We used SpeedTest to measure the internet connection speed when connected to the 5 GHz band, using the Wi-Fi 5 standard. In this test, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 started to show its prowess and the capabilities of its powerful hardware. We’ve seen it deliver the fastest downloads in almost all rooms. SpeedTest - Download speeds on Wi-Fi 5 The same happened when measuring the upload speed. Rapture GT-AX6000 delivered excellent numbers everywhere. SpeedTest - Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 5 We then used the PassMark Performance test to transfer data between two computers connected to the network using Wi-Fi 5. With a few exceptions, Rapture GT-AX6000 delivered the fastest downloads. Download speeds on Wi-Fi 5 The same story held true when measuring the upload speed. Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 5 ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is an excellent performer when using the 5 GHz band and the Wi-Fi 5 standard. We remained on the 5GHz wireless band, but we switched to using the Wi-Fi 6 standard, and we started with SpeedTest to see how fast the internet connection is. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 delivered downloads that are very close to the maximum potential of our 1 Gbps internet connection in many rooms, more than any other router we’ve tested. An excellent result! SpeedTest - Download speeds on Wi-Fi 6 The same happened with the upload speed. Our internet connection can achieve a maximum of 800 Mbps, and this router got very close in many rooms. SpeedTest - Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 6 We then used the PassMark Performance test to transfer data between two computers connected to the network using Wi-Fi 6. One of them is a desktop PC connected to the router using its second 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. The other is a laptop with a new Wi-Fi 6 network card. As you can see below, the laptop downloaded data from the desktop PC at speeds that went up to 1724 Mbps. An outstanding result, that finally showcases the true potential of the Wi-Fi 6 standard. Download speeds on Wi-Fi 6 Similar results were obtained when measuring the upload speed. However, the maximum speeds were not as high as the download speeds. Upload speeds on Wi-Fi 6 When using Wi-Fi 6, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is the fastest router we’ve tested so far. We’re truly impressed with the results we’ve seen.

Wired network performance

It was time to evaluate the performance we get on Ethernet network connections. When using SpeedTest, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 reached the maximum potential of our internet connection: 902.56 Mbps for the download speed and 785.50 Mbps for uploads. SpeedTest on Ethernet connections Next, we ran a network transfer between two computers, using the PassMark Performance test. Rapture GT-AX6000 had no problems in reaching the maximum potential of its 1 Gbps ports here as well. Network transfers using Ethernet connections As expected, ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 has no problems in reaching speeds close to 1 Gbps when using Ethernet connections. We wish it had all its LAN ports running at 2.5 Gbps, not just one. It would have been perfect for a cutting-edge high-speed home network.

USB port

We connected a portable SSD to the USB 3.2 port on the back of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 and made some data transfers. As you can see below, the download speed was very fast: 885.89 Mbps. More than enough for a speedy backup solution or for turning your router into a media streaming platform for your network. How fast is the USB port?

Extra features

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 doesn’t only feature RGB lighting for gamers. It also packs several features that some users will find useful:

• Game Acceleration - a set of tools for gamers. It includes the following:
  • Gaming Port - a dedicated gaming port on the back of the router. Anything you plug into it gets prioritized over other devices on the network.
  • ROG First - another feature that automatically detects Republic of Gamers devices in your network and prioritizes them over others.
  • Game Boost - is an adaptive Quality of Service feature that automatically prioritizes online gaming traffic.
  • Outfox - a VPN service that is designed for online gaming and tries to optimize network performance to your favorite game servers. You get a free 90-days trial with your router.
• Open NAT - an easy way to create port forwarding rules for online games.
• Game Radar - you get to check the ping reply for gaming servers all over the world, for a predefined list of games that includes popular titles like DOTA 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, World of Tanks, and more.

Gaming features on the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Security is a big deal too, and this router provides the following tools:

• AiProtection - a comprehensive set of security tools that protect your network from attacks, malicious sites, infected devices, and poor router settings. You can find a useful tutorial about this feature here: ASUS AiProtection: On or Off? Enhance your router’s security!
• Parental Controls - efficient cloud-based parental controls, developed by ASUS together with Trend Micro, alongside their AiProtection module. You can learn more about what they do from this article: 7 ways in which ASUS Parental Controls protect your children.
• VPN - is a major focus area, with three different services:
  • VPN Server - the router can be set to work as a VPN server for your network, using the PPTP, OpenVPN, and IPSec VPN protocols.
  • Instant Guard - a mobile app that helps smartphone users navigate the internet securely by establishing a VPN connection to their home network. The app is handy, especially when you have to use free public Wi-Fi networks, which tend to be insecure. For more details, read: How to configure and use Instant Guard on ASUS Wi-Fi routers.
  • VPN Fusion - allows you to connect to multiple VPN servers simultaneously and assign your client devices to connect to different VPN tunnels.

VPN features are a big deal on the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 The list of features doesn’t stop here. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 also includes:

• AiMesh - a useful feature that allows you to extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi using ASUS routers and create your homebrewed mesh Wi-Fi system. For more details, read: What is an ASUS AiMesh network and how to create one?.
• Guest Network - you can enable three wireless guest networks with individual security and access settings on each band (2.4 and 5 GHz).
• Traffic Analyzer - visual traffic statistics that give you a clear picture of how your network is used and by which devices.
• DDNS - allows you to connect to the router from the internet, even if your internet provider assigns you a dynamic public IP address.
• Dual WAN - you can use two internet connections at the same time. However, the second must use a 1 Gbps port. You can’t simultaneously use two 2.5 Gbps internet connections on this router.
• USB Applications - set up the router to use external hard drives or printers through its USB ports. There’s also support for Apple’s Time Machine functionality from macOS.
• AiCloud 2.0 - gives you the tools to create your cloud storage service using a hard drive connected to the router.
• Amazon Alexa - you can say things like “Alexa, ask ASUS ROUTER to upgrade the firmware” to perform different tasks.
• Network Tools - for analyzing the network and identifying what’s wrong. They are helpful when you need to troubleshoot problems.
• WiFi Radar - a set of unique tools that can be used to discover nearby wireless access points, gather statistics about the wireless radio signals in your area, troubleshoot problems, and improve the settings of your wireless network.

Many USB apps are available The list of features on the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is truly extensive and impressive. Few routers on the market can compare with it in this regard.

What is your opinion about the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000?

Now you know what we like and what we don’t like about the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 and, most importantly, how it performs in real-life situations and real homes. Before closing this review, share with us your opinion about this model: Would you buy it? Do you consider it a great buy? Or is it too expensive for you? Comment below and let’s talk.