This Christmas, don’t you want a fast Wi-Fi network that can cover a wide area? Are you expecting a house full of guests and want a powerful router, so that everyone can play and surf the web without lags or interruptions? Or maybe you’re looking for a router to offer as a gift to a loved one? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I recommend the most exciting ASUS routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2023:
IMPORTANT: No matter which router you choose, remember that all the suggestions in this article are ASUS expandable routers. Thanks to their AiMesh feature, they make it easy to increase your network coverage area whenever you want (now or at a later time) by buying another ASUS router or using an older one you already have.
ASUS RT-AX57: For medium-sized homes
The ASUS RT-AX57 is a reasonably-priced, expandable router powered by a quad-core Broadcom BCM6756 processor running at 1.7 GHz, with 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of firmware storage. Such a router can successfully handle the wireless network in a two-room apartment or a similarly sized space, and it can offer data transfers with plenty of bandwidth, like streaming 4K movies on your Smart TV. It also provides support for encrypting your network password using the WPA3 standard, which makes it harder to crack than the network password on your old router.
ASUS RT-AX57 is a good choice for families with children in need of advanced parental controls or network-wide virus protection. You can find it at a great price on Amazon.
ASUS RT-AX59U: Do you want a router you can mount on walls?
The ASUS RT-AX59U is an expandable Wi-Fi 6 router that stands out with its flexible design. It can be placed horizontally on a flat surface like a dining room table or bookshelf, but it can also be mounted on a wall thanks to its included stand. Furthermore, the router has all the screws required to mount and place it even in less accessible spots.
This model has up-to-date hardware worthy of a mid-segment router: it comes with a quad-core MediaTek MT7986A processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, 512 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of firmware storage. It’s well suited for apartments and medium-sized office spaces with a moderate number of simultaneously connected devices. If you’re interested in buying it, the ASUS RT-AX59U expandable router can be found on Amazon, here.
ASUS TUF Gaming AX4200: For gaming enthusiasts
The ASUS TUF Gaming AX4200 is also powered by a quad-core processor running at 2 GHz. Again, it’s the MediaTek MT7986A, with 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of firmware storage. In addition to the previous model, this router can handle internet connections with speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and includes useful tools for gaming enthusiasts. Gamers in your family will appreciate its many gaming features, like the Mobile Game Mode or VPN Fusion.
I consider it a good choice for medium-sized apartments with a moderate number of devices connected simultaneously. Especially for families where children (or adults) are also fond of online gaming. If you’re interested in buying it, you can find it for a good price on Amazon.
ASUS RT-AX5400: An advanced and balanced Wi-Fi 6 router
The ASUS RT-AX5400 comes with quality hardware and can handle two-room or three-room apartments with many devices. This expandable router offers a lot of useful features for securing your network and connected devices. Its tools for managing VPN connections are among the most advanced on the market, perfect for those who work from home and need to connect to their company network.
In terms of hardware, this router is equipped with a Broadcom BCM6750 triple-core processor running at 1.5 GHz, 512 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of firmware storage. A bonus is that it can also handle ultra-fast internet connections, with speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps.
Spec-wise, this router is among the most balanced models in ASUS’ portfolio. If you’re interested in this model, you can find it for a good price on Amazon.
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro: For Intel Evo laptops
This model is designed for gaming enthusiasts and offers plenty of power. It includes a quad-core Broadcom BCM6715 processor clocked at 2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, and 256 MB of firmware storage. Its hardware configuration guarantees top performance, even when you turn on many of the router’s additional services like the included security solution, parental controls, or ASUS Instant Guard.
The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro also comes with optimizations for gaming on both Sony PS5 consoles and the Intel Evo platform. If you have an Intel Evo-certified laptop, the router guarantees the best possible Wi-Fi connection with minimal latency and maximum stability.
If you like this model, you can find it on Amazon, for a good price.
ASUS RT-AX88U Pro: When you want a 2.5 Gbps internet connection
In terms of hardware, the ASUS RT-AX88U Pro is not very different from its predecessor. Additionally, it has two 2.5 Gbps ports instead of one, which allows you to both enjoy an ultra-fast internet connection and connect a networked device that benefits from this speed via a wired connection. For example, you can connect a NAS system and turn it into a media server or a private cloud storage system.
And if a 2.5 Gbps internet connection isn’t enough for you, you can also use one of the 1 Gbps ports on the back of the router to get two internet connections via WAN Aggregation. And just like that, you get 3.5 Gbps of internet bandwidth. If you’re curious about this beast, find it on offer on Amazon.
ASUS RT-AXE7800: Enjoy the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E
If you live or work in a crowded area with lots of Wi-Fi interference, buying a router compatible with the new Wi-Fi 6E standard can be a wise choice, as it gives you access to the new 6 GHz band, where there is no congestion. A very good router for this scenario is the ASUS RT-AXE7800.
As its aggressive design suggests, it’s a powerful router with a quad-core Broadcom BCM6756 processor clocked at 1.7 GHz, 512 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of firmware storage. If you also have a 2.5 Gbps internet connection, you can enjoy blazing-fast speeds on your Wi-Fi network using this router.
Those interested in this model can find the router for a very good price on Amazon.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro: Wi-Fi 6 at its best
2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps internet connections are slowly emerging everywhere, and home networks are becoming increasingly busy, especially when you have a home with many devices and a family that includes two or more children. If you need Wi-Fi coverage over a larger area, in a space with many walls, and for a high number of devices connected simultaneously, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 PRO is a very powerful model with many advanced features (virus protection, firewall, parental controls, gamer tools, VPN, etc.) that lives up to the highest demands.
Such an impressive router isn’t for everyone, but those who can afford it can buy it on Amazon using this link.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000: Prepare for the future
If you have the budget and want to be prepared for the future, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 is the router for you. In addition to a third wireless band at 6 GHz, provided by the Wi-Fi 6E standard, it includes all the advanced tools ASUS developed for the company’s routers and can use ultra-fast 2.5 Gbps internet connections. It also comes with not one but two USB 3.2 ports, which operate at very high speeds. These are perfect for connecting all sorts of devices to your network in order to share them.
If you’re ready to enjoy the Wi-Fi network of the future, you can find the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 on Amazon, here.
ASUS GT-AXE16000: For 10 Gbps internet connections
The hardware configuration of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 router is truly exceptional. It features a quad-core Broadcom BCM4912 processor clocked at 2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, and 256 MB of ultra-fast NAND flash firmware storage. Additionally, this router offers 4x4 MU-MIMO wireless transfers on all its available bands, a rare feat in the wireless router world. All these technical aspects give you the highest possible bandwidth in a consumer router and amazing transfer speeds, no matter the load you put it through.
All these hardware and performance aspects are enhanced by the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 being able to use 10 Gbps internet connections. These are already available in many countries and will become more and more widespread. Of course, such an imposing wireless router is available at a matching price on Amazon.
ASUS ZenWiFi XD6: The mesh Wi-Fi system you can mount on walls
For large apartments and houses with one or more levels, mesh Wi-Fi systems are the ideal solution. The ASUS ZenWiFi XD6 lets you choose the type of backhaul you want: wired or wireless. This makes it great for streaming video, even in 8K resolutions.
Furthermore, this system also comes with a wall mount kit, allowing you to place it wherever you want, including in hard-to-reach places.
The setup process is simple: you can configure the system using either a computer or a smartphone with the ASUS Router mobile app. If you’re interested in buying it, you can find it on Amazon, here.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT6: Mesh Wi-Fi for gaming
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 is the first mesh Wi-Fi system for gamers, featuring many tools and apps optimized for online gaming. For instance, on the back of each station, you have a dedicated port for gaming devices, which is prioritized automatically in the network. You also get Game Boost, which prioritizes network traffic for online gaming.
Last but not least, you get access to WTFast, a VPN service dedicated to minimizing latency in online games. If you’re passionate about gaming and have a larger apartment or home, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 may be a good choice for your needs. You can find this mesh Wi-Fi system on Amazon.
ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12: Excellent for 2.5 Gbps internet connections
The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 mesh Wi-Fi system is available in one or two-station kits. They’re generously sized, appropriately heavy, and stylish. If you want wireless connectivity in a large space, including a multi-level office, high wireless network speeds, and powerful security tools, the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 is worth considering. Plus, if you’re using a 2.5 Gbps internet connection, that’s all the more reason to buy one, as it works great with such connections.
Another advantage is that the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 is a tri-band Wi-Fi mesh system, so you can set it to use one of the three bands as the wireless backhaul for reliable and fast network connectivity. You can also build in an Ethernet backhaul for even better results, especially when using it in an office building or a home with more than one floor. If you’re interested in buying it, you can find it on Amazon.
ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12: Ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6E mesh system
The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is also an elegant mesh Wi-Fi system, very similar to the previous model. It’s a great choice for homes or offices where interior design is a priority. Furthermore, it’s equipped with top-of-the-line hardware, can work with 2.5 Gbps internet connections, and is compatible with the new Wi-Fi 6E standard.
With this mesh Wi-Fi system, you can enjoy a future-proof wireless network with ASUS’ most advanced security features. If you’re interested, you can find the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 on Amazon.
Which ASUS router or mesh Wi-Fi system did you choose?
If you were short of ideas, well, I’ve provided a long list of suggestions. As you can see, ASUS offers a wide range of routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems for different budgets and needs. At the end of this article, I’m curious about which models caught your eye and which router or mesh Wi-Fi system you’re thinking of buying. Comment using the options below and let’s discuss.