{"id":108525,"date":"2022-07-01T21:44:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T19:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/?p=108525\/"},"modified":"2023-02-11T11:09:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-11T10:09:28","slug":"we-tested-three-available-asus-routers-pick-your-favourite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/en\/we-tested-three-available-asus-routers-pick-your-favourite\/","title":{"rendered":"We tested three available Asus routers. Pick your favourite"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.<\/p>\n

Intro<\/h2>\n

We got our hands on a trio of Asus routers, which at first glance do not have much in common, but the opposite is true. All three support the new WiFi 6 standard, which until recently we found only in more expensive devices, but the availability of 802.11ax network can slowly but surely be considered a standard. If you’re saying to yourself that there’s already a newer version of WiFi 6E on the market, you’re right, but we’ll cover that some other time in a separate article. So back to WiFi 6 and the “three musketeers” from Taiwan.<\/p>\n

RT-AX55<\/h2>\n

We’ll start off nice and easy with the RT-AX55<\/a>, which is a sort of introduction to WiFi 6 devices, but still offers a lot of the features and enhancements that WiFi 6 brings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Design-wise, it’s a bit of a gaming-focused model thanks to a pair of red stripes, while the rest of the exterior is black.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As far as connectivity is concerned, it comes with a standard equipment in the form of one WAN and four LAN ports with a speed of 1 Gbps. The lower-numbered sibling RT-AX53U<\/a> only offered a trio of LANs, which can be quite limiting even in basic home use. Four LAN slots is thus a safe bet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The router is powered by Broadcom’s BRCM6755 chipset with four cores, 128 GB of flash memory and 256 DDR3 RAM. Wireless transmissions in the 80 MHz band will offer up to 1201 Mbps at 5 GHz and 574 Mbps at 2.4 GHz. This is thus a so-called AX1800 router. For both networks, the router supports a pair of streams when sending and receiving, i.e. 2\u00d72.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The software support is particularly interesting, even though it is a low-end model. Of the new WiFi 6 features, it got RT-AX55 namely OFDMA, TWT and there is also support for AiMesh or MU-MIMO.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The equipment is nicely complemented by an affordable price tag, which is around 80 euros<\/a>, but until recently you could get this piece for 65 euros, which is a really great offer due to the presence of WiFi 6 features and added value in the form of Asus software.<\/p>\n

ROG Strix GS-AX3000<\/h2>\n

The second of the trio is the gaming-oriented GS-AX3000, which proudly bears the ROG Strix moniker much like its older ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 sibling that we tested a while back<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition to the large ROG logo on the top of the router, the gaming spirit is easy to spot thanks to the RGB Aura backlight, which you can customize in the settings. There are also a number of software features specific to gaming use, which we’ll look at in the next chapter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The GS-AX3000 offers better hardware equipment than the first piece, namely it has a triple-core 1.5 GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash storage, twice as much for both parameters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The quartet of external antennas again offers 2\u00d72 MU-MIMO in both the 5 and 2.4 GHz bands, but this time also with 160 MHz support at 5 GHz, bringing the maximum speed up to 2402 Mbps.The 2.4 GHz network still has a theoretical maximum of 574 Mbps, so that’s a total of the marketed AX3000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Unlike the RT-AX55, this model also offers WAN and LAN aggregation or a 5 Gb USB 3.0 port with a host of software features such as AiCloud, AiDisk, Media\/Samba\/FTP server or Time Machine, which we’ll also show on the next page.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A special feature of the router is undoubtedly the backlight on the front, which you can also customize or even synchronize with other Asus Aura devices.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With a price tag of \u20ac175<\/a>, the ROG Strix GS-AX3000 already represents the mid-range, which is reflected in higher speeds, a richer port selection and, above all, significantly more software features compared to the RT-AX55.<\/p>\n

ZenWiFi AX Mini<\/h2>\n

The last of the trio of routers tested is a bit of a different breed, as the name ZenWiFi AX Mini suggests. This piece belongs to models such as ZenWiFi AX<\/a>, or the recently tested ZenWiFi Pro XT12<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

ZenWiFi are stylish and design-oriented routers that are often offered in packs of two or three for use in larger homes or houses that can’t be covered by a single router.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The AX Mini captures the design of the router, which is truly tiny, measuring just 90 \u00d7 90 \u00d7 80 mm and weighing 295 grams. The white colour definitely adds to its uniqueness, standing out among its traditional black-coloured siblings. However, should you still want to reach for the traditional black, the AX Mini is also available in this finish. The interesting thing about the ZenWiFi AX Mini is that it is sold in different configurations namely as a 1\u00d7 router, or 1\u00d7 router and 1\u00d7 node (tested configuration), or 1\u00d7 router and 2\u00d7 node. So you can choose according to your needs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The specs of the AX Mini are very similar to the RT-AX55, so again it is a BRCM6755 with 256 MB of DDR3 RAM but a larger 256 MB of Nand Flash memory. In addition, the router has an additional B50212E chip for Ethernet. It is the number of RJ-45 ports that is the main difference between the router and the node, where the router has a WAN and a LAN port and the node only has a LAN port. You can use the latter to connect to the router for a more stable backhaul connection, or to connect to an end device.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In terms of speeds, this is the same AX1800 standard as the RT-AX55, i.e. 2.4GHz 2\u00d72 with 574 Mbps and 5GHz 2\u00d72 with 1201 Mbps. Depending on the number of units, prices vary
\nfrom 120 EUR for one<\/a>, 210 EUR for the tested pair<\/a> and lastly 340 EUR for a three-pack<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the next part of the article, we’ll look at what software features and gadgets these routers offer and how they differ. We’ll also explain a few terms like AiMesh, AiProtection, VPN Fusion or OFDMA and TWT as promised.<\/p>\n