This tri-band router (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) has been delivering dependable Wi-Fi to my complete residence for the previous couple of weeks. Video calls, film streaming, and gaming have been silky easy. Stability has been rock strong, with a single firmware replace that took a couple of minutes being the one downtime thus far. The RT-AXE7800 blew away many of the competitors for pace and latency at shut vary on each the 5-GHz and 6-GHz bands, and it turned in respectable outcomes over longer distances. Performance on the two.4-GHz band was common.
Range is a weak spot of the 6-GHz band, as Wi-Fi 6E has restricted energy, so it tends to drop off sharply with partitions and different obstacles. But even with these limitations, the Asus RT-AXE7800 matched or bested most different Wi-Fi 6E routers I’ve examined, together with mesh techniques just like the Nest Wifi Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) and Wyze Mesh Router Pro. It most carefully matched the efficiency of the costlier Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 (7/10, WIRED recommends).
One doable weak spot I discovered with the Asus RT-AXE7800 was file switch speeds, a check the place I copy a 2.2-GB file from one PC on the community to a different. It persistently took greater than 4 minutes to finish this switch, which was barely under common. The final system I examined, the Eero Pro 6E, averaged a minute and 14 seconds.
Cost Control
There’s a lot to consider when buying a router, so let’s drill into who the Asus RT-AXE7800 is for. Mesh techniques could also be tempting, however a single router typically makes extra sense for people with modest properties. The RT-AXE7800 supplied sooner speeds throughout most of my 1,600-square-foot residence than the vast majority of mesh techniques I’ve examined. It can’t compete on vary, however I had to enter my yard to really feel that.
While the Wi-Fi 6E support ought to solely tempt you in case you have units able to connecting on that 6-GHz band, it might show very helpful should you dwell in a congested space. In smaller properties or condominium blocks the place your neighbor’s routers could trigger interference, connecting on that 6-GHz band might supply massive jumps in pace and stability. If you earn a living from home with a Wi-Fi 6E-capable laptop computer or cellphone and sit near the router (ideally in the identical room), the Asus RT-AXE7800 is an effective purchase.
Far too many routers and mesh techniques these days require costly subscriptions if you need parental controls or community safety. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 is an effective instance, the place it prices $170 a 12 months to get each. Asus supplies strong parental controls, enabling you to schedule downtime, filter inappropriate content material, and block particular actions. There’s additionally AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro to ship across-the-board safety, together with a firewall, safety scans, intrusion prevention, malicious website blocking, and extra. Asus consists of each without cost for the lifetime of your RT-AXE7800 router, which is nice.
If you have got a bigger property, chances are you’ll choose one thing from our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers information, although it’s price noting that the AiMesh help right here makes it straightforward to attach Asus routers to type a mesh. If you do go this route and use the RT-AXE7800 as your most important router, a wired backhaul is suggested, as you don’t need the routers utilizing your 5-GHz band to attach with one another.
Folks content material to attend slightly longer for Wi-Fi 7 ought to think about a less expensive Wi-Fi 6 stopgap from our Best Wi-Fi Routers information. While the RT-AXE7800 is sort of dear, it performs effectively, gives greater than equally priced Wi-Fi 6E options, and harbors no hidden charges.
