Asus has always been one of my favorite router makers. The first time I bought my own router to get out of paying to rent one from my ISP, I got an Asus Wi-Fi 4 model. Being the person I am, I was delighted by the number of options it presented, even if I didn’t understand them all. The $299.99 Asus RT-BE86U is no different, and I love that about it. I just wish it were cheaper.
That’s not to say the RT-BE86U isn’t a very good router—it truly is. I tested its throughput using a network benchmarking tool called iPerf that lets me transfer data back and forth between two devices on my network, which is handy since I don’t have the gigabit-or-better service that it would take to actually see benefits when it comes to actual internet speed. That testing revealed a router that gave me more data throughput than I get from my ISP, something my two Eero Pro 6E routers need a wired backhaul to do currently.
See Asus RT-BE86U at Amazon
Asus RT-BE86U Wi-Fi 7 router A fantastic, if pricey, dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router that could replace some mesh setups. Pros Great performance and throughput
Great performance and throughput Good port selection
Good port selection Very good coverage
Very good coverage Small footprint
Small footprint Can configure through both app and web portal Cons Pricey for a dual-band router
Pricey for a dual-band router Looks very router-y
Looks very router-y App and web portal can be intimidating
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