ASUS Announces RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U Gaming Routers

[btarunr]

ASUS today announced RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U, two high-performance dual-band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) gaming routers. The new models give gamers - especially mobile gamers - even more choice for creating an ultrafast and stable gaming network. RT-AX86U is an upgraded version of the best-selling RT-AC86U, keeping the classic black chassis with gaming-inspired red accents. It features ultrapowerful WiFi 6 technology with combined overall speeds of up to 5700 Mbps, while the boldly styled RT-AX82U delivers WiFi 6 speeds up to 5400 Mbps and features a futuristic design with amazing Aura RGB dynamic lighting effects.

Both models are packed with powerful, easy-to-use game acceleration features that will appeal to any kind of gamer, especially mobile gamers. The ASUS Router app includes a one-click Mobile Game Mode, and wired devices can be easily prioritized via the online control panel or by connecting them to the dedicated Gaming Port. RT-AX86U also includes a 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, giving it true 2 Gbps networking capabilities for WAN, LAN and WiFi.



ASUS AiProtection Pro with Parental Controls provides full protection for all connected devices including gaming smartphones. The routers also support the unique ASUS AiMesh technology, which allows them be used as part of a multi-router mesh network in conjunction with other AiMesh-compatible ASUS routers to create a seamless whole-home network.

Ultrapowerful WiFi 6
RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U are gaming routers that deliver all the benefits of the new WiFi 6 standard, while offering full backward compatibility with existing WiFi devices. WiFi 6 technology provides faster speeds, higher network efficiency, longer range, and improved battery life for connected devices.

The WiFi 6 in RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U uses 160 MHz channels to enable combined overall WiFi speeds of up to 5700 Mbps in RT-AX86U and 5400 Mbps in RT-AX82U. In a revolutionary move, WiFi 6 also combines OFDMA technology with MU-MIMO to deliver increased network capacity and efficiency in multi-device environments, as well as improved WiFi signal range for better coverage. The result is fewer WiFi dead spots and faster, more reliable WiFi connections for all devices, throughout the home, no matter how many devices are connected: gamers can be sure their game won't be interrupted by downloads or streaming on other devices. WiFi 6 also includes a feature called Target Wake Time that helps reduce power consumption for mobile and IoT devices, giving gamers more battery life for gaming.

Designed for gaming
RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U include a wealth of features designed to allow any kind of gamer to easily accelerate their games.

The free and easy-to-use ASUS Router app includes the new Mobile Game Mode. This provides one-touch mobile gaming acceleration, automatically prioritizing all traffic from the device running the ASUS Router app to ensure the best possible gaming experience. Mobile gaming devices can also take advantage of lower congestion and faster speeds on the 5 GHz WiFi band.

Users can also prioritize any device on the network using the Gear Accelerator function in the router's online control panel. For wired gaming devices, one of the LAN ports is also a dedicated Gaming Port that prioritizes any wired device connected to it.

Open NAT takes the complexity out of port forwarding with an easy three-step configuration process, and Adaptive QoS can be configured to prioritize traffic from different kinds of apps, including games, so network bottlenecks should be a thing of the past.

RT-AX86U additionally supports a lightning-fast 2 Gbps wired connections via 2.5 Gbps port that can be used as either a WAN or LAN. This means that RT-AX86U supports true 2.5 Gbps networking via WAN, LAN and WiFi.

RT-AX86U is also an NVIDIA GeForce NOW recommended router for the very best cloud gaming experience, and RT-AX82U is now ready for acceptance into the GeForce NOW recommended program.

Bold gaming style
The new ASUS gaming routers are designed for maximum visual appeal, with bold lines and gaming-inspired detailing. RT-AX86U has a vertical orientation — chosen for optimum performance — with discreetly powerful looks enhanced by the red panel at the front base of the router.

Designed with a full-on gaming vibe, RT-AX82U has striking futuristic looks. Its sleek, geometric lines give it a strong and purposeful stance, reinforced by the four non-removable antennas at the rear. At the front of RT-AX82U, a large full-width louvered window houses the stunning Aura RGB lighting system. Gamers can choose from a range of alternative full-color dynamic patterns — such as the colorful Rainbow effect — or choose their own colors for selected patterns. It can also be set to a static pattern if a calmer mood is desired.

Secure and versatile
For maximum security, RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U support the latest WPA3 wireless security protocol, and include a free lifetime subscription to ASUS AiProtection Pro, which offers commercial-grade security and advanced parental controls. AiProtection Pro protects all devices connected to the network, including those that cannot run traditional antivirus software, such as smartphones and IoT devices.

Built-in ASUS AiMesh support means that RT-AX86U and RT-AX82U can be used as either a controller or a node in a mesh network built using AiMesh-capable routers. An AiMesh mesh network delivers whole-home WiFi coverage for all wireless devices, with seamless roaming and no dead zones.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

How much does it hurt the wallet?

 

[RH92]

How much does it hurt the wallet?

YES

 

[simlariver]

Why only one 2.5Gb port?

 

[bonehead123]

How much does it hurt the wallet?

If current pricing trends for these types of routers are any indication, the pain will be significant, as in >>$500 ..,,....

But, but, but...

It does have that friggin "G" word as part of the model name though, hahaha..

 

[TheLostSwede]

Please explain to me what the benefit of an RGB router is, as I really don't get it...

The RT-AX82U looks like it's Broadcom based and the RT-AX86U should be Qualcomm/Atheros based. Only the latter has that single 2.5Gbps port.

 

[ixi]

At best buy goes for 350 dollah. So that is why I believe in EU price tag should be 350 euro.

 

[fynxer]

Why only one 2.5Gb port?

Because Intel pushes for 2.5Gbit to be able to milk the market.

They are known to drain max amount of money from people with minor incremental upgrades.

All new gaming router will have 2.5Gbit BUT with the price tag of 10Gbit.

10Gbit is so old tech now that it should be standard on all medium to high end motherboards.

I can only hope AMD will promote 10Gbit as standard on their motherboards to derail Intel's attempts of small incremental upgrades of slow wired NIC tech.

People that don't think 2.5Gbit is old tech then look at Wi-Fi where we have NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 7.2Gbit today and 5G where they promises even faster speeds AND THAT IS WIRELESS.

Intel's attempt to force slow wired NIC tech on us all is an insult to progress in the tech industry.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Very stealthy looking!

 

[Mysteoa]

Please explain to me what the benefit of an RGB router is, as I really don't get it...

The RT-AX82U looks like it's Broadcom based and the RT-AX86U should be Qualcomm/Atheros based. Only the latter has that single 2.5Gbps port.

If you set it to red it gets faster.

 

[BArms]

Because Intel pushes for 2.5Gbit to be able to milk the market.

They are known to drain max amount of money from people with minor incremental upgrades.

All new gaming router will have 2.5Gbit BUT with the price tag of 10Gbit.

10Gbit is so old tech now that it should be standard on all medium to high end motherboards.

I can only hope AMD will promote 10Gbit as standard on their motherboards to derail Intel's attempts of small incremental upgrades of slow wired NIC tech.

People that don't think 2.5Gbit is old tech then look at Wi-Fi where we have NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 7.2Gbit today and 5G where they promises even faster speeds AND THAT IS WIRELESS.

Intel's attempt to force slow wired NIC tech on us all is an insult to progress in the tech industry.

I don't know why you're ragging on Intel here, they have absolutely nothing to do with this. The 10Gb chips run hot because all the 14nm or better foundries are busy pumping out ARM chips, GPUs and desktop CPUs. Even 10Gbit switches are still extremely expensive, and switching is about the simplest networking logic to put into an ASIC. There's just not much demand for 10Gb in consumer hardware right now.

 

[fynxer]

I don't know why you're ragging on Intel here, they have absolutely nothing to do with this. The 10Gb chips run hot because all the 14nm or better foundries are busy pumping out ARM chips, GPUs and desktop CPUs. Even 10Gbit switches are still extremely expensive, and switching is about the simplest networking logic to put into an ASIC. There's just not much demand for 10Gb in consumer hardware right now.

Intel controls and set standard in consumer market with what they adopt in chipset's and other components they make available at reasonable prices to board manufacturers.

So you are telling me that Intel can pull off 40Gbits Thunderbolt BUT they can not do 10Gbit NIC, what kind of mambo jambo is that.

Also your reason that there is not a demand for 10GBit????? Think again, every serious computer user wishes 10Gbit where standard in main stream so they don't have to wait 10 hours to transfer 1TB.

No demand, the same thing Intel said about using max 4 cores in their main stream consumer CPU's, they said there is no demand for more cores in main stream and keept on milking 4 cores at insane prices, UNTIL AMD came along and just ripped away Intel's consumer market with up to 16 cores in main stream. Yea sure there was no demand, the demand was huge.

Given the chance Intel will milk any and all technology by holding back progress, it's called greed and that is what they now do with 2.5Gbit NIC.

10Gbit is OLD TECH they can easily do 10Gbit TODAY at low prices BUT they don't want to because then their profits will go down in the server market where they flog massive amounts of 10Gbit chips.