ASUS RT-AX86U Pro (AX5700) Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Gaming Router, 2.5G Port, Gaming Port, Mobile Game Mode, Port Forwarding, Subscription-free Network Security, VPN, AiMesh Compatible

I recently upgraded my home network setup and added the ASUS AX86U as an AI Mesh device to complement my main router, the AX88U Pro. The results have been outstanding, particularly when compared to my old AC68U router.The AX86U integrates seamlessly into the AI Mesh system, working flawlessly with the AX88U Pro. The speed improvements are instantly noticeable across the board. My internet speeds, as well as home LAN speeds, have seen a significant boost. Streaming 4K content, online gaming, and even heavy downloading happen without a hitch, with zero lag or buffering issues.The AI Mesh feature is a standout. It blankets my entire home with strong, reliable Wi-Fi, eliminating any dead zones and providing a smooth, uninterrupted connection no matter where I am. The setup was straightforward, and the AX86U's performance as part of this mesh system is nothing short of exceptional.If you're looking to upgrade your home network, pairing the AX88U Pro with the AX86U as an AI Mesh device is a winning combination. The performance, ease of setup, and reliability make it a no-brainer. This upgrade has been well worth it! Highly recommended.

After years of relying on Xfinity's modem/router combo (XB7) I finally decided to do my research and upgrade routers. I've always had dead or weak spots around the house and I wondered why. It turns out the XB7 router function wasn't cutting it so I found multiple Reddit threads that suggested this router model. It does SO MUCH more than Xfinity's router like vpn protection, traffic logging, and most importantly DATA USAGE LOGGING. Setup was a breeze and their mobile app was super simple to setup, but you have lots of control on their too. Now anywhere I go in the house I have my full speeds, signal strength, and coverage. It feels really nice and I should have bought this years ago. The aimesh node thing is cool too like you can add a second ASUS router wirelessly to extend the coverage, but I don't even need it because this single router covers so much area!March 30, 2025: A bedroom down the hall behind thicker walls was getting slow speed. So I purchased another asus aimesh supported router and that fixed it.

This router is fantastic! It was easy to set up and works flawlessly right out of the box. The coverage is excellent, providing a strong and reliable connection throughout my home. The WiFi 6 speeds are impressive, and the added security features like AiProtection Pro and Instant Guard are a great bonus. Whether for gaming or everyday use, it handles everything with ease. Overall, a solid choice—highly recommend!

I have always gotten terrible WiFi signals with my 1Gb AT&T BGW210 gateway so I wanted to upgrade my home network. My BGW210 is located on one end of the house stuffed behind a data panel.First, I tried a WiFi extender and to be honest it pretty much solved my WiFi signal strength issues as I was able to put one in the middle of the house. However, that introduced new problems when my wired devices couldn't communicate with my WiFi devices and the setup/interface was terrible. So i returned that product.I decided to not skimp out and get something nice that will take care of everything I want so I started researching routers. One thing I was looking for was the ability to run a VPN directly on my router and eliminate the need for the NordVPN app on all my devices. I wanted a better interface and better control over my devices as well. The AX86U PRO has the processing power to do it so I chose this one after researching MANY other routers.I installed Merlin (firmware) immediately and got everything up and running in no time. The 5ghz signal is strong from the opposite end of my 2200 SQFT home which is extremely impressive. Setting up NordVPN was a breeze. You pick and chose which of your devices use your VPN and you can also set up a killswitch which is perfect. There is currently, from what I understand, no way to split tunnel apps. The only way you can do this is by using the NordVPN app on your device.On my 1Gb connection, with NordVPN enable on the router, i get roughly 250Mbps up/down for both wired and wireless. It seems as though 250 Mbps up/down (with router VPN enabled) is my limit with this hardware but you will be hard pressed to find anything much more powerful without paying an arm and a leg.Using 5ghz WiFi 6, VPN disabled, on my desktop from 20ft distance, I get an impressive 500-550Mbps down and around 350-400 Mbps up.On the other side of my house, I still get close to 300Mbps down. One feature that I have yet to use is AiMesh which essentially means you can go buy another Asus router, including less expensive ones, and easily set them up to create a mesh system.I'm hard wired in now, but the wifi signal is fantastic and I use it for my phone, Steam Deck, Switch, PS5, and my Plex Server until I get it wired in as well.Fantastic product. I highly recommend it.