ASUS RT-BE86U Wi-Fi 7 router 6800 Mbit/s, dual-band, 5 × RJ-45, 2 × USB

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is the newest Wi-Fi standard, and the RT-BE86U is rated at up to 6800 Mbit/s split across its two bands. The real speed on a given device depends on whether that device supports Wi-Fi 7 or an older standard, as well as on distance and walls. High throughput pays off most when many devices are online at once: streaming, video calls and large downloads get in each other's way far less.

A dual-band router creates two radio channels for devices to spread across. Smart bulbs, plugs and other simple smart-home gadgets can sit on one band, while phones and laptops that need speed use the other. Wi-Fi 7 is backwards compatible with earlier standards, so Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices connect as well – their speed is simply capped by their own standard.

Five RJ-45 ports in total means that, next to the internet connection, there are free ports for a desktop PC, a TV, a games console or a NAS. A cable gives them a steadier connection than Wi-Fi and frees the airwaves for phones and laptops. ASUS describes the RT-BE86U as a gigabit router. There are also two USB ports, whose exact uses are described in the ASUS user manual.

The RT-BE86U has three external antennas and one internal antenna. The external antennas can be angled so the signal reaches a second floor or the far end of the house more easily. If one router is not enough for a large flat or house, mesh support helps: the RT-BE86U can be part of a network of several ASUS devices sharing one name and password. The router weighs 0.65 kg.

Apartments and smaller houses that want the Wi-Fi 7 standard from a single router; families with many phones, laptops and smart devices online at the same time; home offices where a desktop PC and a NAS are wired in; and anyone who plans to grow the network into a mesh system later.