Asus RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 Review

The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 is a powerful product with some of the best dual-band technology WiFI 6 can provide, with channels operating at an efficient 160 MHz bandwidth. It's also packed with other exciting innovations like range-boosting specifications, unique security features, and mobile gaming support. To see how much of a difference these premium features made in real-world performance, we tested the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 using the same methodology used to evaluate all other routers in our testing lineup.

5 GHz Throughput

The RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 consistently maintained extremely high throughput over its 5 GHz band throughout all our tests. If you're getting gigabit internet speeds from your ISP, this is a router that will make sure you're getting the connection quality you're paying for — from almost anywhere in your house, no less.

Under optimal conditions near the router itself, we measured connection speeds of 940+ Mbps. Despite the rule of thumb that a router's 5 GHz frequency has a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz, the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 seems to break that limitation during our tests. Walls and distance had little effect, only decreasing our connection speed to around 780 Mbps at a distance of 60 ft., multiple rooms away.

Multi-Device Efficiency

One of the most important ways to judge a modern router is by its ability to handle many connected devices at once. The RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 was among the best we tested in this metric and well within the highest standard of multi-device efficiency for large households and busy workplaces.

Our primary multi-device test involved connecting 5 devices to the router from 35 ft. and streaming 4K-quality video to each simultaneously. During this test, the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 achieved an average 5 GHz throughput of 751 Mbps. In our standalone throughput test at 35 ft., we measured our connection speed at 923 Mbps. In other words, the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 was still able to operate at 81% efficiency even while handling several demanding tasks at the same time.

Range

Another area where the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 excels is coverage range. It outshines the competition by being able to handle everyday tasks, such as streaming 1080p video over the 5 GHz band, at distances of up to 180 ft. from the router. If you want to tackle more intense tasks, like competitive gaming or live video calls, you can do so confidently at 100 ft. — the throughput holds up surprisingly well even at that distance.

The 2.4 GHz band doesn't hold up quite as well at longer range. Performance took a noticeable hit at 110 ft. with a couple of walls in the interval. Even so, this leaves little room for complaint with this router's coverage. The capabilities of the 5 GHz band more than made up for any other lapses, making this a router that's well worth buying if you want maximum range without having to invest in an extender or mesh system.

2.4 GHz Throughput

The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 is on the more modern end of WiFi 6 routers, and as such, it's manufactured under the assumption that the user will primarily connect to its 5 GHz band. Our testing shows some likely compromises in its 2.4 GHz band as a possible result. While certain other routers we tested had substantially stronger 2.4 GHz throughput by comparison, you shouldn't necessarily let this dissuade you; this option is still quite capable across both.

Under optimal conditions within 10 ft. of the router, we measured a perfectly satisfactory connection speed at 2.4 GHz. The potential problems arise at a distance. In a separate room 35 ft. away, the signal loses about half its strength as it tries to penetrate the wall. At 60 ft., the distance and obstructions bring it down to less than a third of its capacity. Keep in mind that it will still handle everyday tasks like browsing or streaming just fine, but power users might find this to be a dealbreaker if they want to use the 2.4 GHz band to perform high-intensity tasks anywhere in the building.

Should You Buy the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700?

The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 is a definite powerhouse. Despite being a WiFi 6 router, it could almost be a candidate for being our favorite router overall if not for its higher monetary cost. Even so, you definitely get what you pay for. We can easily recommend buying the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 if you're willing to spring for a premium product that justifies its price tag with excellent performance and network efficiency.

What Other WiFi Router Should You Consider?

For all its boons, the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 simply doesn't have the latest features exclusive to WiFi 7 devices. If you're interested in Multi-Link Operation, maximum multi-device efficiency, and overall future-proofing, consider the Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7. There's also no denying that the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 is a costly device, but we can wholeheartedly recommend the Asus RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6 or TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 as budget alternatives that get the job done extremely well.