Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 Review

With their latest line of WiFi 7 products, ASUS boasts better-than-ever capabilities for supporting 8K streaming, content creation, HDR gaming, and your very own AI network. To see just how capable the RT-BE58U BE3600 really is, though, we put it to the test in our rigorous gauntlet of practical evaluations alongside other popular WiFi routers.

5 GHz Throughput

Most routers put out a signal over two frequencies: the strong but short-range 5 GHz band and the long-range but generally weaker 2.4 GHz band. The ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 was among the most impressive routers we tested in terms of 5 GHz throughput, bested in this category only by a different ASUS product. It's a very strong router that can definitely help you maximize what you're getting from your ISP.

The downside to the RT-BE58U BE3600's 5 GHz band is its range. During our tests, the 5 GHz frequency performed extremely well at 10 ft. and 35 ft., even when there were walls and other obstructions between our device and the router. Performance fell off immediately after that, though, with its capabilities cut in half by the time we reached a distance of 60 ft.

Despite the sudden dropoff in 5 GHz performance beyond 35 ft., this router can still handle high-quality video streaming and competitive gaming at 60 ft. or even further. However, if you're paying for gigabit internet speeds from your ISP and want to get the most out of it, our testing shows that you can enjoy wireless speeds as fast as 800-940 Mbps within 35 ft. of the RT-BE58U BE3600.

Multi-Device Efficiency

A router's ability to handle many devices efficiently is essential in modern households and businesses. In this metric, the ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 excels beyond any other router we tested. We evaluate multi-device capabilities by connecting five phones to the router and streaming 4K-quality videos on each simultaneously, all while monitoring throughput with specialized software. The results showed just how impressively the RT-BE58U BE3600 can handle heavy loads.

During the 5-device test at 35 ft. from the router, we measured an average throughput of 741 Mbps over the 5 GHz band. Our previous tests showed that the RT-BE58U BE3600 could put through 840 Mbps at this distance under optimal conditions, so that means that this router was operating at 88% efficiency during our multi-device test. To put it simply, this is the router for you if you need exceptional multi-device performance!

Range

The RT-BE58U BE3600 boasts a respectable signal range that will certainly get the job done in almost any home or office. We were able to comfortably stream videos over the 5 GHz band at 1080p quality to a device at an impressive distance of 160 ft. from the router, and it could even support up to 12 devices streaming video at 100 ft.

What holds this router back in terms of range is its 2.4 GHz band. A router's 2.4 GHz signal is typically weaker but capable of reaching a much greater distance than the 5 GHz band, but our tests with the RT-BE58U BE3600 showed that it could only comfortably stream 1080p video at up to 95 ft. While this isn't a dealbreaker by any means, it is something to be aware of for anyone who wants to maximize WiFi range and make the most of what each band has to offer.

2.4 GHz Throughput

Other WiFi routers in our testing lineup were able to outperform the RT-BE58U BE3600 in terms of 2.4 GHz throughput, but it still has a great overall strength that's worth recommending for most users. If you're looking for a router with a 2.4 GHz band that can support competitive gaming or livestreaming beyond 35 ft., though, you might consider other options.

Within 35 ft. of the router, the RT-BE58U BE3600's 2.4 GHz band was more than strong enough to handle 4k video, large downloads, and even live calls. Any further than that, though, and our measurements showed frequent dips below 25 Mbps, which is the point at which many intensive online tasks start to slow down or experience loss in quality.

Should You Buy the ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600?

The ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 is absolutely worth buying if you value top-notch connection speed and network efficiency. At close range, you get every bit of speed you're paying for, ensuring maximum productivity at work or a decisive competitive edge in gaming. Its multi-device capabilities also make it a perfect fit for businesses or large households where several people are using a handful of devices at any given time. If you don't need everything that a cutting-edge WiFi 7 device can offer, you might consider a WiFi 6 router that's just as capable for everyday use.

What Other WiFi Router Should You Consider?

The RT-BE58U BE3600 sits at the forefront of modern WiFi technology, but not everyone needs to be an early adopter of high-tech gadgets. There are still amazing WiFi 6 devices that outperform many of the latest models, such as the Asus RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6. If you're looking for a more affordable option that can get the job done more than well enough, we can strongly recommend the TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 or even the Asus RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6.