The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a mesh router that’s very dear whereas the Asus RT-AX55 gives a bit much less however is a considerably cheaper WiFi6 router.

In the event you’ve been trying to leap on the WiFi 6 prepare with a brand new router, you’ve in all probability come throughout quite a lot of totally different fashions from Asus. Amongst these, you’ll rapidly discover the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) and Asus RT-AX55, two of the very best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market that serve two very totally different crowds.

Particularly, the ZenWiFi AX (XT8) ranks among the many finest mesh router techniques whereas the Asus RT-AX55 is among the finest routers for these on a funds. So, selecting between the previous and latter requires a have a look at how a lot you wish to spend, and whether or not a mesh router is best than going with a extra conventional single unit.

One does carry out a bit higher because the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) does attain sooner speeds. Nonetheless, the Asus RT-AX55’s speeds are greater than sufficient for most individuals. In the event you’re nonetheless just a little confused as to which mannequin would serve you finest, I’ll dive just a little deeper on the professionals and cons of every to hopefully make clear and information you onto the way in which of sooner web.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55: Value

With these two funds fashions, now we have a pricier alternative and a extra reasonably priced choice. However, there’s a bit extra occurring. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) was launched at a reasonably excessive worth level, however has since come down with a present itemizing worth of $179.99/£179.99 (or $329.99/£329.99 for a two-pack). It additionally has two distinct items to get that full protection over a big area (or if in case you have lifeless spots) that solely mesh routing can deal with.

The Asus RT-AX55 at $109.99 (£99.99) remains to be pound-for-pound cheaper and packs a critical punch. After all, the highest speeds are a lot decrease right here, however nonetheless stable sufficient that you just gained’t actually discover should you’re simply streaming or doing typical day-to-day work.

In the event you don’t care about reaching the identical speeds because the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) or the parental controls, you would purchase two Asus RT-AX55 fashions and use the mesh characteristic for a makeshift mesh router system for a reduction. So, should you’re keen to pay for premium efficiency and options, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is price it, in any other case the Asus RT-AX55 is the higher worth.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55: Design

The obvious distinction between the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) and the Asus RT-AX55 has already been talked about and that’s the truth that the previous is definitely two items (although you should purchase a single unit as properly) whereas the latter is only one. Past that, nevertheless, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has a extra discreet look regardless of coming in white because it simply seems to be like a rectangle with some tech inside. The Asus RT-AX55 isn’t essentially the most ostentatious router on the market, nevertheless, it does hold that plastic upturned spider look with the extensive base and 4 antennae sticking up within the again. It’s largely black with two crimson racing stripes trisecting the highest of the chassis.

Port-wise, the 2 fashions are simply ever so barely totally different. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has one WAN, three LAN, and a USB port to share a USB machine throughout the community, whereas the Asus RT-AX55 has one WAN and 4 LAN ports, however no USB. I can solely think about an area stuffed with a number of players or a server needing a ton of bodily connectivity, however the smaller RT-AX55 does provide only one extra.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55: Options

With regards to options, essentially the most notable goes to be the truth that the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a mesh router. I’ve thrown that phrase round a bit on this article, however haven’t actually mentioned what which means. A mesh router is a system of routers as a substitute of a single unit to supply constant web connectivity all through an area irrespective of the place you might be.

If the router connected to your modem (you continue to want a type of, by the way in which) is on the opposite aspect of the home, and even on the opposite aspect a WC, you’re going to expertise some lifeless spots or spotty connections. With a mesh router, the extra unit(s) will choose up the slack by boosting the sign from its location. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8), then, is right if in case you have points associated to fluctuating sign power. Mesh techniques are additionally capable of cowl a bigger quantity of area, with this specific mannequin from Asus capable of cowl as much as 4,400 sq. ft.

The Asus RT-AX55 might not be capable to cowl the identical quantity of area (or go round supplies that may intervene with a sign), nevertheless it does include Asus’ AiMesh characteristic, which lets you pair it with different routers with this characteristic to make your personal mesh system. That’s a fairly cool characteristic that allows you to develop protection at a later date if you want to. Curiously sufficient, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has this characteristic as properly.

Each fashions include security measures like malicious web site blocking and the flexibility to chop off units which have been compromised by way of malware. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) takes it a step additional by additionally together with a two-way intrusion prevention system to dam lively assaults like DDoS.

Each fashions additionally include parental controls. However whereas the Asus RT-AX55 lets you create separate profiles and schedules for relations, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) additionally consists of content material blockers and and not using a subscription.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Asus RT-AX55: Efficiency

Earlier than I focus on the precise efficiency of those two routers, I wish to dive into their setup. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is definitely a bit extra difficult and never simply because it’s a mesh router. First, you want to dig into the precise handbook for the directions because it’s not an intuitive setup. Second, it’s a must to arrange each routers on the similar time in the identical room (you normally simply must arrange one and the others will pair to that one). Then you definately use an app to arrange the community identify and undergo totally different settings, like parental controls.

The Asus RT-AX55 is rather more easy as all you want to do is plug it in and scan the QR code on the underside to create a community identify and password.

So far as the precise efficiency goes, each fashions are WiFi6 succesful and due to this fact higher than non-WiFi 6 fashions on the market. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) does even have a farther attain by design. However the ZenWiFi AX (XT8) additionally has three bands (one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz) to the RT-AX55’s two (one 2.4GHz and one 5GHz). The max information pace is best as properly with the mesh router able to information charges of as much as 4804 Mbps on certainly one of its 5GHz bands (solely certainly one of them helps such excessive throughput) whereas the RT-AX55 peaks at as much as 1201 Mbps on its 5GHz band.

In the event you’re an avid on-line gamer sharing bandwidth with a couple of others, having that further throughput is good as nobody has to expertise any slowdowns from heavy web utilization. However should you’re in your personal area or don’t spend exorbitant (and even reasonable) quantities of time on Remaining Fantasy 14, then you definitely in all probability gained’t miss the additional bandwidth.

Which Asus router is best for you?

The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is clearly the higher router of those two fashions in terms of characteristic set. Nonetheless, it comes with a better price ticket. The increase in efficiency and the additional safety or parental controls on provide are good additions however not the sorts of options that most individuals want. In the event you can spend the additional money and have a big area, or perhaps a small area with some lifeless zones, then a mesh router is all the time going to be higher. And having that further bandwidth is vital should you or anybody in your family or workplace are heavy web customers.

In any other case, the Asus RT-AX55 is greater than sufficient modem for most individuals because it’s nonetheless quick sufficient with its WiFi6 help and is a heck of so much cheaper. In the event you’re searching for stable speeds in a smaller area and aren’t spreading the bandwidth amongst too many units, that is in all probability the modem for you.