Asus RT-AX89X – 10 Gb network ready for households

Package and specifications

We only test routers rarely, usually if they bring any significant news. The last time, for example, it was an Asus router with WiFi 6. The first home router with a 10-gigabit connection is now coming to the market from the same manufacturer, using RJ45 and SFP+. The slow 1 Gb cable connection was the drawback of WiFi 6 routers, and this is what the new RT-AX89X eliminates. Thanks to 10 Gb connectors, the home network is thus entering a new era.

Conclusion

Asus RT-AX89X brings a big news to the category of home routers. It is a 10 Gbps cable connection via two RJ45 and SFP+ connectors. This is really a groundbreaking upgrade, which has long been expected, and I have already criticized the predecessor a bit for the absence of 10 Gbps ports. After all, with the arrival of WiFi 6, you were able to achieve higher speeds with wireless connection than with wired. You will appreciate the benefits of a 10 Gb network when transferring large amounts of data over a home network, such as to a NAS and back. So far, you have been limited to only around 100 MB/s, which is definitely not ideal nowadays.

Thus, the AX89X solves the biggest shortcoming of its predecessor and, in addition, more or less builds on the successful 88-series models that I have been using for some time. Again, you’ll find 8 LAN ports, two USB connectors, a clear and rich web interface with lots of features and my favorite AiMesh for connecting multiple routers to a single network with automatic roaming of the devices.

I have been waiting for the AX89X for a really long time and I plan to use it as the main router of my network. So I will move the current AX88X to Node AiMesh network mode. We also plan to look at other 10 Gbps devices such as NASes and switches, so we will address this topic in future articles. The AX89X will therefore definitely appear in more articles as well.

I can blame the router for only two things after a short test. The first is the problematic compatibility of SFP+ transceivers, which, however, seems to be a relatively common problem, and I myself am wondering whether this problem will also occur when testing other devices with this connector. The second one is the price, which is always high for these higher-end models of the manufacturer, but the AX89X is significantly more expensive than the AC88U and AX88U. With a price tag of 500 euros and more, it is definitely not a router for every home and will therefore be reserved really for fans of new technologies or for professionals, for whom a fast 10 Gbps home network will save time.

• Contents
• Package and specifications
• 10 Gbps network – pitfalls and solutions
• Software – General settings
• Software – Advanced settings
• Test methodology
• Test results
• Conclusion