Software features
The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.
Intro
We got our hands on a trio of Asus routers, which at first glance do not have much in common, but the opposite is true. All three support the new WiFi 6 standard, which until recently we found only in more expensive devices, but the availability of 802.11ax network can slowly but surely be considered a standard. If you’re saying to yourself that there’s already a newer version of WiFi 6E on the market, you’re right, but we’ll cover that some other time in a separate article. So back to WiFi 6 and the “three musketeers” from Taiwan.
RT-AX55
We’ll start off nice and easy with the RT-AX55, which is a sort of introduction to WiFi 6 devices, but still offers a lot of the features and enhancements that WiFi 6 brings.
Design-wise, it’s a bit of a gaming-focused model thanks to a pair of red stripes, while the rest of the exterior is black.
As far as connectivity is concerned, it comes with a standard equipment in the form of one WAN and four LAN ports with a speed of 1 Gbps. The lower-numbered sibling RT-AX53U only offered a trio of LANs, which can be quite limiting even in basic home use. Four LAN slots is thus a safe bet.
The router is powered by Broadcom’s BRCM6755 chipset with four cores, 128 GB of flash memory and 256 DDR3 RAM. Wireless transmissions in the 80 MHz band will offer up to 1201 Mbps at 5 GHz and 574 Mbps at 2.4 GHz. This is thus a so-called AX1800 router. For both networks, the router supports a pair of streams when sending and receiving, i.e. 2×2.
The software support is particularly interesting, even though it is a low-end model. Of the new WiFi 6 features, it got RT-AX55 namely OFDMA, TWT and there is also support for AiMesh or MU-MIMO.
The equipment is nicely complemented by an affordable price tag, which is around 80 euros, but until recently you could get this piece for 65 euros, which is a really great offer due to the presence of WiFi 6 features and added value in the form of Asus software.
ROG Strix GS-AX3000
The second of the trio is the gaming-oriented GS-AX3000, which proudly bears the ROG Strix moniker much like its older ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 sibling that we tested a while back.
In addition to the large ROG logo on the top of the router, the gaming spirit is easy to spot thanks to the RGB Aura backlight, which you can customize in the settings. There are also a number of software features specific to gaming use, which we’ll look at in the next chapter.
The GS-AX3000 offers better hardware equipment than the first piece, namely it has a triple-core 1.5 GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash storage, twice as much for both parameters.
The quartet of external antennas again offers 2×2 MU-MIMO in both the 5 and 2.4 GHz bands, but this time also with 160 MHz support at 5 GHz, bringing the maximum speed up to 2402 Mbps.The 2.4 GHz network still has a theoretical maximum of 574 Mbps, so that’s a total of the marketed AX3000.
Unlike the RT-AX55, this model also offers WAN and LAN aggregation or a 5 Gb USB 3.0 port with a host of software features such as AiCloud, AiDisk, Media/Samba/FTP server or Time Machine, which we’ll also show on the next page.
A special feature of the router is undoubtedly the backlight on the front, which you can also customize or even synchronize with other Asus Aura devices.
With a price tag of €175, the ROG Strix GS-AX3000 already represents the mid-range, which is reflected in higher speeds, a richer port selection and, above all, significantly more software features compared to the RT-AX55.
ZenWiFi AX Mini
The last of the trio of routers tested is a bit of a different breed, as the name ZenWiFi AX Mini suggests. This piece belongs to models such as ZenWiFi AX, or the recently tested ZenWiFi Pro XT12.
ZenWiFi are stylish and design-oriented routers that are often offered in packs of two or three for use in larger homes or houses that can’t be covered by a single router.
The AX Mini captures the design of the router, which is truly tiny, measuring just 90 × 90 × 80 mm and weighing 295 grams. The white colour definitely adds to its uniqueness, standing out among its traditional black-coloured siblings. However, should you still want to reach for the traditional black, the AX Mini is also available in this finish. The interesting thing about the ZenWiFi AX Mini is that it is sold in different configurations namely as a 1× router, or 1× router and 1× node (tested configuration), or 1× router and 2× node. So you can choose according to your needs.
The specs of the AX Mini are very similar to the RT-AX55, so again it is a BRCM6755 with 256 MB of DDR3 RAM but a larger 256 MB of Nand Flash memory. In addition, the router has an additional B50212E chip for Ethernet. It is the number of RJ-45 ports that is the main difference between the router and the node, where the router has a WAN and a LAN port and the node only has a LAN port. You can use the latter to connect to the router for a more stable backhaul connection, or to connect to an end device.
In terms of speeds, this is the same AX1800 standard as the RT-AX55, i.e. 2.4GHz 2×2 with 574 Mbps and 5GHz 2×2 with 1201 Mbps. Depending on the number of units, prices vary
from 120 EUR for one, 210 EUR for the tested pair and lastly 340 EUR for a three-pack.
In the next part of the article, we’ll look at what software features and gadgets these routers offer and how they differ. We’ll also explain a few terms like AiMesh, AiProtection, VPN Fusion or OFDMA and TWT as promised.
The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.
Asus Web GUI
The basic environment used to set up and control Asus routers is a web-based one. The vast majority of settings and options are identical across models, differing for example in the presence of features associated with the USB port, which in our tested trio, only the gaming GS-AX3000 has. You can also see the longer side menu, which also has gaming features that the remaining pair don’t have. A departure from the traditional blue environment is the background theme on the GS-AX3000 ROG Strix. In general, the web environment is very clear and offers a lot of features and settings, which we’ll take a brief look at.
Asus Router app
Okrem webového prostredia môžete tiež používať mobilnú aplikáciu Asus Router, ktorá je dostupná pre Android aj iOS. Drvivú väčšinu nastavení viete ovládať priamo v nej a prakticky nikdy tak nemusíte využiť webové rozhranie. Platí to aj pre prvotné spustenie a inštaláciu routra, aj to je možné vykonať len za pomoci aplikácie.
Another advantage is that you can control your router without having to create an Asus account. The app also offers a number of useful tips, tricks or tweaks, and you’ll see a number of screenshots from it below. While testing the trio of routers, I only came across one instance where the app wasn’t enough and I had to use the web interface. This was in the case of manually changing the RT-AX55 to an AiMesh Node after a reset.
AiMesh
Perhaps the most important and interesting feature that Asus routers offer is AiMesh, which is, in brief, a system that allows you to connect multiple routers into a single network, with one of them being the main router, and the others acting as nodes. For the user-client, this network pretends to be a single unit and, importantly, automatic roaming to the router with the stronger signal is provided.
Such mesh solutions are also offered by various competitors, but what is unique about the Asus solution is that the routers do not have to be identical at all. So you don’t have to buy them in one package as two or three pieces of the same type. For example, you can use your existing router and buy a second one, according to your needs.
The initial investment can thus be easily spread over time according to your needs and requirements, and this solution also allows for gradual network upgrades, for example from WiFi 5 (802.11ac) to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) or the newer WiFi 6E and in the future WiFi 7, etc. In the gif above you can see the process of adding the RT-AX55 to the ZenWiFi AX Mini network as an additional node. Also note that the node can be connected via WiFi but also by cable, which can be seen in the Uplink type parameter.
AiProtection
Security is important when browsing the internet, and this applies against both short-range and long-range attacks. No one wants their neighbours snooping on their local network or downloading a virus from a dodgy site. Asus routers therefore offer AiProtection, which in cooperation with Trend Micro offers lifelong, real-time protection that acts as an additional firewall, and in the app you can analyze your security level and fix any weaknesses such as weak passwords, disabling certain features, etc.
Parental Control
Protecting children on the Internet is certainly a priority for every parent, and Asus routers therefore offer parental control features that allow you to block certain content sites, especially pornography or gambling.
Dual WAN
Another feature normally found in Asus routers is the dual WAN feature, which allows you to use a specific port as an additional WAN to provide a fail-safe when you lose connectivity from the main WAN or vice versa to share the network load between the two ports.
Gaming features
Gaming routers offer additional features to enhance the gaming experience by prioritizing gaming packets or mobile device, or port forwarding and different gaming profiles. For example, the GS-AX3000 also offers Gaming Port Prioritization, so the port selected and the device connected to it will be prioritized for a faster and more stable connection.
USB
Of the three routers tested, only the GS-AX3000 offers a USB port, thanks to which you can access a number of useful features such as sharing to a local and remote server, the ability to print over the network, connect a mobile modem or set up backups, including using Time Machine.
WiFi settings
Control of channels, bandwidth and signal strength cannot be missing and Asus serves them up to you on a silver platter. Beware, however, of the 160 MHz band, which must be enabled manually, as it is disabled by default.
VPN Fusion
Another interesting feature is VPN Fusion, which solves the primary problem of VPN usage, which is slower connections. With VPN Fusion, you can use a secure VPN connection for clients who need it and bypass it for a faster, direct connection to the internet.
WAN and LAN aggregation
Select Asus routers allow you to connect a WAN and LAN port or a pair of LAN ports to achieve double the speed to an end device, such as a NAS.
The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.
Methodology
The aim of the tests is to show the real transfer speeds between the router and the client in a panel building environment, not under laboratory conditions. This means that there are many other WiFi networks in the area, and during the 10-meter distance test, the signal must pass to the third room, with the individual rooms separated by reinforced concrete walls but open doors.
Upload and download tests are performed using the TamoSoft Throughput Test application, where we select the results of TCP upload and TCP download. The router is connected to a MSI GE76 Raider with a 2.5 Gb LAN connector and a Killer 1675x WiFi 6E card, and a second laptop with an Intel WiFi AX210NGW, which also supports WiFi 6E. The transfer takes exactly one minute. All tests are run three times and the results are the average of the three measurements.
The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.
Before we look at the charts, we can make a short prediction based on the specifications, which will be very brief. Considering the 160 MHz frequency support in the 5 GHz band in the case of the GS-AX3000, this piece can be expected to perform the best. The RT-AX55 and ZenWiFi AX Mini should again be very similar given the similar specs. Let’s see if these assumptions are confirmed in the tests.
In the immediate vicinity
The first part of the prediction was only partially confirmed in the short distance test, as the gaming router had the best upload, but surprisingly the ZenWiFi AX Mini achieved a significantly better download, even when retesting both routers, which is really interesting. However, the rest of the predictions came true and the RT-AX55 as the weakest representative of the model range took the last ranks. Considering it only supports 2×2 connections, it is also seen that the wired connection offers higher speeds than the wireless.
From a distance of ten metres
At greater distance, the upload is almost identical with the only difference being that the RT-AX55 drops to the very bottom. In downloading, the situation repeats itself with the higher AX Mini numbers, which should no longer be a coincidence. It’s also interesting to see how almost all the other figures stick around 350 Mbps, which just speaks to how similar the routers are.
Wired transfers
In the wired transfer tests between the two devices, we see that the similarity in performance appears here as well, and the RT-AX55 does not fall behind significantly for the first time. Given that the ZenWiFi AX Mini only offers one LAN port, wired transfers were not tested.
Power draw
We measure the power draw with a new methodology using a UNI-T UT71E multimeter. We compared the power draw at both idle and full load during the speed tests. The RT-AX55, which consumed 3.5 W in idle mode, had the lowest power draw. After connecting the LAN cable and WiFi tests, the power draw increased to a maximum of 4.7 W. ZenWiFi AX Mini achieved virtually identical power draw, i.e. from 3.4 to 4.7 W. Last is the GS-AX3000, which hovered around 4.1 W, and when the RGB backlight was turned on, the power draw increased by about 1.2 W, reaching a maximum of 5.3 and 5.4 W.
The Asus Networking Division offers routers for just about every application and environment. Whether you’re looking for an affordable WiFI router or as an avid gamer, you can’t do without RGB LED lighting. The same is true if you need to cover a larger area, for example a house, for which Mesh solutions are already needed, and it is the AiMesh function that is one of the main strengths of this manufacturer’s routers.
Conclusion
Asus didn’t disappoint this time either, and although the trio of routers tested couldn’t be more different in focus and design or price, the user experience is equally good on any of them.
I praise the excellent software support with many useful features, the most important of which I consider to be AiMesh, which I have been using myself since its release, about four years. During this period, I have replaced the router and nodes several times, and it is the possibility of combining different Asus routers in one network that is the biggest advantage of this solution. You can start with the cheap RT-AX55 and buy a second one to expand your network if needed.
Or vice versa, you buy a gaming or high-end model first and later find you need better coverage, so you buy a second, cheaper piece to go with it. Let us know in the comments what router you use and if you have experience with mesh solutions.
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš