Staying true to form, function, and spirit, Asus RT-AX82U is a gaming router that brings both functionalities and looks to the dais. The Dual-Band router offers a dedicated gaming port, mobile game mode, and AURA RGB light to complement your gaming setup.
Apart from gaming studios, it's also one of the complete routers for 2,000 Sq Ft homes. What stands it apart from other routers below $200 is its lifetime free security subscription. What is it capable of? How do all the features translate into real-world output?
Let's dive into my detailed review of the Asus RT-AX82U.
Asus RT-AX82U Specs
| Wireless Standard | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Aggregated Speed | AX5400 (5400 Mbps) |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band |
| 2.4GHz Speed | 574 Mbps |
| 5GHz Speed | 4804 Mbps |
| WiFi Range | Up to 2,000 Sq Ft |
| Maximum Device Capacity | 30+ |
| Ports | 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x Gig WAN + 1 x USB 3.2 |
| App Support | Yes |
| QoS Prioritization | Yes |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| Security Standard | WPA2, WPA3 |
| Processor | 1.5GHz Tri-Core Broadcom BCM6750 |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| NAND Storage | 256 MB |
| Dimensions | 10.96 x 7.26 x 6.5 inches |
| Weight | 1.63 lbs |
| Release Date | July 2020 |
Asus RT-AX82U Review: 3 Weeks Later
The ASUS RT-AX82U got a befitting partner and challenging test environment. A Cox Gigablast connection and two opposing houses in a congested apartment to cover. Let's look at how the Asus RT-AX82U AX5400 dual-band WiFi 6 gaming router performed in various tests.
1. Wireless Speeds & Suitability
The Wi-Fi 6 standards give it a significant advantage in both 2.4 and 5 GHz, with a cumulative speed capacity of 5400 Mbps. Here's a band-wise breakdown:
| 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps | 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps |
Depending on the number of devices, users, and households, you can choose high-speed plans ranging from 500 Mbps to 1 Gig to pair with ASUS RT-AX82U.
With a Gigablast package from Cox at my home office, I could taste the high speeds this router can deliver. On the 5GHz band, in the same room as the router, my downloads topped out at 939 Mbps, while the uploads rose to 36 Mbps.
The most impressive part was the router held to its performance even at distances away from the router. At around 60 feet, I was still hitting 788 Mbps in download and 29 Mbps in upload.
Close to ft, away from the router, on my opposite flat, behind a pair of walls, my iPhone was still getting 36 Mbps in download and over 12 Mbps in upload.
The speeds on 2.4GHz topped at 541 Mbps in download and over 31 Mbps in upload. At around 50 feet from the router, I was still getting 464 Mbps of download speed and 22 Mbps of upload. The router pulled through some rough multiplayer gaming marathons and twitch streaming in our household of game streamers.
2. WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
The 4 huge beamforming external antennas on the rear promise to cover around 2,000 Sq Ft area. Placed at the center conference hall of my home office, measuring 2,000 Sq Ft, the RT-AX82U range could extend to every corner and didn't leave any WiFi dead spots.
With MU-MIMO and OFDMA, the major devices got the most out of my Gigabit plan and bandwidth, despite having over 20 gadgets weighing the network.
A couple of smart TVs, a PS5 gaming console, and a desktop got the major chunk of the capacity, while the rest was split amongst a total of 15-20 smartphones and tablets. Without the gaming load, I could have had more than devices hooked up to the router with no hassle.
3. Design & Wired Connectivity
With a sturdy plastic black chassis, an angled design, and a massive RGB-colored front panel, it's difficult to mistake it for anything other than a gaming router. The design makes room for good heat ventilation beneath the router when weighing a little over 1.6 pounds and measuring 10.96 x 7.26 x 6.5 inches.
The tightly packed 1 Gigabit WAN and 4 Gigabit LAN ports might take some wrist strength to wriggle the cables out of them without collapsing the layout. The Link Aggregation will allow you to plug in two aggregate multiple internet connections and increase the wireless throughput.
In addition to ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 port also exists on its rear, allowing you to pair peripherals like printers, scanners, etc. And since it's a USB 3.0 version, you can expect high-speed transfers, as seen in some of the best routers with USB ports.
As I wired the PS5 and desktop, the download speeds jumped to 918 Mbps, and uploads were soaring at 886 Mbps.
4. Security Features
The lifetime free security from AiProtection is one of the strongest USPs of the Asus RT-AX82U AX5400 dual-band WiFi 6 gaming router. Commercial-grade internet security comes at no additional cost. It supports the latest WPA3 encryption standards and has built-in firewalls, VPN support, and customized parental controls.
It doesn't stop with that. You'll also get a security package that blocks malicious websites, protects you from intrusions, scans, and blocks infected devices from corrupting the network. It also provides extensive traffic analysis reports, making network management a breeze.
5. Asus RT-AX82U Setup & Management
You can choose between the ASUS Router App or the web portal to set up the router. Either way, the interface is similar and intuitive. The guided step-by-step approach breaks it down into simple steps, making it easy for a newbie. With the App, it hardly took 20 minutes for the device to run.
For someone who prefers uncomplicated management, the router app will be ideal. The web portal opens up access to customizing advanced settings, making the Asus RT-AX82U set up a playground for networking experts.
6. Hardware & Other Features
ASUS relies on a Broadcom-based processor with three cores capable of clocking at 1.5 GHz. Combine this with 512 MB RAM and 256 MB storage. You have got a capable unit on your hands.
With dual QoS and the solid hardware unit, there is little reason to splurge on a high-end unless you have multiple 8K TVs and a smart home to cater for.
What I Like & Dislike
Pros
- True gigabit speeds
- Decent WiFi range
- Appealing design with RGB lights
- Priority gaming port
- Mobile game mode & acceleration
- Lifetime free AiProtection security
- AiMesh compatibility
Cons
- No multi-gig support
- Tri-Band support could be better
Frequently Asked Questions
The RT-AX82U range is rated at 2,000 Sq Ft, meeting the claim during the testing period. It took up over 99% of the 2,000 Sq Ft home office under its coverage.
While RT-AX86U has a well-equipped hardware unit and multi-gigabit port, it might be overkill for major households. RT-AX82U hits the sweet spot with performance, good coverage, and features. Unless you have a specific multi-gigabit internet requirement that gives RT-AX86U the upper hand, RT-AX82U will do just fine.
Maximum speed depends on the internet connection your router supports. The RT-AX82U allows LAN aggregation, giving access to multi-gigabit speeds in 5GHz on a single device. But the aggregate speeds of all the devices will cap at 4.8Gbps.
While the router can technically connect to 250 devices, it is not feasible practically. To make the most out of the internet and device, maintain a cap of around 30 devices accessing the internet simultaneously.
Yes, the RT-AX5400 is a gaming router. It comes with a dedicated gaming port, mobile gaming modes, and QoS features that prioritize and speed up gaming traffic.
The ASUS RT-AX82U has been available in the US and other parts of the world around the end of July 2020.
The strength of its performance, decent WiFi coverage, and gaming-centric features make RT-AX82U an ideal gaming router for under $200. I hope you enjoyed my ASUS RT-AX82U AX5400 review!
ASUS RT-AX82U Review $178
Summary
Given the throughput and capacity, a multi-gigabit port or an additional band would have been the icing on the cake. The gaming optimization, adequate WiFi coverage, and lifetime free security features make RT-AX82U a steal deal.
Here are my overall ratings:
- Speeds & Throughput: 4.4 / 5
- Ports & Connectivity: 4.2/ 5
- WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity: 4.4 / 5
- Ease of Setup & Use: 4.5 / 5
- Security Features: 4.5 / 5
- Hardware & Performance: 4.3/ 5
- Price to Value Ratio: 4.5 / 5
