This tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) router has been providing reliable Wi-Fi to my entire home for the past few weeks. Video calls, movie streaming, and gaming have been silky smooth. Stability has been rock solid, with a single firmware update taking a few minutes being the only downtime so far. The RT-AXE7800 outperformed most of the competition when it came to speed and latency at close range on the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, and turned in respectable results over longer distances. Performance on the 2.4 GHz band was average.
Range is a weakness of the 6GHz band, as Wi-Fi 6E is power limited, so it tends to drop off sharply with walls and other obstacles. But even with those limitations, the Asus RT-AXE7800 matched or beat most other Wi-Fi 6E routers I’ve tested, including mesh systems like the Nest Wifi Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends) and Wyze Pro Mesh Router. It matched the performance of the more expensive Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 most closely (7/10, WIRED recommends).
One potential weakness I found with the Asus RT-AXE7800 was file transfer speeds, a test where I copy a 2.2 GB file from one PC on the network to another. It consistently took over four minutes to complete this transfer, which was slightly below average. The last system I tried, the Eero Pro 6Ewith an average of one minute and 14 seconds.
costs control
there’s a lot Things to consider when buying a routerSo let’s discuss who the Asus RT-AXE7800 is for. Mesh systems can be tempting, but a single router often makes the most sense for people with modest property. The RT-AXE7800 delivered faster speeds in most of my 1,600-square-foot home than most mesh systems I’ve tested. It can’t compete in range, but I had to go to my backyard to feel that.
while the Wi-Fi 6E support It should only tempt you if you have devices capable of connecting on that 6GHz band, it could prove very useful if you live in a congested area. In smaller houses or apartment blocks where your neighbor’s routers might cause interference, connecting on that 6GHz band could offer big jumps in speed and stability. If you work from home with a Wi-Fi 6E capable laptop or phone and sit close to the router (ideally in the same room), the Asus RT-AXE7800 is a good buy.
Too many routers and mesh systems today require expensive subscriptions if you want parental controls or network security. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 is a good example, where it costs $170 a year to get both. Asus provides robust parental controls, allowing you to schedule downtime, filter inappropriate content, and block specific activities. There’s also AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro to provide comprehensive security, including a firewall, security scans, intrusion prevention, blocking malicious sites, and more. Asus includes both free for the life of its RT-AXE7800 router, which is great.
If you have a larger property, you may prefer something from our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers guide, though it’s worth noting that the AiMesh support here makes it easy to connect Asus routers to form a mesh. If you go this route and use the RT-AXE7800 as your primary router, a wired backhaul is recommended, as you don’t want routers using your 5GHz band connecting to each other.
People content to wait a little longer for Wi-Fi 7 should consider a cheaper Wi-Fi 6 stopgap from our The best Wi-Fi routers guide. While the RT-AXE7800 is quite expensive, it performs well, offers more similarly priced Wi-Fi 6E alternatives, and has no hidden fees.
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