Good
Extremely easy to use
packed with features
Bad
Average range
throughput
The Asus is truly a wireless router that rules them all. This product is undeniably the easiest to use and set up of the group and is absolutely jam-packed with features and functions.
The Asus RT-AC88U is the top performing router that we have tested, earning the title of Best Overall Router and an Editors’ Choice award. While this model didn’t take home the top spot in our throughput or range tests, it should provide more than enough performance for most people and is extremely easy to use.
The router has a robust and fun-to-use Web interface, has many excellent network-monitoring features, a built-in VPN server, and the ability protect your home network from malware and intruders. What’s more, the router supports MU-MIMO, and includes unique features for gamers. In all, I’ve never seen a router with more to offer than the RT-AC88U.
While it is a fantastic router, it is a little too expensive and probably has a lot of features and functions you don’t need when shopping on a budget.
Product Specifications
Network Standard
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IPv4, IPv6
Product Segment
AC3100 ultimate AC performance : 1000+2167 Mbps
Coverage
Very large homes
Data Rate
11a : 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54 Mbps
11b : 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
11g : 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54 Mbps
11n : up to 600 Mbps
11ac : up to 1734 Mbps
1024QAM (2.4GHz) : up to 1000 Mbps
1024QAM (5GHz) : up to2167 Mbps
Antenna
External antenna x 4
Transmit/Receive
MIMO technology
4 GHz 4 x 4
5 GHz 4 x 4
Processor
4 GHz dual-core processor
Memory
128 MB Flash
512 MB RAM
Wi-Fi Technology
Beamforming: standard-based and universal
1024-QAM high data rate
20/40/80 MHz bandwidth
Operating Frequency
4 GHz / 5 GHz
Encryption
64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise , WPA2-Enterprise , WPS support
Firewall & Access Control
Access control?Parental control, Network service filter, URL filter, Port filter
Management
UPnP, IGMP v1/v2/v3, DNS Proxy, DHCP, NTP Client, DDNS, Port Trigger, Port Forwarding, DMZ, System Event Log
WAN Connection Type
Internet connection type : Automatic IP, Static IP, PPPoE(MPPE supported), PPTP, L2TP
Utilities
Router setup wizard; Firmware restoration; Device discovary; printer setup utility
Ports
RJ45 for Gigabits BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for Gigabits BaseT for LAN x 8
USB 2.0 x 1
USB 3.0 x 1
Button
WPS Button, Reset Button, Power Button, Wireless on/off Button, LED on/off Button
Features
Link Aggregation: 802.3ad
MU-MIMO
Traffic Analyzer
Adaptive QoS
AiProtection
Parental Control
Guest Network : 2.4 GHz x 3, 5 GHz x 3
VPN server : IPSec Pass-Through, PPTP Pass-Through, L2TP Pass-Through, PPTP Server, OpenVPN Server
VPN client : PPTP client, L2TP client, OpenVPN client
Mac OS Backup
Enhanced media server (AiPlayer app compatible
AiCloud personal cloud service
3G/4G data sharing
Printer Server: Multifunctional printer support (Windows only), LPR protocol support
Download Master: Support bt, nzb, http, ed2k, Support encryption, DHT, PEX and magnet link, Upload and download bandwidth control, Download scheduling
AiDisk file server: Samba and FTP server with account management
Dual WAN
IPTV support
Roaming Assist
LED Indicator
Power x 1
Wi-Fi x 2
WAN x 1
USB x 2
WPS x 1
LAN x 1