No high end Asus routers released in a year!?

[lagrave]

Why haven't Asus released any high end¹ routers since last autumn or so? The semiconductor problems? Are there any known upcoming devices?

¹ I'm referring to something that checks most of these boxes
* WiFi 6e
* 10 Gbps Ethernet
* AX11000
* USB 3.2 (USB-C?)
* 3x3
* WPA3
* Expensive

 

[L&LD]

I'm sure the chip shortages aren't helping. But 3x3? I wouldn't be interested in anything less than 4x4:4 with the specs you indicate.

I would want the following to upgrade from an RT-AX86U main router.

• WiFi 6E+ (with actually improved radios)
• 10GbE/5GbE/2.5GbE for both WAN and LAN
• Quad-Core or better 2.5/3.0 GHz CPU with AES-NI+
• Upgradeable RAM
• Onboard/replaceable SSD
• No RGB
• No gangsta RED.

And as inexpensive as possible in 2021/2022.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I'm sure the chip shortages aren't helping. But 3x3? I wouldn't be interested in anything less than 4x4:4 with the specs you indicate.

I would want the following to upgrade from an RT-AX86U main router.

• WiFi 6E+ (with actually improved radios)
• 10GbE/5GbE/2.5GbE for both WAN and LAN
• Quad-Core or better 2.5/3.0 GHz CPU with AES-NI+
• Upgradeable RAM
• Onboard/replaceable SSD
• No RGB
• No gangsta RED.

And as inexpensive as possible in 2021/2022.

What a dreamer!

I'll take two mainstream vertical 2.4/5.0/6.0 tri-band WiFi6e AX86Us and a matching outdoor wall-mounted directional wireless node.

OE

 

[RMerlin]

They did, you just haven't been paying attention

ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 | Gaming networking｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

Dual-Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G WAN/LAN ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and Mesh WiFi System

rog.asus.com

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Global

ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.

www.asus.com

 

[lagrave]

I'm sure the chip shortages aren't helping. But 3x3? I wouldn't be interested in anything less than 4x4:4 with the specs you indicate.

I would want the following to upgrade from an RT-AX86U main router.

• WiFi 6E+ (with actually improved radios)
• 10GbE/5GbE/2.5GbE for both WAN and LAN
• Quad-Core or better 2.5/3.0 GHz CPU with AES-NI+
• Upgradeable RAM
• Onboard/replaceable SSD
• No RGB
• No gangsta RED.

And as inexpensive as possible in 2021/2022.

All these specs are available, but just not in the same device.

 

[lagrave]

They did, you just haven't been paying attention

ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 | Gaming networking｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

Dual-Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G WAN/LAN ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and Mesh WiFi System

rog.asus.com

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Global

ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.

www.asus.com

Not 6e?

 

[RMerlin]

Not 6e?

Zen Wifi ET12 is Wifi 6e.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Given a seemingly equivalent choice of an Asus Zen n-pack OR n Asus standalone routers, what might be the deciding considerations besides cosmetics and any supposed ease of use?

OE

 

[RMerlin]

Given a seemingly equivalent choice of an Asus Zen n-pack OR n Asus standalone routers, what might be the deciding considerations besides cosmetics and any supposed ease of use?

OE

Required coverage is the primary reason to decide between a router or a Zenwifi kit.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Required coverage is the primary reason to decide between a router or a Zenwifi kit.

I assume you mean 1 router vs. 2 or more Zen devices. For example, I was asking about 2 routers vs. a 2-pack Zen kit.

OE

 

[RMerlin]

I assume you mean 1 router vs. 2 or more Zen devices. For example, I was asking about 2 routers vs. a 2-pack Zen kit.

OE

If the Zenwifi hardware specs fit your needs (i.e. you don't need 4/8 LAN ports on both, etc...) then the Zenwifi pack might be more interesting, especially these new models since they pack high-end hardware. Previous Zenwifi tended to be more mid-range hardware.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I'm sure the chip shortages aren't helping. But 3x3? I wouldn't be interested in anything less than 4x4:4 with the specs you indicate.

I would want the following to upgrade from an RT-AX86U main router.

• WiFi 6E+ (with actually improved radios)
• 10GbE/5GbE/2.5GbE for both WAN and LAN
• Quad-Core or better 2.5/3.0 GHz CPU with AES-NI+
• Upgradeable RAM
• Onboard/replaceable SSD
• No RGB
• No gangsta RED.

And as inexpensive as possible in 2021/2022.

I presume you're aware that WiFi 6E has to have fixed antennas and as such has a lot of limitations when it comes to the rest of the hardware, especially based on your ideal product.
If you don't mind, please PM me, as I would like to bounce a few ideas with you, as I've been thinking about something similar for a while now and have at least another interested party.
Would burgundy red would be ok?

 

[OzarkEdge]

the Zenwifi pack might be more interesting, especially these new models since they pack high-end hardware. Previous Zenwifi tended to be more mid-range hardware.

Hence my question... previous Zens were not so interesting... I will have to consider the newer ones going forward.

OE

 

[TheLostSwede]

Hence my question... previous Zens were not so interesting... I will have to consider the newer ones going forward.

OE

This might be what you've been waiting for?

ZenWiFi Pro ET12 and XT12 wireless routers mesh with the best - Edge Up

Today’s highest-performing wireless networks need to serve more and more devices with more bandwidth than ever before. ZenWiFi Pro mesh wireless routers offer the most MU-MIMO capacity of any ASUS mesh system for the most demanding environments. The ZenWiFi Pro ET12 harnesses WiFi 6E to offer...

edgeup.asus.com

 

[OzarkEdge]

This might be what you've been waiting for?

ZenWiFi Pro ET12 and XT12 wireless routers mesh with the best - Edge Up

Today’s highest-performing wireless networks need to serve more and more devices with more bandwidth than ever before. ZenWiFi Pro mesh wireless routers offer the most MU-MIMO capacity of any ASUS mesh system for the most demanding environments. The ZenWiFi Pro ET12 harnesses WiFi 6E to offer...

edgeup.asus.com

Well, yes and no... I posted above what I'm waiting for... the usual performance router, but then the reveal in this thread of the new Zen ET12 has raised the Zen product to a new level... now I'm wondering what the deciding factors might be now that the technology gap between Zen and non-Zen appears to be narrowing.... but perhaps not the cost. We shall see... I like that Zen is becoming more respectable, so to speak... Asus tries hard and deserves respect, imo.

OE

 

[Background]

They did, you just haven't been paying attention

ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 | Gaming networking｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

Dual-Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G WAN/LAN ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and Mesh WiFi System

rog.asus.com

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Global

ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.

www.asus.com

Surely it's not just me that thinks this looks like a mini drone?

 

[RMerlin]

I presume you're aware that WiFi 6E has to have fixed antennas and as such has a lot of limitations when it comes to the rest of the hardware, especially based on your ideal product.

And more important: WIfi 6E is NOT a replacement for Wifi 6, unlike Wifi 6 was with Wifi 5. Wifi 6E implies the addition of a third radio, which means it's unlikely to ever be available in entry level products. So I have a hard time seeing Wifi 6E as ever becoming mainstream.

I see Wifi 6E as just a specialized product, like Broadcom's tri-radio was a few years ago (I forgot the name they gave to that tri-band platform). The next real upgrade will be WIfi 7.

 

[ZNP_83]

They did, you just haven't been paying attention

ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 | Gaming networking｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

Dual-Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G WAN/LAN ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and Mesh WiFi System

rog.asus.com

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Global

ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.

www.asus.com

Do you have any estimation on what kind of difference if any the GT-AX6000 would have running OpenVPN with its 2.0ghz cpu compared to the 1.8ghz chip in the AX88U?

 

[TheLostSwede]

And more important: WIfi 6E is NOT a replacement for Wifi 6, unlike Wifi 6 was with Wifi 5. Wifi 6E implies the addition of a third radio, which means it's unlikely to ever be available in entry level products. So I have a hard time seeing Wifi 6E as ever becoming mainstream.

I see Wifi 6E as just a specialized product, like Broadcom's tri-radio was a few years ago (I forgot the name they gave to that tri-band platform). The next real upgrade will be WIfi 7.

As we're going of topic anyhow, MTK will demo WiFi 7 at CES in January, although consumer products not likely until 2023.

MediaTek to demo Wi-Fi 7 at CES, touts 2.4x speed boost over Wi-Fi 6

During Thursday's MediaTek Summit, the company announced that it would be one of the first companies to move into the Wi-Fi 7 space, with both speed increases and improvements to avoid ...

www.androidcentral.com

 

[OzarkEdge]

And more important: WIfi 6E is NOT a replacement for Wifi 6, unlike Wifi 6 was with Wifi 5. Wifi 6E implies the addition of a third radio, which means it's unlikely to ever be available in entry level products. So I have a hard time seeing Wifi 6E as ever becoming mainstream.

I see Wifi 6E as just a specialized product, like Broadcom's tri-radio was a few years ago (I forgot the name they gave to that tri-band platform). The next real upgrade will be WIfi 7.

What's WiFi 6 & WiFi 6E | ASUS Global

I see WiFi6e as WiFi6 as it should have been in a perfect world... fully implemented. Tri-band and 160 MHz squeezed onto the 2.4 and 5.0 bands is half-baked, imo.

OE