News RT-AX68U

[RMerlin]

I just looked at Staples' site. Seems like all their Asus routers are priced about 30% above other retail outlets.

Canadian site. Convert that to USD, and it will match.

 

[L&LD]

@Lee MacMillan, just like I guessed (from that review) 'better than the 'AX50 series routers with performance close to the higher-end models. Looking better each day!

 

[Clark Griswald]

@L&LD
Amazon currently has the AX86U for $249.99 (USD).
Sadly I remember posting that as the sale price for the AX88U Cyber Monday 2019

 

[Lee MacMillan]

... At the time of this post the RT-AX86Us are going for $489 USD on Amazon from third party sellers. They continue to be out of stock or back ordered everywhere else.

On 1/5, they are back to $250 on Amazon with an expected in-stock date of 1/17. We'll see how long that holds true.

 

[Lee MacMillan]

Canadian site. Convert that to USD, and it will match.

No. On Staples.com the AC86U is listed at $212. On Staples.ca it is $330 CDN.

 

[dscline]

On 1/5, they are back to $250 on Amazon with an expected in-stock date of 1/17. We'll see how long that holds true.

I ordered an AX86U from ShopBLT on 12/29. At the time they had, I believe, 9 units coming in, due on 1/5, with 6 or 7 of them spoken for. A few days ago their incoming increased to 12, with a date pushed out to the 17th. Now it shows an ETA of 3 weeks. I'm HOPING that they are getting multiple shipments in (the one I ordered coming in on the next shipment, due any day, rather than being pushed out to 3 weeks). But who knows? They're $255, and charge $2 handling, but they don't charge tax in my area, so it still ends up being the cheapest option.

But I'm also interested in an AX68U when those become available.

 

[jsbeddow]

No. On Staples.com the AX86U is listed at $212. On Staples.ca it is $330 CDN.

Err...no, Staples.com doesn't show any listing for the RT-AX86U. They do however currently show the RT-AC86U for $212 ($211.99).

 

[SoCalReviews]

On 1/5, they are back to $250 on Amazon with an expected in-stock date of 1/17. We'll see how long that holds true.

It's lasted for 45 minutes. That's a good start. Add that puppy to the cart and head to the checkout ASAP.

 

[Lee MacMillan]

Err...no, Staples.com doesn't show any listing for the RT-AX86U. They do however currently show the RT-AC86U for $212 ($211.99).

Yes, AC not AX. I guess I have AX on the brain! I edited my post.

 

[Lee MacMillan]

It's lasted for 45 minutes. That's a good start. Add that puppy to the cart and head to the checkout ASAP.

It's way more router than I need. I'm going to wait for a while and see if the AX68U becomes available.

 

[SoCalReviews]

It's way more router than I need. I'm going to wait for a while and see if the AX68U becomes available.

Will it be more router than you need in two, three or four years?... or will you need to upgrade your router again and pay another $200 at that time. I see that extra $50 cost right now for the AX86U as a better value for future proofing your investment.

 

[SoCalReviews]

@Lee MacMillan, At this point I guess it doesn't matter if you wait. It's only been a few hours and Amazon U.S. is showing that the AX86U is almost out of stock again.

 

[RMerlin]

No. On Staples.com the AC86U is listed at $212. On Staples.ca it is $330 CDN.

We`re talking about the RT-AX86U, not RT-AC86U.

 

[Lee MacMillan]

Will it be more router than you need in two, three or four years?... or will you need to upgrade your router again and pay another $200 at that time. I see that extra $50 cost right now for the AX86U as a better value for future proofing your investment.

I don't disagree on the value argument but we are a two (retired) person household and I can't imagine a scenario where we would need more capabilities than the AX68U provides. Remember, the AC66U_B1 is serving our needs today so any upgrade is based more on want than need as long as the 66U keeps chugging along.

 

[SoCalReviews]

We`re talking about the RT-AX86U, not RT-AC86U.

The more I think about it the RT-AX68U is starting to look to me more like a re-branded RT-AC86U with AX/Wifi 6 capabilities. If $199 is the price of the AX68U you are paying about $30 more for AX/Wifi 6 capabilities vs. a new AC86U.

 

[SoCalReviews]

I don't disagree on the value argument but we are a two (retired) person household and I can't imagine a scenario where we would need more capabilities than the AX68U provides. Remember, the AC66U_B1 is serving our needs today so any upgrade is based more on want than need as long as the 66U keeps chugging along.

I get it... you can afford to wait... but in the meantime what can we say that we haven't already said to get you to "want" the AX86U?

 

[RMerlin]

The more I think about it the RT-AX68U is starting to look to me more like a re-branded RT-AC86U with AX/Wifi 6 capabilities. If $199 is the price of the AX68U you are paying about $30 more for AX/Wifi 6 capabilities vs. a new AC86U.

It's a bit more than that though with its 2.5G port, and it also has twice the amount of RAM.

 

[nickie]

It's a bit more than that though with its 2.5G port, and it also has twice the amount of RAM.

doesn't the ac86u have 512MB RAM?

 

[RMerlin]

doesn't the ac86u have 512MB RAM?

Yes, versus 1 GB for the RT-AX86U.

 

[Lee MacMillan]

The AX68U is on the US Asus site now but the specs page is blank as I post this.

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