This is a different statement. Unfortunately, all manufacturers in consumer segment do the same thing over and over again - sell the product almost working in order to beat the competition and get the money, fix it later. If not too many customers notice or complain, just continue selling. You know AC88U used to be a flagship model. Do you know how many routers were shipped with advertised, but non-working MU-MIMO? It wasn't working on a SoC level. How many customers have noticed? Consumers think $250 router is expensive. It's a $100 hardware for router, switch and access point. Aruba AP-515 WiFi 6 AP only is $500.
The
AX86U is the best router I have ever owned and in my opinion it is
one of the best wireless routers Asus has ever made. I will even go as far to say that overall it
IS the
best consumer wireless router Asus has ever made and in the near future it will be seen as the best wireless routers ever made up until it's time of release.
I consider all the aspects when I state this opinion: price, performance especially in the 5Ghz range, manages many wireless clients well, reliability, features, flexibility, even the design and footprint.
If it's not the best then name an Asus wireless router that overall is better...
AXE11000U? very expensive, too new, reported buggy and the reliability suspect, huge footprint
AX11000U? reliability suspect, much more expensive, huge footprint
AX88U? reliability suspect, more expensive, measured Wifi 5Ghz performance not as good (recent SNB tests)
AC86U? No AX, No 2.5GbE port, good but overall reliability suspect in comparison
AC68U and variants? per previous discussion... seven year old technology, No AX, lesser hardware, per my experience... Wifi range and connection reliability suspect.
The main negative against the AX86U is... No Wifi 6E/AXE and arguably it's got a high price tag for many average buyers.
That about summarizes it.
If you can come up with a better single Asus consumer wireless router that they have ever made up until now I'd like to know your opinion.