Extendable Router Buying Guide
Buying a router sometimes comes with a few surprises, but most people don’t expect to have much trouble getting a consistent and reliable connection in every room. Many find themselves hunting for a solution to eliminate internet dead zones, and a repeater or range extender—especially a cheap barebones option—is often considered. However, many end up with a penalty to performance and convenience, and they need to replace that whole setup with a brand-new router or buy an extra range extender. You may be better off purchasing an extendable router in the first place.
What is Extendable Router?
Different from a regular router, range extender, or even MoCA, extendable routers provide one single, seamless WiFi network for the whole home. Whenever do you want to extend your network, you can just simply add another unit to the mix. The extendable routers in your network will work automatically to determine which one delivers the best signal to connect with, and they will seamlessly transfer the connection to each other without any direct input or interaction on your part.
How does Extendable Router Network Work?
AiMesh is the key point that makes so many ASUS routers extendable. AiMesh-compatible wireless routers can be connected with each other so as to create a whole-home mesh WiFi network. Since AiMesh has been built into ASUS routers for many years, there are a plenty of products ready for you. And most importantly, they are all fully compatible with each other.
Since the ASUS Router mobile app is so convenient and easy, you don’t need to be worried about setting up the extendable router network. Setup is a piece of cake, and it gives you many easy tools to monitor your network topology. You can optimize your home network with no effort, such like finding the best location to put your node, and you can manage each connected device with rich features. All with just a few taps on your smartphone.
On the other side, with a regular router, you may need to switch your WiFi off and on every time when you move about, in order to stay connected. Sometimes, you might get a weak signal even when you are closer to the main router because your device could still be connected to the range extender, which is in the other room. Besides, a range extender often comes with a standalone app if it has one at all, so it can be more difficult to set up and to determine the optimal device placement.
The Value of Extendable Router Goes Beyond WiFi Extension
If you have bought the internet service provider’s router or the regular routers, you may find that ASUS extendable routers are much priced competitively with many advanced features that could save you a lot of money! With a free-subscription security and network features in your entire network in commercial-grade, the value of ASUS extendable router just goes beyond WiFi extensions.
ASUS AiProtection is a feature that utilizes updates from Trend Micro™ to automatically protect your home network by blocking malicious sites and detecting and isolating infected devices. Meanwhile, Instant Guard provides a one-tap secure VPN server that adds rock-solid security to any public WiFi network, no matter where you are.
For parents, advanced controls make it effortless to monitor their kids’ online activities, set reasonable limitations or rewards on their screen time, and customize settings for each connected device – all through a single app.
In contrast, most competing range extenders only come with basic WPA2 or WPA3 security without any advanced features, and lack the ability to be centrally controlled.
- The coverage statistics in this press release are based on the performance of 2-pack mesh router. Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary from network conditions and environmental factors, including the volume of network traffic, building material and construction, and network overhead, result in lower actual data throughput and wireless coverage.
- 160MHz bandwidth may be unavailable in the 5GHz band in some regions/countries, due to regulatory restrictions. And to benefit from WiFi 6 router features, compatible WiFi 6 devices are required.
- Measured using a WiFi 6 UNII4-supported mesh system, compared to non-UNII4 mesh system.
Recommended products
RT-AX3000
AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Router supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology, with AiProtection Pro network security powered by Trend Micro™, compatible with ASUS AiMesh WiFi system
RT-AX59U
AX4200 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) AiMesh Router supporting free network security with AiProtection Pro, Safe Browsing, Instant Guard and VPN features, Parental controls, Easy setup, Wall mount
RT-AX58U
AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Router supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology, with AiProtection Pro network security powered by Trend Micro™, compatible with ASUS AiMesh WiFi system
RT-AX57
ASUS RT-AX57 (AX3000) Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Router, Subscription-free Network Security, Instant Guard, Advanced Parental Controls, Built-in VPN, AiMesh Compatible, Gaming & Streaming, Smart Home
RT-AX55
AX1800 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Router supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology, with AiProtection Classic network security powered by Trend Micro™, compatible with ASUS AiMesh WiFi system
Mobile Game Mode
If there is a smartphone gamer in your household, they will appreciate the seamless roaming experience while moving around the house, as well as the one-click Mobile Game Mode. For competitive online gamers, a dedicated hardware gaming port may come in handy, allowing them to leverage the router at the heart of the network to gain an edge, while still benefiting from easy network extension to other areas.
ASUS and ROG extendable gaming routers offer a plethora of gaming-first features, such as port forwarding, open NAT, and the exclusive Triple-Level Game Acceleration on ROG gaming routers. This optimizes game traffic at every step for various types of gaming, ensuring that lag and latency do not interfere with online gaming sessions.
- The coverage statistics in this press release are based on the performance of 2-pack mesh router. Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary from network conditions and environmental factors, including the volume of network traffic, building material and construction, and network overhead, result in lower actual data throughput and wireless coverage.
- 160MHz bandwidth may be unavailable in the 5GHz band in some regions/countries, due to regulatory restrictions. And to benefit from WiFi 6 router features, compatible WiFi 6 devices are required.
- Measured using a WiFi 6 UNII4-supported mesh system, compared to non-UNII4 mesh system.
Recommended products
ROG Rapture GT-AX6000
GT-AX6000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and AiMesh support
TUF Gaming AX4200
TUF Gaming AX4200 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router with Mobile Game Mode, 3 steps port forwarding, 2.5Gbps port, AiMesh for mesh WiFi, AiProtection Pro network security
RT-AX82U
AX5400 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, PS5 compatible, Mobile Game Mode, ASUS AURA RGB, Lifetime Free Internet Security, Mesh WiFi support, Gear Accelerator, Gaming Port, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding
TUF Gaming AX3000
ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router with dedicated Gaming port, AiMesh for mesh WiFi and AiProtection Pro network security
VPN Server
ASUS routers offer a range of VPN protocols including PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, OpenVPN, and the latest WireGuard security protocol, catering to advanced users seeking various VPN scenarios.
With a built-in VPN server and client, users can easily access their preferred streaming services or games from any location. VPN Fusion provides an added advantage by allowing both an encrypted VPN and a standard internet connection to operate simultaneously, without interrupting the online activities of other users in the household. This feature enables specific devices on the network to use VPN without affecting the internet usage of others.
- The coverage statistics in this press release are based on the performance of 2-pack mesh router. Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary from network conditions and environmental factors, including the volume of network traffic, building material and construction, and network overhead, result in lower actual data throughput and wireless coverage.
- 160MHz bandwidth may be unavailable in the 5GHz band in some regions/countries, due to regulatory restrictions. And to benefit from WiFi 6 router features, compatible WiFi 6 devices are required.
- Measured using a WiFi 6 UNII4-supported mesh system, compared to non-UNII4 mesh system.
Recommended products
ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro
GT-AX6000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and AiMesh support
RT-AXE7800
GT-AX6000 Dual-Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router, Dual 2.5G ports, enhanced hardware, WAN aggregation, VPN Fusion, Triple-Level Game Acceleration, free network security and AiMesh support
RT-AX88U Pro
AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Router, Dual 2.5G Port, 2.0 GHz Quad-core CPU, AiProtection Pro, WPA3, Parental Control, Mesh WiFi support, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding, WAN aggregation, free network security and AiMesh support
RT-AX86U Pro
AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router, PS5 compatible, Mobile Game Mode, Enhanced Network Security with AiProtection Pro and Instant Guard Sharable Secure VPN, Upgraded Parental Controls, 2.5G Port, Gaming Port, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding
Adapts to Future-proof WiFi Technology
It is difficult to anticipate how your internet needs will evolve over time, especially as WiFi technology advances. To ensure future compatibility, upgrading to the latest routers may become necessary. By choosing an extendable router, however, you can provide yourself with greater flexibility and options down the line.
ASUS pioneered the first extendable WiFi 5 router in 2017, and since then, most ASUS routers have been extendable and AiMesh compatible, including the world’s first WiFi 7 router, which is upcoming. These routers are compatible with WiFi generations, providing greater convenience when upgrading to future-proof WiFi technology.
When you upgrade your WiFi technology, repurposing your older extendable router as a network node can boost your home WiFi signal, reducing e-waste in the process.
An Extendable Router Gives Your WiFi Network Room to Grow
While a traditional router or range extender may suffice for your current needs, an extendable router offers future-proofing for your WiFi connection. With an extendable router like AiMesh, you can easily expand your network when renovating a basement, building an addition to your home, or moving to a larger residence.
With ASUS routers, you can enjoy comprehensive security, user-friendly management tools, and a feature-rich experience. It is no surprise that ASUS routers regularly receive awards for being the best on the market, and they are highly recommended for anyone setting up a home network.
ASUS offers a wide range of routers that cater to different needs. Whether you are looking for a gaming-first router, an all-purpose performance router, or a budget-friendly option, ASUS has you covered.
* Features and specifications vary by model. Some advanced features require WRT 4.0(F/W 388 version). Please refer to ASUS websites and specification pages for full details.