The ASUS RT-BE96U is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.4, 5, and 6GHz bands. It has configurable dual 10Gbps network ports and a full suite of software features, like ASUS's AiMesh, which allows you to use old ASUS routers as additional access points, WPA3 security, parental controls, and more.
Our Verdict
The ASUS RT-BE96U is very good for use in an apartment or condo. Its indoor network coverage across the same floor is remarkable, delivering incredible speeds whether you're right next to the router or on the other side of your apartment. It has ample connectivity with support for 10Gbps speeds and five LAN ports. Its biggest downside is its size. It has eight large antennas and a very large footprint, so it'll stick out and be hard to conceal in a living space.
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Remarkable top speeds.
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Great wired networking connectivity with flexible port assignments.
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Wi-Fi 7 support.
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Very big and bulky.
The ASUS RT-BE96U is an impressive router for medium to large houses with multiple floors. It provides very fast speeds, whether you're right next to it, two floors above it, or in the backyard. It has great connectivity options with multiple 10Gbps network ports and five LAN ports. It's very big and has eight large antennas, so it'll stick out if installed in a living space, and its range isn't quite as far as a mesh solution.
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Remarkable top speeds.
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Great wired networking connectivity with flexible port assignments.
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Very good range.
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Wi-Fi 7 support.
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Compatible with ASUS' AiMesh for better range.
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Very big and bulky.
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5GHz slows down at very far distances.
The ASUS RT-BE96U has remarkable top speeds suitable for a multi-gigabit internet connection. It also supports DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection), so it can use less congested DFS-only channels to give you better speeds in noisy wireless environments.
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Remarkable top speeds.
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Wi-Fi 7 support.
The ASUS RT-BE96U has very good range. Even from nearly 100 feet away, the 6GHz band delivers superb speeds. The 5GHz range isn't as good as a mesh solution, but it's compatible with other ASUS AiMesh routers to create a mesh network.
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Very good range.
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Wi-Fi 7 support.
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Compatible with ASUS' AiMesh for better range.
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5GHz slows down at very far distances.
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Updated Oct 30, 2024:
We've added links to the newly-reviewed TP-Link Deco BE63 and BE65 Pro in the Interior Long Range section of the review.
- Updated Jul 22, 2024: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This router has no variants. Here's a photo of our unit's label.
Compared To Other Routers
The ASUS BE96U is among the first Wi-Fi 7 routers on the market and ASUS' flagship router at the time of writing. Its configurability and number of features and settings make it stand out from other routers like the eero Max 7. It's no slouch performance-wise, delivering extremely fast top speeds and multi-gigabit networking capabilities. That said, it's still only a standalone router, and the eero Max 7 has much better range thanks to its mesh design. The ASUS is also very large for a router, and its aggressive styling might not appeal to everyone.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best Wi-Fi routers, the best routers for large homes, and the best long-range Wi-Fi routers.
Test Results
This router has two multi-gigabit networking ports, both rated for 10Gbps. By default, one is a WAN port (to connect to your modem), while the other is a LAN port. You can use the router's web interface to configure the ports to your liking.
This is a standalone router without mesh capabilities, so the mesh satellite position line on this graph isn't applicable.
If you're looking for a Wi-Fi 7 mesh option with better range, check out the TP-Link Deco BE63 or TP-Link Deco BE65 Pro.
This is a standalone router without mesh capabilities, so the mesh satellite position line on this graph isn't applicable.
Wi-Fi 7 has faster speeds, lower latency, and supports more simultaneous connections than previous generations of Wi-Fi. However, you'll need devices supporting Wi-Fi 7 to benefit from these features.
