If we talk about wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7 routers are the newest and ultimate expression of ultra-fast speed and low latency with good efficiency. Designed for applications that demand much -8K streaming, VR Gaming, and IOT (Internet-of-Things) devices which really benefits such as channel bandwidth reaching 320MHz, Multi-Link Operation, 4K-QAM modulation for peak performance. While Wi-Fi 7 routers are still emerging, the early brands like ASUS and TP-Link promised revolutionary upgrades over Wi-Fi 6/6E.

Luckily, ASUS sent us their ASUS RT-BE88U Wi-Fi 7 Router to test it and see how good this router is for casual users like me who just use a router to connect my PC and devices for communication and wireless connectivity.

Specifications:

Network Standard	Panel Size (inch) : 23.8 Aspect Ratio : 16:9 Display Viewing Area (H x V) : 527.04 x IEEE 802.11a IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g WiFi 4 (802.11n) WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WiFi 6 (802.11ax) WiFi 7 (802.11be) IPv4 IPv6
Product Segment	BE7200 ultimate BE performance: 1376+5764 Mbps
WiFi Data Rate	WiFi 7 (802.11be) (2.4GHz): up to 1376 Mbps WiFi 7 (802.11be) (5GHz): up to 5764 Mbps
Antenna	External antenna x 4
Transmit / Receive	2.4GHz 4×4 5GHz 4×4
Processor	2.6GHz quad-core processor
Memory	256 MB Flash and 2 GB RAM
Boosts Speed	OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) Beamforming: standard-based and universal 4096-QAM high data rate 20/40/80/160 MHz bandwidth
Operating Frequency	2.4 GHz 5 GHz
Operating Mode	Wireless Router Mode AiMesh Node Mode Access Point Mode Media Bridge Mode Repeater Mode
I/O Ports	1 x 10Gbps for WAN/LAN, 1 x 10Gbps SFP+ for WAN, 1 x 2.5Gbps for WAN/LAN, 3 x 2.5 Gbps for LAN, 4 x RJ45 10/100/1000Mbps for LAN, USB 3.2 Gen1 x1
Buttons	WPS Button, Reset Button, Power Switch
Power Supply	AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz) DC Output : 12V with max. 5 A current；19 V with max. 2.37 A current ； 19.5 V with max. 2.31 A current
Product Weight (g)	1060g
Product Dimensions	300*188*60.5
AiMesh	AiMesh • Primary AiMesh Router • AiMesh Node

Closer Look

The packaging comes in a gray box that looks like a box for a graphics card. It showcases some of the features and the design of the router.

Inside the box you will find the following: the Quick Setup Guide, VIP Member Warraty Notice Paper, QR Codes for Support and Tutorials and a QR Code and passwords to access the router.

You will also find the router itself and the 4 Wi-Fi antennas.

The power brick with different cable adapters.

The ASUS RT-BE88U Router comes in a black and gold design. It looks like a vintage router but with a robust design. I also like that this router is not bulky and big to cater Wi-Fi 7 features.

The antennas also come in black and gold. These are the one extends the Wi-Fi signal of this dual-band router. The antennas can be attached at the sides and rear of the router.

At the left most side of the rear of the router you will find the WAN/LAN 10Gb port, the other 10Gb SFP+ port and a WPS button.

This router has an abundant of ports with 2.5Gb from LAN 1 to 4. LAN 1 acts a WAN and LAN 4 is a dedicated gaming port. Also, it has another four 1Gb port from LAN 5 to 8.

On the right most side of the rear of the router you will find the reset button, the USB 3.0 Port, DC In and the Power Switch.

User Interfaces

ASUS ROUTER APP

You can simply configure your router by downloading ASUS Router App. I have an Android phone, and I downloaded it from the Google Play Store. It is a very useful application that is able to configure one’s router and use many features at its disposal.

ASUS WEB USER INTERFACE

In case you prefer to configure your router the traditional way rather than through the mobile app, ASUS has a solid web interface. This gives you direct access to set up your router and also alter the settings you may need to activate or configure according to your requirements.

Testing

I cannot test any devices with WiFi 7 capabilities since my current devices only support WiFi 6, including both my PC and Android mobile device. However, I can effectively evaluate the performance on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies to compare the results and determine the significant improvements from a WiFi 6 router to a WiFi 7.

Test Bench:
PC: ASRock B650E TAICHI Motherboard (WiFi 6)
Mobile Device: Samsung S23 ULTRA (WiFi 6)

Software
For the software we used the iPerf3 for throughput and Ping for latency.

The result shows some noticeable improvement over 5GHz throughput when one would compare a Wi-Fi 6 to a Wi-Fi 7. This kind of enhancement indicates that the user is going to get faster and more stable internet connectivity, especially in heavily device-rich environments, even though the latency remains nearly unchanged in both the cases. Though latency is much the same.

Conclusion

If your wallet permits a dual-band router, Asus RT-BE88U is a Wi-Fi 7-capable device that holds high-speed wired ports, though it doesn’t have support for 6GHz frequency and 320MHz channel, which might make early adopters question its long-term worth.

While it has its disadvantages, it has many benefits: it is coming with a very high number of 2.5Gb and 1Gb ports suitable for various networking needs, along with two 10Gb ports (SFP+), which provides tremendous bandwidth capabilities, thus greatly improving the data transfer speed for applications such as those in high demand. This will make the configuration suitable to small business organizations as well as larger organizations when it is concerned with network performance improvement. Further, the level of port options provides flexibility of accommodating a wide variety of devices without much effort that can be easily used in the future-proof network infrastructure capable of meeting continuously evolving needs.

While looking at it from a perspective that highlights all the features of this router, let’s consider the viewpoint of an average user who simply needs a router for basic requirements, such as reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and a stable LAN connection. The big question is, “What are my benefits if I buy this router?” As an average user, I can confidently say that improved Wi-Fi signal strength and coverage of this router can be considered a significant plus. Moreover, high speed ensures that more than a device can be connected at the same time, and it will not decrease performance; it is practically a requirement for many users in households. Though our internet speeds here in the Philippines somewhat doesn’t reach 2.5Gbps it cannot fully utilize the 2.5Gbps ports. But still, in the future if that time comes at least, you have a router that can cater that speed. If you don’t have any plans to create your own network or upgrade to faster internet speeds, then you should just stay what your ISP given you as this will cost you a lot.

Overall, the ASUS RT-BE88U is still a good router if you can utilize all the given features that comes with it. For an early adapter, you might find it a little bit frustrating, but the router has good features that is really beneficial for those looking for a router with flexibility and accommodate multiple devices for your in-house network or your small business.

You can buy the ASUS RT-BE88U around P26,000.00 pesos at your nearest ASUS affiliated online and physical stores. With that in mind, the ASUS RT-BE88U receives a recommended award.