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ASUS RT-AC86U vs ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000: Comparison

ASUS RT-AC86U and ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000 differ on coverage area: ASUS RT-AC86U at 2500, ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000 at 2000, which puts ASUS RT-AC86U ahead on that measure.

Specs

Specification
ASUS RT-AC86U (WiFi 5/Standalone Router/Dual-Band AC2900/Gaming Enthusiast Classic)
ASUS RT-AC86U
ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000 (WiFi 6/Standalone Gaming Router/Dual-Band/Mobile Game Mode/Budget Gaming)
ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000
WiFi StandardWiFi 5 (802.11ac)WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Router TypeStandalone RouterStandalone Gaming Router
Band ConfigurationDual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)Dual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Coverage Area25002000
Wired Ports4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN, 1x USB 3.1, 1x USB 2.01x Gigabit WAN, 4x Gigabit LAN
Special Features1.8GHz dual-core CPU, WTFast gaming acceleration, AiProtection Pro securityMobile Game Mode with one-tap prioritization, AiProtection Classic, TUF-branded durable design
Speed ClassAC2900 (up to 2.9Gbps combined)AX3000
MU-MIMO/OFDMAMU-MIMOYes
Mesh SupportAiMesh compatibleAiMesh

Verdict

ASUS RT-AC86U

7 / 10 Expert Rating

An aging but still-capable gaming router whose strong processor and AiMesh support keep it relevant well past most WiFi 5 routers' shelf life.

ASUS TUF Gaming AX3000

7 / 10 Expert Rating

A sensible budget gaming router that delivers real traffic prioritization without ROG-tier pricing.

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