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ASUS RT-AC86U vs D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60: Comparison

ASUS RT-AC86U and D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60 differ on coverage area: ASUS RT-AC86U at 2500, D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60 at 5000, which puts D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60 ahead on that measure.

Specs

Specification
ASUS RT-AC86U (WiFi 5/Standalone Router/Dual-Band AC2900/Gaming Enthusiast Classic)
ASUS RT-AC86U
D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60 (WiFi 6/Mesh System/2-Pack/AI-Optimized/5,000 sq ft)
D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60
WiFi StandardWiFi 5 (802.11ac)WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Router TypeStandalone RouterMesh System
Band ConfigurationDual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)Dual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Coverage Area25005000
Wired Ports4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN, 1x USB 3.1, 1x USB 2.01x Gigabit WAN, 1x Gigabit LAN per node
Special Features1.8GHz dual-core CPU, WTFast gaming acceleration, AiProtection Pro securityD-Link AI app with self-optimizing network, parental controls, voice assistant compatibility
Speed ClassAC2900 (up to 2.9Gbps combined)AX3000
MU-MIMO/OFDMAMU-MIMOYes
Mesh SupportAiMesh compatibleNative mesh, AI-optimized band steering

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.

D-Link Aquila Pro AI M60

7 / 10 Expert Rating

An affordable, hands-off WiFi 6 mesh kit that covers mid-sized homes without extra complexity.

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