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ASUS RT-AC86U vs Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream: Comparison
ASUS RT-AC86U vs Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream wired ports compared
They are built to different briefs, and wired ports shows it, ASUS RT-AC86U 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN, 1x USB 3.0,... against Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN. There is a split on release year as well, 2018 on the ASUS RT-AC86U versus 2016 on the Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream. Ram is not the same on both, 512 MB on the ASUS RT-AC86U versus 256 MB on the Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream. They differ on flash storage too, 256 MB on the ASUS RT-AC86U versus 128 MB on the Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream.
ASUS RT-AC86U vs Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream: which one fits your build
Buy the ASUS RT-AC86U for budget gamers not ready to pay for WiFi 6 and buyers wanting a strong secondary AiMesh node, though it is not built for anyone wanting current WiFi 6 or 6E efficiency and large homes needing tri-band mesh coverage. it is not the pick for larger households or anyone who wants WiFi 6. The same goes for budget buyers with modest device counts who want basic MU-MIMO support. Our rating of the ASUS RT-AC86U (7/10): an aging but still-capable gaming router whose strong processor and AiMesh support keep it relevant well past most WiFi 5 routers' shelf life. Our rating of the Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream (6/10): A predictable, cheap WiFi 5 router with basic MU-MIMO support.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Wifi standard, supports 6ghz, cpu cores, router type and device type read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS RT-AC86U and Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream differ on usb ports?
Yes. USB Ports reads 2 ports on the ASUS RT-AC86U versus 1 ports on the Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream.
Is the WiFi Generation the same on the ASUS RT-AC86U and Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream?
It is. Both are listed at WiFi 5, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
WiFi Standard
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
Brand
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- ASUS
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- Linksys
Router Type
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Standalone Router
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- Standalone Router
Model Number
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- RT-AC86U
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- EA7300
Band Configuration
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Dual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- Dual-Band
Release Year
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2018
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 2016
Coverage Area
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2500 sq ftBest
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 1500 sq ft
Device Type
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Standalone Router
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- Standalone Router
Wired Ports
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN
WiFi Generation
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- WiFi 5
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- WiFi 5
Supports 6GHz
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- No
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- No
Speed Class
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- AC2900 (up to 2.9Gbps combined)Best
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- AC1750
WAN Port Speed
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 1GbE
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 1GbE
Max LAN Port Speed
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 1GbE
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 1GbE
LAN Port Count
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 4 ports
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 4 ports
USB Ports
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2 ports
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 1 ports
CPU Cores
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2 cores
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 2 cores
CPU Clock
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 1.8 GHz
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 0.88 GHz
RAM
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 512 MB
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 256 MB
Flash Storage
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 256 MB
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 128 MB
External Antennas
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 3 antennas
- Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
- 3 antennas
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS RT-AC86U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS RT-AC86U | Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
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.
Linksys EA7300 Max-Stream
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A predictable, cheap WiFi 5 router with basic MU-MIMO support.