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ASUS RT-AC86U vs TP-Link Archer AX21: Comparison
ASUS RT-AC86U and TP-Link Archer AX21 differ on aggregate wifi speed: ASUS RT-AC86U at 2,917 Mbps, TP-Link Archer AX21 at 1,800 Mbps, which puts ASUS RT-AC86U ahead on that measure. They match on 8 other specifications, including router type, device type and supports 6ghz.
Which is better, ASUS RT-AC86U or TP-Link Archer AX21?
On balance, aSUS RT-AC86U and TP-Link Archer AX21 differ on aggregate wifi speed: ASUS RT-AC86U at 2,917 Mbps, TP-Link Archer AX21 at 1,800 Mbps, which puts ASUS RT-AC86U ahead on that measure.
What is the main difference between ASUS RT-AC86U and TP-Link Archer AX21?
The TP-Link Archer AX21 is the stronger choice on paper: it has 20% more WiFi standard (WiFi 6 (802.11ax) vs WiFi 5 (802.11ac)).
Specs and benchmarks
WiFi Standard
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Brand
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- ASUS
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- TP-Link
Router Type
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Standalone Router
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Standalone Router
Model Number
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- RT-AC86U
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Archer AX21
Release Year
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2018
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 2020
Band Configuration
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Dual-Band (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Dual-Band
Device Type
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Standalone Router
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Standalone Router
Wired Ports
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN, 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN
WiFi Generation
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- WiFi 5
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- WiFi 6
Supports 6GHz
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- No
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- No
Aggregate WiFi Speed
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 2917 MbpsBest
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 1800 Mbps
Speed Class
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- AC2900 (up to 2.9Gbps combined)Best
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- AX1800
Max Channel Width
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 80MHz
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 80MHz
Spatial Streams Total
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 7
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 4
5GHz Streams
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 4
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 2
WAN Port Speed
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 1GbE
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 1GbE
Max LAN Port Speed
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 1GbE
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 1GbE
LAN Port Count
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 4 ports
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 4 ports
External Antennas
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- 3 antennas
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- 4 antennas
VPN Server
- ASUS RT-AC86U
- Yes
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS RT-AC86U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose TP-Link Archer AX21 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS RT-AC86U | TP-Link Archer AX21 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TP-Link Archer AX21
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Genuine WiFi 6 basics at a price that's frequently discounted further.