I Review the Latest and Greatest in Tech. This Is the Easiest Router to Set Up for Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7

For family members, remote workers, and gamers who heavily rely on a home’s Wi-Fi network for streaming video and music, gaming, video calling, uploading and downloading files, web surfing, and more, speed is an important factor when choosing a router. Equally important are signal strength, signal reliability, the device’s overall bandwidth capacity, and its ability to manage multiple devices simultaneously.

I also recommend choosing a router from a well-known and reliable brand to experience the best performance possible and to be able to obtain quality tech support when needed. A router with integrated network security tools (preferably offered on a subscription-free basis) is another feature worth seeking out.

Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router supports the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless bands, as well as 320 MHz channel bandwidth. Plus, you get other technological advancements that can result in dramatically faster wired and wireless internet connections.

In fact, under the right conditions, a Wi-Fi 7 connection can be up to five times faster than Wi-Fi 6e and offer support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO). This allows devices (like computers, smartphones, tablets, smart home equipment, and gaming consoles) to connect to multiple frequency bands at the same time to achieve faster connectivity speeds.

So, what equipment do you need to enjoy Wi-Fi 7 connectivity at home? It starts with a router that supports Wi-Fi 7. However, you also need equipment that supports this latest Wi-Fi protocol, like many (but not all) of the latest desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles. That said, Wi-Fi 7 routers, like Asus RT-BE86U Dual Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router, are backwards compatible to work with all your existing computers and equipment.

First Impressions

When I tested Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router, two things immediately caught my attention. I love the overall design of the device, as well as how easy it is (even for someone who isn't tech savvy) to install within a home.

Over the years, I've tested and reviewed a wide range of products from Asus, so I know this is a reliable brand that makes high-quality products. And the RT-BE86U Dual Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router is no exception.

For anyone looking to upgrade their home’s internet connectivity to experience faster and more secure internet access, this is an ideal router.

Pros

Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router comes ready to enhance a home’s internet connectivity speed and automatically manage multiple users at once. As a result, multiple people can take part in video calls, stream content, or game while maintaining a consistent and reliable connection speed with no lagging.

Based on testing, here are my top 10 favorite features offered by this router:

1. It’s able to achieve dual-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity speeds up to 6,800 Mbps.
2. The router offers 20G combined network capacity with a 10G WAN/LAN port and up to four 2.5G LAN ports.
3. You can experience fast data transfers with 160 MHz channel bandwidth.
4. MLO allows for buffering-free connectivity by combining and seamlessly switching between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
5. Users can take advantage of a dedicated 2.5G LAN gaming port.
6. You get three position-adjustable antennas that do an excellent job eliminating Wi-Fi dead zones up to 2,750 square feet. Using AiMesh, you can link two Asus routers together and extend signal coverage on the same network.
7. The router supports up to seven simultaneous streams and can boost network performance by up to 30 percent (compared to a router that supports Wi-Fi 6E).
8. Using the Asus mobile app, you can control the router, handle network management, set parental controls, activate integrated security tools, and more.
9. It’s possible to manage screen time for kids via the router by easily creating a dedicated SSID, so their devices don't need to be configured separately.
10. The router is compatible with the virtual private network (VPN) of your choice, or allows the Asus VPN to provide secure browsing, enhanced data privacy, and more.

Cons

While no router is perfect for every household or user, Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router certainly comes close based on 2025 technological standards. But here are two of the potential drawbacks I discovered:

• It lacks 6 GHz band support, so this is a dual-band router.
• The router itself has a vertical design, so it needs to be set upright on a flat surface.

Final Verdict

There are a lot of router options available, including those provided directly by internet service providers. However, if you want remote control over your home’s network, and know you’re achieving a fast and secure wireless and wired internet connection, Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router makes it affordable and relatively simple to introduce the latest Wi-Fi 7 protocol into a home.

A home with multiple extremely heavy internet users with simultaneous demands might benefit slightly more from a tri-band router (2.5GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) that supports Wi-Fi 7, but this option is typically much more expensive.

That said, for most households (even those with moderate connectivity needs), the dual-band Asus RT-BE86U Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Extendable Router is more than adequate and offers excellent value at its sub-$300 price.

Why You Should Trust Me

To write this review, I set up the router in my home office and used it with a handful of mobile devices, Windows and MacBook laptops that support Wi-Fi 7, as well as devices (including the Nintendo Switch) that support Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E.

I meticulously evaluated speed, performance, and wireless signal (strength and reliability) at distances of several feet to over 50 feet from the router. I also tested the 2.5G WAN/LAN and 10G WAN/LAN ports by directly connecting equipment to the router via a wired connection.

I'm an internationally recognized consumer technology expert whose journalism career spans over 30 years.

Besides contributing to Men’s Journal, I’ve written thousands of articles and in-depth product reviews for national magazines and popular websites. Most recently, I’ve served as a consumer technology writer and reporter for InMyExpertOpinion and CBS Essentials. 

I'm the author of The $5K Startup, The Remote Worker’s Handbook: How to Effectively Work from Anywhere, and the upcoming Launching Your Side Hustle (September 2025).