Asus ZenWiFi XT9 review

The Asus ZenWiFi XT9 is a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system consisting of a number of routers (nodes) designed to offer quick Wi-Fi in extra of 1Gbps throughout your own home. That is one thing you’ll need in case you plan to improve to a full fibre gigabit broadband connection since you gained’t need your own home Wi-Fi to be slower than your web connection.

The usual XT9 bundle consists of two items, however particular person nodes will be purchased individually in case you want extra protection. Or, in case your wants are extra modest, you may merely purchase a person XT9 unit and have that operate as a standalone Wi-Fi 6 router. Every machine guarantees as much as 2850 sq. ft (264.77 sq. metres) of protection. 

Do observe the “as much as”, as a result of the protection you’ll get will depend upon the construction of your own home, and what number of Wi-Fi-impeding objects (comparable to thick partitions, concrete flooring, metal joists, folks) are positioned in between the Asus ZenWiFi XT9 items and your gadgets. 

The Asus ZenWiFi XT9 system can also be a part of Asus’s AiMesh ecosystem. This implies in case you have an older AiMesh machine already, say an Asus RT-AX55, you would simply add the XT9 to that for even broader protection. 

On the time of writing, particular person Asus ZenWiFi XT9 items had been priced at £234.99 / US$239.99, whereas a 2-pack will set you again round £459.99 / US$449.99.

That will sound like loads, however it is a quick tri-band system, which signifies that there are 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies out there on your telephones, tablets, and laptops to connect with the Web on, plus a separate 5GHz band reserved for the Asus ZenWiFi XT9 items to speak on.

The WiFi 6 AX7800 ranking means the ZenWiFi XT9 provides you ‘a prime pace of seven.8Gbps’. Nevertheless, you gained’t truly get 7.8Gbps to any of your gadgets as a result of that’s the mixed prime speeds theoretically doable on all the radio frequencies. That’s like saying that as a result of you’ve gotten a moped, a sizzling hatch, and a sports activities automotive, you may journey at speeds of as much as 400mph as a result of that’s the mixed prime speeds of these autos: it simply doesn’t make sense.

The explanation it’s used is to make it simpler to match networking gadgets. And it partially explains why the XT9 is dearer than different Wi-Fi 6 mesh techniques. The theoretical prime pace doable on the 5GHz band is 2402Mbps, with the utmost pace you may anticipate to see on the two.4GHz band being 574Mbps. The second 5GHz band’s prime pace is 4804Mbps – however until you’ve gotten Ethernet backhaul arrange, that radio might be used for the ZenWiFi XT9 nodes to speak with one another.

In case you can join the nodes with an Ethernet cable (which is what Ethernet backhaul means) each 5GHz bands can be utilized for gadgets, which means sooner, extra dependable connections. It additionally means the items will be positioned additional aside than Wi-Fi would enable.

To see the kind of speeds it’s doable to get out of the ZenWiFi XT9 in the actual world, we examined out a 2-pack in a two-up two-down terraced home in London and put it by its paces utilizing a spread of gadgets. 

Design & construct

• Accessible in black or white
• No built-in modem
• One 2.5Gbps Ethernet WAN port, three gigabit Ethernet LAN ports

Measuring 160 x 750 x 161.5 mm, the Asus ZenWiFi XT9’s are little greater than the like of the Eero 6 Professional or D-Hyperlink M15 {hardware}, however somewhat extra compact than the Netgear Orbi RBK760 and Linksys Atlas 6. 

The XT9 items are equivalent, which suggests you get the identical helpful set of ports on each. The presence of a 2.5Gbps WAN port is sweet information, particularly in case you have full fibre broadband delivering speeds north of 1Gbps (or your ISP will have the ability to supply that to you sooner or later within the close to future). 

The three gigabit Ethernet LAN ports imply consoles, set-top packing containers and sensible TVs can profit from sooner connections. One might be used in case you reap the benefits of Ethernet backhaul, after all. 

There’s even a USB port, which you should use to attach a NAS (Community Connected Storage) drive, if you need to have the ability to share entry to an exterior exhausting drive with everybody in your community. 

As with just about all mesh Wi-Fi kits, there’s no built-in modem so that you’ll want to attach it to your present router or modem in an effort to get an web connection.

Thomas Newton / Foundry

Set up

• Asus Router cell app
• Set-up took lower than 20 minutes 

The Asus Router app guides you thru every step of the set up course of, so it’s simple even in case you’ve not arrange a mesh Wi-Fi system earlier than. Together with a firmware replace, it took just below 20 minutes to put in two ZenWiFi XT9 nodes. 

The app takes you thru each stage; ensuring that your modem is powered off earlier than plugging the primary router into the mains, scanning the QR code on the bottom of the router to pair it together with your telephone, after which connecting to it in your telephone by way of Wi-Fi, earlier than powering the modem again on. 

Finally, as soon as an Web connection has been established, you’ll be prompted to vary the admin password of the house community, in addition to the community identify and Wi-Fi password. It’s good that this is among the first stuff you’re requested to do. Safety ought to all the time be the highest precedence, so ensure you choose passwords that aren’t garbage. 

As soon as the primary node is ready up, you’ll be requested to attach the second, basically repeating the method. The app says it’s greatest in case you join the second router to the mains and energy it on someplace in the identical room as the primary router, to make the pairing course of between the 2 nodes occur with none interference from partitions and different obstacles the primary time spherical. 

When that’s performed and also you’ve acquired the mesh community up and operating, you’ll be free to reposition the second router elsewhere in your house – wherever you want it, mainly. 

For this overview, I set issues up the identical means that I did once I examined out the Netgear Orbi RBK760. Which means the first node was put in downstairs subsequent to the modem, and the second was put upstairs, in a again room workplace roughly 15 metres away from the primary router.  

The Asus Router app will let you already know if the connection between the 2 gadgets is powerful or weak. Particularly usefully it’ll additionally let you already know if connections on the Ethernet ports might be improved by utilizing a sooner Ethernet cable, because it did once I plugged my TV set-top field into the machine. You’d be shocked by the variety of Cat 5e cables which don’t correctly assist gigabit speeds, and there’s all the time that sneaky Cat 5 cable in your assortment that – equally – will restrict the throughput to 100Mbps.

Throughout the app, you may label every node with pleasant location names (‘front room’, ‘kitchen’, ‘workplace’, and so on), so determining which gadgets are linked through which room turns into simpler. 

Thomas Newton / Foundry

Options & app

• Site visitors administration and community overview
• Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant assist
• Free Asus Instantaneous Guard VPN

The Asus ZenXT9 comes with a laundry record of options and settings, lots of which – such because the Visitor WiFi hotspot and parental controls – are frequent to gadgets of this ilk, and others, just like the Asus Instantaneous Guard VPN, which aren’t. 

Nearly all of the ZenWiFi XT9’s options will be discovered within the Asus Router app you employ to set every part up. 

Once you open up the app, you’ll be greeted with an outline of your own home community, letting you see at a look what number of gadgets are linked to which node, and the way robust the sign is between the nodes. A faucet of the ‘Units’ tab on the backside of the display screen provides you a larger perception, telling you which of them machine is linked to which radio frequency, in addition to in the event that they’ve acquired Wi-Fi connection or not. 

The ‘Perception’ tab provides you a fast overview of the overall standing of your community, informing you if there’s any poor connections, if it’s essential to improve to a brand new Ethernet cable to enhance efficiency on considered one of your wired-in gadgets, and if the AiProtection safety software program has detected any threats. 

AiProtection, powered by Development Micro, gives real-time community monitoring, in addition to tips about make your own home community safer – it’ll recommend staple items like altering your password if it’s not deemed robust sufficient, to extra superior issues like disabling UPnP, in case you actually don’t want it left on. 

Thomas Newton / Foundry

The Household tab allows you to create profiles for relations, and permits dad and mom to implement deadlines, and age-appropriate content material blocks.

The time restrict characteristic is beneficial, as you may schedule to the minute when folks can and may’t have entry to the Web. You can too reward children with further time on-line if you need. 

The content material blocking lists are much less helpful, as they’re classes comparable to ‘pornography’, ‘playing’, ‘media streaming’. Whereas that’s good, there’s no means so that you can tailor these lists. Everybody is aware of that block lists aren’t good, with innocent websites being blocked and at different occasions, dangerous stuff not being blocked. The lack to customize these, due to this fact, isn’t nice.

Fortunately, different choices are at your disposal. As a freebie, the parental controls aren’t unhealthy: they’re simply restricted. 

Thomas Newton / Foundry

The app additionally allows you to simply arrange a short lived Visitor WiFi community, so that you don’t have at hand out your most important password to guests each time. It’s an anticipated characteristic today, however useful nonetheless. There’s additionally a QoS (High quality of Service) instrument, which helps you to prioritise work site visitors, media streaming, gaming, and different issues, if it’s essential to. 

There may be additionally some integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants, probably the most helpful instructions are those the place you may ask Alexa or Google to allow Visitor Wi-Fi or powercycle the gadgets. Full lists of instructions will be discovered right here and right here. 

An fascinating characteristic added to the ZenWiFi XT9 is Asus Instantaneous Guard. This allows you to entry the web by way of your own home XT9 system while you’re out and about, providing an encrypted connection – identical to a VPN – when linked to a public WiFi hotspot. As a value-add, that’s fairly good. You’ll be able to select between OpenVPN, IPSec and WireGuard protocols. 

Whereas the cell app is straightforward to make use of and filled with options, if you need a greater have a look at the state of the community, you’ll want to move to asusrouter.com and use the desktop interface. It’s right here that you just’ll have the ability to do issues like examine to see which Wi-Fi channel the routers use because the default on every band, and alter it if you wish to. The mesh system ought to choose probably the most optimum channel robotically, but when you already know which you could get higher efficiency out of channel 100 than, say, channel 60, you may set it manually. 

Thomas Newton / Foundry

Efficiency

Wi-fi efficiency right here is corresponding to mesh Wi-Fi techniques such because the Netgear Orbi RBK762s and the (cheaper) Linksys Atlas 6. 

That is largely factor, because it means quick speeds for all your gadgets, and good protection inside most houses. However, just like the Orbi RBK762s which additionally comes with two nodes by default, you may want a 3rd node in case you dwell in a bigger than common house and need to get respectable Wi-Fi protection out within the backyard as effectively.

As you may see under, protection is sweet, however inferior to three-node techniques just like the Atlas 6. In our expertise, you all the time get higher protection with extra nodes, no matter which Wi-Fi customary they assist.

Thomas Newton / Foundry

As ordinary, I ran numerous pace assessments on a spread of gadgets to present you an thought of how older and newer tech ought to carry out when linked to a ZenWiFi XT9 two-node setup. Keep in mind that though the Pixel 6 has Wi-Fi 6E, the XT9 doesn’t, which means the telephone can’t talk utilizing its further 6GHz radio.

The primary take a look at (1m) is carried out in the identical room as the first ZenWiFi XT9 unit that’s linked to my Virgin Media Tremendous Hub 3 in modem mode, with the telephones held one metre away. The second take a look at takes locations behind a non load-bearing wall, 5m away.

The upstairs take a look at takes is held roughly 15 metres away and one ground up from the first router in an workplace backroom, the place the second ZenWiFi XT9 is ready up. The ultimate take a look at takes place exterior within the backyard, in a spot roughly 20 metres away from the lounge, and 5 metres away from the workplace. 

The outcomes under, recorded utilizing the Wi-Fi Pace Check Professional Android app, are averages rounded up:

For probably the most half, I used to be ready to connect with the 5GHz band (on Wi-Fi channel 60) virtually in all places within the house. 

Curiously, the one machine which wouldn’t all the time hop on the 5GHz band was the Pixel 6 – at any time when I used to be out within the backyard, roughly 20 metres away from the principle router, and ten metres away from the second router, I’d be moved between the two.4GHz band (channels 5 and eight) and the 5GHz band (Channel 60). Neither of the older gadgets had this drawback, therefore why the Pixel 6 speeds recorded within the desk above are decrease. 

Regardless of the specification of the 2 nodes being equivalent, I recorded slower speeds general within the workplace, despite the fact that the gadgets had been very near the second node. The Asus Router app stated that the connection between the 2 nodes was not significantly robust. This is smart, as there are load-bearing partitions, floorboards, and loo mirrors in between the 2 gadgets – plenty of beautiful RF-impeding objects. Nevertheless, there wasn’t the same drop in speeds when testing the Netgear RBK762s two-node system which was arrange in precisely the identical places. 

Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to join the 2 ZenWiFi XT9 items by way of Ethernet to see if efficiency improves utilizing this configuration. 

Getting the quickest speeds out of the ZenWiFi XT9 can also be contingent in your gadgets supporting 160MHz Wi-Fi channel bands. The Google Pixel 6 does, and certainly most new telephones and laptops hitting the cabinets this 12 months will. Because of this the outcomes above present sooner speeds for the Pixel 6 than the Realme X50, regardless of each supporting Wi-Fi 6. Particulars matter.

This isn’t the XT9’s fault, after all, however it’s a reminder that you just do want appropriate gadgets if you need the very best speeds.

Thomas Newton / Foundry

Value & availability

The Asus ZenWiFi XT9 is available for purchase instantly from Asus within the UK and the US. The system wasn’t out there in Australia on the time of overview. 

Within the UK, you purchase single ZenWiFi XT9 items in black or white for £234.99 every, or a two-pack (as reviewed right here) for £459.99. 

Amazon’s prices for single units had been the identical on the time of checking. Nevertheless, a two-pack XT9 from Amazon value £379.99 (black) and £379.99 (white). 

We discovered that Field has single pack and 2-pack white Asus ZenWiFi XT9’s priced at £239.99 and £453.49. You can too purchase them from Scan within the UK.

Within the US you should buy the ZenWiFi XT9 from Asus, with single items in black and white each costing $239.99. 

The 2-pack usually $449.99, however we noticed them discounted to $399.99 throughout testing.

You can too purchase single packs and two-packs from Amazon for US$239.99, and US$399.99. 

Elsewhere, Greatest Purchase has ZenWiFi XT9 2-packs in white for US$399.99, and Walmart has the identical however in black, additionally for US$399.99, each down from the same old worth of US$449.99.

Thomas Newton / Foundry

For alternate options, see our roundup of the very best mesh Wi-Fi techniques.

Verdict

The Asus ZenWiFi XT9 is a superb mesh system that’s filled with options, lots of which is able to enchantment to energy customers. However you don’t must be a networking geek: this is a wonderful selection for anybody wanting quick, dependable Wi-Fi even in bigger houses.

If you have already got an Asus router that helps AiMesh, you may pair it with the XT9 and improve your present system and get even greater protection.

There’s no escaping the actual fact the the XT9 is pricey, although, and doesn’t assist the newest Wi-Fi customary (Wi-Fi 6E) with its further 6GHz band. For that, you’d want the ZenWiFi ET12 which is even extra costly at round $860 / £800 for a two-pack. Even in case you don’t personal any Wi-Fi 6E gadgets but, you’ll sooner or later and mesh Wi-Fi techniques aren’t the kind of factor you change on a bi-annual foundation. 

Nevertheless, that stated, in case you merely need the quick speeds that the XT9 can ship on newer gadgets (bear in mind they should assist these 160MHz channels) then it’s nonetheless good worth.

Specs

• Dimensions: 160 x 750 x 161.5 mm 
• Weight: 740g
• 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) tri-band AX7800 (2.4GHz as much as 574 Mbps, 5GHz as much as 2402 Mbps, backhaul 5GHz as much as 4804 Mbps)
• MU-MIMO & OFDMA
• 1 x 2.5Gbps Ethernet WAN port
• 3 x gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
• Sort-A USB 3.2
• Distant management and administration by way of Asus Router app (iOS, Android)
• Visitor Wi-Fi
• Parental controls
• Wi-Fi administration
• IPv4, IPv6
• WPA/WPA2 hybrid
• WPA3