Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: One-minute overview
Asus makes use of its Republic Of Avid gamers model (RoG) for its most high-end gaming gear, and also you don’t get rather more high-end than the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000 router. Whereas most of us are nonetheless questioning whether or not or to not improve to a brand new router with Wi-Fi 6, this flagship mannequin within the Rapture vary was one of many first to convey the even newer Wi-Fi 6E know-how to gaming routers.
Wi-Fi 6E provides one other frequency band to the router’s wi-fi networking, permitting the tri-band Rapture to transmit on the brand new 6.0GHz band, together with the extra conventional 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands utilized by Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. That enables the Rapture to supply a prime velocity of 11Gbps, making it one of many quickest Wi-Fi routers we’ve ever seen.
It additionally supplies a variety of extra options designed to boost gaming efficiency – together with, in fact, the compulsory flashing lights that serve no objective aside from telling everybody that you simply’re a significantly severe gamer.
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: Value and availability
- How a lot does it value? $549.99 / £479.99
- The place is it out there? Out there now
- The place are you able to get it? Out there within the US and the UK
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: SPECS
Wi-Fi: tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (2.4GHz/5.0GHz/6.0GHz)
Velocity: 11.0Gbps
Connectivity: 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x Gigabit Ethernet (WAN), 4x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 2x USB 3.2
Processor: 1.8GHz quad-core
Reminiscence: 1GB
Storage: 256GB Flash
Dimensions (with antennae): 175 x 300 x 300mm
State-of-art Wi-Fi doesn’t come low-cost, and the Rapture’s tri-band Wi-Fi 6E know-how weighs in at a hefty $549.99 for US prospects, and £479.99 within the UK. There’s not a lot to check it with although, as Wi-Fi 6E routers are nonetheless pretty uncommon – and particularly so for high-end gaming routers comparable to this. Nevertheless, even mid-range gaming routers with current-generation Wi-Fi 6 know-how, comparable to Netgear’s XR1000, nonetheless value near $360/£350.
The Rapture isn’t at present out there in Australia, although, which nonetheless has to make do with the sooner Wi-Fi 6 mannequin, at round AU$800
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: Design and options
- Gigabit and a couple of.5 Gigabit Ethernet connections
- Helpful gaming options
- Good parental controls
There’s nothing refined in regards to the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000 – in reality, its chunky black design and array of eight bladed antennae make it appear to be one thing Darth Vader would fly round in (though even Darth V. would in all probability suppose twice in regards to the pulsing, throbbing and twinkling gentle schemes that you would be able to show on the router’s prime panel).
The Rapture additionally boasts some spectacular connectivity options, along with its Wi-Fi 6E know-how. Tucked across the again of the router you’ll discover a typical Gigabit Ethernet WAN port for connecting to your present broadband router or modem, together with 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports to offer wired connections for you computer systems and different units.
Nevertheless, there’s additionally a high-speed Ethernet port that helps speeds of as much as 2.5Gbps, and can be utilized as both a WAN port on your Web connection or a LAN port to offer a super-fast wired connection on your gaming rig. And whereas some routers present a USB port for a community drive, the Rapture throws in two USB 3.2 ports so that you’ve got each community storage and a community printer too.
Like different Asus routers, the Rapture means that you can scan a QR code with the intention to rapidly hook up with the router’s new community. Nevertheless, the Rapture is so awash with options that the interface of Asus’ Router app doesn’t match correctly onto the comparatively small display of my iPhone and I discover that I’ve to change to my bigger iPad with the intention to full the set-up course of. The state-of-the-art Wi-Fi 6E makes issues a bit extra sophisticated too, because the Router app creates three separate networks by default – on the two.4GHz, 5.0 and 6.0GHz bands – and the one different possibility (which I couldn’t see clearly on my iPhone) is to merge the two.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands collectively, leaving the 6.0GHz band as a second community by itself.
Fortunately, issues are a bit of extra simple after that preliminary hiccup, and I’m in a position to full the set-up on my iPhone once more. As you’d anticipate with a gaming router, the app supplies a quality-of-service (QoS) choice to prioritise gaming efficiency, however the Rapture additionally features a easy ‘Enhance’ button on its entrance panel that performs an identical perform with out having to make use of the app.
Different options included within the Router app embody some good parental controls, with filters to dam grownup content material and different forms of unsuitable materials. There’s additionally an ‘aura’ function that permits you to management the colored lights that flash on the highest panel of the router. If that’s not sufficient, then the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000 additionally supplies an extremely dense internet browser interface – together with a 140-page PDF handbook – that can help you tweak nearly each community setting you may consider.
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: Efficiency
- Prime-of-the-range Wi-Fi velocity
- Good vary and reliability
- 6.0GHz band supplies future-proofing
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: Benchmarks
Ookla Velocity Check – 2.4GHz
Inside 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
Inside 30ft, three partition partitions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
20GB Steam Obtain – 2.4GHz
Inside 5ft, no obstructions: 12.5MB/s
Inside 30ft, three partition partitions: 12.5MB/s
Ookla Velocity Check – 5.0GHz
Inside 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
Inside 30ft, three partition partitions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
20GB Steam Obtain – 5.0GHz
Inside 5ft, no obstructions: 12.5MB/s
Inside 30ft, three partition partitions: 12.5MB/s
With a velocity of 11Gbps the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000’s efficiency isn’t actually unsure, and when used with units close by in the identical room it merely shrugged and hit the utmost speeds that our broadband service can present, with 100Mbps on the Ookla velocity take a look at and 12.5MB/s for Steam downloads. It hit these speeds on each the two.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, however none of our workplace computer systems or cellular units at present assist
Nevertheless, we do have an workplace in the back of the constructing the place the Wi-Fi sign from our regular broadband router is weak and unreliable, forcing us to depend on PowerLine adaptors to offer a wired connection as an alternative. The Rapture wasn’t phased by this problem all, although, and its intimidating blade-antennae merely zapped their Wi-Fi sign straight by the partitions with the intention to attain my workplace iMac, which once more recorded the utmost speeds of 100Mbps for Ookla and 12.5MB/s for Steam.
The one caveat right here is that none of our workplace computer systems or cellular units at present assist Wi-Fi 6E, so we’re not in a position to totally take a look at the Rapture’s extra 6.0GHz band. There’s actually a query mark over whether or not it’s price spending extra cash on a high-end router that gives Wi-Fi 6E efficiency, when so few units at present assist it.
However, with new units, such because the iPhone 14 anticipated to undertake Wi-Fi 6E in only a few weeks from now, the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000 will probably be a great way of future-proofing your gaming set-up for years to return.
Ought to I purchase the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally contemplate
Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000: Report card
| Worth | Wildly costly, and whole overkill for many house customers who might not even have the ability to use Wi-Fi 6E but. | 3 / 5 |
| Design | It has flashing lights and gaming gimmicks galore, however the Rapture additionally supplies good parental controls and different options. | 5 / 5 |
| Efficiency | State-of-the-art and top-of-the-range, the Rapture’s Wi-Fi 6E efficiency will assist hardcore avid gamers for years to return. | 5 / 5 |
| Complete | An costly Wi-Fi 6E router just like the Rapture will probably be huge overkill for many customers, but it surely could possibly be a worthwhile funding for anybody that’s severe about on-line gaming. | 4 / 5 |
- First reviewed December 2022
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