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ASUS RT-AX86U Pro — Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700
ASUS

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Wi-Fi 6 · AX5700

88
/ 100
From $279
VS
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S wins by 1
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · 10 GbE WAN
NETGEAR

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · 10 GbE WAN

89
/ 100
From $699
Specdex verdict

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro lands at 88 and NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S at 89. That puts NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick ASUS RT-AX86U Pro if…

  • ✓Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • ✓App-driven setup
  • ✓Parental controls (brand-dependent)

Pick NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S if…

  • ✓True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
  • ✓10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
  • ✓Great range
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Throughput

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Compared on the throughput sub-score

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on throughput (92 vs 88).

Range

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Compared on the range sub-score

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on range (94 vs 86).

Features

Tie

Compared on the features sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro more score per dollar ($279 vs $699).

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro 88
vs
89 NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Score breakdown

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
88
throughput 88
range 86
features 86
value 82
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
89
throughput 92
range 94
features 86
value 80

Specs side-by-side

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro versus NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — full spec comparison
Spec ASUS RT-AX86U Pro NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000)
Throughput
AX5700
—
Bands
—
Tri-band
Ports
—
1× 10 GbE WAN + 1× 10 GbE LAN + 4× 2.5 GbE

ASUS RT-AX86U Pro

Pros
  • +Current-gen Wi-Fi
  • +App-driven setup
  • +Parental controls (brand-dependent)
Cons
  • −Advanced features sometimes subscription-gated
  • −Range varies
  • −Firmware stability improves over time

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Pros
  • +True Wi-Fi 7 BE19000
  • +10 GbE WAN + 10 GbE LAN
  • +Great range
Cons
  • −Armor subscription for advanced features
  • −Bulky
  • −Pricey vs ASUS/eero

FAQ: ASUS RT-AX86U Pro vs NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Which is better, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S scores 89 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is ASUS RT-AX86U Pro worth the price? +

At $279, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.

Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S worth the price? +

At $699, NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in range.

Does ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for throughput, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on throughput (92 vs 88). Compared on the throughput sub-score.

Which is better for range, ASUS RT-AX86U Pro or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on range (94 vs 86). Compared on the range sub-score.