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ASUS RT-BE86U — Wi-Fi 7 · 9.4 Gbps · Dual 2.5G WAN
ASUS

ASUS RT-BE86U

Wi-Fi 7 · 9.4 Gbps · Dual 2.5G WAN

88
/ 100
From $299
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-BE86U 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-BE86U if…

  • ✓Sub-$300 Wi-Fi 7 router
  • ✓Dual 2.5 GbE WAN with link aggregation
  • ✓AiMesh + AiProtection Pro

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

Range

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Compared on the range sub-score

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S leads on range (94 vs 88).

Throughput

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Compared on the throughput sub-score

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

Features

ASUS RT-BE86U

Compared on the features sub-score

ASUS RT-BE86U leads on features (90 vs 86).

Value for money

ASUS RT-BE86U

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

ASUS RT-BE86U more score per dollar ($299 vs $699).

ASUS RT-BE86U 88
vs
89 NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Score breakdown

ASUS RT-BE86U
88
throughput 88
range 88
features 90
ease 88
value 0
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
89
throughput 92
range 94
features 86
ease 0
value 80

Specs side-by-side

ASUS RT-BE86U versus NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — full spec comparison
Spec ASUS RT-BE86U NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Standard
Wi-Fi 7 tri-band 4x4
Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000)
Total bandwidth
9400 Mbps
—
WAN
2× 2.5 GbE
—
LAN
4× 1 GbE
—
USB
1× USB 3.2
—
Coverage
~3000 sq ft
—
Bands
—
Tri-band
Ports
—
1× 10 GbE WAN + 1× 10 GbE LAN + 4× 2.5 GbE

ASUS RT-BE86U

Pros
  • +Sub-$300 Wi-Fi 7 router
  • +Dual 2.5 GbE WAN with link aggregation
  • +AiMesh + AiProtection Pro
Cons
  • −Tri-band only (no 6 GHz dedicated)
  • −No 10G WAN
  • −Plastic chassis

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-BE86U vs NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S

Which is better, ASUS RT-BE86U 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-BE86U worth the price? +

At $299, ASUS RT-BE86U delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in features.

Is NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S worth the price? +

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

Does ASUS RT-BE86U 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 range, ASUS RT-BE86U or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S — leads on range (94 vs 88). Compared on the range sub-score.

Which is better for throughput, ASUS RT-BE86U or NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S? +

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