ASUS
ASUS RT-BE96U
Wi-Fi 7 BE19000 · Quad-band · 10 GbE
93
/ 100
From $699
VS
ASUS RT-BE96U wins by 5
TP-Link
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Wi-Fi 7 · Tri-band mesh · 10 GbE × 2
88
/ 100
From $1,099
Specdex verdict
ASUS RT-BE96U takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS RT-BE96U lands at 93 and TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) at 88. That puts ASUS RT-BE96U ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick ASUS RT-BE96U if…
- ✓Dual 10 GbE ports
- ✓AiMesh support
- ✓VPN Fusion
Pick TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) if…
- ✓Dual 10 GbE per node
- ✓Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
- ✓Excellent coverage
Score breakdown
ASUS RT-BE96U
93 throughput 94
range 92
features 96
value 84
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
88 throughput 92
range 90
features 90
value 86
Specs side-by-side
Spec
ASUS RT-BE96U
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Standard
Wi-Fi 7 (BE19000)
Wi-Fi 7 (BE22000)
Bands
Quad-band
Tri-band
Ports
2× 10 GbE + 4× 2.5 GbE
2× 10 GbE + 2× 2.5 GbE per node
Antennas
8 external
—
ASUS RT-BE96U
Pros
- +Dual 10 GbE ports
- +AiMesh support
- +VPN Fusion
Cons
- −Large
- −Pricey
- −Firmware learning curve
TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Pros
- +Dual 10 GbE per node
- +Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
- +Excellent coverage
Cons
- −HomeShield subscription
- −Slightly less range than eero
- −UI dated
FAQ: ASUS RT-BE96U vs TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)
Which is better, ASUS RT-BE96U or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack)? +
ASUS RT-BE96U scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is ASUS RT-BE96U worth the price? +
At $699, ASUS RT-BE96U delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in features.
Is TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) worth the price? +
At $1,099, TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in throughput.
Does ASUS RT-BE96U or TP-Link Deco BE85 (2-pack) 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.