The Asus RT-BE86U Wi-Fi 7 router, priced at $329, faces a tough competition in the competitive Wi-Fi 7 router market. Despite offering 10 Gbps for WAN and four 2.5 Gbps ports for LAN, and boasting class-leading 5 GHz performance, it falls short in 2.4 GHz performance and is priced three times higher than competitive dual-band Wi-Fi 7 routers.

The RT-BE86U features a modern design with three adjustable antennas, diagonal ventilation slots, and a variety of ports, including 1x 10Gbps for WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps for WAN/LAN, 3x 2.5Gbps for LAN, USB 3.2 Gen1 x1, and USB 2.0 Gen 1 x1.

Software features include Dual WAN, 4G/5G tethering, Adaptive QoS, AiMesh, a traffic analyzer, comprehensive parental controls, and AI Protection. However, its performance in 2.4 GHz is less impressive compared to its 5 GHz performance, and it competes with the TP-Link Archer BE3600, which is priced at $99.

While the RT-BE86U offers a range of features that make it an appealing option for some consumers, its high price may deter budget-conscious buyers who might consider alternatives like the TP-Link Archer BE800 for a better future-proofed home network.