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ASUS has cultivated a diverse ecosystem of gaming peripherals and hardware, ranging from budget-friendly keyboards and mice to high-end, large-format gaming monitors. Recently, they’ve expanded into the competitive gaming router market, pioneering the integration of Wi-Fi 6 technology into their flagship routers. While high-end Wi-Fi 6 routers like the Rapture GT-AC5300 and ASUS RT-AX88U have garnered attention, ASUS is now bringing Wi-Fi 6 to a more accessible price point with the RT-AX55. This router offers competitive performance, often rivaling more expensive Wi-Fi 5 gaming routers. This review provides a first look at the ASUS RT-AX55 and its capabilities.

ASUS RT-AX55 packaging showcasing key features like Wi-Fi 6 and AiMesh.

Unleashing the Power of Wi-Fi 6

As a mid-range router designed to democratize Wi-Fi 6, the ASUS RT-AX55 doesn’t boast the flashy aesthetics of higher-end gaming routers. The packaging is standard, with a black box featuring the product image and gold-accented logos highlighting key features like Wi-Fi 6, AiMesh, and lifetime security.

The back of the ASUS RT-AX55 box highlights its key technologies and features.

Notably, the PlayStation 5 support logo signifies the router’s compatibility with Sony’s latest console, which fully supports Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit LAN. This is a significant improvement for PlayStation consoles, which have historically struggled with inconsistent wireless connectivity.

The ASUS RT-AX55 features a clean white design with four antennas.

Design and Hardware

The RT-AX55 features a simple white plastic casing with a standard horizontal layout and four antennas at the back. Rubber feet on the underside prevent slippage, while mounting slots offer flexibility for wall placement. Included in the box are a standard RJ45 cable and an adapter with interchangeable plugs for various regions.

The back of the router showcases its ports and mounting slots.

Besides its robust wireless capabilities, the RT-AX55 also provides four Gigabit LAN ports for wired connections. However, it lacks the USB port found on higher-end models like the ASUS Wireless AC2900, which allows for network storage sharing.

The ASUS RT-AX55 comes with a power adapter and an Ethernet cable.

Setup is straightforward. After plugging in the power and Ethernet cable, a few simple configuration steps unlock wireless speeds of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1201Mbps on the 5GHz band for compatible devices.

OFDMA: Handling Multiple Devices with Ease

One of the RT-AX55’s most impressive features is OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) technology. This allows the router to handle multiple connected devices simultaneously without sacrificing speed or connection quality.

A close-up of the front of the ASUS RT-AX55 showing its status LEDs.

In today’s connected world, a single gamer might have numerous devices connected to their network, including consoles, handhelds, smartphones, smart TVs, and IoT devices. The RT-AX55’s ability to manage multiple connections is remarkable. Testing showed seamless connectivity with up to 20 devices without the performance bottlenecks often seen with traditional routers.

Range and Stability

With its four antennas, the RT-AX55 provides decent coverage and respectable wall penetration. Testing demonstrated consistent performance across different rooms, even with demanding online games like Battlefield V, which are highly sensitive to latency.

The ASUS RT-AX55 is designed to provide stable and reliable Wi-Fi coverage.

Even under heavy load, the router remained cool and stable, avoiding the intermittent connection issues that often plague budget routers.

The ASUS RT-AX55 aims to provide a smooth online gaming experience.

Conclusion

While comprehensive bandwidth and multi-device testing are still pending, the ASUS RT-AX55’s initial performance is impressive. It delivers a compelling combination of Wi-Fi 6 performance and affordability, making it a strong contender in its price range. It’s difficult to find another router offering comparable network performance at a similar price point, making the RT-AX55 a compelling option for gamers seeking an affordable upgrade to Wi-Fi 6.