ASUS

ASUS RT-BE96U

A solid mid-range wi-fi router for homes that need reliable coverage, leading with Wi-Fi 7.

64/100
Solid pick
Overall score · how we rate
Wi-Fi 719000 Mbpstri-bandBE
£547best price at Amazon
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Why we rate it

  • Tri-band
  • Mesh capable
  • Above-average max throughput
  • Above-average max channel width
  • Below-average lan ports
Score profile

Where the ASUS RT-BE96U wins and loses

Scored against the wi-fi routers class
Wi-FiEthernetCoverage756286
Wi-Fi
75
Ethernet and ports
62
Coverage
86
Full specification

Specifications

Grouped · supported features marked in blue

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 7
Class (AX, BE)BE
Max throughput19000
Bandstri-band
Tri-bandYes
6 GHz speedtrue
Max channel width320 MHz

Ethernet and ports

LAN ports2
WAN ports1
Max port speed10
10 GbE ports2

Coverage

Mesh capableYes

Watch it in action

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Head to head

ASUS RT-BE96U vs ASUS ASUS ZenWiFi BT10

Highlighted cell = better in that row
Wi-FiEthernetCoverage
ASUS RT-BE96UASUS ZenWiFi BT10
 ASUSASUS RT-BE96UThis pageASUSASUS ZenWiFi BT10
Overall score64 /100Better63 /100
WIFI standardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7
Max throughput mbps19000
Bandstri-bandtri-band
Max port speed gbps1010
Coverage m23000
Who it's for

Is the ASUS RT-BE96U right for you?

Buy it if
Buyers on a budget

Anyone who needs a dependable wi-fi router for the essentials without overspending.

Skip it if
Skip it if

You need the widest coverage and fastest speeds, in which case a higher-tier wi-fi router is the better call.

Large-home power user
Many devices, big floorplan, wants no dead spots.
good
Typical household
Streaming, calls and browsing across a few rooms.
good
Budget buyer
Wants a dependable upgrade for less.
okay
Common questions

Before you buy

Is the ASUS RT-BE96U worth it?

It depends on what you need. It scores 64/100 against other wi-fi routers, a solid mid-range result where the class average is around 53.

What stands out on the ASUS RT-BE96U?

Its tri-band stands out, a genuinely useful feature if your setup calls for it.

How does it compare to the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series WiFi 7?

The NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series WiFi 7 scores 66/100 versus this one at 64/100, so it is the step up on the spec sheet.