ASUS’ first WIFI 8 Router, the ROG Rapture GT-BN98, is now available to pre-order
ASUS’ ROG Rapture GT-BN98 is now available to pre-order
ASUS has just opened up UK pre-orders for its ROG Rapture GT-BN98 router, the company’s first WIFI 8 gaming router. This is a quad-band router with eight antennas, one 2.4 GHz band, two 5 GHz bands, and one 6GHz band. In total, this router can deliver quad-band throughput of 25,000 Mbps, which is an insane amount of network traffic.
With WIFI 8, this router focuses on connection stability and consistent performance. With AI game boost, ASUS promises its users up to 34% lower latencies with intelligent end-to-end connection routing. The router also features an aluminium top plate that is 30% thicker than this router’s predecessor, along with an “enhanced nanocarbon layer and elevated stand design” to improve cooling performance. Together, these design features make this router up to 35% cooler than ASUS’ ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000.
The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 features two 10Gb Ethernet ports, four 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, and one 1Gb Ethernet port. One 10Gb and one 2.5 Gb Ethernet port can act as either a WAN or LAN port. Multi-WAN inputs are possible with this router, as is up to 20Gb link aggregation over two 10Gb Ethernet ports. Users of this router can also set up dedicated IoT networks, connect to various VPN services, and create dedicated kids WIFI networks.
Why WIFI 8 is different
WIFI 8 isn’t like prior WIFI standards. WIFI 6, WIFI 6E, and WIFI 7 all focused on speed. With WIFI 8, the focus shifts to range and reliability. With this new standard comes the promise of more stable connections. Furthermore, it promises smoother roaming and improved speeds at range.
If you weren’t impressed by what the last few WIFI standards delivered, perhaps WIFI 8 is what you are looking for. More stable performance at increased ranges.
Wi-Fi 8 includes technologies like Distributed Resource Units (DRUs) and Enhanced Long Range (ELR) to improve performance. Other additions, such as Unequal Modulation (UEQM), aim to ensure that multiple devices can achieve optimal connections, preventing one data stream from slowing another. New multi-access point coordination will also allow numerous mesh nodes and repeaters to work together. This reduces interference, preventing two nodes from competing when their signals overlap.
There’s more to the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 than WIFI 8
At £789.99, ASUS’ ROG Rapture GT-BN98 is an expensive router. That said, with multiple 10Gb Ethernet ports, support for up to five SSIDs, and a quad-band wireless bandwidth of up to 25,000 Mbps, this is a high-end router.
While this router is overkill for many users, it is a forward-looking device that delivers WIFI 8 support before the standard is officially ratified. WIFI 8 is due to be ratified in 2028, and ASUS says that the UK ETA for this router is “Early October”. While this router predates the finalised WIFI 8 standard, it meets the standard’s draft specifications and should support the finalised standard. If not, official WIFI 8 support will be only a firmware update away. In a sense, this is early-access hardware for WIFI 8, but that early access means you can access the standard’s benefits early.
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