Asus ZenWiFi BT10: Two-minute evaluation
Again within the olden days of Wi-Fi 5, it was Asus’ ZenWiFi ‘mega mesh’ wi-fi routers that led the world. Whereas common mesh techniques merely dribbled efficiency throughout quite a few community nodes (like many nonetheless do), the ZenWiFi nodes innovatively used secondary 5GHz channels (plus, the nascent 6GHz channel) as quick backhaul to take care of peak efficiency at a distance. These days, such benefits are constructed into the Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 requirements, so the place does that go away a Wi-Fi 7 model within the type of the ZenWiFi BT10? Let’s discover out.
The 2 smart-looking nodes appear similar, however be aware the discreet sticker denoting one because the grasp. Failing to note this may increasingly result in hair being torn out, swearing for half an hour, decrying the powers that be and questioning why the dang factor received’t join while you’ve clearly carried out the whole lot proper, repeatedly checked the password and #$@&%! drat. In any other case, the setup course of is easy through the cellphone app.
The app offers the same old monitoring and administration settings on the primary display screen, and instantly asks if you wish to reset the default password and arrange a separate IoT community. You’ll be able to assign units to individuals, restrict bandwidth, block them or assign them QoS optimizations for gaming, streaming or WFH. An ‘Perception’ tab offers strategies for safety and optimization. The Household tab allows you to set content material filtering and on/off schedules (and, not like some rivals, these settings are free).
Different options embrace Asus’ (Pattern Micro-powered) AiProtection, which scans and protects your community in addition to all of the units on it. The same old networking instruments can be found, together with Google Assistant voice management. In the end, it’s well-featured and really intuitive. My most important concern is that the QoS controls have a function that tracks the web sites utilized by everybody on the community. That raises some severe privateness points.
Wired connections are the identical on each nodes: there’s Gigabit WAN/LAN, 10G Ethernet WAN/LAN, and 10G Ethernet LAN. All of the ports are shade coded however that might be complicated to some customers. There’s additionally a USB 3.0 port, which can be utilized for file sharing and media serving.
So how does it carry out? On paper, the ZenWiFi BT10 is a tri-band router with 18,000 Mbps value of throughput. Observe, you may select to order the 6GHz channel for backhaul, however leaving it at ‘Auto’ noticed higher outcomes. I examined it by downloading video information from a Synology NAS to an HP OmniBook Extremely Flip 14 at shut vary, two rooms away (by the second node, on the entrance of the home) and 15 meters away within the again backyard. It scored 1,661 Mbps, 614 Mbps and 370 Mbps, respectively, which is a wonderful consequence.
All in all, the Asus ZenWiFi BT10 is a really interesting package deal that appears good, affords heaps of intuitive and helpful options, plus quick efficiency in addition. Then there’s the value… Two nodes price an eye-watering $900 / £779 / AU$2,799. Nonetheless, in case you want high-end performance and velocity, it’s onerous to beat.
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 evaluation: Value and availability
- How a lot does it price? $900 / £779 / AU$2,799
- When is it accessible? Now
- The place are you able to get it? Obtainable within the US, UK, and Australia
Asus has a plethora of Wi-Fi 7 routers, however (like different distributors) it’s pushing the costly premium fashions out first. I noticed a lot of its finances Wi-Fi 7 routers on the Computex 2024 commerce present and people will provide related options at decrease price, however there’s no signal of them showing in most markets, a minimum of not on the time of publication.
Till then, we’re caught with inflated worth tags. It prices $900 within the US, £779 within the UK and AU$2,799 in Australia. For some purpose, Aussies appear to be getting significantly onerous carried out by on this case. Most areas promote single nodes, however just a few, it appears, promote the three-node equipment.
A tempting different is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98. Whereas it’s not a mesh system, the highly effective gaming behemoth can single-handedly rival the speeds, efficiency and options of the BT10, however at a less expensive worth. As with most present Asus routers, older fashions or low cost ones can be utilized as nodes due to Asus’ AiMesh expertise – a doubtlessly inexpensive means of increasing the community into lifeless zones. Nevertheless, it’s fairly a confronting gadget and never everybody will need what seems like a large robotic spider of their residence.
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 evaluation: Specs
| Wi-fi Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), tri-band 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz |
| Processor: | Quad-core 2 GHz |
| Reminiscence: | 2GB |
| Storage: | 256MB Flash |
| Beamforming: | Built-in into Wi-Fi 7 |
| Ports: | 1 x Gigabit Ethernet W/LAN, 1 x 10G Ethernet W/LAN, 1 x 10G Ethernet LAN, USB 3.0 |
| Dimensions (HxWxD): | 159 x 186 x 72mm |
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 evaluation: Design
- Glossy sufficient for a classy residence
- Easy to arrange
- App (and web-based firmware) are responsive, highly effective and intuitive
The bodily design of the ZenWiFi BT10 shouldn’t be removed from its predecessor, the ZenWiFi AX XT8. The grilles on the sides are extra refined, however each will fortunately match into a classy residence or workplace higher than most available on the market.
Setting it up is easy, due to the mature, intuitive and well-featured app. Simply be aware that, regardless of the similarities, there’s a sticker on the first node and it’s worthwhile to connect with that, as utilizing the secondary node received’t work.
Whereas there are lots of options accessible inside the app, Asus has these and lots of extra superior choices accessible through an internet browser, and each interfaces are intuitive and responsive to make use of.
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 evaluation: Options
- Safety and Parental controls are included (with out subscription)
- Has virtually each client networking function underneath the solar
- 10G Ethernet LAN and WAN ports
The Asus router app has been round for a while now and it’s properly laid out, intuitive and packed filled with options. The opening display screen shows a wi-fi community map and offers a button to manually run a wireless-optimization cycle. There’s a real-time site visitors monitor, CPU and RAM monitor, and an at-a-glance show of what kind of units are linked wirelessly and through cables.
The second tab breaks down which units are linked together with their IP addresses and the sources they’re utilizing. You’ll be able to simply block them or assign them to members of the family to offer parental controls. There’s additionally the power to configure Asus’ AiMesh function which helps you to do issues like flip the LEDs off, prioritize the 6GHz channel for backhaul or shopper connection, and see particulars just like the IP handle, MAC handle and firmware model. The Perception tab affords good suggestions relating to utilizing safe connections, intrusion prevention and organising household teams.
The built-in community safety known as Asus AiProtection and it’s powered by Pattern Micro. Along with offering community safety assessments, it affords malicious website blocking, two-way intrusion prevention and contaminated gadget isolation. It additionally powers the parental controls and (mercifully) doesn’t require a separate premium subscription – not like different rivals.
The Household tab permits you to add individuals and their units to customizable and preset teams. This may present net filtering that’s appropriate for various kids’s age teams (plus adults), organising each on-line and offline schedules for every day of the week. Once more, I’m more than happy to see Asus present these options with out asking for a subscription charge.
The ultimate tab affords entry to different commonplace router options, together with QoS and VPN. Whereas the evaluation options that include this are helpful, I’m involved concerning the web site historical past logging, which permits individuals to spy on the net exercise of everybody on the community. You may as well arrange a USB port as a SAMBA media server or FTP file server, and there’s the power so as to add Alexa and Google Assistant integration.
Accessing the firmware through an internet browser offers entry to the entire above together with capabilities like including Twin WAN, 3G / 4G LTE USB WAN, Port Forwarding, Port Triggering, DMZ, DDNS, IPTV, computerized BitTorrent downloading, VPN administration; Apple Time Machine compatibility, Shared Folder Privileges, amongst different high-level, network-admin options. Simply be aware that many of those can be found on Asus’ lesser routers, so don’t splash out on an costly mannequin simply because one catches your eye.
Bodily, every node has Gigabit WAN, 10G Ethernet LAN, and 10G Ethernet WAN/LAN community ports, plus a USB-A 3.0 connection. It’s additionally value mentioning Asus’ AiMesh function which may use most present (and lots of older), low cost and premium Asus routers as nodes to additional lengthen a community.
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 evaluation: Efficiency
- Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 for blistering real-world velocity
- The most effective performers at lengthy vary
- 10G Ethernet for quick wired connections
Asus ZenWiFi BT10 benchmarks
Shut vary: 1,661 Mbps
Medium vary: 614 Mbps
Lengthy vary: 370 Mbps
The tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz) router guarantees 18,000 Mbps of theoretical efficiency, however that solely exists in lab circumstances and definitely can’t be achieved in the true world the place each community’s state of affairs shall be completely different. It’s potential to order the 6GHz channel for backhaul solely, however leaving it set to ‘Auto’ noticed higher outcomes.
I ran my assessments, which included downloading massive video information from a Synology NAS (with a wired, 10G Ethernet port) linked to the router, to a Wi-Fi 7-equipped HP OmniBook Extremely Flip 14 laptop computer at three completely different ranges.
Up shut, it managed 1,661 Mbps, which I’ve solely seen overwhelmed by Netgear’s Nighthawk 7 RS700S Wi-Fi router. Two rooms away, on the entrance of my single-story residence (by the second node), it managed 614 Mbps. Whereas that’s a big drop, it’s nonetheless spectacular, though different premium routers and mesh techniques is usually a bit quicker. Extra impressively, the BT10 managed 370 Mbps, 15 meters away, outdoors the house within the backyard. Solely top-tier three-node mesh techniques have rivaled that (and never all do).
Briefly, it’s very quick certainly, and I fortunately edited 4K video on my laptop computer from throughout the community with no points in any respect.
Do you have to purchase the Asus ZenWiFi BT10?
| Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | It’s very costly in most markets, however much more so in Australia. You will get related efficiency and options elsewhere, however not in such a refined package deal. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | The ZenWiFi BT10 Mesh nodes are small and engaging, which may’t be stated for a lot of premium routers available on the market. The stacked app and browser-based settings are impressively intuitive and responsive. | 5 / 5 |
| Options | If there’s a client Wi-Fi function that you can imagine, the ZenWiFi BT10 possible has it. This consists of subscription-free safety and parental controls. | 5 / 5 |
| Efficiency | The ZenWiFi BT10 is likely one of the quickest routers for each up-close and long-distance efficiency. It additionally has 10G Ethernet LAN and WAN connectors and a USB 3.0 port. | 5 / 5 |
| Last Rating | If you would like a nice-looking, high-performing, feature-packed Wi-Fi 7 mesh equipment, the ZenWiFi BT10 has all of it. Nevertheless, it can price you… particularly in case you reside in Australia. | 5 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account
In case you’re undecided about investing within the Asus ZenWiFi BT10 router, I’ve in contrast its specs with three options that may go well with you higher.
| Asus ZenWiFi BT10 | Netgear Nighthawk RS700S | Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 | Hyperlink Deco BE63 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value (as reviewed) | $900/£779/AU$2,799 | $700/£800/AU$1,499 | $750/£700/AU$1,499 | $799.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,099 |
| Wi-Fi | Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 | Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 | Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 | Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi Pace | 18 Gbps | 19 Gbps | 24.4 Gbps | 10Gbps / 9.2Gbps |
| Connectivity | 1x 10G Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10G Ethernet (LAN), 1Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0) | 1x 10G Ethernet (WAN), 1x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 4x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0) | 1x 10G Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10G Ethernet (LAN), 3x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 1x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.2), 1x USB-A (2) | 4x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x USB (3.0) |
| Processor | Quad-core 2.0 GHz | Quad-core 2.6 GHz | Quad-core 2.6 GHz | Quad-core 1.5 GHz |
| Reminiscence | 2GB RAM | 2GB RAM | 2GB DDR4 RAM | 1GB RAM |
| Storage | 512MB Flash | 512MB Flash | 256MB Flash | 128MB Flash |
| Dimensions | 159 x 186 x 72mm | 282 x 124 x 142mm | 350 x 350 x 221mm | 176 x 107.5 x 107.5mm |
How I examined the Asus ZenWiFi BT10
- I examined it in typical residence use
- I examined it at brief, medium and lengthy vary
- I examined each the wired and wi-fi connections
We satisfaction ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing course of, providing up long-term consideration to the merchandise we evaluation and ensuring our critiques are up to date and maintained – no matter when a tool was launched, in case you can nonetheless purchase it, it is on our radar.
- First reviewed in February 2025