Asus RT-AX53U Wi-Fi Router Review

Introduction

Whether you’re a gamer seeking lag-free multiplayer battles or a streamer craving uninterrupted HD content, the ASUS RT-AX53U Wi-Fi Router is poised to elevate your home network experience to new heights. With its user-friendly setup, advanced security features, and affordable price, the RT AX53U Wi-Fi Router emerges as a standout performer in its class, offering exceptional value for money. Whether you’re a demanding gamer, a passionate streamer, or a busy household with multiple devices, the Asus AX53U is the perfect upgrade to elevate your home network to new heights.

ASUS RT-AX53U: Sleek Design Meets Powerful Performance

The ASUS RT-AX53U Wi-Fi Router exudes a sleek and understated design, blending seamlessly into any home décor. Its compact dimensions of 23x23x56 mm make it a space-saver, while its minimalist aesthetic complements modern interiors. The router’s four non-removable antennas, though not detachable, exude a stylish aesthetic and effectively boost Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home.

• On the back panel, you’ll find a comprehensive range of ports, including three 1Gbps LAN ports for wired connectivity, one 1Gbps WAN port for internet access, and a USB 2.0 port to expand your network’s functionality. Additional features like the WPS button, DC jack, power switch, and reset button provide convenient control over the router’s settings.
• The front panel of the ASUS RT AX53U Wi-Fi Router is adorned with LED indicators that provide clear visual feedback on the router’s status. These LEDs indicate the router’s power, WAN connection, LAN connections, Wi-Fi bands, and USB activity. This intuitive visual interface makes it easy to monitor the router’s performance and troubleshoot any potential issues.
• Under the hood, the ASUS AX53U packs a powerful 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and 256MB of RAM to handle even the most demanding tasks. This combination ensures smooth and responsive performance, even when juggling multiple devices and data-intensive applications.The router’s theoretical speed of up to 1200 Mbps on the 5GHz band for activities like gaming or streaming HD video and 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band For general internet browsing and basic tasks.

Unleash Wireless Freedom with 3G/4G Tethering in the ASUS RT AX53U

In addition to its impressive 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi capabilities, the ASUS RT-AX53U Wi-Fi Router also offers the ability to share the internet from a 3G/4G dongle. This makes it an ideal choice for users who live in areas with limited or unreliable wired internet access.

To use the this tethering feature, simply connect a compatible 3G/4G dongle to the router’s USB port. Once the dongle is connected, the router will automatically detect it and configure it for use. You can then access the internet wirelessly from any device connected to the router’s Wi-Fi network. The Asus AX53U supports a wide range of dongles, including those from major manufacturers such as Huawei, ZTE, and Netgear. For a list of compatible dongles, please refer to the router’s manual or ASUS’s website.

Enhancing Security with ASUS RT-AX53U

ASUS RT-AX53U’s AiProtection(Powered by Trend Micro) provides two powerful security features: Malicious Site Blocking and Infected Device Prevention and Blocking. These features work together to safeguard your home network from cyber threats and keep your devices safe.

• Malicious Site Blocking

Malicious Site Blocking protects your devices from visiting websites that are known to be malicious or contain malware. When you try to visit a blocked website, you will be redirected to a safe page informing you that the site has been blocked. This helps to prevent you from inadvertently downloading malware or exposing your devices to other online threats.

• Infected Device Prevention and Blocking

Infected Device Prevention and Blocking helps to keep your devices safe from infected devices on your home network. When an infected device attempts to connect to your network, the router will block it and notify you. This helps to prevent the spread of malware and other threats throughout your network.

My Security Test Experience

I tested AiProtection’s malicious site blocking feature by visiting a number of known malicious websites. The router successfully blocked all of the websites, preventing me from accessing them. I also tested AiProtection’s infected device prevention and blocking feature by connecting an infected device to my network. The router immediately detected the infection and quarantined the device, preventing it from spreading malware to other devices on my network.

Asus AX53U: A Comprehensive Test Experience

To gauge its real-world performance, I embarked on a comprehensive coverage test, utilizing an iPhone 12 as my testing device, which has a maximum speed of 110 Mbps (155Mbps Theoretical) on the 2.4 GHz band and 710 Mbps (899Mbps Theoretical) on the 5 GHz band. The test parameters included speed, signal strength, and overall user experience across five distinct locations in my home. All tests were conducted using the Speedtest.net website to measure download speed and the WiFi Analyzer app  to measure signal strength (RSSI).

Methodology:

1. Near the router: This was just a few feet away from the router.
2. Kitchen: This was about 30 feet from the router, through a wall and a door.
3. Bedroom: This was about 50 feet from the router, through two walls and a door.
4. Yard: This was about 100 feet from the router, outdoors.
5. Upstairs: This was about 75 feet from the router, upstairs.

Near The Router

Nestled just 15 feet from the router, I conducted the first test. With a consistent speed of 510Mbps on the 5GHz band and 102Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, the signal strength for both bands registered an impressive -44 dBm, indicating a strong and stable connection. I was able to stream 4K video, download large files, and play online games without any lag.

Kitchen

The router’s performance remained consistent even at a distance of 30 feet from the Asus RT AX53U, maintaining speeds of over 380 Mbps on the 5GHz band and over 70 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The RSSI values for both bands were strong, hovering around -55 for 5 GHz band and -51 for 2.4 GHz band. I was able to continue streaming 4K video and downloading large files without any noticeable slowdown.

Bedroom:

Entering my bedroom, which is approximately 50 feet away from the router, I observed a slight decrease in speeds. However, I was still able to achieve speeds of over 210 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 50 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. The RSSI values were around -67 for the 5GHz band and -53 for the 2.4GHz band, both indicating a good signal. This allowed me to stream HD videos and browse the web without encountering significant issues.

Upstairs

Moving upstairs, I tested the router from a distance of 75 feet. The ASUS  AX53U’s performance exhibited a slight decline, offering speeds of approximately 160Mbps on the 5GHz band and 32 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. The RSSI values remained acceptable, hovering around -66 for the 5GHz band and -60 for the 2.4GHz band. I still managed to stream videos and browse the web without experiencing significant slowdowns.

Yard

Venturing into the backyard, which is approximately 100 feet from the router, I observed a further reduction in speeds. However, the Asus RT AX53U still held its ground, delivering speeds of approximately 95 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 25 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. The RSSI values dipped slightly, registering -68 for the 5GHz band and -64 for the 2.4GHz band. Nevertheless, I was still able to engage in online activities without encountering significant disruptions.

Asus RT-AX53U-Speed Test- 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands

Linear diagram of signal change with increasing distance and obstacles in Asus RT AX53U

ASUS RT AX53U: A Pricey Router That Delivers Value

Considering its robust performance, modern design, and advanced features, the Asus RT-AX53U offers great value for its price. While it is not the cheapest router in the market, its performance and reliability make it a worthwhile investment for households needing a powerful and future-proof Wi-Fi solution.

Conclusion

The Asus RT-AX53U Wi-Fi Router is an excellent choice for those seeking robust and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity for their home or small business. If you’re in the market for a high-performing router with a reasonable price that caters to the demands of the modern digital age, then this should be at the top of your list.

Different tests were performed by WiFiAdviser technical team on RT AX53U. Which included speed test, coverage test, compatibilities connectivity tests and finally some security tests. In the end, we gave this router a score of 7 out of 10, which is a great score for a wifi 6 router.