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Asus RT AC86R Wireless Router Review - [Pros & Cons 2025]

Asus RT AC86R Review: Just The One For The Speed Demon In YouHave you always longed for super-fast Wi-Fi at home just like the one you have at work? Then it is...

By Editorial Team Last updated: Sep 18, 2025

Asus RT AC86R Review: Just The One For The Speed Demon In You

Have you always longed for super-fast Wi-Fi at home just like the one you have at work? Then it is time to buy yourself a speed demon from the world of super-fast routers. The Asus RT-AC68R is one such router that comes at an affordable price to give more expensive routers a run for their money. Cheap routers are aplenty in the market and they are definitely not worth the frustration or the money for that matter even if it seems like a bargain at first. Save yourself a lot of trouble and time by reading our review of the Asus RT-AC68R below.

Asus RT AC86R Specs and Features

Dual band router with a total speed capacity of up to 1900 Mbps
Enhanced wireless data transfer and speed with Broadcom TurboQAM technology
Fast wireless and wired connections due to Dual-core processor
Two 3.0 USB ports for faster data transfer than USB 2.0
Five Ethernet ports for wired connectivity
AiCloud for easy multimedia sharing no matter where you are

Is The Asus RT-AC68R The Best Wireless Router?

Why would you want to have a separate modem and a router when you can have both in one? The Asus RT-AC68R saves your power by integrating these two devices into one. So whether you want to enjoy wired connectivity or use multiple devices over a wireless network, you can do it all with ease. What's more? You can monitor and control everything that is going on using the extremely friend graphic user interface of Asus. Below we tease the features of the RT-AC68R in great detail so that you can decide if it is the right one for your requirements.

Dual-band

You will never have to worry about a drop in speed because another device was gobbling up all the bandwidth. The RT-AC68R comes with dual-bands to satisfy the bandwidth requirement of all your devices or tasks. There is the powerful 5GHz band with a speed of 1300 Mbps for gaming or video streaming while the 2.4 GHz band with a speed of 600 Mbps is ideal for tasks like e-mail, surfing the internet etc. Both the bands together give you a total speed of up to 1900 Mbps for an unbelievably fast Wi-Fi experience.

Processor

Not only does the RT-AC68R has two bands, the power of two is used in its processor too. The RT-AC68R is so powerful owing to its powerful dual-core processor. So you get twice the performance whether you use a wired connection or a wireless one. You can streaming HD videos, play games and transfer files all you want but without experiencing any latency. No matter how busy your network is you will never feel any drop in speed or performance.

USB

The power of two doesn't stop with just the processor and the bands, even the USB comes as a pair. There are two USB 3.0 ports which are much faster than USB 2.0 ports; 10 times faster to be precise. So whether it is your multimedia or 3G or 4G or other files that you want to share, you will be able to do them at nothing less than lighting speeds. Unlike other routers where you will find the USB ports crowded together, the USB ports on the RT-AC68R are far from each other. There is one port on the side of the router and another on the back giving you enough room to plug in your devices.

Secure

You will never have to feel concerned about the safety of your confidential data as the RT-AC68R comes with multi-stage protection. It also helps to check any vulnerability of your connection to keep it safe and secure at all times. The router comes with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) server and client. So whether you want to access your home network when you are away or browse securely, you can do so without worrying about paying for a dedicated VPN server. Your network will be safe from all kind of hackers and unauthorized access. Each of the dual-bands can support up to three different networks. So you can set-up different networks for guests and children at home. This allows you to have a control over usage times and limit access for children as well as keep your data safe.

Faster

Don't we all love it when the Wi-Fi connection is super-fast? Of course, yes! So there is more reason to love the RT-AC68R because it employs Broadcom that makes your Wi-Fi speed increase by a whopping 33% by boosting the data rate to 600 Mbps. The router uses IEEE 802.11ac which is the latest in wireless network standards for its 5GHz band. That is why you will be able to perform multiple high bandwidth tasks at super-fast speeds. The 2.4 GHz band, on the other hand, uses the IEEE 802.11n protocol.

Coverage

Unlike other routers that spread the signal in all directions, the signal from the RT-AC68R is focused where it is needed. This is because it uses beamforming technology that maximizes the signal where there is a device. The three external antennas are not only powerful but also allow you to maximize the coverage with their precision angling. In addition to this, it also uses high-power amplification and RF fine-tuning which further improves the coverage and signal strength. So no matter where you are, you will always experience only the smoothest, fastest and the most reliable connection.

Dual WAN

The presence of dual WAN is almost like having two broadband connections. So it takes care of balancing the load and internet traffic by prioritizing the required bandwidth for each of the tasks. Even high bandwidth tasks like gaming or video streaming can be done simultaneously without any dip in performance.

Connectivity

The Asus RT-AC68R comes with enough ports for connecting multiple devices to the router. There is 1 Gigabit WAN port and 4 Gigabit LAN ports making a total of 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports for super-fast and reliable connectivity. There is also 1 USB 3.0 port and 1 USB 2.0 port that supports printers, hard disk drives and 3G/4G dongle sharing.

Compatibility

No matter what type of internet connection you have, the RT-AC68R will be compatible with it as it comes with both wireless and Ethernet connectivity. It is compatible with common types of DSL connections such as ADSL, ADSL2+, ADSL2 and VDSL2. Due to its WAN port, you can also use it with cable or fiber modem.

Download Master

This feature allows you to download the files from the USB storage device that is connected to the router and play it on your tablets, PC, PS3, Xbox and even your smart TV. But the best part is that it allows you to download files even if your PC is turned off.

AiCloud

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No matter where you are you can easily share your multimedia with friends and family with the AiCloud feature. It is an online web storage space that will allow you to access your data from anywhere. What's even better is that you can even sync data from storage devices connected to another compatible router as it comes with the router-to-router Sync feature. Everything you need is always available to you as long as you are connected to the internet. You will feel at home no matter where you are.

Easy set-up

Don't worry about a complicated set-up as you can use the friendly ASUSWRT web interface or the Asus router app which is equally easy to use. Simply use your PC, smartphone or tablet to login to the Asus website and follow the setup wizard. The ASUSWRT interface lets you complete the set-up in just 30 seconds. The user interface is a one-stop for not just for monitoring your network but is also used for multiple device detection and for network settings to maximize performance. You can clearly see how your network is being used on the graphical user interface. If you have a storage device connected to the USB then, the router also can be used to scan the drive and keep it corruption-free.

Pros

Improved technology for better Wi-Fi speed
Dual bands for handling multiple tasks with ease
Secure network access due to VPN server and client
High features to price ratio giving you more value for your money
Easy set-up with a set-up time of just 30 seconds.

Cons

It is only a desktop and cannot be wall mounted

Conclusion

The Asus RT-AC68R comes with so many features that will give you the same amount of satisfaction that you would get out of a top router model. It is not without a reason that it has some rave reviews from customers. Whether you want to make uninterrupted VoIP calls or stream high-definition videos or game to your heart's content, everything is possible with the Asus RT-AC68R. Buffering, latency and poor speeds will be a thing of the past when you use this wireless router. This is an ideal router if you have been thinking of upgrading from your old cable modem that cannot be used to connect multiple devices at the same time. This is perfect for both home and professional use due to its high-speed capabilities and security features.

Check this out tooÂ Asus RT-ACRH13 Router Review,Â Asus VS278Q-P Monitor Review

Resources

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Editorial Team

Author

EditorialTeam at The Great Device is a passionate group of tech enthusiasts, writers, and industry experts dedicated to bringing you the latest news, in-depth reviews, and insightful guides on all things tech. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions by providing clear, trustworthy, and up-to-date information. From gadgets and devices to software and innovations, EditorialTeam ensures you stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology.