The two routers, RT-AX86U and RT-AC88U, are both from ASUS. The ASUS RT-AX86U is a tri-band router that operates a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band at up to 750Mbps and a 5GHz band at up to 1,300Mbps.
The ASUS RT-AC88U is also a tri-band router but it operates only at the 2.4GHz band with speeds of up to 600Mbps.
I was curious if the two would work together but there appears to be no issue. I can run both routers on the 5GHz band on the same network and they both can see each other and have a stable connection.
Contents
- 1 Common features
- 2 What is the main difference between ASUS RT-AX86U and ASUS RT-AC88U?
- 3 How many ports do they have?
- 4 How many antennas do they have?
- 5 How far does it cover?
- 6 Do they have a firewall?
- 7 What kind of operating system do they have?
- 8 Do they have any game mode?
- 9 What kind of VPN do they have?
- 10 What kind of network do they have?
- 11 Do they have any 4K video?
- 12 Do they have any parental controls?
- 13 Do they have any storage?
- 14 Do they have a good range?
- 15 Which one has a good AC Speed?
- 16 Which one is faster?
- 17 What is the speed of the Bands?
- 18 Which security protocol is used in ASUS RT-AX86U vs ASUS RT-AC88U?
- 19 ASUS RT-AX86U vs ASUS RT-AC88U: Which one should I buy?
Common features
The two devices have a lot of common features. They both have a 3 x 3 MIMO antenna design, Gigabit Ethernet ports, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, MU-MIMO support, dual-band USB 3.0 ports for storage sharing, and printer support, and much more.
What is the main difference between ASUS RT-AX86U and ASUS RT-AC88U?
The ASUS RT-AC88U is an even faster wireless router than the ASUS RT-AX86U, but the RT-AX86U has a higher quality range. The ASUS RT-AC88U has 8 antennas, while the RT-AX86U has 6.
The RT-AC88U is also bigger and heavier than the RT-AX86U which may be an issue for some users. Both devices have the same features so it seems like a no-brainer to go with the ASUS RT-AC88U.
How many ports do they have?
The ASUS RT-AX86U and the ASUS RT-AC88U are two routers made by one of the most respected manufacturers in the industry. These two devices differ in their numbers of LAN and WAN ports.
The ASUS RT-AC88U has 4 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet WAN, and 3 x USB 2. 0 ports. On the other hand, the ASUS RT-AX86U has 2 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet WAN, and 4 x USB 2.0 ports.
How many antennas do they have?
ASUS routers with the RT prefix have antennas, but they are not removable. The RT-AX86U has eight, and the RT-AC88U has six.
How far does it cover?
The ASUS RT-AC88U has a stronger signal and wider coverage than the ASUS RT-AX86U. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a maximum range of 587 meters, with an average of 170 meters. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a maximum range of 376 meters, with an average of 116 meters.
Do they have a firewall?
Both devices have a firewall. The RT-AC88U has a firewall on the LAN port and the ASUS RT-AX86U does not. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a mobile firewall, but the ASUS RT-AC88U does not.
What kind of operating system do they have?
Both routers have the same operating system. They both have an Android 5.1 lollipop.
Do they have any game mode?
Both devices have a game mode, but it is only available on the RT-AC88U. It has a dedicated WAN port for internet gaming. It has an internal console port, and it has a voice chat port.
What kind of VPN do they have?
Both routers have a VPN. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a dedicated WAN port for an IPSec VPN, like the ASUS RT-AX86U.
What kind of network do they have?
Both routers have the same network. Both routers are based on the 802.11ac standard. They are both 2.4 GHz 802.11ac. They both have a maximum theoretical speed of 1.3 Gbps. They have the same maximum theoretical speed, but the ASUS RT-AX86U has a maximum theoretical speed of 2.4 Gbps.
Do they have any 4K video?
Both routers have a 4K video function, but it only works on the ASUS RT-AC88U. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160, and it has a maximum size of 60.4 GB.
Do they have any parental controls?
Both routers have parental controls. The ASUS RT-AC88U has parental controls for mobile media. It has parental controls for mobile apps. It has parental controls for the browser.
It has parental controls for the smart home. It has parental controls for the TV. It has parental controls for the game console. The ASUS RT-AX86U has parental controls for the smart home and for the game console. It has parental controls for mobile devices.
Do they have any storage?
Both routers have a built-in hard drive. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a built-in storage of 64 GB. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a built-in storage of 128 GB.
Do they have a good range?
Both routers have a good range. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a good range of up to 862 ft2. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a good range of up to 1660 ft2.
Which one has a good AC Speed?
The ASUS RT-AC88U is faster than the ASUS RT-AX86U, but won’t be used for gaming. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a maximum AC speed of 450 W. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a maximum AC speed of 800 W.
Which one is faster?
The ASUS RT-AC88U is faster, but won’t be used for gaming. The ASUS RT-AC88U has a maximum wireless speed of 450 Mbps. The ASUS RT-AX86U has a maximum wireless speed of 800 Mbps.
What is the speed of the Bands?
Both routers have a LAN of 1,000 Mbps and a WAN of 1,500 Mbps. The ASUS RT-AC88U doesn’t have a WAN option.
Which security protocol is used in ASUS RT-AX86U vs ASUS RT-AC88U?
The ASUS RT-AC88U uses WPA2-PSK, and the ASUS RT-AX86U uses WPA2-PSK.
ASUS RT-AX86U vs ASUS RT-AC88U: Which one should I buy?
The ASUS RT-AX86U is a better option than the ASUS RT-AC88U. The ASUS RT-AX86U has better features and better support than the ASUS RT-AC88U.
The ASUS RT-AX86U is a powerful router that has many features. It has two USB ports, a LAN port, a WAN port, an HDMI port, an RJ45 port, and a game console port. It is a great router for those who want a fast wifi router.