Sporting a flashy design and top-notch hardware, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is a high-end router for gamers and prosumers. It's not cheap at S$709, and is probably overkill for the average user, but there's no denying its quality. The only blemish is that despite its hefty price tag, it's merely a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router — it doesn't support the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard that adds a 6GHz band to the mix.
Quick specs
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (AX6000)
- Two 2.5Gbps port (1 LAN/WAN and 1 LAN), four Gigabit LAN ports, 1x USB 3.2, 1x USB 2.0
- Supports 160MHz channels
- Security suite, parental controls and adaptive QoS
At around 1.1kg, the Rapture is heavier than most routers. It is also larger and longer than the average model, with thick and solid detachable antennas. While there are holes for mounting to the wall, it seems risky for such a weighty router. On top of the usual four Gigabit LAN ports, the Rapture has two extra 2.5Gbps ports that can be used for WAN aggregation. Basically, this feature lets you use a 2.5Gbps port and a 1Gbps port together by connecting them to your modem, while you connect the other 2.5Gbps port to your device. Of course, this feature is dependent on having the appropriate broadband plan and devices. You can also combine two 1Gbps port via LAN aggregation to supply 2Gbps to a NAS or a PC that can support the bandwidth.
It's recommended to use the Asus Router app, which has a fitting, red gaming theme, to set up the Rapture. The gaming features include a Mobile Game Mode that will prioritise your mobile device. Just enable it on the smartphone or tablet you're gaming on via the app. For wired devices, you can prioritise the network traffic without the app. Simply connect it to the dedicated Gaming Port (marked LAN-1). But to change the flashy LEDs at the top of the router, you'll need to use the app. Lastly, you'll find the usual Asus router staples. For instance, AiMesh lets you create a mesh network between the Rapture and other Asus AiMesh compatible routers. Meanwhile, AiProtection Pro is a security suite that blocks malicious websites and prevent malware. Overall, the app can feel bloated due to the sheer number of features, though the neat layout helps to mitigate this somewhat.
The app feels snappy to use. The router, too, is no slouch with a quad-core 2GHz processor. But of course, wireless speeds are the key metrics here. And the Rapture performed superbly in my test. I recorded an average download speed of 947Mbps on my laptop. More importantly, the wireless speed was very consistent. If you plot the results out, it would be an almost perfect straight line with practically no dips in speeds. However, the Rapture suffered a drastic dip in speed to around 110Mbps when tested in a far-off bedroom with the door closed. But this is expected as I have found that only mesh routers perform well in this scenario.
In short, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 (S$709) may be pricey, but you know you're getting rock-solid wireless speeds — as long as your device is not a couple of bedrooms away, that is. Add in its hardware and software features, as well as the smooth app experience, and the Rapture definitely lives up to its price tag. The only question is whether you need such a high-end router, especially when Wi-Fi 6E routers are appearing in the market. If your answer is yes, you can get this router now from Lazada or Shopee.
Note: Review unit provided by Asus.
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