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Answering TP-Link’s over-the-top announcement back in November on new Wi-Fi 7 hardware, Asus today unveiled two new flagship routers, the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 for gamers and the RT-BE96U for general consumers.
Both Wi-Fi machines share the same physical look and processing power but differ in colors, design details, network ports, and Wi-Fi specs. In any case, both are physically massive and powerful Wi-Fi broadcasters.
They represent Asus’s intention to embrace Wi-Fi 7 fully, albeit slowly. The company says it will release more hardware of the new wireless standard later in the year.
ROG Rapture GT-BE98: Asus’s first Quad-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router
The ROG Rapture GT-BE98 is similar to Asus’s previous Quad-band Wi-Fi 6E router, the GT-AXE1600. It has one 2.4GHz band, two 5GHz bands, and one 6GHz band.
The most significant difference, however, is it supports Wi-Fi 7. Consequently, it has a much higher total wireless bandwidth — up to 25000Mbps — as you will note in the specification table below.
As a gaming router, the GT-BE98 comes with a striking look. Asus says the new Wi-Fi machine’s top is partly transparent to reveal some advanced circuitry and heatsinks on the inside — the stuff that supposedly makes the router powerful. On top of that, per Asus, “a bold graphic design communicates the ROG spirit”, whatever that means.
What’s most significant about the GT-BE98, however, might be the fact it’s the first consumer-grade router that includes three 10GbE ports, which sure will make fans of Multi-Gig happy.
Asus GT-BE98 vs RT-BE96U: Preliminary hardware specifications
| GT-BE98 | RT-BE96U | |
| Antennas | 8 x external antennas | 8 x external antennas |
| Operating Frequency | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz-1, 5 GHz-2, 6 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| WiFi Data Rate | 2.4GHz: up to 1376 Mbps (4096 QAM) 5GHz-1: up to 5762 Mbps (4096 QAM + 160 MHz) 5GHz-2: up to 5762 Mbps (4096 QAM + 160 MHz) 6GHz: up to 11,525 Mbps (4096 QAM + 320 MHz) |
2.4GHz: up to 1376 Mbps (4096 QAM) 5GHz: up to 5762 Mbps (4096 QAM + 160 MHz) 6GHz: up to 11,525 Mbps (4096 QAM + 320 MHz) |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 |
| Memory | Quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, 256MB Flash, 2GB DDR4 RAM |
Quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, 256MB Flash, 2GB DDR4 RAM |
| I/O Ports | 1 x 10 Gbps WAN/LAN 2 x 10 Gbps LAN 4 x Gigabit LAN 1 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 |
1 x 10 Gbps WAN/LAN 1 x 10 Gbps LAN 4 x Gigabit LAN 1 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 |
| Buttons | Power Switch Reset Button WPS Button LED Control |
Power Switch Reset Button WPS Button LED Control |
| DC Power Adapter | AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 19 V with max. 3.42 A current; 19.5 V with max 3.33 A current |
AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 19 V with max. 3.42 A current; 19.5 V with max 3.33 A current |
| Package Contents | ROG Rapture GT-BE98 RJ-45 cable Power adapter Quick Start guide Warranty card |
ASUS RT-BE96U RJ-45 cable Power adapter Quick Start guide Warranty card |
| Dimensions (with antennas) |
14.12 x 14.12 x 8.77 in (358.6 x 358.6 x 222.8 mm) | 13.8 x 13.8 x 8.57 in (350.6 x 350.6 x 217.59 mm) |
Asus RT-BE96U: A powerful Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router
On the other hand, the RT-BE96U router is a Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router that reminisces the RT-AX7800 (or maybe the GT-AX11000).
As you might have noted in the table above, the new router has three distinctive bands (2.4GHz + 5GHz + 6GHz) that have a combined bandwidth of 1900Mbps thanks to the support for Wi-Fi 7.
Apart from having one 5GHz band less than the GT-BE98, the RT-BE96U also has one 10Gbps port fewer. Still, with two 10GbE ports, it’s ready to create a true Multi-Gig network via the help of a Multi-Gig switch.
Pricing and availability
The ROG Rapture GT-BE98 and RT-BE96U are still in the early development stage. Asus says the two will be available sometime in 2023, with the pricing being unveiled then. Rest assured, they will not be the last Asus Wi-Fi 7 routers you’ll hear about this year.
And there’s no rush. Like previous standards, Wi-Fi 7 has little impact when available only on the broadcasting side. And consumers likely have to wait till the end of the year, possibly even later, before getting their hands on a Wi-Fi 7 device. And only then the effect of Wi-Fi 7 is real.
While it generally doesn’t hurt (other than your wallet) to get a Wi-Fi 7 router as soon as it becomes available, it only makes sense to do so when you can take advantage of the new wireless standard. And for that, you generally need the hardware on both ends of a connection.
In any case, check back for more information on these two new exciting pieces of hardware and, when possible, their in-depth reviews.
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