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Mesh Wi-Fi systems get a lot of noise these days, but you can still get fast, reliable network performance with a traditional single-unit router. Brands like TP-Link, Netgear, and Belkin are just a few of the manufacturers making standalone routers that we can get behind, and our friends at Consumer Reports (CR) share similar trends. But none of these brands have been able to secure CR’s biggest seal of approval for a single-unit router; that honor goes to the $389.99 Asus ROG Strix GS-BE12000.
Whether you’re looking for a workhorse for PC gaming or an ultra-powerful router that will cover the largest of floor plans, the BE12000 is an armored tank that doesn’t disappoint. Delivering up to 12,000 Mbps, this Asus router operates on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 Hz network bands. It also has seven 2.5 Gbps LAN ports for those of us looking to wire up gaming consoles and desktop rigs. CR claims the BE12000 delivers reliable throughput “over near, mid and far ranges”, and also praised the router’s 36-month warranty and USB 3.0 connectivity.
Speaking of which, this USB 3.0 port isn’t just a convenient way to charge a phone, tablet, or laptop; it can also be interfaced with an external hard drive for improved performance. That said, the BE12000 packs plenty of power, thanks to its 2.0 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, and eight internal antennas, which Asus says will provide enough bandwidth for a 3,000 square foot home.
The Asus GS-BE12000 is fast, powerful, reliable and a little expensive
Consumer Reports’ lab testing of the Asus BE12000 revealed no notable drawbacks to the router. It’s also highly rated on Amazon, where over 60 reviews have given the BE12000 an overall rating of 4.4 stars. Most of the user reviews were at the 5-star level, but one 3-star item caught our attention. This reviewer loved the BE12000’s standalone performance, but experienced issues with the router when trying to set it up as part of an Asus mesh system.
Another user pointed out that you cannot manually create a wired VLAN using a LAN port; instead, Asus requires you to create a guest network that only supports wireless VLAN. This may not be an issue for most households, but if you use a lot of smart home devices, you may want to look elsewhere. At 8.6 inches, the BE12000 is also relatively large for a router, which can make it difficult to place on an entertainment center or equipment rack.
Fortunately, Asus has thought about cooling and heat dissipation. With a “Slash PCB” design for optimal ventilation and airflow, you won’t have to worry about lag or frame drops when gaming gets tough. Whatever your networking needs, the Asus ROG Strix GS-BE12000 will not disappoint. And if you need greater Wi-Fi coverage, you can use Asus’ Smart AiMesh feature to link the BE12000 to a compatible Asus mesh node to expand your network.
