Explainer / Published 2026-10-26

ASUS ships a Wi-Fi 8 router. Who can use it today?

The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 began shipping October 6, but an independent test used Wi-Fi 7 clients because its Wi-Fi 8 features could not be exercised in that setup. The review measured a short-range 6GHz gain and high power use, making the buyer's broadband and floor plan more important than the label.

A generic multi-antenna router beside a home floor plan and a wired 10Gb connection icon.
Conceptual editorial illustration; not an ASUS product render or a Wi-Fi speed chart.

THE SHORT VERSION

  • ASUS said the GT-BN98 began shipping October 6 with Wi-Fi 8, quad-band radios, 25Gbps combined theoretical throughput, and two 10G plus four 2.5G Ethernet ports.
  • Tweakers tested the GT-BN98 with Wi-Fi 7 clients: it measured about 4.5Gbps on 6GHz at short range, but found no added range over its Wi-Fi 7 predecessor and noted 21W idle/32W load power.
  • TechRadar’s October 4 report and Qualcomm’s current FAQ both forecast final IEEE approval in 2028; Qualcomm separately projects Wi-Fi Alliance certification around January 2028. A buyer should weigh multi-gig broadband, client devices, placement, and electricity use before paying the early-adopter price.

A Wi-Fi 8 label on a flagship home router

ASUS announced on October 6 that the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 quad-band router was shipping. The company's press release describes Wi-Fi 8, 25,000Mbps combined theoretical bandwidth, Adaptive Quality of Experience, WiFi Insight, and GTNet routing. It also lists two 10G and four 2.5G Ethernet ports. The product is pitched at heavy home networks, but those headline features do not tell a household whether it needs to replace its current router.

An independent Tweakers review tested the GT-BN98 itself and gives a more practical starting point: at the time of its October 1 review, it used Wi-Fi 7 clients because its test setup had no Wi-Fi 8 client device. The router still operated with those clients, but the test could not measure the new Wi-Fi 8 features. That distinction separates working hardware from a benefit a home owner can use today.

Today's clients connect, but they do not exercise Wi-Fi 8

Wi-Fi 8 is the market name for the IEEE 802.11bn development effort, whose focus includes more reliable connections in difficult signal conditions. TechRadar's October 4 report said final IEEE approval was not expected until 2028. Qualcomm's current Wi-Fi 8 FAQ separately forecasts final IEEE approval in 2028 and Wi-Fi Alliance certification around January 2028. These are forecasts, not finalized standards or certification dates. The GT-BN98 can connect to earlier Wi-Fi clients, but an existing Wi-Fi 7 phone or laptop cannot use features that require a Wi-Fi 8 radio on both ends of the link.

That means compatibility and benefit are different questions. An old laptop should still join the network, but buying a Wi-Fi 8 router does not upgrade that laptop's radio. In Tweakers' lab, the test client remained Wi-Fi 7, so its measured results described how this router handled a Wi-Fi 7 device. TechRadar's October 4 coverage likewise described the product as arriving ahead of Wi-Fi 8 client devices. Treat both as dated test context rather than assuming that a Wi-Fi 8 badge instantly improves every phone in the house.

The review found a short-range 6GHz advantage

Tweakers measured roughly 4.5Gbps on 6GHz in both directions at close range, about 300 to 500Mbps above its comparison with the GT-BE98 Wi-Fi 7 router. On 5GHz, it recorded about 2.3Gbps in both directions; on 2.4GHz, results were around 460 to 475Mbps. Those numbers came from the review's lab setup and Wi-Fi 7 clients. They are not guaranteed speeds for an internet subscription or a phone across a house.

The same review found a less flattering long-range picture. It saw improved downlink throughput on some bands, but did not find more overall range than the predecessor; 5GHz upstream and interference results were mixed. The review's conclusion was that Wi-Fi 8's reliability features could not yet be measured without compatible clients. That is a useful buying point: the GT-BN98 may improve some existing-client results through its radio hardware, but the independent test does not show that a typical home gets a broad performance jump from Wi-Fi 8 itself.

A multi-gig home connection is a better fit

The router's fastest claims matter most when the rest of the network can use them. A 500Mbps broadband plan cannot deliver a 4Gbps internet transfer, even if a nearby laptop has a fast Wi-Fi link. The GT-BN98's two 10G ports and four 2.5G ports are more relevant to a home with multi-gig fiber, a fast NAS, a wired desktop, or a multi-access-point setup. A user should map the modem, switch, access points, and clients before paying for port capacity.

The 25Gbps figure is a combined theoretical rate across the router's bands, not a speed one phone can download. Real throughput depends on client radio, distance, interference, channel width, broadband plan, wired backhaul, and the server on the other end. For gaming, a wired Ethernet connection may already solve packet stability more cheaply. Wi-Fi is valuable where pulling cable is difficult, but the price premium only makes sense if the home has a real multi-gig bottleneck or several high-demand devices competing for airtime.

The physical router needs its own space

Tweakers describes the GT-BN98 as a large unit with eight adjustable antennas and a 65W power adapter. Its chassis is roughly 35 centimeters across and weighs more than two kilograms. A router that size may not fit discreetly on a narrow shelf, and its antenna positions require clearance. Before ordering, measure the place where the modem and router sit and confirm there is room for airflow, cables, and the antenna arrangement.

A single high-power router is not automatically better than a well-placed mesh system. The Tweakers test found the GT-BN98's short-range result ahead of its Wi-Fi 7 comparison router, but its mesh comparison showed how a nearby mesh node can alter results at distance. A house with thick walls, several floors, or an outbuilding may benefit more from an access point or mesh placement plan than a new router on the same shelf. The floor plan and wiring decide whether a single device can cover the intended rooms.

Power draw and firmware matter over time

Tweakers measured about 21 watts at idle and 32 watts under its loaded test. At €0.25 per kilowatt-hour and 8,760 hours of constant operation, those readings imply about €46 a year at idle or €70 at the tested load. These are simple calculations at fixed power, not measured annual household bills. The review’s estimate of slightly over €45 is consistent with the idle reading, not continuous 32W use. Actual cost depends on the duty cycle and local electricity tariff.

ASUS also advertises features that are independent of Wi-Fi 8 client support. The press release describes WiFi Insight for interference detection, Adaptive QoE for traffic allocation, GTNet for game-server routing, and AiProtection. Tweakers found the new AsusWRT interface visually changed but noted that the layout could be unclear in places, while the available configuration remained extensive. A household should choose the software controls it will actually use—parental settings, guest networks, device visibility, or VPN options—rather than paying for a feature name that never gets opened.

The buyer today is an enthusiast with a specific network problem

The GT-BN98 makes most sense for someone already running multi-gig internet or local storage, with a large or interference-heavy home and a need for premium wired ports. It may also appeal to a network enthusiast who accepts paying for hardware before Wi-Fi 8 clients and certification arrive. The review's €806.60 publication price is a European snapshot; current offers and local models vary. A North American Pro variant and the standard GT-BN98 may have different bands or prices, so compare the exact SKU before importing.

For most households, check the existing router and client capabilities first. If the problem is a dead zone, a well-placed Wi-Fi 7 access point or mesh node can address it directly. If broadband is below 1Gbps and current Wi-Fi already covers the home, the 10G ports and draft Wi-Fi 8 features are unlikely to change daily use. The next-generation standard is promising, but the decision today rests on a measured improvement that can be used with current devices, the router's size and power draw, and whether the network actually needs this much hardware.

Sources & reporting limits

  1. ASUS Republic of Gamers Ships ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Router
  2. Wi-Fi 8 in huis, Wi-Fi 7 in de praktijk — ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98-router Review
  3. Wi-Fi 8: The Next Leap in Wireless Innovation
  4. There isn't a single Wi-Fi 8 device on the market, yet this Asus router is already outperforming everything you currently own
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