Asus ROG STRIX GS-AX5400 Review
It has more than enough power to take the place of the RT-AX82U as a gaming router in most situations. It also represents a significant improvement over the previous lower-end model, the GS-AX3000.
Simply place the RT-AX82U processor inside the chassis of the GS-AX3000 and load it with Asus’s ROG STRIX software, and you’ll have the GS-AX5400.
Due to the fact that I have already examined both the RT-AX82U and the GS-AX3000, this write-up will focus on the GS-AX5400 vs the RT-AX82U. (A comparison of the GS-AX5400 and GS-AX3000 may be found here.)
Please note that if you are perplexed by the model names listed above, this primer post on Asus’s (gaming) routers can help put things in context – please read it before proceeding further.
To cut to the point, I recommend that you get the GS-AX5400. Despite the fact that it is far from ideal, it proved to be a great gaming router throughout my testing, making it well worth the current $250 price tag.
However, the RT-AX82U will provide you with approximately the same experience — maybe even a better design — for a somewhat cheaper cost of approximately $225. So figuring out how to choose between these two options can be a bit of a puzzle. Is that correct?
Asus GS-AX5400: performance
Similar to the RT-AX82U (or the GS-AX3000), the router provided dependable and extensive coverage, but with somewhat superior performance in the majority of situations.
In general, if you have a home that is 1800 ft2 (167 m2) or more, give or take, and you position the GS-AX5400 in the middle, it will be able to offer decent Wi-Fi to every part of the house without difficulty. However, the real speeds and coverage are dependent on the surrounding surroundings.
You can always expand the reach of this router and other AiMesh broadcasters by adding more hardware units, which is a great feature.
The GS-AX5400, like the RT-AX82U, does not include a Multi-Gigabit Ethernet interface. As a result, based on the method I do my tests, its Wi-Fi speed will be limited to 1Gbps at the most. And that was approximately the speed at which the router could go.
Conclusion
When compared to the old Asus ROG STRIX RT-AX82U, the new Asus ROG STRIX GS-AX5400 is a really interesting alternative. On the inside, though, the two routers are almost identical to one another.
While the GS-AX5400 does have a little advantage in terms of gaming performance, in most situations there will be no discernible difference between the two models. As a result, the RT-AX82U appears to be a more attractive option due to its somewhat cheaper price (and a better-looking design.)
One thing is certain: you can purchase both and utilize them as a viable AiMesh solution, especially if you have already wired your house for internet access. So if you live in a huge house and are having trouble selecting, grab them both!