ASUS RT-AX53U (AX1800) Dual Band AX WiFi 6 Extendable Router Subscription-free Network Security - Instant Guard - Parental Control - Built-in VPN - AiMesh Compatible - Gaming & Streaming - Smart Home - USB

Purchased this to build a mesh with existing Asus WiFi (AX3000). Needed to update firmware to support AiMesh first but after that this works just beautifuly as mesh point and now covers garage and my outdoor tea area very well with same SSID. Purchased this to build a mesh with existing Asus WiFi (AX3000). Needed to update firmware to support AiMesh first but after that this works just beautifuly as mesh point and now covers garage and my outdoor tea area very well with same SSID.

Easy purchase via web site and click and collect. Great product. Easy purchase via web site and click and collect. Great product.

Great price as it was ex demo all the same it does everything I needed Great price as it was ex demo all the same it does everything I needed

I purchased this router as an extender for my AiMesh network. Super easy to set up as ethernet backhaul, awesome speed and seamless extension of my network through the rest of my property and house. Great piece of kit. I purchased this router as an extender for my AiMesh network. Super easy to set up as ethernet backhaul, awesome speed and seamless extension of my network through the rest of my property and house. Great piece of kit.

I purchased this to use AiMesh and increase the coverage of my exisiting ASUS router. It only took a few mins to setup, very easy process. Connection coverage has been great. No complaints I purchased this to use AiMesh and increase the coverage of my exisiting ASUS router. It only took a few mins to setup, very easy process. Connection coverage has been great. No complaints

I got this to replace my ancient Asus router, as it was having trouble keeping up with the number of devices in my home.

I've had it for ~2months and it just works. As usual, Asus provide a good range of configuration options, making this suitable for most users. It streams media to my 4k Chromecast without issue, and handles my house of 16 devices - so it fits the bill.

I cant comment on any of the wifi 6 functionality, as I've no wifi 6 devices yet.
The amazon Alexa support is pretty bare bones - none of the commands are anything I'd use (I'm not sure what I was expecting tbh).
Another thing that bugs me is how unnecessarily bright ...view more I got this to replace my ancient Asus router, as it was having trouble keeping up with the number of devices in my home.

I've had it for ~2months and it just works. As usual, Asus provide a good range of configuration options, making this suitable for most users. It streams media to my 4k Chromecast without issue, and handles my house of 16 devices - so it fits the bill.

I cant comment on any of the wifi 6 functionality, as I've no wifi 6 devices yet.
The amazon Alexa support is pretty bare bones - none of the commands are anything I'd use (I'm not sure what I was expecting tbh).
Another thing that bugs me is how unnecessarily bright all the status LED's are - but I just realized I can disable them via the app, so its fine.

Great router, with lots of features for the price. Set-up was simple and straightforward via the app and was easy to intergrate with my existing wireless extenders. Includes a built in VPN which was the main driver for the purchase.
Overall recommended to anyone who is looking for an upgrade, or a solid VPN router. Great router, with lots of features for the price. Set-up was simple and straightforward via the app and was easy to intergrate with my existing wireless extenders. Includes a built in VPN which was the main driver for the purchase.
Overall recommended to anyone who is looking for an upgrade, or a solid VPN router.

I bought this product to mesh with an existing router. This was incredibly easy to do. Works perfectly. I bought this product to mesh with an existing router. This was incredibly easy to do. Works perfectly.

Had to ring asus number on the box to help set up the modem to configure the settings correctly for it to work, great customer service. Once it was set up the internet is alot better by miles, compared to the modem my isp provided. Had to ring asus number on the box to help set up the modem to configure the settings correctly for it to work, great customer service. Once it was set up the internet is alot better by miles, compared to the modem my isp provided.

It was easy to set up and no issues so far. It was easy to set up and no issues so far.

ya it works ya it works

I had to call ASUS NZ to assist with the setup for 2Degrees fibre - as out of the box it just wouldn't connect. WiFi setup was easy.
The VPN setup is a little complicated for the non-techie. I'm not new to using VPNs and setting them up in workplaces, so with a stepped guide it was quite easy to configure a VPN client using OpenVPN.

The issue I have with this router came with using the VPN - the router's processor is just not fast enough to provide a good through bandwidth.
my fibre is 300/100 but using the VPN on the router is drops dramatically to 25/15 at best.
If I use a VPN client on an iPad/iPhone (and just use the AX1800 as a 'no...view more I had to call ASUS NZ to assist with the setup for 2Degrees fibre - as out of the box it just wouldn't connect. WiFi setup was easy.
The VPN setup is a little complicated for the non-techie. I'm not new to using VPNs and setting them up in workplaces, so with a stepped guide it was quite easy to configure a VPN client using OpenVPN.

The issue I have with this router came with using the VPN - the router's processor is just not fast enough to provide a good through bandwidth.
my fibre is 300/100 but using the VPN on the router is drops dramatically to 25/15 at best.
If I use a VPN client on an iPad/iPhone (and just use the AX1800 as a 'normal' router/modem) I can get 200+/80+ bandwidth, so the router's CPU is the choke point

I'll be sending this back as it does not meet my performance expectations.