# Asus Wi-Fi 8 router impresses despite $900 price > The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro delivers faster speeds and better range than Wi-Fi 7, but the standard isn't finalized yet. - Title: Asus Wi-Fi 8 router impresses despite $900 price · WIRED - Summary: The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro delivers faster speeds and better range than Wi-Fi 7, but the standard isn't finalized yet. The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro… - Keywords: asus rog rapture gt-bn98 pro, wi-fi 8, router, gaming, wireless networking, broadcom bcm 6718, nordvpn, mesh networking, Asus, Wi-Fi, impresses, despite - Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/review/asus-rog-rapture-gt-bn98-pro - Author: Simon Hill - Published: 2026-11-02T16:44:20+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: asus rog rapture gt-bn98 pro, wi-fi 8, router, gaming, wireless networking, broadcom bcm 6718, nordvpn, mesh networking ## First Wi-Fi 8 router tested Asus has released the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro, a quad-band Wi-Fi 8 gaming router. The standard is not yet finalized, so the router will be updated as certification approaches. ## Testing required two routers To test Wi-Fi 8 benefits, the reviewer connected two Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro routers together, since Wi-Fi 8 compatible devices are not yet available in the real world. ## Impressive performance out of the box After a couple of weeks of testing, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro proved reliable from launch, unlike early Wi-Fi 7 Asus systems which needed several firmware updates to reach stability. ## Enormous size with eight antennas The router is around fourteen inches square and nine inches tall with permanently affixed adjustable antennas. It resembles a giant dead mecha spider and does not fit comfortably in usual router spots. ## Thermal design keeps it cool Multiple heatsinks and airflow channels allow the router to operate at top performance reliably without a noisy fan. It remained silent and cool to the touch throughout a month of testing. ## Generous array of ports The router includes a ten gigabit per second WAN/LAN, a ten gigabit per second LAN, four two point five gigabit per second ports, one one gigabit per second LAN, USB three point two Gen one… ## Powerful internal specifications Inside is Broadcom's BCM six seven one eight Wi-Fi chip with a two point six gigahertz quad-core processor, two hundred fifty six megabytes of Flash memory, and two gigabytes of DDR four RAM. ## Real-world speeds exceed expectations The router delivered up to three gigabits per second in the same room, around one gigabit per second through a wall, and three hundred fifty megabits per second at the bottom of a thick-walled garden. ## Faster than Wi-Fi 7 predecessor Compared to the tri-band Wi-Fi seven Asus RT-BE96U, the GT-BN98 Pro proved slightly faster at all distances and longer-range across every band, with an extra six gigahertz band for wireless backhaul. ## Gaming features prioritize stability Wi-Fi eight aims to improve stability and reliability with features that compensate for interference and reduce latency. The router recognizes gaming devices and streams, giving them priority automatically. ## No subscription required Asus eschews the subscription model, offering robust security software, parental controls, VPN support, and a year of NordVPN service included with the router at no extra cost. ## Worth buying now for gamers At nine hundred dollars, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is an expensive early adopter purchase. > if gaming is the thing in your home and you have the money, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is worth buying, even now. ## Key takeaway The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is the first Wi-Fi 8 gaming router tested, offering faster speeds and better reliability than Wi-Fi 7 models, though at nine hundred dollars it remains an expensive early adopter purchase.