Description
From the manufacturer
Low Latency & Less Interference
WiFi 6E uses the newly available 6 GHz frequency band, a band that can only be used by WiFi 6E devices. This means that older devices don’t interfere with WiFi 6E performance at all, giving you faster, more reliable connections for your WiFi 6E devices.
Massive Capacity
WiFi 6E has up to seven extra high speed 160 MHz channels*, giving you multi gigabit speeds with stable and consistent connections. It dramatically increases network capacity while reducing congestion and delivering higher performance for every WiFi 6E device.
Connect Instantly
The 5 GHz frequency band overlaps with certain civilian radar systems. If these are detected by Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), connections can be delayed. The 6 GHz band doesn’t overlap with these systems, so devices connect quicker without DFS delays.
More Streams, More Bandwidth
ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is a 12 stream device, with combined total datar ates up to 11000 Mbps. This boosts its capacity for transmitting and receiving data to large numbers of devices simultaneously, reducing dead zones and giving ZenWiFi Pro ET12 the performance edge for the busiest home networks.
RangeBoost Plus
ASUS RangeBoost Plus is the latest, most powerful version of our renowned RangeBoost technology, and it improves coverage for all your WiFi devices including legacy devices. Using a next gen flagship Broadcom WiFi chipset and a 2.0GHz 64 bit quadcore CPU, RangeBoost Plus leverages multiple exclusive ASUS technologies to dramatically improve WiFi signal range and coverage by up to 38%*.
Easy Scalability for Flexible Networking
With ASUS AiMesh , it’s easy to add extra nodes for improved coverage or new features simply add any AiMesh compatible router!
Dual 2.5G LAN and WAN Ports
ZenWiFi Pro ET12 has both a 2.5G LAN port and a 2.5G WAN port, so you can enjoy full 2.5 Gbps speeds all the way from a compatible ISP to your compatible wired devices.
New 6 GHz Band for Stable Backhaul
devices. The new 6 GHz band are getting more and more crowded with the growing number of home devices. The new 6 GHz band is reserved exclusively for WiFi 6E devices, so there’s no interference from other legacy devices. This makes it ideal for use as a stable backhaul connection. You can also select the wired Ethernet for the backhaul connection between nodes. Alternatively, you can choose automatic mode and let ZenWiFi Pro ET12 choose the best connection type based on your environment. The choice is always yours!
Effortless Setup and Management
The easy to use ASUS Router app offers simple setup and easy management for your ZenWiFi Pro ET12 system, so you’ll be up and running in no time.
About this item Ultrafast WiFi 6E with new 6 GHz band significantly increases network capacity for more devices, with speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps. Exclusive ASUS RangeBoost Plus improves WiFi signal range by up to 38%, offering extended coverage of up to 6,000 square feet. Subscription-free network security with commercial-grade AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro, plus a one-tap security scan and Safe Browsing. Advanced Parental Controls protect your kids online with instant monitoring, content filters and customized settings for every connected device. Comprehensive VPN features including the Instant Guard mobile app for secure connection over public WiFi. 3-step easy setup and hassle-free management via the highly rated ASUS Router mobile app. AiMesh extendable router enables whole home seamless roaming with rich, advanced features. Maximized wired connectivity and flexibility with dual 2.5 Gb WAN and LAN ports and LAN aggregation support.
ASUS ZenWiFi Pro is the new paradigm for whole-home mesh WiFi, combining performance and beauty in a perfectly balanced package. Working with the ASUS WiFi 6E ecosystem, it takes the productivity and entertainment capabilities of your whole-home network to the next level.
Scott Lutzow –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect router… setup and forget about it!
To start, I spent a small fortune on the TP-Link x5700/x90 router system. In total, I had 5 stations to try and create a stable wifi network. The problem from the start of my 2 year frustration was that legacy 2.4 ghz devices would never stay connected… sometimes when connected, they would not be reachable. It was a nonstop battle with the TP-Link settings, block/unblock devices, and simply unreliable ‘smart’ network. To make matters worse, there is a significant lag in the TP-Link app interface as compared to the actual state of the device connection.Enter the ASUS XT12. I bought 3 stations with hopes to replace the 5 TP-Link for my 3,500 sq ft home that has unique/complex architecture. Anyway, I had better connectivity with 2 Asus than TP-Link! I used the 3rd station to ensure my speeds were superior every where. i bought the XT vs ET because one of my stations needed a dedicated wireless backhaul and was not going to be placed in an ideal location.Now for performance: I have 80 devices connected from a dozen different manufacturers and ALL connected and stay connected! My legacy 2.4ghz devices have had ZERO issues. My Eufy smart cams create a secure connection every time and within 2 seconds. My wifi signal is full strength and speeds are 80-100% of purchased bandwidth anywhere in my house. I haven’t had to adjust a single setting on the ASUS and everything simply works!!!All in all, I can’t believe I screwed around and wasted SO MUCH time with the TP-Link. I know more about wireless networks than I ever wanted to because of owning TP-Link. If wireless networks isn’t a passion and you simply want a network to set and forget, then the ASUS XT12 is likely right for you…I have also requested a warranty extension from ASUS for this feedback. Will I need the warranty extension? Hopefully not, but the extra piece of mind is good.
8 people found this helpful
Gary R. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Small foot print. Takes up less room on shelf
Dislikes: Expensive but what isn’t that is any good?Likes: Most up to date WiFi at this time. I probably will never need any more band width or power. Flight Sim is the only “game” I play on the computer. The only thing I do is videos, communicate and educate with distant learning and rarely use more than one device at a time but I do have a few appliances. I live in a small town with only a few other WiFi systems that cross paths with me so I am not particularly crowded. I have one unit and so far it fulfills my needs but if I decide that I need expansion it is available and should be better results than other options. My phone and tablet are WiFi 6E so I can use it on it’s own frequency because there is almost no others in the area that shows up on WiFi analyzer. I keep my desk top wired since it is close to router and I use it for the biggest part of what I do. The router has less wired ports than my previous routers but my desk top and the NAS are the only things I keep on wire anyway and there are simple options if needed. The setup and settings program is similar to previous Asus routers I have had but a little different with more options.Set up was a little confusing but like everything else these days no companies seem to realize they aren’t writing instructions for themselves or professionals but for the end users with little to no knowledge of these things. To be simple enough for a cave man to do it he would have to know all of the different terminologies there are for each piece of the puzzle because they can’t use just one term across the industry eventhough it is the same piece. It looks good and doesn’t resemble the others that look like something from Lost In Space but in my environment it looks OK and being 4.5″x4.5″x about 9.5″ it will sit in many book shelves given that the standard spacing is 9″-12″ between shelves. The lighting isn’t as intrusive as others with bright blinking led’s that can give you epileptic seizures in the dark and can be turned off in the settings as long as you don’t mind disabling the connection button and set it for light control. Which I did because I always disable the WPS for connection. (I am paranoid about push button connections) The reason I replaced my old Asus AT-RC68U is the antennas where breaking off, the signal seemed to drop out unexpectedly maybe from the antenna issue, and my newer electronics have better systems and I plan to add some security cams around with a wireless weather station. No external antennas on this one.
7 people found this helpful
Solomon Kadiri –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Mesh Router I Have Ever Used!
It took me a long time to decide to switch from my Google Nest Wifi, not because it was great, but because I was so used to the full Google ecosystem and wondered how a non-Google device would fit. And of course, also deciding which device to switch to was a challenge. After an extensive search (shout out to Dong Know Tech), I settled for the Asus ZenWifi Pro XT12 and it was the best decision I made. For me, it has been miles ahead of the my previous mesh router. From wifi speed, to range, to throughput, it has been simply fantastic. For the first time, I’ve getting the true internet speed from my ISP all around the house!Having the choice of wired or wireless backhaul, dual WAN capability, 2x 5Ghz wireless bands, etc. is truly phenomenal. The amount of control you have in choosing how to setup and the simplicity of using the mobile app or web browser having been a joy.In summary, so far, arguably the best mesh router in the market.
AA –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The router tech I have been waiting for!
Asus hit a home run with this XT12 router design, security and wifi strength! Finally a router worth the money. Well done Asus! So if you can get one/a set, do it! You will be very happy you did. (I would definitely recommend setting it to dual band mode and following the advice of some of the other reviews on here as far as settings)
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Big improvement over Google Nest Pro
I bought this to replace the Google Nest WiFi Pro system that slows to a crawl and must be rebooted every day. You would think a company the size of Google would fix this widespread problem…but instead they lost a customer.The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 has been rock solid once setup. Initially, it appeared that all setup must be done through the app, which is not very good. I could not get the primary to recognize the secondary router. On ASUS support pages they reference logging in through the web GUI. This worked much better and I was able to get both units communicating. Since this router has 2.5GbE WAN and LAN ports, I was able to use this for wired backhaul. And of course, wired connections are much faster on computers that support 2.5Gb (you need switches that support this speed as well). I don’t really worry about WiFi speed but it has been consistent with no slowdowns, so that is a huge improvement over Nest WiFi Pro.The ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 supports lots of other features that would be useful to more advanced users and also offers “protection” options for various bad actors. I cannot report on the reliability of these features since I’m not using them.Overall, a huge improvement over what I had before and my wired network is clearly operating more quickly for devices that support 2.5Gb. This is a huge price increase over the Nest WiFi Pro mesh setup, but AT LEAST THIS WORKS RELIABLY!
4 people found this helpful
Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent system, pricey but worth it
These units are not cheap, but they’re the only ones I’ve found that work with my setup. I have symmetrical gigabit internet and I purchased 4 of these to cover a roughly 6000 sq ft area (indoor and outdoor). I have well over 100 devices connected over wifi at any given time.All of them are connected by ethernet backhaul and basically everywhere indoors I am getting 800 mbps+ download over WiFi. For whatever reason, the upload speeds are not as great, I can’t get anything over 600 mbps. Whatever, still good enough.Outdoors is significantly weaker, but I still get about 100 mbps.I used to have an Eero system and it was fine, but it was not meant to handle 100+ devices. This seems to handle it just fine and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
One person found this helpful
AmazonShopper –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Product (5 stars), Zero Documentation (0 stars), Okay Software (4 stars)
The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 ET12 itself works extremely well. The range of the network on the 2.4 GHz band covers almost our entire 2-acre property. The 5.0 GHz covers about half the property with strong signal as well. I cannot review the speed because I have not yet upgraded my ISP speed tier.We (my husband and I) are very familiar with computers and with stand-alone routers. This was our first Mesh installation. It took us 2 full days and several factory resets to install this system. If you accept all the defaults or you are a Networking IT expert, it may take the 15 minutes other reviewers have indicated it takes to install this system.The documentation is non-existent and the web-based software is not very intuitive. There is no user manual, just a quick start guide that is only slightly helpful. Each screen in the software indicates it will take you to documentation, but it just takes you to their shopping web portal. We did find some helpful articles at the ASUS support website. The software itself has all the bells and whistles you want and need – firewall, intrusion detection, IP address blocking, traffic statistics, guest network, SSID controls, etc. But it took a long time of poking around to find all of the layers in the software without a true user manual.There were several issues that kept setting us back during installation.First we wanted to change the default IP address. The software allows the change, but then we lost all access to the router system. That cost us 2 factory resets. We called ASUS Support for help, but determined that we were more knowledgeable than the support person. We ended up just accepting the default IP address and resetting all of our end devices that rely on this IP address (i.e., camera system, etc.).Secondly, we wanted to set up a wired Ethernet backhaul. The documentation just said to plug in the units between the LAN and WAN ports. There was absolutely no mention of the software settings. We incorrectly identified a section under “Administration” that had options such as Wireless, Access Point, Bridge, Repeater, and Node. When we made changes to that section, we again lost all access to the Router system and that caused us 3 more factory resets. We finally determined that there is another section for Ethernet Backhaul Mode under AIMesh > System Settings.Thirdly, my husband and I had a huge discussion and disagreement over how to interpret the small yes/no radio button options. One was grey, the other a bright white. We finally used the yes/no radio buttons that control hiding the SSIDs to determine which option was activated. The answer is: grey is activated, white is not. On another note, all screens in the software system are dark grey, light grey and white. Another color would have been much better. Printing the screens for reference does not work particularly well.Lastly, we also struggled because we set several devices to use static IP addresses within the internal router system. Some of them worked properly and some did not even after several ASUS Router reboots. This problem finally corrected itself after the router system had been up and running for about 24 hours.There are a few other little frustrations. The Quick Start Guide gives incorrect instructions for accessing the router system software. Use the Router’s IP address instead. The software option to register your product is also broken. Instead access the ASUS website directly for registration.Now that the system is installed and running properly, we are very happy with the results. We have also thoroughly documented the system for future reference, which is something that ASUS should have done especially at this price point.
27 people found this helpful
cujo6801 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very powerful and easy to install
These were super easy to install. Just got to read the instructions. Follow it and you won’t have a problem. They’re a nice size, not real big so you can put them around where you want them. I’m really happy with them. The range is excellent. I use them both for my DirecTV boxes now. I have on demand that works. I’m very pleased with them
Rick Williams –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works great
The coverage is great and the speeds are great too. I had a small issue on setup because I didn’t reset the cable modem, which still doesn’t make sense to me, but make sure you reset the cable modem and don’t just move your connection from one router to the other.Other than that, they are fairly large towers, but they’re not too obtrusive in our space. They do light up, so if you put one in a bedroom it kind of doubles as a nightlight.
Raj –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Don’t upgrade just yet!
I got this since my AXE11000 went in for warranty work and wanted to test the water to see if this could replace the system. My old RT-AX92U outperformed this router on all levels which is sad because that has some pretty bad expectations already. My AC-5300 ROG signal surpasses this due to directional antennas. The issue with this is that it is trying to compete with WIFI 6E devices, but it fails to stay connected. I have been a die-hard ASUS fan, but after seeing the pattern of new routers every 3 years I am done with ASUS. I was going by my RT-AC82U system which lasted a good 10 years before needing a refresh. This system the week I had it needed a constant reboot every day and lost nodes in the mesh continuously.If you are curious as to where I took my network. I replaced my unmanaged TP-link switch with a managed switch, added a pfsence firewall and now just have EERO’s running as APs and have been up for a month now. Yes my hardwire are not much more reliable and my overall network is secure and stable!
One person found this helpful
The CriticThe Critic –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Seemed like it could be great, gonna try again
Pros: Much faster than my previous Linksys Velop (WHW0302.). My Linksys setup was prob 6 years old and I upgraded to take better advantage of my 1.2 GB/s internet connection. The Velop delivered about 850-900 Mb/s wired and 400 mb/s over wireless.I haven’t tested my wired performance yet (the ASUS app doesn’t have a built in tester like the velop does) but my wireless performance has gone up to closer to 700mb/s speed testing from my phone.Cons: my “child” node kept dropping, even wired at 2.5Gb/s. I called tech support. They were terrible. They did have me try to swap the primary with the secondary and in its new primary role, the app wouldn’t even see it and the indicator light would never go solid blue indicating it was awaiting setup. So. I’m returning it to Amazon. For a refund and BONUS. The price has dropped by about $70 within 24 hrs of receiving my first one so I’ll save some coins. Just hope I don’t get another dud or ever have to call tech support again.
One person found this helpful
T. Gilbert –
5.0 out of 5 stars
So far it has been perfect.
I have had a LOT of routers over the years. I am a IT pro (not with networking) and have always been slightly up on the latest and greatest. My latest router started dropping the 5ghz ssid and knowing I wanted to expand the coverage with a mesh system, I went back through all my research again. After landing on this 6e system from ASUS, I broke down and ordered it. It is more than I wanted to pay but I know inflation is hitting every sector and it is what it is. So I did it.Install went absolutely perfect. Couldn’t have asked for better. The step by step setup using the Asus app on an iPhone was flawless. Lots of other people have given lots of details so I will not repeat it here. But I will say that unused to have sections of my house where the wifi would keep dropping and my iPhone 14 pro max would keep switching from wifi to cell. Now I am getting over 300mbps down and almost 200mbps up in the exact same spot.I have fiber internet and should be getting around 1gig service. My old technology never delivered above 400mbps even standing right next to the router. This asus is delivering almost 900mbps down and over 600mbps up on a laptop that is pretty far away from the router bit with no obstructions between it and the router.I will update my review if anything changes. But so far I am super happy with everything.
Vinnie Da Arm –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works very well except that some streaming services are super choppy
We are on AT&T Fiber (1G). The connection is in our basement. I wanted to get better signal upstairs and used to have another vendor’s product that died. I bought this one as I’ve really liked ASUS ones in the past.Setup was dead simple. I am an engineer so I wanted to tweak the security settings and it was easy to do and unlike other vendors (I’m looking at you, TP-LINK) who have removed the depth in favor of simplicity, ASUS still gives folks that know how to run a network way more power than other brands. Well done, ASUS.Overall performance is great across our ranch home. I like that you can apply filters and protection directly to each device (for kids’ devices). Super simple yet you can go deep if you want.My one problem with it is that certain streaming services (including Amazon Video) constantly pause or get choppy. If I connect directly to the Wi-Fi on the AT&T gateway they work fine. It is only with this device. I tried my old Orbi, and this didn’t happen there either.I’ve tweaked and optimized everything for streaming (and per device) to see if it fixes this, but so far, no good. These are latest Apple TV STBs. I’ll live with it because the stable and fast work connections are more important to me than streaming right now, but if anyone else has figured this out, please let me know.
3 people found this helpful
SDMNH –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Update: Buggy, baffling, frustrating…but I finally got it to work.
This review is generally the original related to Asus Zen ET12 (see update below): This is the most frustrating technology product I’ve worked with in twenty-five years. It just doesn’t work as it’s supposed to in a variety of ways and ASUS support is unable to make it work as it should. After walking you though multiple factory resets & setups (that always fail to solve the problems), they simply dump you with an email explaining how to request an RMA. Three of these devices behaved in the same erratic way. The firmware was updated to the most recent. A return isn’t going to solve your problems. They’ll just send it back to you with the same problems. Stay away from this system. It wasn’t ready for the market, it’s full of bugs and it’s terribly expensive.Update: With the help of third party troubleshooting tips I found on the Internet (NOT ASUS support!) I was able to get three ET12 devices connected using Ethernet backhaul and the mesh network is now working. ASUS support was useless. A few tips:1. For Ethernet backhaul first connect the devices wirelessly, then connect the Ethernet cables to the nodes.2. If a node device powers up to a red pulsating light even after you attempt to reset it (time and time again), the device is NOT permanently damaged. You do not need an RMA. You must reset the ET12 that is functioning as the router, then reset the malfunctioning ET12 node. A misconfigured ET12 router will prevent a previously connected ET12 node from coming up properly even after you attempt to reset the node device to factory state.3. Be sure to connect the Ethernet cable on your nodes using the WAN port on the node. This is counter-intuitive and unlike connecting most ordinary wireless access points. The source can be a LAN port on the ET12 router or a port on a switch connected to a LAN port on the ET12 router. ASUS support was not helpful in regard to this important requirement. The ASUS technician instructed me to use a LAN port on my ET12 nodes. If you use the LAN ports on your node devices they will completely disappear from the Aimesh screen soon after appearing to be properly connected. Everything, including the ET12 router will completely disappear from the AImesh screen if you connect nodes using LAN rather than WAN port.4. If you are using the ET12 devices without Ethernet backhaul the connection and configuration of the nodes is likely to proceed without much difficulty. The connection of each node takes an inexplicably long time but usually succeeds.Good luck and stay calm. I didn’t.
8 people found this helpful
BlackjackBlackjack –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! This is easy to set up and it works!
The setup was really easy and I’m not an IT person. You scan the QR code and it took me to the app which I downloaded. Followed the instructions so I have the Router and two satellite devices in a single story, 3800 sq ft house. (Actually the router alone was handling the house footprint, but I had bought the other devices so use them). The devices aren’t too big. You can see it in my home office next to my printer. We used to have problems with wifi and getting dropped coverage with 6 devices (phones, ipads, and computers) in the house. Now, if we have people over and everyone seems to have phones and devices there are no problems with wifi whether they are in the house or in the backyard. I should have made the switch earlier. Would definitely recommend!
One person found this helpful
WendyWendy –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great signal all around the house the less walls the better
I recently got an upgrade to fiber internet so my previous router could not keep up. I’m experienced with networking and I knew this was the best upgrade. It’s definitely a bit overkill but I see that as an opportunity to upgrade. They work great look even better and have great app controls. The signals will be stronger the lower the band 2.4 you could be at the other end of a football field as long as there is nothing between you and the router. The 5 could go about half as far but offers faster speeds. And the 6 with super fast speeds loses signal fairly easily but if you are close to the router there should not be an issue I single wall may even block the signal. If you are looking for a more reliable connection try the other 2 especially if you have more walls between where you need the signal. Overall great product with great range and speed would definitely recommend to others.
3 people found this helpful
srwells –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Problems with HomePods and HomeKit with these
These have a strong signal, setup was easy, the app is good.My only complaint is that these didn’t work with our HomePods for some reason. After a month of headaches, i started researching and found many others who have issues with asus mesh routers and HomeKit. I gave up and went back to my previous system.Unfortunately I missed the return window, so it ended up being an expensive mistake.
One person found this helpful
Tony –
5.0 out of 5 stars
These mofo’s are bad muddasuckas! 6e protocol is insane!
I have used the node both ways as a dualband smart connect with 6e ghz channel being used for fronthaul and back haul with 338 mbps down and 42 mbps up i feel is far more stable wirelessly and a triband smart connect setup with the 6e ghz channel as dedicated backhaul even tho they weren’t deaigned to do it and the new firmware allows them to do so now. The speeds were over 580 mbps down and 19 mbps up on a gig service with bad interference from my ac unit above my mbr. It destroys all wifi signal until this purchase. The range is insane. Pushing from 1.6gbps to 2.4 gbps wireless speed from device to network. But I am testing on an Samsung S23 Ultra. Microsoft surface pro 6 is getting the same performance. Click boom, click boom on sites. The vpn setup has been trash. Having issues with that but it does work and could just be because their are so many different servers to play with and whichever you pick you can’t account for it’s load without looking first using an mobile or os version of the standalone application.Overall it’s the dopest and syfy looking router I’ve owned. The light’s are beautiful at night time.Asus lied on the vip member extended warranty tho. Once it was registered the warranty was in fact for only a year on their sight with an 2024 expiration date. Gonna call in to see what’s up with that.
Rob CohenRob Cohen –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible – Finally a mesh system that works well!
After trying multiple hub systems from TP-Link, Ubiquity, and even Asus (XT8), the XT12 is the first one I’ve every used that works so well! Great distance, great throughput, and all my IoT devices stay connected! I’m using 2 hubs wired and 2 hubs wireless, and they all work great! Previously, I’d get poor coverage, intermittent dropouts, and IoT devices that dropped out and responded slowly. My Google Nest/Home speakers were the worst. They’d get into a state where had to power cycle them to get them working again. With the XT12s, even those stay connected. And I’m just using the factory settings…no need to disable features or tweak anything.I needed to mount one of my hubs, but I couldn’t find an XT12 mount I could purchase. I did find an ET12 mount I could 3D print on Printables. So, I printed that, and it fits great.The XT12s were expensive, but at least this will be the last wifi system I need to buy for a long tme.
One person found this helpful
Greg D Saiz –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Running three node mesh with wired backhaul and WAN Failover
We moved into a new home with solid or spray foam walls and had challenges getting wifi in all the rooms. My wife and I both work from home and we have a lot of HomeKit devices so I needed reliable connections to maintain a healthy marrage. Thankfully, I had wired ethernet connections in all rooms so setting up a three node mesh with wired backhaul worked well. Here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, internet isn’t always reliable so I also wanted something that supported dual WAN with failover so when my cable internet provider goes dark, the router will switch to a 5G Home Internet connection. It took some trial and error to everything dialed in and in particular, adding the third node was almost a deal breaker – can’t remember how I finally got it to work but it wasn’t simple. In my case, wireless backhaul was necessary as the mesh nodes would not connect reliably using wifi. On occasion, some of my HomeKit devices don’t connect to the mesh nodes properly after a system reset but that’s probably true of any mesh system. Simply power cycling the HomeKit plugs usually does the trick. In all, I’m really pleased with the setup although I’m sure many of the same features were available from lower cost mesh systems including several others from Asus. I don’t use the 6GHz band yet but wanted to have it for future devices.EDIT: Dropping one star because the latest firmware update from Asus required me to rebuild of the system and manually restore the prior version of firmware. The latest firmware issues seem to be limited to those using wired backhaul but Asus needs to perform more testing on their firmware updates. I’ve disabled automatic firmware updates and suggest you do the same. I’ll be checking networking forums prior to the next update.
4 people found this helpful
Rafael E.Rosado –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Able to sync up with other ASUS router
Did lots of research on a Wifi extender. Read all the reviews and watch all the videos. Worked as advertised but more importantly it solved my issue with the Wifi coverage. I would recommend this product to anyone needing cutting edge equipment with great up side and future expansion.
GaryMcQGaryMcQ –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Impressive Performance
I mounted these high on the wall about 50 feet apart. I have just under 50 devices currently connected to this WiFi system. I am in a 2,500 Sq Ft single story home and there is nowhere in the home that I do not have a >90% signal. At first, the Node, or access point would constantly disconnect from the primary router. I eventually updated the firmware to the latest beta firmware version, and it has never disconnected again in 3 weeks. Now that the 2 stay linked up, I am very happy with the performance of this system. The shelves I used to mount these to the wall can be found at:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4F1H4H9?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
5 people found this helpful
J. Grace –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Ready for Prime Time
Great range and speeds on the 5GHZ band only, on reboot good luck getting the additional nodes to connect. And the worst is with Legacy devices, Ooma, MYQ Liftmaster, TV’s, Printers, and several others.
N –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It’s expensive, but if you have the means I highly recommend it.
I have a large fancy mansion and as such I have first world problems like my WIFI signal not reaching all over the house. For the 12 years I lived in the house I’ve struggled with signal issues, poor streaming quality, and disconnects. I’ve tried different routers, repeaters, outrageously huge antennas, signal boosters, and the like with no real success. All my problems faded away with the Zen WiFi Mesh system. Immediately I was able to stream HD movies without issue, all our phones and other devices worked without issue all over the house, and all our wifi security cameras could stream in HD without any choppiness.It’s expensive, but if you have the means I highly recommend it. Thanks ASUS!
5 people found this helpful
Scott Jackson –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best add on to my ASUS mesh network
Added this as a 3rd XT-12 to my ASUS network. Asus mobile app found it immediately and it added a strong WiFi to our entire back yard.
Mohamad Hussein –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well made
Takes a few days for the connection to the different items to stabelized. Required me to reboot several times until connective became stable and at reasonable speed. Firmware upgrades are far in between, but they are usually solid updates.
Alvaro –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but confuse
Don’t cover the area they saying. Sometime you need to reset the node and add it again
Augsburg –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great improvement to my previous WiFi router
Speed tests are now 4 times faster than my previous Asus router (RT-AC68U). I was paying for 1Gb internet, but the old router could not deliver. Now I’m getting full Gb internet with the ET12. I also had 45 IOT devices connected in my home, which was a bit much for an older (pre-WiFi 6) router. The system set up for the ET12 using the phone app was easy. Since my old router was also an Asus, it connected easily to the ET12 – to expand my AiMesh network to three routers total. The dual 2.5Gb ports on each ET12 router allows for a very robust system. I use ethernet for the backhaul and it works great. A side benefit is the router management software let me know the ethernet ports on my top of the line Sony OLED TV and top of the line Roku streaming device were both only 100Mb, and were therefore much slower than connecting via WiFi. I ditched the ethernet connections to these devices for WiFi and now my 4k streaming is much better.
One person found this helpful
M. Rich –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solved Smart Home Connectivity & OK Google Device Issues
This replaced an Asus AiMesh setup w/ RT-AC3100 & RT-AC68U in an older home with stucco walls. That setup worked great if a device was in line of sight, but had a lot of issues connecting to individual devices or groups in other rooms and some items in plain view on shelving units and TV cabinet. As a result, the app and voice commands couldn’t locate devices much of the time. The strength of the ET12 2.4ghz and 5ghz signals has reconnected all Google Minis, Hubs, lights, etc. all the way to a wifi camera and mini in the detached garage. When I want to play a podcast or turn on light strips connected to a hidden smart plug, the device or group is available every time. We have gone completely wireless for internet connections with only 1 ethernet backhaul connection on the 2nd ET12 router.
Ac5000 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Signal Strength, Plethora of Options…Once You Get Away from the Mobile App
Bought these to replace my ancient RT-N66U router.They were very pricey but realizing I went 8 years without updating my router made me realize it would be a worthy investment to get out ahead of the 6E standard.Setup wasn’t too difficult, once you get away from the terrible mobile application. I have a specifically setup home network that wasn’t happy with the initial setup provided from the mobile application. However, you can’t go through and make simple changes you’d expect from the mobile app, like setting the IP addresses for the routers… This caused a bit of annoyance as I had to go through and rearrange different cables to try to get a direct connection from my PC upstairs to the router downstairs so I could finally get to the webpage for the router.Once at the webpage however, every option and setting you could need is laid bare before you. The page/interface was very similar to my RT-N66U but upgraded and much snappier at responding. I was able to get my setup working again and even added some additional security and monitoring options.Overall, I have been happy with my purchase. Other than the initial setup annoyance with the app, I’ve had zero issues so far. I set them up with the ethernet backhaul option which was easy to setup through the webpage. The range improvements have been massive and I don’t have the issue I had before with devices “sticking” to an access point and not hopping to the stronger connection.
One person found this helpful
angrycatmeowmeowangrycatmeowmeow –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Huge upgrade from ET8
I bought these after trying the ET8’s. The only reason I bought these is because Samsung phones don’t work on 6E on the ET8’s. The ET12 had a similar issue but it was fixed with a firmware update to the router. I can confirm my Samsung Fold4 works great on 6E with these whether I’m near the router or the node. The only thing I don’t like about the ET12 is I feel duped into buying way more power than I honestly need. I wanted 6E and I’m not about to wait around and see if Asus fixes the Samsung phone issue on the ET8, so I sprung for these which are known to be working.Design: These are beautiful in an industrial kind of way. They are also solid and weighty. The lights aren’t too bright, but they also extend to the brand and model down the side, which is cool. You cannot dim the lights, they’re either on or off. You also can’t change the color because the color conveys the status of your network. The plexiglass top is thick. The sides have lots of venting for cooling. Nothing about these feels or looks cheap. They blend in perfectly with my entertainment center.Wifi: I’m using dual band smart connect on 2.4 and 5ghz with a separate 6ghz network. I use Moca 2.5 for backhaul. Speeds and range are top notch. My outdoor wifi IP cams have no trouble getting a solid, fast signal with only two points. These 2 points provide a stronger, faster signal than my Google wifi did with 3 points anywhere in or around my house. I have 1 gig fiber internet and at the node on 6E I get 800+mbps download speeds and comparable upload speeds. Blazing fast internet no matter where I am.Settings/app/setup: The web gui is wonderful. After years in google’s wifi ecosystem, it’s refreshing to actually have a web interface to make changes, set ip reservations and monitor the network. Not only does it provide way more options than most people know what to do with, but using a computer to do stuff is often much more intuitive and easier than an app. That said, the app isn’t bad. I used the app to set them up and it was a breeze. Plug them in near each other, then follow the instructions in the app. Couldn’t be easier. The app can feel a bit disjointed at times, but still provides loads of usable info and settings. You can do most things through the app, and for things you can’t manage there’s a link to the web gui right in the app.Overall, I only have a few complaints. Price is the biggest. 2nd is having to go through a third party for advanced features like network monitoring and QoS. I’d feel better if Asus managed this stuff themselves instead of handing it over to whoever Trend Micro is. 3rd is the lack of USB ports. That seems like a huge omission at this price. There are also only four LAN ports per unit. 2 2.5 ports and 2 1g. The 2 1g ports support link aggregation, which is nice. These are undoubtedly more than I need. I don’t feel bad about it, because I plan to use these for the next several years. There is consolation in knowing my wifi network won’t outgrow these.
24 people found this helpful
David AleshireDavid Aleshire –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Wireless solution currently available.
I am a cyber security engineer but in my past i have been a network and wireless engineer and so sure i tend to look for the best solutions for bragging rights, however there are more useful features here than bragging rights. First of all i want to say i previously had the Asus Rog Rapture AX11000, so NOT a cheap router by any means, it was a “tri band” 11000Mbps router and top of the line a few years ago, however after moving into our new house, we realized we had a signal issue. Now as a wireless engineer the first thing i have to tell you is to ignore the “square footage” advertisements on routers, of course there are a ton out there that advertise up to 6000 square foot coverage, but this is talking strictly in an open space without walls. It isnt just walls that affect your signal either, how the walls are made, what is in them and even furniture in your room can affect your signal. One thing people do not realize is that a wireless signal can sometimes penetrate through a floor/ceiling better than it can an internal wall. This being said, our old router barely made it halfway from one side of the house to the other on a single floor and our house is under 2500sq feet total.This Router set is PERFECT because the two devices allow full coverage even with complicated floor plans. We set our primary router on one side of the main floor, and the aimesh node (second device) on the other side of the same floor. We now have full coverage on ALL floors as you can see from the images, even in the farthest reaches of our basement or top floor (separated by brick walls and several other internal walls as well as the floor) we never drop anywhere below 500Mbps and have great full signal strength everywhere. The last three pictures are from our backyard outside the house over 300mbps outside 50 feet away, 130Mbps is outside about 150 feet away from the house and the 46Mbps is outside about 200 feet away from the house.The other features are great, there is not much configuration needed for a first timer, just plug your main device into your modem and download the app, create a name and password for each wireless network and keep defaults of everything else. Literally just turn on and plug the second node in somewhere within range of the first router and it auto configures it. Thats it – just plug them in, name and password protect the networks and you are good to go. For those who want to play a bit, there are a lot of cool features, you can choose which network to use for the backhaul between nodes, or even set a priority (use 6hz if available, then 5 then 2.4 or only 5 and 2.4, etc). There are tons of cool features including smart VPN AND PARENTAL CONTROLS AND MONITORING, Mac filtering, built in firewall, QOS to prioritize gaming, or media, or work/business (Per band).Hardware features: one 2.5Gb WAN port and one 2.5GB Lan port (can be used for a wired backhaul between nodes or as an uplink directly to a critical device like media server or backup) and two other 1Gb lan ports for other uplinks on each.Pros: Amazing speed, Amazing configuration, Incredible security, Awesome features, INSANE range, BEAUTIFUL LOOKING DEVICES (These things look super slick and modern sitting on a shelf or counter) NO external antennas to worry about breaking off and replacing (like the 8 $25 antennas on the rog rapture and other asus routers), REDICULOUSLY EASY to set up and configure, VERY consistent speed and range, bragging rights for top tech, great support, 2 year warranty, easy scalability. SCALABLE, RELIABLE, SECURE.Cons: No USB on the back of the devices like other Asus routers (great for network attached media devices), Cost prohibitive: EXTREMELY expensive ($900 for this set) although you DO get two devices, the price will probably prevent several potential customers from going with this solution.
73 people found this helpful
Mitchman –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super WiFi performance
I replaced my 7 year old Orbi RBK52 WiFi mesh system with the Asus Zen WiFi Pro XT12 2-piece system today. All of my devices connected w/o issue. Wired and WiFi performance are equally good – I’m getting 560+ Mbps on a 500Mbit connection. I was also able to use link aggregation between the XT12 router and my Asus AS6702T NAS. Setup was pretty straightforward. I have two whines: 1) The router could not be located via the locate utility or via IP Address when connected to the old router. I had to disconnect the Orbi router and place one of the XT12 units in its place and then IP Address 192.168.50.1 brought up the devices Web page and permitted me to complete the setup (I dislike using any manufacturer apps). 2) During the setup process it was never displayed to me that the satellite unit had been detected, causing me to try many times to get the satellite detected in error. Luckily, I checked the configuration and noticed that the satellite unit was already detected. I was about ready to rebox it and return it until that discovery. All whines aside, So far, I am quite happy with the XT12. I have used ASUS routers previously, so I am familiar with their UI.Update 5/8/23: I have encountered an issue while creating DHCP reservations for devices that require a constant IP Address. Initially, as I added each reservation and applied the change, the router would make the update and restart. After about the 8th device however, the router would apply the change but failed to properly restart. Although visibly it appeared to restart, WiFi didn’t work, no device got an IP Address, and the web page was not instantiated. I resolved the issue by manually rebooting the router. I have the latest non-beta firmware as of 5/8/23 installed.
8 people found this helpful
Dodge DeBoulet –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Problem with Late Model Samsung Phones and Tablets – FIXED
EDIT: The firmware released on 11/28/22 seems to have resolved the issue with certain Samsung devices. As promised, upgraded to 5 stars!Original Review:I purchased this to replace another very expensive mesh solution that was giving me no end of grief.The hardware is attractive and seems to be full-featured; the firmware is highly configurable and has a very comprehensive and fast UI. To date it’s been far less troublesome than the mesh solution it replaces, with one significant fault: A Samsung Tab 8 Plus cannot connect to any ET12 child node on the 6GHz band. It can connect to the parent node, however. And other users have reported issues with certain Samsung devices besides just the tablets.ASUS claims my issue is a hardware issue and has asked me to RMA it. I don’t believe that’s the case since I can swap the child for the parent node and get the same results … I connect fine to the parent but not the child.Amazon is replacing the unit for me based on ASUS’ RMA request, but I’m not confident this will resolve the issue. I will update this review once the replacement is installed with any successes/failures.EDIT: The latest exchange of emails with ASUS regarding the 6E/Samsung connection issue.First, my reply to yet another identical list of generic troubleshooting steps:This is the EXACT SAME LIST of things ASUS has sent me EVERY TIME. I’ve worked through them MULTIPLE times.The problem is a very specific one that affects users of certain Samsung devices. It is VERY repeatable.Can you find someone at ASUS with a Samsung Tab S8, S8 Plus, S8 Ultra, Z Fold 3 or Z Fold 4 and actually TRY IT FOR YOURSELVES and stop annoying your customers with the same rote response every time?If not, bump the issue up to Engineering/Development so that someone actually pays attention to it?ASUS’ Response:My name is Jxxxxxx Sx. First and foremost, thank you for your patience while we completed our review and research of this issue. We apologize for the delay, and are grateful for the opportunity to continue to assist you.With the escalation that was made for this concern, here is the response from our higher team.Please be advised that our RD team verified the issue in the lab and it seem the problem could be related to the android version on the 3rd party device, it is recommended that you report this issue to Samsung and check for possible firmware update.Please keep in mind that we are available for any future questions or concerns, so please reach out to our technical support team here: Chat with Us . This will allow us to gather more details on the description of the issue you are experiencing directly, especially on more complex and targeted situations.And my response:Sounds like they’re passing the buck. I have a few problems with this response:I had no issues connecting my tablet @ 6GHz to my previous 6E mesh solution, a NetGear Orbi RBKE963. I could connect to both the router and its satellites and roam between them. The Orbi had other issues that made it an unsatisfactory solution, so I returned it and replaced it with your ET12 mesh system.My tablet connects successfully every time to the ET12 parent node, regardless of which unit is operating as the parent. It fails consistently on the child node, again, regardless of which is operating as the child. I verified this with two separate pairs of ET12s.My tablet and phone are on the same version of Android and are running the latest version available. While there may be a hardware difference in the radios, it’s not one that other vendors appear to be incompatible with.If your engineers are convinced that Samsung is doing something wrong, it would be helpful if they would work with Samsung directly to find a solution, rather than make your customers do all the work. Or at the very least, provide some technical detail as to what is different in the child node’s “handshake” that might cause the Samsung tablet to fail. They’re obviously not exactly the same and would give us some ammunition for working with Samsung if ASUS is not willing to do it themselves.The ET12s have otherwise been stable and are performing very adequately. I’ve had none of the connection drops experienced with the NetGear RBKE963. If the 6E functionality worked properly, the ET12s would rate 5 stars …
42 people found this helpful
Kephyr –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice system with a few annoyances in the admin app
Overall I would highly recommend this system if you are looking for fast and reliable Wi-Fi in a larger house. With 2 unit setup I consistently get 100% of my broadband bandwidth in every corner of the 3500 sq. ft. house. The coverage outside of the house is also pretty decent. If you have a lot of older 2.4 GHz devices that only support older security protocols (older gaming consoles, smart switches etc.), it will work great for you as you can split them into separate networks. Also you can set up to 3 guest networks per band (up to 9 total). I encountered an issue with double NAT when setting up DDNS and port forwarding, but was able to overcome it by putting by broadband modem into bridge mode. Few minor annoyances: when assigning fixed IP to a device, the whole thing consistently hangs and reboots itself. Ended up assigning static IPs on device side. Second issue is that the whole system reboots every time you make minor adjustments in the management app, that shouldn’t require a reboot. Very impressive security features and a wide choice of VPN options if you care about them. The whole system worked without any reboots for over a month now and supports over 60 devices from different generations
4 people found this helpful
Sieber101Sieber101 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beast Mode
***update – the firmware has not been updated for around 5 months as of mid November ’22 on this ET model. The routers still work great and have no complaints but please note that this does not use the VPN FUSION setting as other Asus routers have so you cannot enable wireguard as an option through the Router. Merlin firmware is also not supported at this time. I still have high hopes for the future of this flagship device, but Asus needs to release a firmware update to keep it in line with it’s other routers settints. ******I came from the latest Google nest/wifi mesh system. After constantly needing to reboot my routers, I replaced it with the TPLink DecoX90 mesh system. The problem with many other routers is needing to pay yearly $60-$100+ subscription fees for basic security features and parental controls and limited settings. The deco routers did not meet my requirements and I upgraded to the ASUS mesh system.After researching all the Mesh Routers available right now, I was originally looking for the Two 5Ghz channel Asus XT12 vs the 6e routers. 6e devices are few and in between but the XT routers are not yet available in the US.I decided to go with the 6e anyway and I’m not disappointed. These things are great. I am currently only using the main router and a wireless node but do plan on hardwiring them to improve the dedicated backhaul as a few reviewers have mentuoned. although it’s not necessary for me with current speeds I’m receiving but I want to future proof the network for years to come. No disconnects on 35+ devices on my network, free router security (trend micro)/parental settings, built in DNS alternatives, vpn settings etc. Please note that there is currently no compatibility with Merlin Firmware at the time of this review.Aside from that, let’s talk about the signal strength. Wow. Even with all my previous dual/tri band routers in the same room, I still had interference from neighbors using the same channels. Not anymore! ALSO, using Asus guard you can connect another device (I’m using a pixel 6 pro) to your own routers vpn, free. No more paying for someone else’s vpn and trusting their logging policies.It even picked up signals the deco failed to pickup like my MyQ garage door smart hub.Lastly, I did drop one star for the mobile app. The mobile app is great, especially compared to other brands limitations. however, it does not allow access to all settings like enabling ipv6. You have to log on from the desktop to access additional router settings. Once the app catches up to the desktop, 5 stars all around.If you have a budget for some high end routers, I highly recommended the Asus ZenWifi
13 people found this helpful
D.L. –
3.0 out of 5 stars
possibly Fastest wireless backhaul to date
In my setup I get 1+ Gbps backhaul speed.The extra throughput is due to additional 5.9 Ghz band in the 5Ghz-2 channel, which is the default for wireless backhaul. XT12 wifi6 generally is said to be preferrable to the wifi 6e version of the same mesh when used with wireless backhaul, because 6e has only one channel of the same band type.if 6E dedicates the 6Ghz channel for the backhaul (which i take it is the default in that version), then for the clients the whole mesh becomes the equivalent of wifi6, not 6e. On the other hand, the 6GHz band performance for backhaul may vary — it would perform slightly faster if the nodes are close but worse if the nodes are farther and/or there are obstacles. The latter is usually the case. (certainly is the case for me).The XT12 wifi 6 on the other hand has a flexibility to chose between 5 and 5.9 Ghz bands in its wifi 5Ghz-2 channel which is its default setting for the wireless backhaul. In practical settings this yields faster speeds for backhaul than with a generic wifi6 5GHz. I don’t know how intelligent this algorithm is, but balancing open clients between 5 and 5.9 GHz it in theory can use the best combination as a appropriate. Also, 5.9Ghz is way less crowded (there are no actual wireless clients for this band, and very few router models). And there’s no loss in functionality for the wireless clients when 5GHz-2 channel is dedicated for the backhaul, either (since there are no 5.9Ghz clients).Conducted 3rd party benchmarks for wireless backhaul seems to confirm as much.Of course if one has a wired 2.5Gbps backhaul to the satellite, then the wifi6E version becomes more versatile in terms of type of client connections. Note that this system has 2×2.5Gbps ports, so it is possible to daisy-chain XT12 satellites with multi-gig speeds (rarely available on other mesh types).Bottom line, the advice is to stick with wifi6 version if one plans to use wireless backhaul; otherwise, wifi6e has ability to connect 6E clients on 6Ghz band (those that support it).I also like the ability to have management both in app and via web UI, neither of which requires an asus account (only if you want the remote internet-side management).I like the AI mesh feature as well, which makes this mesh cross compatible with other AI-mesh enabled Asus routers, including the less expensive xt8 models. XT8 are said to also have ability to use 5.9GHz band (enabled with a firmware update), so they may constitute a cheaper way to extend the mesh further if needed (although their radio apparently not as advanced as XT12’s).On the cons, i noticed the satellite having an intermittent connection drops after about 1 month uptime. Seems to fix itself after reboot of the satellite (without eco mode), but that’s a bummer.Also, it seems that even though i can hit my nas at 1.2…1.3Gbps speed with smb over the wireless backhaul (a pc connected via 2.5Gbps wired port to the satellite), the ookla speed test from the same pc maxes out at about 900Mbps, even though the Asus ookla test client at the router connected directly to the internet (same test server) consistently shows 1.4 Gbps connection. So there seems to be some additional speed loss when routing from wireless backhaul to WAN as opposed to LAN, at least for the test protocol. So even after spending $700, my local router-to-office bridge is still slower than my internet connection! Still, it is a huge improvement over my previous tri-band wifi 5 mesh performance.All in all, because of the advanced firmware/hw features, Asus seems to be the winner at this point if you need a fastest wireless backhaul mesh. AI mesh really just has no analogs in other brands, as well as the external account-free android app management.Update: With the latest firmware i still observe annoying satellite disconnects. They anecdotally seem to be less frequent if I disable DFS channels, but it is annoying nonetheless. Hope it will be fixed with upcoming firmware (still beta). -1 star (for the money!).
27 people found this helpful
Mizshutterbug –
1.0 out of 5 stars
This ASUS Router Constantly Dropped My Wifi Signal and the Other 2 I Still Have As Well!
This was the second replacement Asus Zen router as I was having lots of trouble just using the 2 piece set so I ordered a third to try and expand coverage and speed. These are not cheap! My house is 3,000 sq ft and they are supposed to cover up to 6,000 for just 2. The first extra single one lasted about 2 weeks if I remember and this one lasted about a week before it went dead on me. Wouldn’t connect to my cable modem at all, although it did at first. I have all new Cat 8 wiring and it was hardwired via backhaul to my Cable Modem as were the other 2 pack Asus routers. Well this one got sent back before the return window closed but I am now stuck with the other 2 Asus routers that will NOT hold a connection and I am making payments of over $550 yet on them. They are sitting in a box UNUSED! What a waste of monthly money! I went back to using my 4 older Velops and I am NOT getting dropped signals and am using the same setup and wiring I did with the Asus! So it’s definitely the Asus routers that are junk. I have talked to the Asus tech team, they helped me reset these things a couple times but they need an update or redesign to be able to work properly. If my older Velops router mesh system works just fine then WHY are these doing nothing but dropping the internet connection? They are supposed to be compatible with my setup here I was told. I sell online and couldn’t even upload my photographs without losing information using the Asus routers and my computers were right in the same room ~ hardwired! EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS PURCHASE and I will be happy to send these back to ASUS if they would offer me a refund as my return window for Amazon has closed. They are only 3 months old as I received February 10 – 2023! They seemed to work fine for a bit over a month (yes right until after the return window closed) and then went downhill. The Asus techs were really nice except for the last one I talked to. He was rude and basically cut me off trying to get this returned router setup right after I got it. I do a lot of reviewing and my reviews are honest based on usage. These are NOT worth the purchase at this time. I can’t believe I got 4 bad routers but I did. Definitely NOT a RECOMMENDED PURCHASE! Buyer Beware!
9 people found this helpful
Steph Doll –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
So far so good.Bought a single unit rather than the 2 pack to start, we will add a second unit later if we feel the need.I bought this to replace the crappy adtran 856 that fidium supplied us when they set up our 2gig fiber. The adtran had a 2.5g wan port, but only had 1g lan ports, so if I had any devices capable of using the 2g, they wouldn’t be able to connect to anything more than 1g. The adtran also seemed to consistently lose performance unless I rebooted the system.This has both a 2.5g wan port and a 2.5g lan port, so my computer that has a port that can connect at higher than 1g, is able to.This also has Wi-Fi 6e, which the adtran does not have, so my devices that are capable of using 6e, which I have 4 of, can take advantage of the significant speed increase that delivers.This also has a much stronger signal and even as a single unit, I am able to adequately supply good Wi-Fi speed and signal to the majority of my second floor and will likely not need to purchase a second unit, and if I do decide to, I am confident I would have faster than 1g Wi-Fi to all areas of my home.If you are a power user, this also has a very easy to use web interface for managing the router settings, that has many options for different routing and security scenarios. The adtran had an extremely limited mobile app for managing, was awful.This would be 5 starts if they provided an additional port or 2. There is 1 wan port, and 3 lan ports, 1 of which is the 2.5g lan port. It would have been nice to have at-least one more 1g lan port.
M. Wasserman –
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic product, ZERO issues!
I have been setting up networks for decades, and seen dozens of products come and go, but this one is DEFINNATELY a keeperNot sure how any one could have a problem with this product; setup was a breeze, configuration was a breeze, VPN/Firewall options/security options galare, and I havent had a drop out in 2 monthsits sweet getting 1.5 gig wifi all over my property now with 2 of these setup as a mesh!Expensive, but worth it
AGL –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rocky setup, but great 6e performance once it’s operating
The proximity mesh pairing with my existing ROG AXE 16000 did not work, and none of the troubleshooting steps on the Asus site helped. What did work was connecting both of the nodes one at a time to add them to the mesh, and then updating their firmware individually.Asus customer service is very poor and their instructions and tutorial videos always make assumptions about the end user’s network which are not universal. The product luckily works very well when you set it up the old fashioned way – the dhcp works out of the box on each node. The only thing is that the display light on one of them died after just a day of use, I’m still debating as to whether it’s worth returning just for that reason.If you have a large home, be warned that 6e has an extremely short range so you may experience drops like others are mentioning. If you don’t use 6e devices, I have no doubt that you’ll love this mesh system.
6 people found this helpful
HappyGecko –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works as advertised, if not better
It’s advertised as a fast working mesh network, but I still wasn’t expecting much. I have access to pretty fast speeds through my provider, but haven’t had a router that could do it justice. This one does, and even does better. Also works great even with multiple people and systems on it. 10 outta 10
HR –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It solved my range issues.
There’s nothing to dislike and easy set up.
Jeremy T. JohnsonJeremy T. Johnson –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Should have POE!
Great signal strength and speed. Has all the features (including dyn dns which seems pretty rare on mesh routers) you need and doesn’t push a subscription model to use any of its features. Wiring these for power sucks though. If you mount them high there’s really no good way to route the laptop-style power adapter to it. For the price of $700 bucks these should come with POE.
Maralina DG –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Coverage – Bandwith Use – Interface
As a previous network engineer, my perspective has always been more corporate which means my home network is secured and I prefer a good mesh with features and interface that provide the ability to control everything from the firewall to DHCP and QoS. While the interface is pretty good, every time I made a change to do something like add a static IP or add one of the mesh, the primary router locked up. Yesterday, my ISP connection seemed up however, I was unable to access the interface and had to reboot it, again. While it’s still early, the lock-up on the interface is just not reliable for my use. Coverage is decent (I have three) and a 2100 sq ft house. I work all over my house which is why I need the coverage. Setting up the firewall is easy with options that allow you to use keywords or URLs which is pretty convenient. The VPN options are nice as well. However, if I want to add or change DHCP, including the range or add a static address, the primary should not lock up and adding a mesh client should not cause it to lock up. One of the mesh was also locked up and had to be rebooted. I’ll be looking through the forums and ASUS for any similar issues and possibly firmware updates. If there are no firmware updates or similar issues, I can only assume my units have some issue which will lead me to go back to a more corporate use such as Ubiquity (which I had previously and worked great but the interface was lacking). Going to give it a few more weeks, possibly a month.
One person found this helpful
Zorn –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Asus ZenWiFi ET12
Amazing! I have been using an Asus tri-band gaming router, but needed to upgrade to a mesh network in order to transmit wifi signal to the barn. The ZenWiFi ET12 was exactly what I needed. I placed the main unit in my office inside the house and placed the node in the sunroom closest to the barn. It works perfectly. The inside unit no longer has any “dead spots” in the basement and the node in the sunroom sends enough signal to the barn that we’re able to connect a 4k wifi security camera. In the past with the older network, as soon as I left the brick house, I’d lose wifi signal. Now with the ZenWiFi I’m still connected with my smartphone almost everywhere on the property outside the house. The app is outstanding. The ability to “optimize” using the app is fantastic. The speed of downloads using the same internet service has gone from 75 Mbps to the full 300 Mbps. We’re able to watch multiple videos now without interruption on our network, and having all the devices on a single network is so much easier to administrate. Highly recommended.
james –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than orbi
So ihave been a netgear guy forever, but i got tired of orbi bad firmware and crap updates that forces you to rest almost monthly. This zen wifi does not cover as much as my orbi but it is close. I have a 3k sqft house that is long and the builder put the utilities all on one end. My biggest complaint about this mesh network is just as others have mentioned. I do not like that i see different thing on the app than the web interface. Especially when it comes to attached devices. It makes it hard to setup my kids webguard.
One person found this helpful
Shoe –
5.0 out of 5 stars
great upgrade from Netgear Orbi that was firware-update-bricked
Had been using a Netgear Orbi 3-unit mesh network for the last 4 years with good success, but recently one of Netgear’s firmware updates blocked me form accessing the router configuration portal to make any network changes, so I decided it was time to upgrade to wifi-6.I spent a long time researching different wifi-6 and wifi-6E options and settled on Asus as the brand, primarily for the no-subscription-fee parental controls (it is a shame that Netgear feels they have to charge their users for this!); but also for the range performance of the XT12 in particular (vs. the XT8, for example). I chose the wifi-6 vs. wifi-6E version for the increased range of the backhaul connection (I don’t have wired networking available between the base and the satellite) which uses the lower frequency band and does better and penetrating floors/walls.Setup was simple. There are plenty of options that made port forwarding and link-aggregation work for my home NAS and Plex media server; and the biggest issue I had was resetting all of the software configurations on my server to use the new domain address that Asus chooses (192.168.50.1) rather than the more common (192.168.0.1) of my Orbi setup.once everything was up and running, speeds were slightly improved up close, but HUGELY improved over distance; and the setup I have now with just the base and 1 satellite has better coverage and speeds than my old Orbi setup with 1 base and 2 satellites! The option to be able to add on other satellites (like an Asus XT8) with the aiMesh feature is nice; but I don’t think I’ll ever need to! Would recommend to anyone (and the things look great, too!)
2 people found this helpful
S. Smith –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Router – Power in a small and attractive package.
Since this is a Pro model as opposed to Gaming router I hoped it would not be bristling with external antennas, USB ports, etc that add cost w/minimal functionality. IMHO, this is a far more practical package and is very powerful, expecially the 6E band, since it does not compete with any of the 2.4 and 5.2 GHz routers in my neighborhood’s saturated wi-fi airwaves.It supports a 2.5 Gbps LAN connection from my computer and another to my provider’s gateway – which sustains 1.2 Gbps throughput on my WAN. Looking forward to the 2.5 Gbps connections. And ASUS’s AI Mesh connects with its older generation and current generation AC/AX routers. I do not need the additional Mesh routers because this one has more range, memory and power than any of the other routers I’ve tried/owned before.Best router yet from Asus.
3 people found this helpful
C. Brown –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow. What an upgrade!
Been using a Deco 3 piece for a 3 story town home and a visitor questioned the network…. Can’t say they were wrong, but we had those things for years and it did show on the PS5 and intermittent Apple TV issues.These two blankets the house, speeds are nuts and stability and utility is awesome. Software can be simple in the app or full blown through the web, up to you but I use them both. Bonus feature is that you can turn off all the LEDs and hardly know the towers are there.
One person found this helpful
Steven G. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and easy to use
Does what it advises. No need to reboot to keep it working, unlike the Arris WIFI I used to have. Plus, my Smart Lights (WIFI based) are staying connected. (Once again, unlike the previous Arris WIFI). Excellent setup and menu options. Excellent power and throughput. Highly recommend!
Bear –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blazing fast
I replaced my ET8 ASUS mesh system with two of these. The ET8 worked well most of the time but it kept having drop-outs between the nodes and the WiFi signal was just not quite strong enough in some spots in our WiFi challenged home. I had to run at least 3 ET8’s to cover the house. I replaced them with two of these and the difference is remarkable. Download speeds have increased about 50% and I get WiFi from the furthest point of our deck to the front with not one drop-out so far. I stream hi-res music to 5 streamers simultaneously through ROON. I used to have to limit the resolution to CD quality otherwise it would skip, drop out and/or load very slowly. Now I have been playing up to 192/24 for 72 hours straight without even one skip (I play with volume off and check the history). These have truly unleashed the capabilities of WiFi. The app is also very good and allows you to really monitor the system and you can get as technical as you want with the associated dashboard.
2 people found this helpful
DiankyDianky –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful Asus Pro ET12
I thought this was going to be a single unit wrapped in bubble plastic wrap but nope, I was wrong for good, it came in a sealed original box, the pictures here on Amazon do not show the box as it does with the 2 pack option.I have a Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 pretty powerful as a Modem which provides with wifi 6 to the house. I have an office outside in the 2nd floor in the garage and I needed better wifi range. Well, after testing an eero Pro 6E (I love it but it does not separate the SSIDs so I had to return it) I decided to buy this et12 to future proof my home network. It was easy to set up: plugged it in, I downloaded the Asus router app and followed the instructions. Three options were displayed: pppoe, dhcp and static ip, I do not know what those meant so did some google and picked dhcp. Following instructions connected a cat8 to the Wan port (If you connect the cable into a different port it won’t work) and that’s it, gave my SSID, separated the 3 bands very cool this is what I wanted, I did hide the 2.4GHz band, I only need 5 and 6 GHz bands. It shows it’s working in Router mode, not in AP (Access Point) mode. Looks very cool, it comes with a lot of security options (I need to do more research to activate the best options for me) I love those ports in the back to connect more devices. It has great range, I tested wifi speeds and I’m getting the same speeds as wired when I’m in the same room.I’m really happy with my purchase, Asus is a very reliable brand and I’ll buy their products without fear. If you can afford it, buy it, you won’t regret it!
Sam H. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid WiFi. Tired of resetting your old or supplied router? Get this!
I got these to replace my Google WiFi pucks on Google Fiber and the difference is amazing.Without upgrading my incoming line, my WIRED connection went from around 850mbps to 975mbps which was unexpected but nice to have.The WiFi connection is also much faster and more reliable. I expected faster and was hoping for reliability, and I got it for sure. This has been a fairly straightforward set-it-and-forget-it piece of hardware, and I would buy it again for another property if I had one!
Landon PhillipsLandon Phillips –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neighbors get 3 bars
So I did so much research on these mesh systems and I did not want to spend 750 on one but I didn’t want to get one of the other lesser systems and it not be enough for my property. I was looking at getting two ROG Rapture AX11000 and the AX92U system instead of this but it was about the same price and they were on sale at the time for $350 (ROG Rapture) a piece. I read multiple places the AX92U ran real hot and would lose connection between the two routers and read the AX11000 also lost signal randomly between routers and you had to reconnect and I didn’t want to mess with that at all to be honest. I watched so many videos and I read so many reviews about the XT12. I eventually read a review on dongknows.com about the XT12 and it sold me with him giving it a 9/10 rating. Long story short if you are going to be wired backhaul use the ET12 but if you are using a wireless backhaul use the XT12 since it has a dedicated band for backhaul and the ET12 does not. I have a 19,200 sqft lot at my property and I placed the main router in the attic and the node router above my main garage upstairs maybe 50-60ft away through two walls (has a built out living space above it). I have 900mbps service with a SB6190 modem and I can stand at the back fence of my lot and get 300+ mbps its 80ft from the main router. In the house its near 600mbps. I also have another garage on the other side of the main garage and I get 250mbps in that garage off the node about 40ft away through two walls. Roaming between the routers is flawless and the app is simple and easy to use. Highly recommend this if you want huge range, fast speeds and to give your neighbors 3 bars. I hesitated because I didn’t think it would have the range but it is incredible how far it can reach.Update: I’ve had this 6 month almost and still killin it. Love the hell out of this setup. Added my property drone picture to give y’all an idea of how good the range is. The garage I mention the node is in is in the middle building or main garage.
8 people found this helpful
trebor –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works amazingly well
Using 6G as backhaul between both base stations. Bandwidth is not an issue, 450Mbps over WiFi, limited by my internet speed virtually anywhere in the +2,000 ft^2 house.Able to connect to the 6G WiFi no issue with my latest iPhone, but I don’t use that, I left 6G for backhaul instead which works very reliably.
Deej –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Perfect upgrade from Apple Time Capsule
I have been hesitant upgrading my time capsule and AirPort Extreme pseudo mesh set up, I was only getting 350Mbps.I am glad I bit the bullet, I even bought the ET12 used to save some money and it was like new.I immediately upgraded the firmware and set up the second 2.5gig port to a switch, that goes to my pc and the second node. My pc maxes out my Comcast 1400Mbps plan, real world download speeds of 175MB/s, downloads are unreal, nearly doubling my wired throughput.On my laptop the wireless connects at 1200Mbps, and my iPhone 13 Pro Max I get a speed test of roughly 650-700mbps.Coverage wise I couldn’t be happier, I live in an apartment with a lot of interference, I set the freqs to the least busiest channels and I haven’t had a single issue. Initially Asus auto channels to channel 8 for 2.4ghz, odd because it overlaps with so many other channels. So I manually set it to 11 to be safe.The mobile app is nice, but it takes some getting used to finding what your looking for. The web log in is full of everything you could need and works well on mobile. But the app is nice for quick changes or rebooting.It’s also nice that you can bind specific devices to either node, so you don’t have smart devices connecting to a node that’s far away.Real-time speed in the app is nice, and built in ad block set per device is great.You can also turn off the LED in app which is nice for the node in the bedroom.I haven’t turned on any Ai-Protect stuff as it sends your data to trend micro, granted that’s by design for “protection” but it’s not private.It would be nice if you could select some of the Ai-Protect options that don’t seem like a privacy violation.I haven’t tried setting it up with ai-mesh, instead I used a moca 2.5 adapter to have It hardwired, and set one SSID for all 3 wifi standards, 2.4ghz 5ghz and 6ghz.A definite upgrade from my 10 year old time capsule set up. If your hesitant or don’t need mesh you can also buy one node or use an older Asus router for Ai mesh.
6 people found this helpful
The WizThe Wiz –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Meet the Bugatti of Wi-Fi Routers: Flawless Internet for the Whole Family!
As an IT whiz and programmer who runs Ethereum validators and manages my own web server, I know a thing or two about internet and Wi-Fi. Throw in four kids with Xboxes, tablets, laptops, and TVs, and we’ve got ourselves a serious demand for a flawless online experience.I started my journey with the Nest WiFi Pro, but it turned out to be a total flop. My ISP’s stock router outperformed it. No joke.Determined not to waste any more cash, I spent a solid 20 hours researching Wi-Fi routers and landed on the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12. With fiber optic internet and 2 Gbps upload/download bandwidth, this router is a true powerhouse. It not only handles my full bandwidth but craves more.I got two of these bad boys for a mesh setup and, instead of using Wi-Fi for the backhaul connection, I grabbed a nifty MOCA adapter and linked it to my cable TV wire. Now, internet zips to the other side of my house where the second unit resides. My kids, web server, and I are all ecstatic. We’ve never experienced such fantastic internet!The Wi-Fi signal on this baby is so potent that I can be in my neighbor’s house across the street and still be connected. Plus, it boasts stellar parental controls, network optimization, device management, bandwidth limiting options (perfect for my torrent-crazy teenager), remote management, and even a free built-in VPN to keep nosy internet providers at bay.If I had to suggest an improvement for this router, I’d be lying through my teeth. It’s the Bugatti of Wi-Fi routers, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends and family. ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12, you’ve truly outdone yourself!
9 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love the Mesh Router System but it has flaws.
This router is absolutely amazing to get the most internet speed possible out of your ISP. I am constantly getting near gig speed on a wireless backhaul which is impressive. I have yet to experience any sort of signal drop or connectivity issue that plagued my prior system.As with such a expensive system I was disappointed to find out that this mesh system does not have a USB port. For the amount this thing costs, that should of been a EASY and inexpensive add-on from ASUS on a manufacturing standpoint. My other knock- this thing does not have a native VLAN configuration under it’s LAN tab on the ASUS router interface. This should be a high end router system and missing those 2 things can be a deal breaker unless you have a dedicated switch with VLAN support or a stand alone NAS on the USB side which can increase your overall costs as your network becomes more complex.Overall really solid device but ASUS can do a way better job in providing all the known features one would expect from a top end router.
Sharon Finlinson –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Product
Tried many other vendors and this out performed the all.