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ASUS RT-AX3000 [RT-AX58U] Review – Should You Get It?

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Our Verdict

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The ASUS RT-AX3000 is, in our opinion, the best option in the mid-range category.

Performance-wise, the RT-AX3000 excels. We were able to get 889.41 Mbps on Wi-Fi, significantly more than any of its direct competitors like the TP-Link AX50.

The biggest issue for this router is its lackluster range, where even some budget options do better.

Welcome to our review of the ASUS RT-AX3000, also known as RT-AX58U.

We will refer to the router as RT-AX3000 in this article since that is the “global” designation. But everything here should also apply to the RT-AX58U model. Which, as far as anyone can tell, is the exact same device.

The ASUS RT-AX3000 is a compact but potent mid-range router that delivers excellent performance. Not to mention, it comes in at an incredible price.

Its small size might have you think that the RT-AX3000 is lacking power or features. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Let’s take a deeper look into this great device so you can decide if it meets your needs.

ASUS RT-AX3000 Overview

The ASUS RT-AX3000 is a dual-band, Wi-Fi 6 router. It broadcasts in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. As a router, it will need to be paired up with a modem in order to have an Internet connection (not for fiber).

Since it’s compatible with ASUS AiMesh, the RT-AX3000 can also double as either the main router or one of the nodes in a mesh Wi-Fi system. More on that later.

In general, it’s hard to go wrong with the RT-AX3000.

For a mid-range router, and a price that certainly supports that claim, you will be pressed to find a better option.

For starters, this router packs much more features than its competitors (as is usually the case with ASUS). 

Things usually reserved for higher-end units, like 160 MHz channels, dual-WAN support, and a mobile app are all present.

On top of that, its performance is borderline premium, being able to output almost gigabit speeds on Wi-Fi. 

And that’s just the beginning. Let’s go over the AX3000 spec sheet, discuss some of its most important features, and see if it’s truly a device worth your money.

ASUS RT-AX3000 Specs

For more info, check out the official datasheet.

Let’s get right into it!

Performance – 4.4

Router manufacturers usually trick you into believing router speeds that are not real. For example, the ASUS RT-AX3000 site claims it can reach 3000 Mbps. [1]

This claimed speed is an aggregation of all of its band’s capacities, and no single device is able to achieve it.

When testing the RT-AX3000 ourselves, we were able to get 889.41 Mbps in the 5 GHz band at 5 feet distance using a Wi-Fi 6 2×2 device.

That might not be what’s advertised on ASUS’s website, but it’s still pretty remarkable. Especially compared to its direct competitors like the TP-Link AX50.

For example, while costing arguably the same, the TP-Link Archer AX50 was about 25% slower during our tests.

The RT-AX3000’s lack of range is the one drawback worth mentioning. 

While it still might perform better than competitors at longer ranges, going too far left us without any signal at all. Something that didn’t happen with other routers.

With other mid-range options, even if their performance was severely handicapped, you could at least connect.

This can be solved using mesh Wi-Fi. However, since the RT-AX3000 is a dual-band router, expect the performance of the nodes to be slower than the main router.

This is because satellite nodes use part of the available bandwidth to connect back to the main router.

Features – 4.8

This is where the RT-AX3000 really shines. It is packed with free features that either cost extra, or simply aren’t present in competitors at this price point.

Starting with ASUS’s great web interface, which stands as a favorite amongst enthusiasts. The web portal opens the door to a plethora of features that are sure to cover most, if not all, home networking needs.

Let’s explore some of them.

Wide Channels

The RT-AX3000 supports 160 MHz channels, which means more speed. However, your client devices will need to support them.

Plus, if you live in a crowded area, it might create some interference with other 5 GHz signals. If you want to learn more about channel widths and their benefit, check out this article.

AiMesh

You can use the RT-AX3000 as either the main router or as a satellite for a mesh Wi-Fi system.

It is able to pair up with any other ASUS device that supports AiMesh to create a seamless Wi-Fi network that can cover much larger areas than a stand-alone router. 

While satellites will perform slightly slower than the main router, we think AiMesh still works very well. 

For maximum mesh performance regardless of what device you are connecting to, you will need a dedicated mesh system or tri-band routers. 

ASUS App

ASUS’s Router App is a free, alternative way to manage all your router features and configurations. 

It lets you do most of what you can do in the web interface, right from your mobile devices.

The best part? No account creation is required, and no hidden in-app purchases.

QoS

A mid-range router with quality of service is not a surprise. But we want to give a special shout-out to ASUS because the RT-AX3000 excels compared to its competitors.

It offers both regular and adaptive QoS, as well as a bandwidth limiter.

For adaptive QoS, you are able to choose from a wide array of categories depending on your needs. It includes Gaming, Streaming, Web Surfing, File Transfers, and most recently Video Conferencing as prioritization options. 

If you are missing any of the options above, a firmware upgrade should make them show up.

ASUS QoS definitely goes the extra mile, and at this price point, it’s hard to beat.

Signal and Performance

The RT-AX3000 offers beamforming, MU-MIMO, and the more advanced OFDMA. 

With beamforming, the router will use its antennas to “point” its signal directly to your devices, meaning an improved reception.

With MU-MIMO and OFDMA, the router can leverage each of its individual antennas to connect to multiple devices simultaneously, keeping each stream direct and separate. 

There is no need for additional configuration to take advantage of these. However, your client devices need to support them.

AiProtection

Things like AiProtection are what make ASUS stand out. 

It comes standard, and free of charge, for life in most ASUS routers. AiProtection offers a very welcome set of additional security features to help you always keep your home network secure.

Within AiProtection you’ll find network protection (supported by Trend Micro), security assessments, malicious site blocking, infected device blocking, and various other features that will keep your security game strong.

Keep in mind that AiProtection is not perfect, or the only security you’ll ever need. But as a free feature, it does an amazing job in covering the basics of network security.

Parental Controls

Parental controls are present in the RT-AX3000 but might be too simple for some of the most concerned parents. 

It can only block content from ASUS pre-defined categories like Adult Content, Instant Messaging, and others. This might mean that some unwanted content can slip through the cracks.

And while there is a time management/schedule option to cut off the Internet from specific devices, there is no specific site or app blocking.

Design – 3.9

The first thing you’ll notice about the RT-AX3000 is how small it is. 

Looking at pictures online you might think it’s an intimidating device. But the truth is it’s even smaller than a “regular” router. It’s very lightweight at 538 grams, and can also be easily mounted to a wall.

Apart from that, it is very “normal” looking. It looks just like you expect a router to look. So, while there isn’t anything bad to say about its looks, it’s nothing to write home about either. 

The 4 antennas certainly make a statement, but we didn’t find them to be a problem. And while you can’t remove any of them (not that you should anyway), you can move them around or point them in different directions if needed.

As for ports, it’s as mid-range as they come. Four ethernet gigabit LAN ports and one gigabit WAN port with dual-WAN support. No multi-gig ports are available, though you are unlikely to need them in a home setting.

A standard USB 3.0 port is also included, for either storage, printers, or updates.

Setup – 4.6

Setting up the RT-AX3000 as a stand-alone router was simple and quick. 

You’ll just need to connect one of your devices to the router, either by using one of the ethernet ports or by connecting to the default ASUS Wi-Fi signal once you turn it on.

Then, access the router’s menu by browsing to its default IP address (192.168.50.1) or by accessing router.asus.com. 

The rest is pretty much standard. If you want to learn more about setting up your router, make sure to check out this guide.

Alternatively, you can download the ASUS mobile app, connect to the default Wi-Fi and set up your whole network right from your phone or tablet. 

Value – 4.5

This is another section where the RT-AX3000 stands out. Priced as a mid-range option, it offers features and performance its direct competitors haven’t been able to match. 

Sure, you can spend half the cost and still get a good-enough router. Or spend $500 and get a more powerful device. 

But if we view it from a price vs. performance perspective, the RT-AX3000 seems to always come out on top of similarly priced options.

It’s important to note that even after mentioning all of the above, value is subjective to each individual situation.

If you only have a 5 Mbps DSL Internet connection, no matter how good this router is, it’s not going to be a good value for you. 

You need to make sure your bandwidth can take advantage of its capabilities for it to be worth it.

Reviews of the RT-AX3000

Reviews for the ASUS RT-AX3000 are overwhelmingly positive. A quick Google search will result in hundreds of  8/10 or 4/5 reviews, often even better. 

And they are not just from experts or reviewers. Customer reviews seem to indicate consumers are having no problems setting it up or getting the expected performance out of it.

But as you might expect, it’s not perfect. 

Most user complaints indicate that its range is not the best in the category or that performance is somewhat degraded when used on mesh Wi-Fi. 

We definitely agree with the range claim. It lacks some signal power. For example, the TP-Link AX50, while missing some of the features, has a better range than the ASUS.

As for mesh, by it being a dual-band router we think it’s expected to see reduced performance when connected to satellite nodes. 

If you want to avoid this issue, you will need to get a tri-band router and use the third band as a dedicated backhaul. That way, your main 5 GHz band is free and exclusive for your usage.

Alternatives

Here are some alternatives to the RT-AX3000.

ASUS RT-AX88U – Same Brand, But Faster

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If you are looking for maximum performance while keeping the ASUS feature set, the RT-AX88U is a great option.

It’s faster and has double the ethernet ports. As you can expect, it’s more expensive, but not prohibitively so. It’s also much bigger, in case that matters.

TP-Link AX50 – Similar Performance, Different Brand

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As a direct competitor, the AX50 is hard to recommend. It’s slower and lacks some of the features ASUS offers. It has, however, a stronger signal and farther range.

If you are set on having just one stand-alone router, this might be enough reason to go for the AX50 depending on your home layout.

TP-Link AX10 – Slower, But Cheaper

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If the RT-AX3000 is way too much for your needs, a basic router like the TP-Link AX10 is a great option. This entry-level router offers the same range and great speeds at basically half the price.

If all you need is a reliable Internet connection and nothing else, this definitely should do.

Bottom Line

In general, the ASUS RT-AX3000 is arguably the best mid-range option out there. Sure to cover all the needs of most users.

It offers an incredibly competitive set of features and superb performance. All for an accessible price point. It is, in our opinion, the go-to option for the $100-$200 range. Even if it is more than what you need, you will be spending a similar amount for an inferior device.

However, if you are looking to go the budget route, it is probably more than what most households need.