The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 gaming router with Wi-Fi 8 is coming to Czechia. ASUS will ask 22,999 CZK for it

Wi-Fi 7 is just moving into Czech households, and router manufacturers are already preparing the next generation. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98, which the manufacturer calls the world’s first gaming router with Wi-Fi 8, has now appeared in the offerings of Czech e-shops. It doesn’t primarily promise higher speed, but according to the manufacturer, more stable connections in more distant rooms and less interference from surrounding networks.

Wi-Fi 8 promises more reliable connectivity

The new generation of wireless networks, also known as 802.11bn, does not aim for higher maximum speed. It focuses on reliability: speed should decrease more slowly with distance from the router, weaker smart devices should maintain a more stable connection with it, and Wi-Fi 8 routers should coordinate with each other to reduce interference. ASUS states up to double the average throughput and twice the range for smart homes.

The router operates in four bands simultaneously. The 2.4 GHz band can handle up to 1,376 Mb/s, two independent 5GHz bands each up to 5,764 Mb/s, and the 6 GHz band with 320MHz channels up to 11,529 Mb/s. The sum over 24 Gb/s is rounded by the manufacturer to 25,000 Mb/s, but no single device will achieve such speeds. Incidentally, the golden ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Edition 20 with Wi-Fi 7 offers the same value in the 6GHz band, which we wrote about in September.

Also features two 10Gb ports

The wired port equipment matches the price. The router has two 10Gb ports, one of which serves as WAN/LAN and the other as a gaming port, which prioritizes the traffic of a connected computer or console without any configuration. These are complemented by four 2.5Gb ports (one again WAN/LAN) and one gigabit port. Thanks to two WAN inputs, you can connect a backup internet connection that kicks in if the main line fails, and two ports can be combined into a single up to 20Gb connection, for example, for a NAS.

Inside, a quad-core processor clocked at 2.6 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, and 256 MB of storage are at work. The signal is broadcast by eight fixed antennas, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 ports are also available. Heat is dissipated by an aluminum plate that is up to 30% thicker and, according to the manufacturer, cools up to 35% better than the older GT-AXE16000.

What makes it a gaming router?

The AI Game Boost feature is designed for gamers. The router itself recognizes gaming devices on the network, continuously allocates link capacity according to current load, and sends data to game servers via the included third-party GTNet service using the fastest, not necessarily the shortest, route. ASUS promises up to 34% lower latency, but this was measured in its own laboratory with limited link capacity, so the result in a typical household may differ.

More general features will also be useful. WiFi Insight continuously monitors interference and stores a 24-hour event history, allowing you to retrospectively find out why the network was problematic in the evening. AiProtection blocks ads, trackers, and dangerous websites, while Guest Network Pro creates up to five separate networks, for example, for smart homes, children, or VPNs. AiMesh support is also included, so you can extend coverage with another ASUS router.

Does it make sense to buy it now?

The 802.11bn standard is not yet finalized. ASUS on its website itself points out that full utilization of Wi-Fi 8 requires compatible devices and some features may only arrive with firmware updates. Manufacturers have already announced chips for phones and laptops, but according to available information, no such device that officially supports Wi-Fi 8 is currently on sale. Thus, your entire household will communicate with the router via Wi-Fi 7 or an older standard for now.

The golden GT-BE98 Edition 20 with Wi-Fi 7 offers very similar ports and individual band performance, and it’s three thousand cheaper. The premium for the GT-BN98 is thus mainly worthwhile for those who change their router once every few years and want to have Wi-Fi 8 ready when compatible phones and laptops arrive.

Price and availability

On Alza, you can pre-order the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 for 22,999 CZK with a 36-month warranty. If the price drops before sales begin, the store will refund the difference.

Would you buy a Wi-Fi 8 router before devices that fully utilize it arrive?

Source: ASUS