ASUS has the reputation of producing some of the best and top-class gadgets in the world of tech and when it comes to ASUS routers has justified their reputation and created some of the powerful Wi-Fi routers to complement the gaming hardware and boost the gamin performance. Today I will be reviewing the “most confusing” RT-AC Wi-Fi router series of ASUS. The routers of this series were introduced one after another therefore you may find it a bit difficult to understand the difference between the Asus routers. Today we will be discussing RT-AC68P, RT-AC68U, and RT-AC68R. So read this article and know what features set them apart from each other’s well as their similarities.
Similarities Between ASUS RT-AC68P, RT-AC68U, And RT-AC68R
All these three routers are from the same series so there are lots of common features available among them.Let’s check them out.
1. Dual-Band Routers
These routers are dual-band routers. So they all can operate in two different frequencies – the 2.4GHz frequency band and the 5GHz band. This feature is very common among the AC wireless routers. So you can expect superior speeds from all these ASUS wireless routers.
2. Latest 802.11AC Wi-Fi
All these three routers offer the latest wireless standard of 802.11AC. Well, many of you may become surprised about this as the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11AX) is already knocking at the door. But the 802.11AC is still relatively fast and relevant so there is nothing to worry about the internet speed. The truth is, your internet speed will be determined on your subscription plan from your ISP.
3. AiRadar Beamforming
ASUS’s AiRadar Beamforming is anew technology and it has revolutionized today’s wireless performance. This new technology works by directing the Wi-Fi signals directly to the connected client. It is like you are shouting towards someone in a particular direction rather thanshouting for everyone at once. So with this new technology, the client will get stronger signals regardless of their location.
4. Remote Control Via AiCloud
You can control all these three routers remotely via AiCloud. AiCloud also lets you monitor and manage these ASUS routers. This is a great feature and you don’t have to worry about your kids going over your bandwidth quota while you are not at home. Moreover, you can keep track of what is happening at home conveniently.
5. Advanced QoS
This is an excellent feature for gamers and avid internet users. Because with this advanced QoS your network experience will be very smooth.If you require a continuous network connection and if you don’t want your network experience compromised then make sure you have properly set up the advanced QoS. This feature will keep your home network protected from congestion.
6. USB 3.0 Ports
These ASUS routers have USB 3.0 ports. So you can easily share media and HD streaming which is very convenient. All these three models come with USB 3.0 ports. You can connect USB-enabled devices like external storage drives, printers, or a 3G/4G dongle to these ASUS routers.
Comparison Between ASUS RT-AC68P, RT-AC68U, And RT-AC68R
| Device Name | CPU | USB Ports | USB Types | Frequency | No Of Antennas | Top Speeds | LAN Ports | WAN Ports |
| ASUS RT-AC68P | 1GHz | 2 | USB 2.0 & 3.0 | Dual-band | 3 | 1.9Gbps | 4 | 1 |
| RT-AC68U | 1GHz | 2 | USB 2.0 & 3.0 | Dual-band | 3 | 1.9Gbps | 4 | 1 |
| RT-AC68R | 1GHz | 2 | USB 2.0 & 3.0 | Dual-band | 3 | 1.9Gbps | 4 | 1 |
1. ASUS Wireless AC1900 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router (RT-AC68P)
This is a very stylish router from ASUS thanks to its metallic, futuristic look. Many people confuse RT-AC68P with the RT-AC68U. But the true fact is RT-AC68P is the updated version of the RT-AC68U. The RT-AC68P is new, much improved, and better than the previous version. The setup of this router is very easy and the best part is you can remotely manage your network with the Asus Router mobile app. This router has advanced settings that you can tweak to get the optimum performance. You can also tweak the SSID settings that mean you can configure things on your LAN settings and much more.The RT-AC68P router has a more futuristic look compared to the RT-AC68U router.
Performance Of Asus RT-AC68P
This router was tested several times and it always delivers on the 5GHz band.The speed on the 2.4GHz band was also strong and there was no problem or performance drop when we increased the distance between the router and the connected client.So if you have a good connection from your Internet Service Provider then you will get a continuous speed of over 300Mbpson the 5GHz band.
Performance-wise there is hardly any difference between the RT-AC68P and RT-AC68U because they are identical in almost every feature like the throughput speed, processor speed, clock rate, etc. Though both processors have the same speed the RT-AC68P has a relatively new one. The RT-AC68P router comes with a slightly faster 1GHz dual-core processorso it will process things slightly faster than the RT-AC68U.
With this router, you can transfer heavy files and data quite easily. So, the overall performance of this router does worth the money. Moreover, it comes with lots of management features so buying this router will be a great decision for you if you are using lots of devices.
Use Of Asus RT-AC68P
If you have a large home then you should buy the Asus RT-AC68P router. This router ensures speed and responsiveness at the highest level. With this router, you can constantly transfer heavy files and data at a faster speed thanks to the 3.0 USB port.You can connect as many devices you wan but the performance won’t reduce. This router is an excellent choice for gamers because you can use it for 4K streaming.�?
Pros Of Asus RT-AC68P
1. Parental controls with the Ai Protection feature
2. Advanced wireless settings
3. Easy installation with the Setup wizard
4. Excellent performance on both bands
5. Strong signal strength on short and long-range
6. Comprehensive Network Protection
Cons Of Asus RT-AC68P
1. No support for MU-MIMO data streaming
2. Still using a USB 2.0 port despite many devices using USB 3.0 nowadays
2. Asus AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router (RT-AC68U)
The Asus RT-AC68U is an excellent router with great built quality, attention to details and the materials used in this router makes it like a strong device that will withstand a long time.It is a dual-band router and it has the latest 802; 11 AC 3×3 technology used and you can get a combined speed of up to 1900 Mbps. The CPU of this router lets a user do multi-tasking because it has separate lanes for Wi-Fi and USB data. This router is very easy to setup thanks to the ASUSWRT web-based interface. The dual-band connectivity of this router ensurescompatibility and performance.There is an ASUS router app available so you can easily control your router from the mobile.
Performance Of Asus RT-AC68U
Many users complain about their router or the signal becomes a week when lots of devices connected to the network at a time. But if you are using the RT-AC68U router then you won’t face this problem. This router from ASUS can handle multiple gadgets and devices like the Gaming consoles, multiple smartphones, laptops streaming data, garage doors, radio players, etc. and it won’t drop any signal or performance. Infect, this router performs better than many other routers in this price range.
This router has a throughput speed of 1900 Mbps but it won’t be good if you don’t have a strong Gigabit Ethernet connection from your internet service provider. Moreover, you will get an excellent signal from this router on the higher frequency band like the 5GHz band.This router will work fine when more devices will connect to the 5GHz band compared to the RT-AC66U, another router from this series.
This router is protected by Trend Micro and it provides multi-stage protection from vulnerability and it will protect sensitive data. It comes with built-in USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports so you can connect USB -enabled devices with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. Moreover, with the new ASUS AiMesh technology, you can connect multiple ASUS routers to create a whole-home WiFi network.
Use Of Asus RT-AC68U
You can use this router for all types of works. This router allows a bigger allowance for connecting more devices so if you are a pro gamer then you can find this feature very handy. You can use the USB 3.0 port to transfer big files and data at a great speed. Moreover, with this router, you can easily stream 4k videos so it is a great option for pro gamers to enhance their gaming performance. So this router will be your one-stop-shopping deal that could keep your home connected for a very long time.
Pros Of Asus RT-AC68U
1. 4 x Gigabit LAN ports let you use HD streaming devices on your network
2. LED on and off switch so you can avoid flashing blinking lights
3. Effective and easy to manage parental controls
4. Lots of customization options compared to routers
5. Get connected with ease with the WPS button so you don’t have to type the network password on devices like Wi-Fi enabled printers
6. The standing model lets you keep it unobtrusively in the corner
7. Excellent long and short Wi-Fi performance
Cons Of Asus RT-AC68U
1. Lack of a preconfigured network
2. Require time to setup
3. ASUS Wireless-AC1900 Dual-Band Gigabit Router (RT-AC68R)
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ASUS RT-AC68R is another great router of this series. It is a fifth-generation 802.11ac router and it can provide wireless speeds up to a combined 1900 Mbps. It is also a dual-band router and it supports both the 2.4GHz frequency band and the 5GHzfrequency band. This ASUS router is equipped with three adjustable antennas, which means the router will provide a more specific directional signal to the devices. So it is sure you will get a strong connection no matter what’s your location or the device’s location is. Like the above two routers, this router also supports multitasking. There are two USB ports available so you can connect peripherals like external hard drives, printers, or 3G/4G modems to share files or data.
Performance Of Asus RT-AC68R
This is a super-fast router from ASUS where the 5GHz band, 802.11ac gives 1300 Mbps wireless data rates, and the 2.4 GHz 802.11n provides rate from 450 Mbps to 600 Mbps. This router is compatible with ADSL2/2+, ADSL, VDSL2, fiber, and cable services which is very convenient. The three antennas cover more areas and boost the signal so you can enjoy lag-free gaming and stream almost anywhere around the house.
This router is equipped with ASUS AiRadar Beamforming technology and it enhances the Wi-Fi stability and improves coverage up to 150%. This router is powered by dual dedicated CPUs. So whether it’s a wired or wireless connection, it eliminates the performance drops that outbreak other routers with busy networks and maximizes both range and stability. So with the busiest home networks, you will get premium performance from this router.
This router is equipped with ASUSWRT graphical user interface therefore you will have the robust control to optimize your network. This router is very easy to setup and it will take only 30 seconds to configure the settings. So you don’t have to be a network specialist to setup this router. Some other key features of this router are IPv6 support, multiple wireless SSIDs, and encrypted VPN access.
Use Of Asus RT-AC68R
With the high-speed wireless data rate, you can enjoy lag-free gaming and 4K streaming without any signal drop. With this router you can enjoy HD video streaming, high resolution online gaming, VoIP calls, large files downloads, large data transfer without any signal interruption. The Asus RT-AC68R ensuresspeed and responsiveness at the highest level so if you have a large house or require large area coverage then consider buying this router.
Pros Of Asus RT-AC68R
1. This router features 802.11ac connectivity
2. Dual-band support: 2.4 GHz and 5GHz
3. Supports data transfer rates of up to 1,300Mbps
4. The Broadcom TurboQAM technology increases the speed by33 percent
5. This router is equipped with 256MB of RAM
6. It has both USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 ports
Cons Of Asus RT-AC68R
1. The OEM firmware require updates
2. You can’t use this router as a hot failover
FAQs About ASUS RT-AC68P, RT-AC68U, And RT-AC68R
1. Is The ASUS RT-AC68U A Modem Router?
Yes, the ASUS RT-AC68U is a modem router. It is actually a dual-purpose wireless router and DSL modem. You will get DSL WAN port and switchable Ethernet WAN/LAN ports in this router.
2. How To Connect ASUS RT-AC68P Router To A Modem?
You can easily connect the ASUS RT-AC68P router to a modem. To do so, first, connect an Ethernet cable from your DSL modem to the WAN port of the ASUS router. Then connect another Ethernet cable from the computer to any one of the LAN ports on the router. Now connect the power cable to the router and then press the power button.
3. Is ASUS RT-AC68U NBN Ready?
ASUS RT-AC68U is a dual-purpose router as it supports both the wireless router and DSL modem features. Moreover, this router can work with all versions of ADSL and VDSL2 and fiber (FTTH). So the ASUS RT-AC68U router is definitely NBN ready.
4. What Is The Range Of ASUS RT-AC68U Router?
The optimum range of ASUS RT-AC68U router is 200 feet. But if there are fewer surroundings then it can cover up to 300 feet.
5. How Do I Reset My ASUS RT-AC68P Router?
Reseating the ASUS RT-AC68P is very simple but you have to keep the router on when reseating it. Now you have to locate the tiny recessed reset button. You will find it on the backside of the router. Now Use a sharp object like an unwound paperclip or the tip of a pencil to press and hold the reset button for about 10 seconds. Now release the button and you have reset your router. But remember, reseating the router will erase everything you have done to personalize this router.
6. How Do I Reset My ASUS RT-AC68U Router?
You can easily reseat the ASUS RT-AC68U router but you have to make sure that the router is on. Now locate the reseat button. You will find the reset button on the back of the router. Now press the reset button for at least 5 seconds and then release the button. Your router has reseated to factory settings. When you reseat your router you will lose all your personalized settings.
7. How Do I Access My ASUS Router Settings?
You can easily access your ASUS router settings. First, open a browser on your computer and then type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar. Now you will redirect to the login page. Now Type the device’s username and password in the boxes and click on the Login button. You have access to the ASUS router settings.
8. What Is The ASUS Router IP Address?
The ASUS router IP address lets you access the ASUS router’s web interface to configure router settings. You will also require a name and password to login to the web interface. There are few IP addresses available for ASUS:
1. 192.168.1.1
2. 192.168.100.1
3. 192.168.0.1
9. What Do You Do If You Forget Your Router Password?
If you have lost your router password or forgotten it then you have to reset your router to bring back the factory setting. Then you can use the default login password to access the router settings.
10. Why Can’t I Connect To My Router Admin Page?
Sometimes this type of problem occurs when the router firewall is enabled and prevents the other devices to connect to it. If you are facing this type of problem then you have to reseat your router to solve the problem.
11. What Happens If I Reset My Asus Router?
If you reseat the ASUS router then it will wipe out existing network settings. Then you have to reconfigure all of your settings that include WiFi network name and password. So before reseat, your ASUS router makes sure you have backed up all your data like the WI-FI name and password.
12. Why Is There A Red Light On My Asus Router?
If you are seeing a red light on your ASUS router then it means your modem can not detect a DSL signal. The easiest way to solve this problem is to reset the router to factory settings.
13. How Do I Recover My ASUS Router Username And Password?
You can find the default username and password of the ASUS router in the user manual. If you have lost the manual then you can easily find the information by searching for your router’s model number and “manual” on Google.
Final Thoughts
All the above three routers are from the same family so there is not much difference between them and performance-wise they are all excellent. But you can consider the CPU speed, throughput speed, and price tag to pick one from these three ASUS routers. Let us know which router you have chosen and why?If you have any queries then leave it in the comment section. Our experts will get to you.