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The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro is a retail router, but its availability does not mean Wi-Fi 8 phones, laptops, or other client devices have arrived. In Tom’s Guide testing, the Pro delivered strong results with a Wi-Fi 7 laptop: 2.300 Gbps at 15 feet and 950.6 Mbps at 50 feet. Those measurements show what one setup achieved, not that the router will outperform every device or network you own.
What is actually on sale?
ASUS said on September 4, 2026, that its ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series was available in Canadian retail stores, with a wider October release planned and U.S. launch details still to come. That establishes availability in Canada, not universal stock or confirmed availability in every market. Check local listings before buying. ASUS’s availability announcement
The series has two configurations: the GT-BN98 Pro, identified by ASUS as BN30000, and the GT-BN98, identified as BN25000. The Pro is the model measured in the cited review. ASUS describes the series as quad-band and advertises up to 30,000 Mbps of total wireless throughput. That is an aggregate headline rate across bands, not the speed one laptop or phone should expect.
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What do the independent tests show?
Tom’s Guide tested the GT-BN98 Pro for three weeks using IxChariot networking benchmarks and an HP Envy X360 with Wi-Fi 7. Its reported results include:
#1 Best Overall
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
| Test condition | Reported result |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 7 laptop 15 feet from the router | 2.300 Gbps |
| Wi-Fi 7 laptop 50 feet from the router | 950.6 Mbps |
| Two devices next to one another, simulated ten-user workload | 2.407 Gbps |
The 2.407 Gbps result is from a different test description than the 2.300 Gbps reading at 15 feet; they are not interchangeable measurements. These are review results in a particular test setup, not guaranteed household speeds. Actual throughput depends on the client, distance, obstacles, interference, router placement, and the speed of the wired internet connection. Tom’s Guide’s GT-BN98 Pro review
The results are evidence that the router can deliver high throughput to at least one Wi-Fi 7 client under review conditions. They do not establish that it is faster than every existing router, or that a typical home will reproduce the figures. There is no controlled head-to-head comparison here against every competing router or your current network.
Rank #2
- Ultrafast WiFi 7 – WiFi 7 (802.11be) dual-band extendable router boosts speed up to 6500 Mbps, with 4096-QAM increasing a single frequency band’s transmission speed by 1.2 times
- Five 2.5GbE Ports – 2.5GbE ports prioritize traffic, optimizing wired internet connectivity for maximum performance
- Hassle-free AiMesh Extendable Network – AiMesh extendable routers enable whole home seamless roaming with rich, advanced features
- Multi-link Operation – Link to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Commercial-Grade Network Security – AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro, plus a one-tap security scan and Safe Browsing
Will it work with Wi-Fi 7 devices?
Yes: the review’s Wi-Fi 7 laptop tests demonstrate that the GT-BN98 Pro can serve an existing Wi-Fi 7 client. ASUS also says its engineering tests showed measurable gains with Wi-Fi 7 clients, but that is a company claim, not an independently established result for every device or home. The router’s measured Wi-Fi 7 performance is the more concrete evidence available to buyers.
Tom’s Guide said in its October 2026 router guide that it knew of no consumer Wi-Fi 8 client hardware and forecast devices in 2027 or 2028. That is the publication’s outlook, not a guaranteed release schedule. Its GT-BN98 Pro review says the router is based on the draft IEEE 802.11bn specification; the available sources do not establish final ratification or confirm that this first-generation product implements every eventual Wi-Fi 8 feature. Tom’s Guide’s 2026 router guide
Rank #3
- Blazing-fast WiFi 7 tech boosts throughput up to 7200Mbps with Multi-Link Operation and 4096-QAM.
- Bolster your wired network capacity up to 34G with one cutting-edge 10G SFP+ port and one standard 10G WAN/LAN port.
- Establish always-on internet through AI WAN detection, versatile WAN configuration options, and a convenient USB port ready for 4G LTE and 5G Mobile tethering.
- Unleash demanding WiFi 7 and 10G network applications with a powerhouse quad-core 2.6GHz 64-bit CPU.
- Easily establish up to five SSIDs with Guest Network Pro for easy IoT device setup and management, instant VPN connections, and convenient parental controls.
What does ASUS mean by Wi-Fi 8 performance?
ASUS frames Wi-Fi 8 around lower latency, reliability, and coordination among devices. In an earlier concept announcement, the company claimed up to 2× higher mid-range throughput, 2× wider IoT coverage, and up to 6× lower P99 latency versus Wi-Fi 7. These are ASUS’s own design and test claims associated with a concept router—not independent comparative results or promises of what every GT-BN98 buyer will see. The announcement’s body text is dated January 6, 2025, despite also describing CES 2026, so it should not be used to establish the product’s launch timeline. ASUS’s Wi-Fi 8 concept announcement
ASUS’s September availability release also discusses simulations of possible future features, including Unequal Modulation (UEQM) and Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA), which the company says may improve stability or interference handling as compatible clients arrive. Treat these as ASUS-described simulations and prospective benefits, not independently verified results on a Wi-Fi 8 client.
Rank #4
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) - WiFi 7 (802.11be) dual-band extendable router boosts speeds up to 3600 Mbps, with 4096-QAM increasing a single frequency band’s transmission speed by 1.2 times
- Unleashing Multi-link operation (MLO) for Ultra-Smooth Connectivity - Link to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Versatile WAN configuration options - Establish always-on internet through AI WAN detection and a convenient USB port ready for 4G LTE and 5G Mobile tethering.
- Smart Home Master - Easily establish up to three SSIDs with Smart Home Master for easy IoT device setup and management, instant VPN connections, and convenient parental controls.
- Commercial-Grade network security - Network security with commercial-grade AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro, plus a one-tap security scan and Safe Browsing.
What hardware and wired connections does the Pro offer?
ASUS lists a 2.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, two 10 Gbps ports, and four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports for the series. Tom’s Guide’s Pro review lists eight non-removable antennas, WAN inputs of 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps, LAN ports of 10 Gbps, three 2.5 Gbps, and one 1 Gbps, plus USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0. Check the exact model’s regional specification sheet before purchase, especially if a particular port speed or layout is essential.
Fast ports matter most when the rest of the network can use them: for example, a multi-gigabit internet plan, wired devices with multi-gigabit interfaces, or a suitable wired backhaul. A 10 Gbps port does not make a slower internet plan or a 1 Gbps client connection faster by itself.
Best Value
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) - New 320MHz channels in the 6 GHz band and 4096-QAM significantly increase network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 9700 Mbps
- Multi-link Operation - Link to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Versatile WAN configuration options - Establish always-on internet through AI WAN detection and a convenient USB port ready for 4G LTE and 5G Mobile tethering.
- Smart Home Master - Easily establish up to three SSIDs with Smart Home Master for easy IoT device setup and management, instant VPN connections, and convenient parental controls.
- Subscription-free network security - Commercial-grade AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro, plus a one-tap security scan and Safe Browsing
Is a Wi-Fi 8 router worth buying before Wi-Fi 8 devices exist?
It may be worth considering if you need a high-end router now and your existing Wi-Fi 7 devices can benefit from its coverage, capacity, or wired ports. The published testing gives a useful sign of potential performance with a Wi-Fi 7 client, but it cannot settle how the Pro compares with your current router without a like-for-like test using the same client and conditions.
It is a harder case if your main goal is to unlock native Wi-Fi 8 features immediately: the cited sources do not identify consumer Wi-Fi 8 clients or provide independent Wi-Fi 8 client benchmarks. Also weigh local price and availability, your home’s layout, whether you need mesh nodes, your WAN speed, and the wired capabilities of the devices you plan to connect. Tom’s Guide lists $900 in its review, but that figure is not verified as the current U.S. street price on October 4, 2026; confirm the live price in your market. Tom’s Guide’s review
Would a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system fit better?
If coverage across a larger home matters more than buying the earliest Wi-Fi 8 router, ASUS’s ZenWiFi BT8 is a distinct Wi-Fi 7 mesh option. ASUS lists it as tri-band with 6 GHz and dual 2.5G ports, and claims up to 5,900 square feet of coverage for a two-pack. That coverage figure is a manufacturer claim; real results vary with construction, placement, and interference. It is not a Wi-Fi 8 product. ASUS ZenWiFi BT8 specifications
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