Quietly, Asus just unveiled its latest Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, the ZenWiFi BT8. This one is the third after the BQ16 Pro and the BT10, and as the number suggests, it’s progressively lower in the performance grade. Right off the bat, the most significant difference is the lack of 10GBASE-T ports. This brief first take will let you know how the new Wi-Fi system is different from its older cousin.
Asus ZenWiFi BT8: A stripped-down version of the BT10
The new Zen WiFi BT8 shares the same hardware design as the BT10 but now comes with lower Wi-Fi specs and processing power.
It’s also the first in the new family (and among Asus’s Wi-Fi 7) that doesn’t have 10Gbps ports. Instead, it uses the lowest grade of Mulit-Gig, which is 2.5Gbps. Still, it’s a traditional tri-band Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster and not dual-band like the case of the TP-Link Deco BE25.
The table below shows how it differs from the other two Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi options.
Hardware specifications: ZenWiFi BT8 vs. ZenWiFi BT10 vs. ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro
| Asus ZenWiFi BT10 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | Asus ZenWiFi BT10 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | Asus ZenWiFi BQ 16 Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Model | ZenWiFi BT8 | ZenWiFi BT10 | ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro |
| Antennas | 7 internal | 8 internal | 13 internal |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE14000 | Tri-band BE18000 | Quad-band BE30000 |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) |
4096-QAM (all bands) | ||
| 1st Band (channel width) |
2.4GHz 2×2 BE Up to 688Mbps (20/40MHz) |
2.4GHz 4×4 BE Up to 1376Mbps (20/40MHz) |
|
| 2nd Band (channel width) |
5GHz 3×3 BE Up to 4323Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) |
5GHz 4×4 BE Up to 5762Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) |
|
| 3rd Band (channel width) |
6GHz 3×3 BE Up to 8643Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
6GHz 4×4 BE Up to 11,525Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
6GHz-1 4×4 BE (lower) Up to 11,525Mbps (lower channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
| 4th Band (channel width) |
None | 6GHz-2 4×4 BE (upper) Up to 11,525Mbps (upper channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
|
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 |
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| Network Features | Web User Interface Asus Mobile App with Smart Home Master |
||
| Mesh Technology | AiMesh with AsusWRT 5.0 | ||
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) |
TBD (unavailable at review) |
Yes (at launch) |
|
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) |
Yes | ||
| Hardware Availability (at launch) |
2-pack 3-pack |
single router 2-pack |
|
| Processing Power | Undisclosed CPU, RAM 1GB, Flash 128MB |
2.0GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 256MB Flash |
Undisclosed CPU, 2GB RAM, 256MB Flash |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5GBASE-T LAN, |
1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN |
|
| Gigabit Port | 1x Gigabit WAN/LAN | 1x Gigabit WAN/LAN, 2x Gigabit LAN |
|
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | ||
| Hardware Buttons | Power Switch, Reset Button | ||
| Dimensions (each unit) |
7.32 x 6.26 x 2.83 in (187 x 159 x 72 mm) |
8.43 x 14.12 x 2.83 in (214 x 174.2 x 72 mm) |
|
| Weight (each unit) |
1.8 lbs (.82 kg) | 2.79 lbs (1.27 kg) | |
| DC Power Adapter | AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max. 3 A current |
AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max. 5 A current |
|
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) |
TBD | ≈ 360 (router unit) ≈ 250 (satellite unit) |
≈ 530 Wh (router unit) |
| U.S. Release Date | Q3 2024 | May 26, 2024 | |
| Availability | Worldwide | North America | |
| U.S. MSRP (check street price) |
$900 (3-pack) | $900 (2-pack) $500 (single router) |
$1300 (2-pack) $700 (single router) |
A familiar ZenWiFi mesh
As shown in the table, other than the port grade, the other main difference between the ZenWiFi BT8 and the BT10 is the fact the former uses three-stream (3×3) Wi-Fi specs instead of the top-tier 4×4. It has fewer streams. Considering its ports, though, that makes sense since the speed is limited to 2.5Gbps anyway.
Wi-Fi bands vs. channels vs. stream
Wi-Fi uses three frequency bands, including 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. The width of each band is measured in MHz—the wider the band, the more MHz it has.
In real-world usage, each band is divided into multiple portions, called channels, of different widths. Depending on the Wi-Fi standards and hardware, a channel can be 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz wide. The wider a channel is, the more bandwidth it has. Depending on the channel width, the number of channels in each Wi-Fi band varies, but there can be only so many.
Data moves in one channel of a particular band at a time, using streams, often dual-stream (2×2), three-stream (3×3), or quad-stream (4×4). The more streams, the more data can travel at a time. Thanks to the ultra-high bandwidth per stream, Wi-Fi 6 and later tend to have only 2×2 clients.
Here’s a crude analogy:
If a Wi-Fi band is a freeway, channels are lanes, and streams are vehicles (bicycles vs. cars vs. buses). On the same road, you can put multiple adjacent standard lanes (20MHz) into a larger one (40MHz, 80MHz, or higher) to accommodate oversized vehicles (higher number of streams) that carry more goods (data) per trip (connection).
A Wi-Fi connection generally occurs on a single channel (lane) of a single band (road) at a time. The actual data transmission is always that of the lowest denominator—a bicycle can carry just one person at a relatively slow speed, even when used on a super-wide lane of an open freeway.
Other than that, you can expect the ZenWiFi BT8 to be similar to, if not the same, the rest of the family in terms of hardware configurations, network settings, and features. Specifically:
- MLO is there, but AFC is TBD: The hardware comes with MLO out of the box. In fact, by default, it’ll use an MLO link as the wireless backhaul, a.k.a. “Smart Haul”. On the other hand, the AFC feature is said to be added later via firmware updates.
- Pre-synced hardware: When you get a pack, the identical hardware units are pre-synced. As a result, all you need to do is pick one unit to set up as the primary router, and the rest will be part of the system when plugged in.
- AsusWRT 5.0 firmware and core features:
- Multiple SSIDs via the “Smart Home Master” feature.
- Safe Browsing with DNS filters via specific servers.
- Useful Parental Controls and advanced VPN feature set, which includes VPN Fusion and Instant Guard.
- Advanced QoS and online protection (via AiProtection) to keep your network and devices safe.
- Flexible port management with support for Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, and USB cellular tethering.
- A comprehensive set of network settings and features managed via the web user interface or the (optional) Asus Router mobile app that requires no login account or subscription.
- Robust network-attached storage when hosting a USB external drive.
The gist is that if you’ve used an Asus router before, the new ZenWiFi BT8 will be right up your alley. In fact, you can even load the setting backup files of most existing Asus routers onto it, making it an easy upgrade.
After that, in terms of performance, the new mesh system likely has the same Wi-Fi coverage as that of the ZenWiFi BT10 but with lower real-world rates, which are limited by the 2.5Gbps ports. And this port grade also determines its top broadband speed. So, you should consider it only if you have Internet that’s slower than 2.5Gbps.
Pros
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with two 2.5Gbps ports
AsusWRT 5.0 has lots of customizations and free-for-life high-end features (VPN, Parental Controls, Online Protection, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, Smart Home Master, etc.).
Robust web user interface and helpful optional mobile app; easy-to-blend-in design
Comparatively compact with no internal fan; runs cool and quiet
Cons
Only three network ports; entry-level Multi-Gig grade
No AFC (at launch); not wall-mount-ready
Conclusion
The new ZenWiFi BT8 is not earth-shattering. It’s Asus’s new and more affordable option for those who don’t need 10Gbps wired grades. Generally, if you need Gigabit or Gig+ bandwidth, this new mesh system is right up your alley.
Unlike the case of the ZenWiFi BT10, which was buggy at launch, chances are the ZenWiFi BT8 will benefit from the latest firmware and work without issues right out of the box. Still, that remains to be seen, and so does its AFC support.
If you can’t wait, considering its friendly pricing, it’s relatively safe to consider a set today—it’s currently available only in a 3-pack. Or check back sometime in December for its performance in real-world, hands-on testing.
