ASUS - OnHub Wireless-AC Router with NAT Firewall - Slate Gray

I really wanted a router that I could prioritize devices on from my room, from my phone, so I could stream movies to my chromecast and cut my roommates bandwidth off (he streams shows while he torrents) while I do it. I have a rather large 3 bedroom apartment and above 15 competing wifis, so the signal can get noisey. From my room I was getting 14 mbps on a good day. Now I am getting 80 mbps from my phone. Really did not expect that. All of the tp link reviews complained about poor reception at distances. I figured Asus would do a better job and boy did they.

I used to be a network power user, but as I got older, I just want things to work. I've tried several times and setups before biting the bullet for this one. 2 combo modem/routers from my cable provider (first mistake), a Tp-Link combo of my own (didn't seem to be stable for my cable internet service), adding range extenders (I didn't like how I had to keep switching SSIDs from my main to my extended network). Things were just getting way too complicated, my iot devices kept cutting out and staying disconnected, and the fastest I could ever get was when I was wired into my laptop, then the speeds dropped off on wifi. Fast forward to this OnHub. I did my research and I've read that the Asus had better antennas for larger homes, although there were less of them. I went for quality, not quantity. I also got this one price matched, as I found a better price elsewhere, so I called and customer service was friendly and helpful and got the better price. Setup was a breeze! You do need an iOS or Android phone to set things up with their app, which I didn't mind (some people who previously reviewed minded). It made things clear and easy to do. I was up and running in mere minutes! Keep in mind though, that you still need a modem - coax from the wall to the modem is your internet, then the ethernet cable from the modem to the onhub connects your wifi. The app itself managing your network is simple and clear. There's a dashboard to show your health of the network, you can see your devices connected and the data it's downloading and uploading. There's a parental control feature that lets you pause Internet to any device you want. There's also a device priority feature which prioritizes your data. So simple, I LOVE IT! This is how all network routers should behave - all automatic and smart. For the cons, I'd say it is lacking for the power user. There's no way to set up static IP (I don't really need that feature), there's no feature to add an external USB drive to it for a network drive, there's no WPS feature (not that I know of), and there's only one extra ethernet port to get wired in (you'll need a switch if want to connect more to it)

This router covers all of the dead spots in my house (including a casita) and areas that I had to use extenders for before. It was very easy to install but it does require a smart phone for installation.

First: I don't typically review things, but this router is the exception to my rule. I had purchased a Netgear "Nighthawk" router (AC1900) a couple of years back when it was "top of the line" and never managed to consistently get the performance out of it that others seem to. I decided to try this Asus OnHub just to rule out my hardware being the issue with my network (I was only getting about 30mbps down on a 300mbps plan). HOLY CRAT the difference the OnHub made... The moment it was setup I ran a speed test at nearly 220mbps, and have been averaging 200-300mbps ever since. I have a 3000sqft two story home, and this thing is fast EVERYWHERE. It was the only change I made to my network, so I am going to give it ALL of the credit. Is it the "fastest" out there? Maybe not, but at this point between the ease of setup (which is easy to the point of being too easy, but whatever, the app is nice for NON-network admin types and even has a decent network mapping feature) and the results (literally 10x the speed I was pulling out of that 2 year old Netgear, which in fairness must have had an issue), this router is a NO BRAINER at the price point. A+++ Asus!

I live in an apartment complex and I used to have Wifi trouble all the time (Wifi drop and back), not any more since I got it in December

I think I have owned 25+ routers over the years from just about every manufacturer using just about every configuration possible in all operating system environments. This was purchased with for use in a population dense NYC apartment where myself and my neighbors compete for wireless bandwidth. It was my intention right out of the gate to pair this with a GOOGLE WIFI unit when it became available. All I am going to say is that the device setup and interface are both intuitive and easy to configure and use. Beyond that the unit just works really well. Some might say AS DESCRIBED! It would have been nice to have these devices years ago. Folks this is one of those items that if you pay it forward (a couple of more dollars for the setup) you will not be disappointed. There is a very good reason why these units are hard to find. Think of it this way...do you know anyone that has a legitimate complaint about the way their SONOS products work? Probably not! These GOOGLE based WiFi Routers use the same "mesh" network strategy. Very effective!

This has to be the best looking easiest to set up router on the market. I love the lights and set up made it so simple was afraid I missed something... but I didn't. I couldn't, they made this "me" proof!

This is a good, easy to manage router. It comes with an app for setup, which is the only way to setup the device. Makes it very easy, but you don't get as much customization (such as not being able to change the subnet of the device, it is limited to 192.168.86.* for some reason). The app also lets you check your internet status and manage the network on the go. The device is reliable but also not as high performance as some high end routers. I had a netgear nighthawk x4 and the streaming performance on the onhub was not as strong as on the nighthawk. So, if you can deal with the drawbacks of the device, you have a reliable, easy to manage router. But if the performance drawbacks or lack of customization gives you pause, maybe look elsewhere.