ASUS recently expanded its line-up of WiFi 6 routers with the introduction of the ZenWiFi XD5, a compact and simple-to-setup device that offers high-speed connectivity, advanced mesh customizations, and enhanced security for every home or office. We take a look at how the router performs and the features offered to users.
The latest ZenWiFi XD5 router features an elegant-looking and space-saving design that comes in both black and white colors. And we got the latter color option as the review sample. As you can see, the design of the router represents a clean and seamless chassis with just the ASUS logo on the front side. The router weighs only 307g and the compact design allows users to place the device in different locations of the room without worrying about desk space. Additionally, the design of the router also allows users to easily mount the devices on walls. We should also mention that the new XD5 router shares the same design as the previous generation ASUS XD4 router.
Instead of the usual rear-facing connectivity, the ports are hidden and located at the bottom of the device. The ports include one WAN/LAN RJ45 port for Gigabits BaseT connections, one RJ45 LAN port for Gigabits BaseT for wired connections to other devices, and one power connector. There is also a barcode underneath the device for users who want to quickly set up the device via the ASUS Router app. The only light indicator is located below the ASUS logo from the front side. The indicator changes between blue, green, and white colors, depending on the mode or status of the device.
The XD5 retail packaging comes with two of these routers for those who want to set up an AiMesh network for wider coverage. Then there are two power adapters and plugs, setup instructions, a safety and startup guide, a LAN cable, and more. Both the power adapters, wires, and LAN cable comes in white color that matches the main routers.
Setting up the router is quite easy with the ASUS router application and can be done within 10 minutes. The application first attempts to find the XD5 router with the LAN connection. And in case the router can’t be found, the app prompts you to scan the barcode located below the device. After the username and passwords are set for the wireless network and admin access, the application prompts the user to connect to the new network, followed by options to add the second router as a node. The app also gives the option to optimize the AiMesh network once both routers are set and connected.
The ASUS XD5 packs a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 128MB flash memory, and 512MB RAM onboard to handle the operations. The System Monitor option on the ASUS Router app lets you see the amount of memory and processor loading performance with the ASUSWRT OS.
And as you have noticed, the AX3000-based XD5 packs two dual-band antennas that are capable of handling 2.4GHz 2×2 and 5GHz 2×2 signals, along with MIMO boosting tech. In terms of wireless performance, the XD5 is a WiFi 6 router with support for 802.11ax standards. With the 2.4GHz selected, the router is capable of achieving speeds up to 574 Mbps. And with the 5GHz signal selected, the device can hit internet speeds up to 2402 Mbps. We should also mention that the XD5 has support for 160MHz high-speed bandwidth that helps increase network capacity and reduce congestion, ensuring that high-speed network performance is distributed to other WiFi 6 devices.
ASUS mentions that a single XD5 is capable of offering network coverage up to 2400 sq.ft, which is about over two rooms. And with the two routers combined, you get coverage up to 3500 sq.ft and this is over four rooms. We tested the ASUS ZenWiFi XD5 setup in both single and double router configurations.
Our testing platform is the newest Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra that we also received for review, and the apps used here are Speedtest and Fast by Netflix. We first ran the benchmarks in the same room where the main router was placed, followed by another opposite room, the corridor, and last in the kitchen, which is where the range drops the most. And we have a 350 Mbps connection at home. Yes, I’m aware that’s really a low speed compared to what a WiFi 6 router can handle.
From our testing, the single router configuration maintains good speed in the primary room and the corridor area but a bit of signal strength drop in the opposite room section (this is mainly due to the number of walls around). However, I noticed that for some reason, we got higher speeds in the corridor section than in the primary room, which is a bit odd, considering the fact that the signal is usually the strongest in the main room. And as we expected before, the kitchen is the worst affected area for network performance. That said, by placing the second router in the corridor area, we noticed an improvement in speeds in the kitchen area and the opposite room.
The ASUS router also comes with the latest WPA3-Personal WiFi encryption standards that offer improved wireless security as compared to the older WPA encryptions. ASUS also included its own AiProtection security suite options such as AiProtection Classic, Malicious site blocking, and Infected Device Prevention and Blocking. Other features include Android tethering, Port forwarding, DMZ, DDNS, NAT Passthrough, and more.
Verdict
We recommend the new ASUS ZenWiFi XD5 for those looking for a compact and stylish WiFi 6 router that offers high-speed network performance and security. The XD5 comes with two units for wider coverage and the 160MHz high-speed bandwidth helps to keep the online connectivity at its best performance for other WiFi 6 devices.
With both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks combined, the router is capable of reaching speeds up to 3000 Mbps and this enables users to stream 4K and 8K videos online. The routers also offer WPA3-Personal WiFi encryption and AiProtection to keep the network secure. The ZenWiFi XD5 comes in both black and white colors and there is also a 3-router option for those who want to expand the network coverage in homes or offices.
