Today, we’re writing our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review to discuss ASUS’ newest offering, the Rapture GT-AX6000.
About two years after the company’s RT-AX86U, they finally came out with a real and efficient replacement for the latter. This is the Rapture GT-AX6000 which was announced in late 2021 and was just recently made available for purchase.
The router sports everything that the RT-AX86U has, but it also offers a whole lot more. One of these is an extra 2.5 Gbps port, making it the first ASUS router sporting dual multi-gig ports.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router Packaging
First up in our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review is the packaging and its contents. The product arrived in a thick and sturdy-looking cardboard box sporting a grey-black and red theme.
The front of the box showcases an image of the router, ROG’s branding, and the unit’s name. This area also displays ”Wifi-6” plus a list of the router’s main features.
Inside the box, everything is packed securely to avoid any unwanted damage. Here, you’ll of course find the Rapture GT-AX6000. It comes with a couple of extras like an RJ-45 cable, power adapter, quick start guide, and a warranty card.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router Review – Design and Functionality
After unboxing, we started inspecting the router’s design for this ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review. And surprisingly, the Rapture GT-AX6000 was a bit larger than expected. Actually, it’s one of the biggest WiFi routers out on the market today.
This unit comes with a solid and sturdy plastic construction. And with its size, the Rapture GT-AX6000 guarantees optimised heat dissipation compared to the more compact routers.
Its four base corners stretch downward to four large feet, giving the base better clearance for enhanced ventilation.
ASUS gave the router a smart design to keep it entirely cool even without an internal fan. Plus, it also helps keep it stable and solid on the surface.
The Rapture GT-AX6000 has four detachable antennas that are positioned on the four top corners of the router. Do note that they have limited swivel ability which makes it tricky to position them vertically. It should’ve been easier since it’s the position for ideal coverage.
The router also has adequate Aura light at the top. It’s a programmable light that’s also considered as ASUS ROG’s signature.
All ports on this router can be located on its rear. Plus, these are all highly programmable to support the Rapture GT-AX6000’s dual-WAN + Link Aggregation features.
The first gigabit port is specifically for gaming. If you’re using a gaming console or PC, you can use this to plug the device for enhanced gaming connection.
Let’s continue our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review and discuss the different key features of the product. These are the important aspects of the router that make it stand out in the market.
Key Features of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router
Here’s a list of the router’s features that will help determine if it’s something you need to improve your connection.
Versatile Functions of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router’s Network Ports
The Rapture GT-AX6000 features five ports that offer a range of functions that you can take advantage of. The dual 2.5G network ports support load balancing and link aggregation to provide massive bandwidth. These also take advantage of fast connections.
With WAN aggregation, you can combine 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps ports. This lets you use up to 3.5 Gbps WAN bandwidth which is fast enough for the latest high-speed ISPs. This bandwidth can also be shared via WiFi 6 or the second 2.5 Gbps LAN port.
LAN aggregation lets you use two 1 Gbps LAN ports together to form a 2 Gbps LAN connection. It’s excellent for providing additional bandwidth for demanding network devices like a desktop PC or NAS.
High-performance Router
The Rapture GT-AX6000 uses a 2.0 GHz quad-core 64-bit processor, making it capable of handling demanding gaming networks.
When we tested the product for our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review, it really performed as the company claimed. It delivered ultra-fast data transfers with higher network throughput which optimised our gaming experience.
RangeBoost Plus for Wider Coverage
RangeBoost Plus is ASUS’ latest and upgraded version of RangeBoost Technology which enhances WiFi coverage and performance. With its next-generation BroadcomWiFi chipset, processor, and various ASUS-exclusive technologies combined, RangeBoost Plus maximises ASUS features that enhance WiFi performance. It improves signal and coverage range by up to 38%.
Whole-home Coverage with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router
For a whole-home WiFi network, you can rely on ASUS AiMesh’s flexibility. Connect your old ASUS AiMesh-compatible router as a mesh node to widen the network. This will bring ultra-fast and reliable WiFi even in your home’s dead spots.
Triple-level Game Acceleration
The Rapture GT-AX6000’s triple-level game acceleration boosts your gaming traffic from your gaming PC to the game server. It maintains stable connections, prevents jitter, reduces lag, and keeps ping low for enjoyable gaming.
VPN Fusion for Gaming With No Limits
VPN Fusion enables running an ordinary internet connection and a VPN simultaneously. Even if other network users need to utilise a VPN, you can still take advantage of the highest gaming speeds.
A Single Click to Boost Your Game
Reduce latency and lag for mobile games. All you have to do is tap on the ASUS Router app.
Easy Port Forwarding Configuration
With Open NAT’s three-step port forwarding configuration, you can have a more seamless gaming experience. Configuring port forwarding is now easier and you won’t have to deal with complicated procedures.
Game Console Prioritisation
The Rapture GT-AX6000 is a great router for gaming consoles like Xbox X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. It instantly prioritises a console that’s connected to the dedicated gaming port and delivers fast, stable connectivity.
Full Security for All with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router
ASUS’ AIProtection Pro comes with the latest WPA3 security protocol and the newest parental controls. It offers automatic and regularly updated security signatures to keep all personal data and devices protected from threats.
Security When Using Free WiFi
Free public WiFi is rarely secure but with ASUS Instant Guard, you can add security to any free WiFi network. It uses VPN technology to form a secure data tunnel to the router to keep your device and data protected.
Specifications
Of course, we looked into the router’s specifications for our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review. Here, we saw that its network standard is IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/av/ax, IPv4, and IPv6.
The Rapture GT-AX6000 has four external antennas, a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor, and a 256 MB Flash + 1GB RAM. For its operating frequency, it’s at 2.4GHz / 5GHz.
When we speak of its data rate, the Rapture GT-AX6000 has up to 1,148Mbps for 2.4GHz AX. Then for 5GHz AX, it’s up to 4,804Mbps.
Available ports include an RJ-45 for 2.5-Gigabits BaseT for WAN/LAN, and an RJ-45 for 2.5-Gigabits BaseT for LAN. Then, there are also four RJ-45 ports for Gigabits BaseT for LAN, a USB 3.2 Gen1, plus a USB 2.0 port.
Lastly, for its power supply, the Rapture GT-AX6000’s AC input is 110V – 240V (50-60Hz). Then, its DC output is 19V with a maximum of 2.37A or 19.5V with a total of 2.31A.
Hands-on with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router
This is the most important part of our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review. It’s where we discuss the performance and our experience with the Rapture GT-AX6000
But before we get into detail, let’s talk about ASUS’ firmware for the router.
ROG GT-AX6000 Firmware
ASUS’ firmware has all the settings and features you’ll need for the router such as advanced gaming functions. Also, it provides you with a collection of dedicated features like its eye-catching red/black ROG UI.
Here are the other elements you’ll find on the firmware:
AiProtection + Parental Controls
It includes free real-time online security offered by Trend Micro. This feature helps check your router’s security, blocks malicious sites, checks infected peripherals, and prevents intrusions.
Additionally, the firmware features an advanced parental control system that comes with Web & App filters plus time scheduling.
Adaptive QoS
This is a feature that ensures bandwidth for applications based on priority. Via the Bandwidth Monitor, you can easily watch the use of different devices while simultaneously checking the websites visited.
Advanced USB Features and Open NAT
Its USB port supports optimised features like Server, Time Machine Works, 3G & 4G, plus more. Then for Open NAT, it offers an easier way to create port-forwarding rules for players. Plus, it enhances packet-forwarding between the console – PC – modem to guarantee open NAT and improved performance.
Amazon Alexa
Conveniently, the Rapture GT-AX6000 supports Alexa and can be controlled using voice commands.
Speed Test
Network Stability
Amazingly, the Rapture GT-AX6000 was able to provide reliable network stability. And also, it actually had the best WiFi coverage in our opinion. We could get reliable connections even from the corners of our office where other routers failed and didn’t deliver.
Surprisingly, it’s a really fast router that exceeded our expectations in almost every category. Plus, we were able to enjoy a week of online gaming (Elden Ring, to be specific), downloading, streaming, and more. And what makes it even better is that we didn’t experience any issues while at it.
We have a handy and lengthy CAT-6 cable that runs from our gaming PC to the router. It’s plugged in when local wireless traffic gets a bit high and our wireless performance starts getting a bit unstable.
When we were trying out the Rapture GT-AX6000, we didn’t have to reach for the cable. Even when we were downloading big games, everything went smoothly and our connection was perfect.
Our evaluation eventually boiled down to consistency, as well as coverage. And surprisingly, the router didn’t let us down on either, and we’re really happy about that.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router as a NAS Server
We also tested the Rapture GT-AX6000 as a mini NAS server to host a USB storage device. To our surprise, it worked seamlessly and without issues.
We used it with a few portable SSDs plugged into the USB 3.0 port and it performed well. With Gigabit connectivity, the route provided fast performance with speeds above 115 MB/s. When we used the 2.5 Gbps wired connectivity, its speed was close to 130 MB/s.
With these data rates, we were able to enjoy using the router’s network storage features. But of course, a real NAS server is still better for storage purposes since those have more advanced features.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router Review Summary
The Rapture GT-AX6000 from ASUS is an impressive feature-rich router that delivers superior performance. This router offers the most advanced features including VPN Fusion, in-depth NAT controls, and prioritised devices & ports for gaming. It’s also excellently designed with its large antennas which deliver excellent coverage and network speeds.
While testing this product for our ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router review, our network stayed extremely fast and stable. Plus, it provided coverage even in dead zones which was great. Everything was perfect and we didn’t have issues with the router.
In fact, the Rapture GT-AX6000 is one of the best WiFi 6 routers today. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a high-performance product that can also work as a NAS.
To know more about the ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 Router, visit ASUS’ official product page for more information.
