Asus Router AC3100 Review
The AC3100 is among the series of dual-band wireless routers launched by Asus recently. It comes with all the advanced features that you might look for in the latest router models. The Asus AC1300 is also among the wide range of high-end routers in the market. As such, it might have quite a lot to offer you. Go through our Asus router AC3100 review below if you are unsure about your choice.
Asus Router AC3100: Important Features
The Asus AC3100 wireless router has quite a wide range of features worth noticing. Here are the most incredible ones among them:
Design and Hardware
The AC3100 features a stylish design and has dimensions 40.39 x 25.91 x 12.95 cm. It comes with four adjustable and detachable antennas – two at the side and two at the rear.
The rear panel features eight LAN ports, an Internet port and a USB 2.0 port. Apart from that, it also has a WPS button at the rear. You also get a USB 2.0 port at the front panel of this model. The Asus AC3100 router is powered by a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB RAM.
Setup and Management
You can set up the AC1300 through its web management interface in simple steps. Moreover, you need not necessarily use the device’s default gateway to reach the login page. You can simply do that using a URL provided to you. Apart from that, you can also perform a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). This will allow you to set up your router immediately and start using it.
The Asus AC3100 is compatible with the Asus router app. You can use this app to set up and manage and monitor your Wi-Fi network. So, this router model allows you an overall easy setup and management.
Bandwidth and Speed
Being a dual-band router, the Asus AC3100 has 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 2.4 GHz band provides a maximum speed of 1000 Mbps. And, the 5 GHz band offers you a maximum speed of 2167 Mbps. Moreover, you can use both these bands simultaneously, making the maximum combined speed 3167 Mbps. And, that makes it a perfect choice for 4K streaming, gaming, and other high-end requirements.
However, you might face certain issues with the 2.4 GHz while using a wireless connection. But, you can rely on this router for fast file sharing and internet access.
Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless networks are undoubtedly more convenient to use. But they might not always provide an optimal performance after all. You must switch to an ethernet connection in such cases. The Asus AC3100 comes with Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports that offer you up to 2 Gbps of speed. So, you get a viable alternative to your wireless connection on this router.
Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Beamforming
AC3100 features 802.11ac wireless technology. And, that provides it with MIMO and beamforming, among other advanced features. MIMO allows the router to send signals to multiple devices at the same time. This technology significantly boosts the speed of your Wi-Fi network.
The beamforming feature improves the speed further by concentrating signals to devices using them. The older wireless technologies lacked this feature and faced wastage of signals as a result. So, the AC3100 can be a good option to boost your Wi-Fi network.
AiMesh technology
This is probably one of the most important features of the Asus AC3100 router. As it happens, you might often face Wi-Fi coverage issues in specific areas of your home. But, the AC3100 comes with the AiMesh technology to fix that issue.
This technology detects the quality of each band on your router to choose the best one. Apart from that, it also allows you to connect multiple Asus routers for extending your network.
Gamers Private Network (GPN)
Apart from other features, the AC3100 also comes with the Gamers Private Network to provide optimal gaming performance. The GPN helps you avoid slow performance while gaming by route optimisation.
In simpler words, it finds the most efficient route for your game packets. And, that ensures a significant reduction in packet loss and ping time, resulting in superior gaming performance. You can enable this feature through the Game Boost section in the web-based interface.
Traffic Analyzer
The AC3100 also lets you monitor incoming and outgoing data packets with the Traffic Analyzer. This tool also provides a graph to help you monitor daily client usage. You can access the Trend Analyzer by logging in to the router’s admin interface.
Guest Network and Parental Control
Most of the latest router models out there allow you to set up guest networks. And, the AC3100 from Asus is no exception. You can set up a separate network for guest devices through its interface. Apart from that, you also get advanced parental controls on this model.
AiProtection
The AC3100 comes with all the essential security features and more. The AiProtection feature helps you assess the vulnerabilities of your router. You can also use this feature to block malicious sites from your network. Moreover, you can also use the AiProtection to block virus and malware-infected devices.
Asus Router AC3100 Review: Reasons to Buy or Avoid
The Asus AC3100, like any other router model, has several pros and cons. So, it is important to consider them before coming up with a conclusion. The following are reasons to buy the Asus AC3100:
- High speed and faster connection
- Easy setup process
- Dual-band
- Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Enhanced coverage with AiMesh
- Advanced security features
When it comes to the cons, here are some reasons to avoid this product:
- Pricy
- 2.4 GHz band provides average performance
Verdict
The Asus AC3100 is a premium router that offers you a wide range of useful features. Among other things, it can offer you a fast connection and wider coverage. You can rely on this router for upgrading your home Wi-Fi network. But, it has certain issues and might not be the best choice for everyone. Also, it has a significantly higher budget requirement for its standard.
