ASUS
ASUS RT-AX88U Pro
$349.99Cheaper
Released 2023
Best Wi-Fi Routers · head-to-head
ASUS RT-AX88U Pro vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. ASUS RT-AX88U Pro is cheaper at $349.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Netgear
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
$699.99
Released 2021-10
Which is better: the ASUS RT-AX88U Pro or Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500?
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The ASUS RT-AX88U Pro is the cheaper at $349.99. Get the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 for the stronger spec sheet, the ASUS RT-AX88U Pro to spend less.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | ASUS RT-AX88U Pro | Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $349.99 | $699.99 |
| Brand | ASUS | Netgear |
| Released | 2023 | 2021-10 |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Max speed (Mbps) | 6000 | 10800 |
| Bands | Dual-band (2.4 GHz 1148 Mbps + 5 GHz 4804 Mbps) | Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz) |
| Coverage (sq ft) | 3000 | 3500 |
| Ports | 2x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN (1x WAN, 1x LAN), 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0 | 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0 |
| Mesh | Yes | No |
| Processor | 2.0 GHz quad-core | Quad-core 1.8 GHz |
| Release | 2023 | 2021-10 |
Sources — ASUS RT-AX88U Pro: asus.com (verified 2026-06-15). Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500: smallnetbuilder.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the ASUS RT-AX88U Pro and Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Wi-Fi standard: ASUS RT-AX88U Pro Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- Max speed (Mbps): ASUS RT-AX88U Pro 6000 vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 10800
- Bands: ASUS RT-AX88U Pro Dual-band (2.4 GHz 1148 Mbps + 5 GHz 4804 Mbps) vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz)
- Coverage (sq ft): ASUS RT-AX88U Pro 3000 vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 3500
- Ports: ASUS RT-AX88U Pro 2x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN (1x WAN, 1x LAN), 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0 vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 1x 1 Gbps WAN, 4x 1 Gbps LAN, 1x 2.5 Gbps Multi-Gig (configurable WAN/LAN), 2x USB 3.0
- Mesh: ASUS RT-AX88U Pro true vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 false
- Processor: ASUS RT-AX88U Pro 2.0 GHz quad-core vs Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Quad-core 1.8 GHz
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
ASUS RT-AX88U Pro
No sourced tester review yet.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
Two whitelisted testers (Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide) lab-benched this exact RAXE500. Both praise record-setting close-range throughput (Tom's Guide measured 2.396 Gbps at 15 feet, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band) but flag steep falloff with distance and a very high ~$599 price. Tom's Hardware additionally found severe congestion/QoS problems and did not recommend the router; Tom's Guide did not run a congestion test and named it Editor's Choice. RTINGS not found. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Class-leading throughput at close range, boosted by the 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E band; Distinctive winged design.
Flagged: Throughput drops off sharply with distance; best used close up; Very expensive (~$599), roughly triple a high-end Wi-Fi 6 router; Bundled security/support becomes a paid subscription after the trial (~$70/yr).