ASUS RT-AC67PA lot of people are replacing their Wi-Fi routers these days. Factors like 4K video streaming, online gaming, remote working and video conferences, growing collections of connected smart devices, and the support for Wi-Fi 6 in current hardware like smartphones and laptops give plenty of reasons to upgrade. But, do you need to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 for a better experience? For some households, the answer is no. You can save money and enjoy faster, more reliable Wi-Fi compared to your current setup with an 802.11ac router. The ASUS RT-AC67P AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 Router is a perfect example.

This is an 802.11ac router

Wi-Fi has gone through a naming convention change over the past several years, and that has caused some confusion. The latest and greatest is Wi-Fi 6, which was originally called 802.11ax. Actually, Wi-Fi 6E is coming soon, but that’s another story. What used to be known as 802.11ac (the mainstream Wi-Fi standard just a few years ago) is now known as Wi-Fi 5. It might also be referred to as 5th generation Wi-Fi. 

Complicating the situation, smartphone manufacturers and cellular carriers have been adopting 5G cellular. 5G has gotten a lot of attention due to the massive speed increases it offers.

However, there is potential for confusion between Wi-Fi 5/5th generation Wi-Fi and 5G.

The ASUS RT-AC67P is a Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) router.

Why you don’t necessarily need Wi-Fi 6 at this point

Wi-Fi 6 has been in making waves over the past two years. To learn why, check out this explainer on its many advantages. Now that it’s mainstream, there is a huge selection of Wi-Fi 6 routers to choose from. We’ve probably reviewed a dozen or so on the blog at this point. They’re impressive, sure, but there are also homes where Wi-Fi 6 isn’t exactly a must-have. Especially when you can upgrade to a new 802.11ac router like the ASUS RT-AC67P for considerably less.

ASUS RT-AC67P review headerIf your home isn’t packed with devices clamouring for a Wi-Fi connection, your devices aren’t equipped with Wi-Fi 6, or your ISP internet plan isn’t an extreme high speed version, then an 802.11ac router can serve your needs very well. It will still offer a huge upgrade over an older 802.11n router and a new model like the ASUS RT-AC67P is also going to give you a performance boost over an early generation 802.11ac router.

How do I know? I have tested many Wi-Fi 6 routers and they are great. However, my house is still running on an 802.11ac router. On top of a considerable collection of connected tech, I have three teenagers here and my wife is working from home and frequently using Zoom video sessions. My next router will be Wi-Fi 6, but the current system (combined with a 500 Mbps internet plan) works just fine. No spooling on 4K video streams, no Zoom glitches, no video game lag.

Setup and management of ASUS RT-AC67P

Back to the ASUS RT-AC67P. No-one likes setting up a Wi-Fi router. Setup is probably the number one reason why people skip upgrading. ASUS does a good job of making the job straightforward, with a mobile app (you can also go old school with a web browser) and even a QR code on the back of the router that automatically connects your smartphone. The app walks you through it nicely.

However, during my setup, there was a firmware update. That installed successfully, but the router refused to connect to the internet after. I eventually ended up doing a factory reset and repeating the process, after which everything worked just fine. It was probably a glitch, but it did make the setup a little more time-consuming than expected.

ASUS RT-AC67P review header

That ASUS mobile app offers a wide range of network management features, including parental controls. I’m a fan of its home screen, which shows key information at a glance, including real-time network traffic levels and the number of devices connected. 

It’s worth noting this router uses a vertical form factor. This gives it a much smaller footprint than many routers, and it’s still quite stable thanks to the built-in stand. It’s a pretty basic black plastic with some textures for visual interest, and a series of small blue LED lights on the front that show network status at a glance.

ASUS RT-AC67P key specs:

  • AC1900 dual-band 802.11ac with 1300 Mbps on 5GHz band and 600 Mbps on 2.4GHz band
  • AiRadar beamforming for optimized coverage
  • MU-MIMO support for full-speed connection of up to three devices simultaneously
  • Six layer advanced security including firewall, guest network, and VPN
  • Three adjustable external antennas with coverage up to 1,500 square feet (139 square metres)
  • Four, gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
  • USB Type-A port

Performance of ASUS RT-AC67P

This is a new 802.11ac router, so it features tech that wasn’t available in earlier models. The RT-AC67P offers MU-MIMO support that connects up to three devices simultaneously, each at its maximum connection speed. ASUS’ AiRadar beamforming ensures your connected device remains connected as you move around.

During testing, the ASUS RT-AC67P delivered perfectly acceptable performance. Doing a network speed test with my iPad, I often hit 400 Mbps. That’s close to the maximum speed of my ISP. More impressive, I took a walk out to the back yard and ran a Netflix speed test out there (roughly 75 feet and a brick wall from the router). I still hit a speed of 49 Mbps. Given that Netflix recommends a 25 Mbps connection for 4K streaming, I could have watched 4K video out there without a hitch.

Not bad at all.

Gigabit LAN ports

ASUS RT-AC67P review headerSometimes you want a wired connection. This means you always get the maximum available speed, without worrying about interference or other wireless issues. Entry level routers often cheap out on ports, but the ASUS RT-AC67P is equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. You can directly connect up to four PCs, video streamers, or game consoles to maximize their internet connection speeds.

There is also a USB Type-A port, so you can plug in a printer or hard drive to share on the network.

Should you choose the ASUS RT-AC67P router or go with a Wi-Fi 6 router instead?

ASUS RT-AC67P review header

You’re shopping for a new Wi-Fi router. Should you go with a Wi-Fi 6 model? At this point, that probably makes sense for most people. If nothing else, you are future-proofing yourself. ASUS has plenty of models to choose from, and Best Buy carries a huge selection of Wi-Fi 6 routers from all the top networking brands.

However, if you want a Wi-Fi upgrade on limited budget, or your needs simply won’t take advantage of all the benefits Wi-Fi 6 offers, then there’s nothing wrong with picking a current generation 802.11ac (or Wi-Fi 5) router. And the ASUS RT-AC67P AC1900 dual-band gigabit Wi-Fi 5 router is a pretty solid choice.

Brad Moon
Brad Moon
Editor Computing solutions
I’m a long-time electronics and gadget geek who’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a career that lets me indulge this interest. I have been writing about technology for several decades for a wide range of outlets including Wired, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, MSN, About.com, Kiplinger, and GeekDad. I’m in my 10th year as a senior contributor for Forbes with a focus on reviewing music-related tech, Apple gear, battery power stations and other consumer electronics. My day job is with the Malware Research Center at AI-native cybersecurity pioneer CrowdStrike.
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220 COMMENTS

  1. I will have family working from home using Zoom, which needs a very reliable wireless connection. This router would be most useful for that.

  4. The AiRadar feature should improve coverage in my home. The far reaches, such as the basement office, have weak wi-fi coverage with our current router.

  5. This speedy router will help us since our existing router seems to be having issues, maybe with the addition of power Line adapters.

  6. Our old router is struggling with extra demand of working at home and kids traffic so this would be great.

  7. The great range on this router will really help the signal reach both offices in our home: one at the front of the house, and the other at the back!

  13. We’re in the middle of building a house and our old router drops signal all the time. This router will be great for our home because of the large footprint and the fact that we simply need a new router!

  17. This would be great in our home because we use so many wifi enabled devices at the same time and this would improve our internet speed!

  21. This router would be great for my home because the fast wireless speeds would make for smooth, lag-free video streaming.

  27. Thank you for this informative article. Getting a new gaming computer built for my grandson! This will definitely require another router I now realize.

  28. This router would be great s we keep getting more and more devices and would help with any lag speeds.

  29. This router would be great at our home because I think it would extend our range to the backyard where we often need to look up how to videos

  30. We use our network from pretty distant points in the house, and the connection can get sketchy. This would be awesome!

  31. This router will help to receive from my wifi installed in my basement tp reach the upper half of my house- my kids will then stop complaining …lol…

  34. I plan to get a smart phone and a new laptop. With three people in our house all with our own phones and computers, I am sure we will benefit from the newer equipmetn

  35. would be easy to install, my son has problems with Wifi reaching to his room so this router would benefit!

  39. Wireless is great, but I like the fact that you can directly connect up to four PCs, video streamers, or game consoles to maximize their internet connection speeds.

  41. This router would be great for my home because the fast wireless speeds would make for smooth, lag-free video streaming.

  44. I think this would be great for our home because our current router has some security issues and needs replacing.

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