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. We have 4 people running computers and they all complain about speed and connection issues which is why this would be great for our home

  2. It will help our home devices that can connected wireless to the internet, particularly the smart TV and a printer we are purchasing soon.

  7. MU-MIMO support for full-speed connection of up to three devices simultaneously – would be nice not to loose connection when more than two devices running.

  9. Six layer advanced security including firewall, guest network, and VPN. Great upgrade to what I presently have

  11. Zoom meeting are tense with losing connection – and it happens if I forget to shut down my cell first. It can not be turned on beside my computer when in a meeting.

  12. MU-MIMO support for full-speed connection of up to three devices simultaneously – would be nice not to loose connection when more than two devices running.

  15. I want to be able to sit in my gazebo and be able to have strong WiFi signal for my computer. Some days the neighborhood sucks us dry.

  17. I added a Lorex home safety system this summer after our neighbor was robbed – it makes our devices run slower.

  19. We plan to add am XBOX this year – we need a rouer that handles all devices efficiently – so far not with our present system

  20. This router would be great for our home because I work from home/online and we have laptops, cells, game consoles, tablets and smart tvs that could be tapped into the wifi at any given time as well.

  21. I multi-task and have several pages open at once on the computer…but if I open up too many, it freezes and shuts down every thng I have open!

  24. We keep getting told there will be no high speed internet brought to our area – I am tired of waiting my life waiting for a page to pop up

  25. Our wireless is slow. Sometimes things time out and don’t even download. A new, updated router would be a godsend.

  26. We are adding more family members who are working from home, especially through Zoom. Reliable, stable connections are what’s needed, and I’m sure this router would provide that.

  28. Asus router is the most reliable router I trust. Owned N66, AC66U. This one seems pretty good too. Need this one for my Asus AiMesh setup.

  33. I think this would be a great router for my home because its ASUS! Instead of completely replacing the ASUS I already have, I can mesh them together for better coverage!

  34. I have two family members working from home on Zoom calls, so the speed and stability of this router would be very helpful to us.

  35. This router sounds exactly what we need because we’re planning on adding some extra Amazon echo dots at home so extend the range of our wifi.

  37. The Asus router would be perfect for me as watch 4K video streaming, online gaming, remote working and video conferences, I have a growing collections of over 15 connected smart devices, and the support for Wi-Fi 6 in current hardware like smartphones and laptops give plenty of reasons to upgrade. Also I need coverage for a large area including outdoor use.

  46. The ASUS RT-AC67P is equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. This would help with signal reaching my new third floor addition.

  49. We have TERRIBLE wifi even with increasing our data plan – people have told us a router would help. So we might actually not just sit there waiting for sites to load.

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