Updated November 2026
Data from the official Asus site.
2026 verdict
In 2026, the recommendation leans toward Asus RT-BE9700 over Asus RT-BE88U, driven by price, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and max Wi-Fi speed.
Its strongest advantages show up in price, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and max Wi-Fi speed, with its broader overall balance helping widen the gap. Asus RT-BE88U is the better fit only for buyers who prioritize rating and LAN port count above everything else here. That is why Asus RT-BE9700 wins the verdict here.
News by email
Still comparing? Get what's new by email
New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
The biggest differences
Where these two are furthest apart, and by how much.
- LAN Port Count2×Asus RT-BE88U10 vs 5
- Max Wi-Fi Speed+35%Asus RT-BE97009.7 Gbps vs 7.2 Gbps
| Feature | Asus RT-BE88U | Asus RT-BE9700 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $339.00 | $249.99 | Asus RT-BE9700 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 3.9 | Asus RT-BE88U |
| Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | NO | YES | Asus RT-BE9700 |
| Max Wi-Fi Speed | 7.2 Gbps | 9.7 Gbps | Asus RT-BE9700 |
| LAN Port Count | 10 | 5 | Asus RT-BE88U |
| Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | YES | YES | Tie |
| Mesh Wi-Fi | YES | YES | Tie |
| WPA3 Encryption | YES | YES | Tie |
| LAN 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ports | 4 | 4 | Tie |
| WAN & Failover | Multi-WAN, WAN Failover | Multi-WAN, WAN Failover | Tie |
| USB Storage | FTP, Samba, Time Machine, Media Sharing | FTP, Samba, Time Machine, Media Sharing | Tie |
| Parental Controls | Wi-Fi Pause Schedules, Instant Wi-Fi Pause, Block Content | Wi-Fi Pause Schedules, Instant Wi-Fi Pause, Block Content | Tie |
$339.00
- + Rating: 4.3
- + LAN Port Count: 10
- - Price: $339.00 vs $249.99
- - Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax): NO vs YES
Winner
$249.99
- + Price: $249.99
- + Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax): YES
- + Max Wi-Fi Speed: 9.7 Gbps
- - Rating: 3.9 vs 4.3
- - LAN Port Count: 5 vs 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Asus RT-BE88U or Asus RT-BE9700?
Asus RT-BE9700 has the stronger overall profile in this comparison, especially for price, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and max Wi-Fi speed.
What is the biggest difference between Asus RT-BE88U and Asus RT-BE9700?
Price is one of the clearest differences: Asus RT-BE88U lists $339.00, while Asus RT-BE9700 lists $249.99.
Which one looks better on price?
Asus RT-BE88U is listed at $339.00, while Asus RT-BE9700 is listed at $249.99. Asus RT-BE9700 (better spec).
Who should buy Asus RT-BE88U?
Choose Asus RT-BE88U if your priority is rating and LAN port count and that matters more than price.
Who should buy Asus RT-BE9700?
Choose Asus RT-BE9700 if your priority is price and Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and that matters more than rating.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us and we will fix it.
Our store on AmazonShop our ideas on AmazonLists of the smart home setups we would put together ourselves, ready to add to your Amazon cart.Shop on AmazonFull comparison table
Compare all 48 Routers side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Routers in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 48 Routers
- 82 specs compared
- 76 filters
- Routers
UniFi Dream Router 7
- Routers
UniFi Express 7
- Routers
Cloud Gateway Ultra
- Routers
Outdoor 7
- Routers
Deco BE63
- Routers
6
- Routers
Archer AX21
- Routers
7
- Routers
Deco X55
- Routers
Nighthawk RS700S
- Routers
Deco BE23
- Routers
Archer AXE75
- Routers
Archer BE400
- Routers
Nighthawk RS90
- Routers
Pro 7
- Routers
Archer AX55 Pro
- Routers
Nighthawk RS140
- Routers
Deco BE25
- Routers
RT-BE90U
- Routers
Archer BE230
- Mini PCs
Ascent GX10 (128GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
Chromebox 5a (Celeron 4GB + 128GB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 13 Pro Slim (i7 16GB + 512GB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 14 Pro Tall (Ultra 7 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 15 Pro+ (Ultra 9 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 15 Pro Slim (Core 5 16GB + 512GB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 16 Pro (Ultra 7 16GB + 512GB)
- Mini PCs
NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG GR70 (RTX 5070 32GB + 2TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 16 (RTX 5060 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 16 (RTX 5070 Ti 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 16 (RTX 5080 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 16 (RTX 5080 64GB + 2TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 2025 (RTX 5070 32GB + 1TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 2025 (RTX 5070 32GB + 2TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 2025 (RTX 5070 Ti 32GB + 2TB)
- Mini PCs
ROG NUC 2025 (RTX 5080 32GB + 2TB)
- Routers
ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI
- Routers
ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
- Routers
ROG Strix GS-BE12000