Asus RT-BE9700 Review: Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 and a 10G Port Without the Flagship Price
The Asus RT-BE9700 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router aimed at homes that want the 6 GHz band, multi-gig wired networking and Asus's full software suite without paying flagship money. It combines a 10G WAN/LAN port with four 2.5G ports, a USB 3.2 port and AiMesh expansion. The main things to know are that it is not a Thread border router or a Matter controller, and it has no built-in cellular backup.
- Wi-Fi 7 upgrades
- Multi-gig wired homes
- AiMesh expansion
- No-subscription security
Pros
- Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with the 6 GHz band and MLO
- One 10G WAN/LAN port plus four 2.5G ports for multi-gig wired devices
- AiMesh support to extend coverage with other Asus routers
- Subscription-free AiProtection security and a full VPN client and server suite
- Smart Home Master sub-networks for IoT, kids and VPN SSIDs
- USB 3.2 port with Samba, FTP and Time Machine storage sharing
Cons
- Not a Thread border router or a Matter controller
- No built-in cellular; 4G/5G tethering requires a separate USB modem
- No SFP or SFP+ ports and no link aggregation
- No built-in internet speed test
Who is the Asus RT-BE9700 for?
The RT-BE9700 is a tri-band router covering 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, rated BE9700 with a combined maximum of around 9.7 Gbps across its three bands. It suits households that have moved to Wi-Fi 7 and want the cleaner, wider channels of the 6 GHz band, and it also carries Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6 and 6E for older gear. Buyers who wire in a desktop, NAS or switch will care most about its 10G and 2.5G ports, while anyone planning whole-home coverage can add other AiMesh-compatible Asus routers to the same network name.
What the Asus RT-BE9700 offers
Wireless performance comes from four external antennas and a tri-band design: up to 1032 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, 2882 Mbps on 5 GHz and 5764 Mbps on 6 GHz, with Multi-Link Operation (MLO) so a compatible client can use several bands at once. On the wired side it provides one 10G WAN/LAN port, one 2.5G WAN/LAN port and three 2.5G LAN ports, plus a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. Dual WAN with failover and 4G/5G tethering through a USB modem give it flexible internet options. Software includes WPA3, Guest Network and Smart Home Master sub-networks for IoT, kids and VPN traffic, subscription-free AiProtection security, a full VPN client and server suite (OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec), parental controls and USB storage sharing over Samba, FTP and Time Machine.
What to know before you buy
The RT-BE9700 is a router, not a smart home hub: it is not a Thread border router and not a Matter controller, so it will not host those device networks. There is no built-in cellular radio, so the 4G/5G option depends on adding a compatible USB modem. Its networking is all copper, with no SFP or SFP+ ports and no link aggregation support, and it has no built-in internet speed test. Asus does not publish the unit's weight or power consumption, so those specs are unknown. It is a single Wi-Fi 7 node by itself; whole-home coverage comes from adding AiMesh units.
Is the Asus RT-BE9700 worth it?
For a home that wants tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with the 6 GHz band, a 10G port and several 2.5G ports, the RT-BE9700 packs the modern wired and wireless features that matter and backs them with Asus's subscription-free security and VPN tools. It makes the most sense for buyers who will use the multi-gig ports or plan to grow into AiMesh. Anyone who needs the router to double as a Thread or Matter hub, or who wants built-in cellular, should look at a different model.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Asus RT-BE9700 support Wi-Fi 7?
Yes. It is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) router rated BE9700, with a 6 GHz band, 320 MHz channels and Multi-Link Operation (MLO). It also supports Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6 and 6E.
What wired ports does the Asus RT-BE9700 have?
It has one 10G WAN/LAN port, one 2.5G WAN/LAN port and three 2.5G LAN ports, plus one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. There are no SFP or SFP+ ports.
Does it require a subscription for security or VPN?
No. AiProtection network security and the VPN client and server suite (OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec) are included at no extra cost.
Can the Asus RT-BE9700 be used in a mesh network?
Yes. It supports Asus AiMesh as either the primary router or a mesh node, so it can be paired with other AiMesh-compatible Asus routers for whole-home coverage.
Does it work as a Thread border router or Matter controller?
No. The RT-BE9700 does not act as a Thread border router or a Matter controller for smart home devices.
Can it connect to the internet over cellular?
Not on its own. It has no built-in cellular radio, but it supports 4G and 5G tethering through a compatible USB modem and dual WAN with failover.

