Routers aren’t usually the most exciting bit of tech in the house, but they’re definitely one of the most important, and ASUS has been putting out some impressive gear lately, even with their entry-level range. The ASUS RT-AX59U is one of their latest WiFi 6 routers, and it seems they’ve struck a balance between style, performance, and ease of use.

Straight out of the box, it bears no resemblance to the sci-fi porcupine designs typically found on high-end routers. Instead, it’s a sleek, minimalist little unit with a clever stand. You can sit it upright on your desk or mount it to the wall, and it blends into a modern setup instead of screaming for attention like some of its spiky cousins.

Setup is incredibly simple through the ASUS Router App, and I had it online in minutes. It’s full of features that will make your experience so much simpler, whether you’re creating guest networks, blocking dodgy sites, or checking on traffic.

The ASUS RT-AX59U promises AX4200 WiFi 6 speeds, with up to 574 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 3603 Mbps on 5GHz. While those numbers are always the best case, in practice, the performance was quick and consistent. Even with gaming, streaming, and a handful of smart devices pulling on it at once, the 2.0GHz quad-core CPU and 512MB of RAM handled things without a hitch. AiMesh support is one of the big bonuses.

If you’ve ever dealt with WiFi dead zones, you’ll know how frustrating they can be, but pairing this router with another compatible ASUS model makes blanketing your house in smooth, reliable coverage surprisingly easy.

ASUS has equipped the RT-AX59U with AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro, providing enterprise-level security out of the box at no extra cost. Families will appreciate the Safe Browsing tools that can block explicit content, and the parental controls are detailed enough to create schedules and filters for individual profiles.

Instant Guard is also a standout, providing a one-tap VPN connection back to your home network when you’re away, which is ideal for keeping your data safe on public WiFi. Add to that Adaptive QoS for prioritising traffic, whether it’s gaming, streaming, or work calls, and you’ve got a router that covers more than just the basics.

Connectivity-wise, things are kept fairly straightforward with three LAN ports, a WAN port, and a USB 3.2 slot for plugging in external drives or basic NAS-style storage. It’s not overflowing with ports, and there’s no multi-gig support here, but for most households, it will be more than enough.

Day-to-day, the RT-AX59U has been solid. No random dropouts, good range across the house, and easy management through the app. It’s reliable, secure, and straightforward, which is exactly what you want in something you’re going to be relying on constantly.

Overall, the ASUS RT-AX59U isn’t the most powerful router in ASUS’s lineup. Still, it’s a great middle-ground for people who want WiFi 6 speeds, strong security, and easy-to-use features without paying top dollar. It’s fast enough for streaming and smart homes, and looks good doing it.

Written by: Mathew Lindner