Asus RT-N66U vs. RT-AC66U

If you are currently looking for an affordable and budget-friendly wireless router, perhaps you are now confused in choosing between Asus RT-N66U and Asus RT-AC66U. Not only their names, but also their looks are immensely similar to each other. Even so, The AC version is a little bit more expensive than the N version. So, what’s with the different pricing? Which one should you get for the best value out of your money?

The Wi-Fi Technology
Asus RT-N66U and Asus RT-AC66U indeed look very identical to each other. They are roughly of the same size, also with three external antennas each. And, both are dual-band wireless routers, which means that each of them features two independent wireless signal channels that work simultaneously, one on the 2.4 GHz frequency and another on the 5 GHz frequency.

However, the reason behind their different naming and pricing is the Wi-Fi technology that they use. The older Asus RT-N66U still relies on the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard for both frequencies. The standard is still widely in use until today. The N version is able to provide a total bandwidth of 900 Mbps, which is split evenly, 450 Mbps for each of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. However, the newer Asus RT-AC66U has been updated with the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. Due to the upgrade, the AC version offers a larger bandwidth, 450 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz frequency and 1300 Mbps for the 5 GHz frequency, totaling with 1750 Mbps. As you can see, the increase is very huge.

The Hardware
The next difference is the hardware implemented in the routers. Asus RT-N66U is armed with 256 MB RAM and 32 MB flash. On the other hand, while the amount of RAM remains the same, Asus RT-AC66U is armed with 128MB flash. The upgrade allows you to keep your router up-to-date with the latest firmware versions.

The other features of these routers are more-or-less the same. They both have been armed with the beamforming technology for superior connection stability and reliability, Smart QoS, excellent network security, management, and control features. They are both compatible with the ASUSWRT dashboard UI and the ASUS Router app.

 

Asus RT-N66U

- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Concurrent Dual-Band Transmissions for Strong Signal Strength and Ultra-Fast Connection Rates up to 900Mbps

- Gigabit Ethernet Ports for the Fastest, Most Reliable Internet Performance

- Download Master for Wireless Data Storage and Access to Router-Connected USB Storage Devices

- Expanded Wireless Coverage with 3 Detachable High-Powered Antennas

- File Sharing, Printer Sharing, and 3G Sharing via Two Multi-Functional Built-in USB Ports

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Asus RT-AC66U

- 5th generation 802.11ac chipset gives you concurrent dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz for up to super-fast 1.75Gbps

- Gigabit Ethernet ports for the fastest, most reliable internet performance,AiRadar optimizes wireless coverage with detachable high-powered antennas

- Download Master for wireless data storage and access to your router-connected USB storage devices

- ASUS AiCloud service: Access, stream, share, sync - all on the go with unlimited storage expansion!

- File sharing, printer sharing, and 3G sharing via two multi-functional built-in USB ports

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Asus RT-N66U vs. RT-AC66U
In general, Asus RT-AC66U makes the best bang out of the bucks. With a relatively small price increment, it comes with a much larger bandwidth, allowing for a much higher data transfer rate. It also has a wider flash memory. Keep in mind, however, the bonus bandwidth is on the 5 GHz frequency only.