Wi-Fi 8 client devices are not yet part of the picture, but the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series is already a retail product in Canada. That does not mean the GT-BN98 Pro has been shown to outperform every router or device you own: independent testing found strong results using a Wi-Fi 7 laptop, not a Wi-Fi 8 client. Whether it is worth buying now depends on your coverage, wired network, budget and willingness to be an early adopter.
Is the ASUS GT-BN98 Pro available, and is it really a Wi-Fi 8 router?
ASUS announced on September 4, 2026, that the GT-BN98 series was available in Canadian retail stores, with a wider October release planned. The same announcement said US launch details would follow, so availability and stock should be checked by market. The announcement establishes router availability; it does not establish that Wi-Fi 8 phones, laptops or other client devices are already on sale.
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ASUS offers two versions: the GT-BN98 Pro, identified as BN30000, and the GT-BN98, identified as BN25000. ASUS describes the series as quad-band with up to 30,000 Mbps total wireless throughput. That is an aggregate advertised rate across the router’s bands, not the speed one device will receive. ASUS also lists a 2.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, two 10 Gbps ports and four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports. ASUS’s availability announcement is the source for these specifications and the regional launch information.
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Tom’s Guide says the Pro is based on the draft IEEE 802.11bn specification. The available reporting does not establish whether final ratification is complete or whether this first-generation router implements every feature that may ultimately be part of Wi-Fi 8. Treat it as an early Wi-Fi 8 product, not proof that every eventual standard feature has been finalized and verified.
#1 Best Overall
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) with new 320MHz channels in the 6 GHz band and 4096-QAM significantly increases network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 30 Gbps
- Multi-link Operation links to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Cutting-edge external dual-feeding antennas boost coverage by providing high efficiency and significantly enhanced signal strength
- Maximized wired connectivity and flexibility with dual 10G ports and quad 2.5G ports
- Triple-Level Game Acceleration - The GT-BE98 Pro boosts your PC gaming traffic every step of the way, from your PC gaming port all the way to the game server.
What did the GT-BN98 Pro actually achieve in testing?
Tom’s Guide reviewed the GT-BN98 Pro over three weeks using IxChariot network benchmark testing and a Wi-Fi 7 HP Envy X360 notebook. It measured 2.300 Gbps at 15 feet and 950.6 Mbps at 50 feet. Those are results from the review’s specific setup, not guaranteed speeds in a home or a direct comparison against every router a reader might own. The tests used a Wi-Fi 7 client, so they do not demonstrate the complete Wi-Fi 8 experience.
The review also recorded 2.407 Gbps with two devices next to one another under a simulated ten-user workload. That is a separate test description from the 2.300 Gbps measurement at 15 feet; the figures should not be treated as interchangeable. Actual throughput depends on factors such as the client, distance, interference, router placement and wired connection.
Rank #2
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) with new 320MHz channels in the 6 GHz band and 4096-QAM significantly increases network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 30 Gbps
- Multi-link Operation links to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- Cutting-edge external dual-feeding antennas boost coverage by providing high efficiency and significantly enhanced signal strength
- Maximized wired connectivity and flexibility with dual 10G ports and quad 2.5G ports
- Triple-Level Game Acceleration - The GT-BE98 Pro boosts your PC gaming traffic every step of the way, from your PC gaming port all the way to the game server.
Tom’s Guide lists eight non-removable antennas, WAN inputs of 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps, and LAN ports consisting of one 10 Gbps, three 2.5 Gbps and one 1 Gbps port. It also lists USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0. Check the current regional product listing for exact configuration and firmware details before purchase.
Will it work with Wi-Fi 7 devices?
Yes. The Wi-Fi 7 laptop in Tom’s Guide’s tests connected to the router and produced the measurements described above. ASUS also says its engineering tests found measurable gains when the GT-BN98 series was paired with existing Wi-Fi 7 clients. That is a manufacturer claim, not an independent, universal promise that every Wi-Fi 7 device will be faster.
Rank #3
- World’s first AI Router - Unleash demanding network applications with a powerhouse quad-core 2.6GHz CPU, plus an NPU, 4GB DDR4 RAM and 32GB eMMC Flash.
- Built-in AI - Run custom services and AI-powered apps, enabling advanced smart home automation like motion-trigger alerts from IoT sensors with support for platforms like Home Assistant, empowering users to build personalized, DIY smart home scenarios.
- Tri-Band WiFi 7 AI Gaming Router - 320MHz channels in the 6GHz band and 4096-QAM significantly increase network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 19 Gbps.
- Ultimate Wired Bandwidth - Wired network capacity up to 31G with dual 10G ports, four 2.5G ports, and extreme 20G Link Aggregation
- AI Game Boost - A Triple-Level AI Acceleration Engine with Adaptive QoE at its core, AI and DPI work together to reduce ping, jitter, and packet loss. Preconfigured modes let users prioritize bandwidth in one click for a faster, smoother gaming experience.
ASUS has also discussed simulations involving future features such as Unequal Modulation (UEQM) and Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA), which it says may help stability or interference handling as compatible clients arrive. These are company-reported simulations, not independently verified results with future Wi-Fi 8 clients.
What does ASUS claim Wi-Fi 8 will improve?
In a concept announcement, ASUS described Wi-Fi 8 as targeting lower latency, reliability and coordinated operation across multiple devices. It cited up to 2× higher mid-range throughput, 2× wider IoT coverage and up to 6× lower P99 latency versus Wi-Fi 7. Those figures are ASUS’s own design and test claims—not an independent comparison showing what every Wi-Fi 8 router or household will achieve. ASUS’s concept announcement also has an apparent date mismatch: its body is dated January 6, 2025, while it refers to CES 2026. It is therefore not a sound source for establishing when this retail product launched.
Rank #4
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be) with new 320MHz channels in the 6 GHz band and 4096-QAM significantly increases network capacity and throughput, with speeds of up to 30 Gbps
- Dual-band WiFi 7 speeds up to 3600 Mbps with MLO and 4K-QAM
- Multi-link Operation links to multiple bands at the same time to ensure stable internet connections and efficient data transfers
- ASUS AiMesh technology boosts coverage up to 2450 sq.ft. (1-pack) and easy extendibility with compatible ASUS routers for seamless and secure whole home WiFi
- Cutting-edge external dual-feeding antennas boost coverage by providing high efficiency and significantly enhanced signal strength
Is a Wi-Fi 8 router worth buying before Wi-Fi 8 devices exist?
Tom’s Guide’s October 2026 buying guide says it knows of no consumer Wi-Fi 8 client hardware and forecasts that devices may arrive in 2027 or 2028. That is the publication’s outlook, not a confirmed release schedule. If you buy now, you should judge the router on what it can do with your current devices and network—not on an assumed client launch date or unverified future capabilities.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- It may suit you if you have a fast wired connection, compatible multi-gigabit devices, a need for the Pro’s ports or a specific coverage problem, and the price and local availability make sense.
- It may not suit you if your internet plan or client devices are the bottleneck, a Wi-Fi 7 router already meets your needs, or you are buying mainly for Wi-Fi 8 features that your devices cannot yet use.
- Check the whole network: compare performance at similar distances with the same client where possible, consider whether you need mesh nodes, and make sure your WAN, LAN and backhaul connections can use the speeds you are paying for.
Tom’s Guide listed a $900 price in its review, but that figure is not verified as the current US street price on October 4, 2026. Confirm today’s price and stock with a local retailer before deciding.
Best Value
- Blazing-fast WiFi 7 boosts tri-band throughput up to 12000 Mbps with 320 MHz channels of 6 GHz band, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and 4K-QAM
- Powerful wired network capacity of up to 20G with one 2.5G WAN port and seven 2.5G LAN ports.
- High-performance quad-core 2.0GHz CPU with robust cooling, 2GB RAM and eight internal antennas providing up to 3000 sq. ft. of range.
- Smart Home Master makes it easy to set up functional subnetwork (up to 3 SSIDs) for IoT devices and VPNs
- ROG-exclusive Gaming Network streamlines Triple-Level Game Acceleration setup and connections through convenient SSIDs
Would a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system be a better fit?
If your main problem is coverage across a larger home, a mesh system may be more relevant than a single high-end router. ASUS’s ZenWiFi BT8 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system with 6 GHz and dual 2.5G ports. ASUS states up to 5,900 sq. ft. of coverage for the two-pack; that is a manufacturer coverage claim, not a guarantee for every building. The BT8 is Wi-Fi 7, not Wi-Fi 8. ASUS’s ZenWiFi BT8 product page lists its specifications.
Quick Recap
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