ASUS Blue Cave Review | 77 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£200
  • Avg. price in US: ~$180
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 2600 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 1 Gbps
  • Wireless coverage: ?

ASUS Blue Cave review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among routers and if it is worth buying.

7.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the router's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best routers on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

7.7

Technical Score

10.0%

8.6

User score

Very good
7.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

7.1

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

9.6

Networking

14.0%

9.1

Security

12.0%

7.2

Hardware

10.0%

8.4

Management

Very good
8.6

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(767)
amazon
3.9
(245)
amazon
4.2
(49)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(814)
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(182)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Excellent
  • 7.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    5.2

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    8.7

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    10

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    6.6

    Maximum connected devices

  • 4.8
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    5.9

    Weight

    30.0%

    5.2

    Wi-Fi speed

    20.0%

    4.0

    Cellular modem type

    10.0%

    1.0

    SIM slot

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS Blue Cave is a stylish AC2600 dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router powered by an Intel AnyWAN GRX350 dual-core 1.6 GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and 128MB of flash memory. It features a unique antenna-less design with four internal antennas in a 4x4 configuration, delivering theoretical speeds of up to 1,733Mbps on the 5GHz band and 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Its main characteristics include support for ASUS AiMesh, Alexa voice commands, IFTTT integration, and lifetime AiProtection security powered by Trend Micro. Pros include its elegant aesthetic that fits modern home decor, strong 5GHz performance, and a robust feature set usually found in gaming routers. However, cons include slower USB 3.0 file transfer speeds compared to competitors, the lack of wall-mounting options, and the absence of multiple status indicator LEDs, relying instead on a single central light ring.

Technical Specifications of router ASUS Blue Cave

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

7.1

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

9.6

Networking

14.0%

9.1

Security

12.0%

7.2

Hardware

10.0%

8.4

Management

7.7
ASUS Blue Cave has a technical score of 7.72 points, which is higher than that of 82.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(767)
amazon
3.9
(245)
amazon
4.2
(49)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(814)
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(182)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

8.6
ASUS Blue Cave has a user score of 8.6 points, which is higher than that of 64% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the router.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a router reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
10
ASUS Blue Cave has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 63.5% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

7.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.5

Price

8.3
ASUS Blue Cave has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.3 points, which is higher than 82.4% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
Wi-Fi version
What it is: Identifies the Wi-Fi generation the router supports, such as Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E, or 7.
When it matters: When newer phones, laptops, and consoles need the latest Wi-Fi efficiency and speed features.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
ASUS Blue Cave uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). 39.4% of routers use this Wi-Fi standard.
Wi-Fi bands
What it is: Lists which wireless frequency bands the router can use, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
When it matters: When you need to balance range, speed, and congestion across different types of client devices.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz

2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
ASUS Blue Cave supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands. 25% of routers use the same band setup.
Wi-Fi speed
What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >2700 Mbps

2,600 Mbps
ASUS Blue Cave delivers 2,600 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 69.5% of routers and equal to 0.3% of routers.
Channel widths supported
What it is: Lists the Wi-Fi channel widths the router can use, such as 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz.
When it matters: When you want the option to trade peak speed against stability in crowded wireless environments.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz

20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
ASUS Blue Cave supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 40.4% of routers and the same as 32.1% of routers.
Show more
Wi-Fi security protocols
What it is: Lists the wireless security standards the router supports, such as WPA2 or WPA3.
When it matters: When you want stronger wireless protection without locking out older devices that still need compatibility.

Importance: HIGH

WPA2, WPA, WPS
ASUS Blue Cave supports WPA2, WPA, WPS Wi-Fi security protocols. 79.1% of routers use newer security protocols.
DoS protection
What it is: Provides defenses intended to reduce the impact of denial-of-service traffic against the router or network.
When it matters: When exposed services or remote access make resilience against traffic floods more important.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports DoS protection. 11.1% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
What it is: Uses stateful packet inspection to track sessions and block suspicious unsolicited traffic more accurately.
When it matters: When the router needs a stronger first line of filtering on an internet-facing connection.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports SPI intrusion protection. 3.7% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
What it is: Lets the router allow or block devices based on their MAC addresses.
When it matters: When you want an extra device-level access rule beyond passwords and network names.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports mac address filtering. 1% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
What it is: Allows the router to block or allow access based on website addresses or domain rules.
When it matters: When you need to restrict specific sites for children, guests, or work-policy reasons.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports URL filter. 1.9% of routers include URL filtering.
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IPv6 support
What it is: Support for the newer IPv6 internet addressing standard alongside the older IPv4 system.
When it matters: When your internet provider or network already uses IPv6, or you want the router to stay compatible as IPv6 use becomes more common.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports IPv6. 10.9% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports dynamic routing. 46.8% of routers include dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
What it is: Allows the router to pass traffic between separate VLANs under controlled rules.
When it matters: When you need segmented networks to communicate selectively instead of staying fully isolated.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Blue Cave does not support inter-vlan routing. 22.2% of routers include inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports VLAN tagging. 37.2% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
What it is: Provides quality-of-service controls that prioritize some traffic over less important traffic.
When it matters: When calls, gaming, and downloads compete and you want latency-sensitive traffic protected.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports QoS. 2.7% of routers include QoS controls.
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N. of LAN ports
What it is: Measures how many LAN ports the router includes. A higher count expands direct connectivity for matching devices.
When it matters: When you run a home office with NAS, TV boxes, and desktops, having more LAN ports avoids extra switches and keeps latency lower on wired links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 4 ports

4
ASUS Blue Cave has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 23.4% of routers and the same as 69.5% of routers.
LAN port speeds
What it is: Lists the Ethernet speeds available on the router’s LAN ports, such as Gigabit or multi-gig.
When it matters: When wired transfers to NAS, desktops, or access points need more than basic Ethernet speeds.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 Gbps

1 Gbps
ASUS Blue Cave offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 27.2% of routers and on par with 59.8% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
What it is: Shows how many separate WAN uplink ports the router provides for internet connections.
When it matters: When you use dual internet lines, backup WAN, or load balancing between multiple external links.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 WAN port

1
ASUS Blue Cave has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 1% of routers and the same as 90.1% of routers.
N. of USB ports
What it is: Shows how many USB ports the router includes for storage, printers, or modem accessories.
When it matters: When you plan to share storage, attach a printer, or use USB-based network extras.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 1 USB port

1
ASUS Blue Cave has 1 USB ports, which is more than 39.2% of routers and the same as 39.9% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
What it is: Power over Ethernet support, meaning the router can receive power, deliver it, or be part of a PoE-based installation.
When it matters: When you want cleaner installation with fewer separate power cables, especially in ceilings, walls, racks, or remote locations.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Blue Cave does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
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Management interface
What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI, App
ASUS Blue Cave is managed via Web UI, App. 33.4% of routers use this management method.
ASUS Router app
Firmware upgrade method
What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

Importance: HIGH

Web UI, App, Automatic
ASUS Blue Cave uses Web UI, App, Automatic firmware updates. 78.9% of routers use this update method.
Traffic monitoring
What it is: Lets the router track bandwidth usage by device, app category, or time period.
When it matters: When you need to find which devices or activities are causing slowdowns or high data use.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports traffic monitoring. 17.5% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
What it is: Lets the router create a separate wireless network for visitors or less-trusted devices.
When it matters: When guests need internet access without reaching private devices on the main network.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports guest Wi-Fi network. 8.6% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
Captive portal
What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports captive portal. 76.4% of routers include captive portal features.
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CPU clock speed
What it is: Shows the operating frequency of the router processor, often listed per core.
When it matters: When routing, encryption, QoS, and many active clients can put heavier load on the CPU.

Importance: HIGH

2 x 1.6 GHz
ASUS Blue Cave runs at 2x1.6 GHz, which is faster than 67.7% of routers and on par with 0.9% of routers.
RAM capacity
What it is: The amount of working memory available for sessions, routing tables, and running router services.
When it matters: When many devices, VPN tunnels, or advanced features need the router to stay responsive under load.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=512 MB

512 MB
ASUS Blue Cave has 512 MB of RAM, which is more than 65.2% of routers and the same as 22.8% of routers.
Internal storage
What it is: The built-in storage available for logs, apps, shared files, or other local router functions.
When it matters: When the router runs extra services and needs space for logs, packages, or shared content.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8 GB

0.125 GB
ASUS Blue Cave has 0.125 GB of internal storage, which is less than 64.6% of routers and the same as 11.8% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
What it is: Uses dedicated hardware paths to offload routing, NAT, encryption, or switching tasks from the main CPU.
When it matters: When heavy routing or security features would otherwise reduce throughput on the processor alone.

Importance: HIGH

yes
ASUS Blue Cave supports hardware acceleration. 18.6% of routers include hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
What it is: Shows how many antennas are mounted externally on the router.
When it matters: When you want stronger adjustable coverage or plan to aim antennas for difficult room layouts.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 3 antennas

0
ASUS Blue Cave has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 59.6% of routers and the same as 40.4% of routers.
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ASUS Blue Cave vs the average router

  • Supports Mesh Wi-Fi
    ASUS Blue Cave supports mesh Wi-Fi, while the average router does not. 37.3% of routers support mesh Wi-Fi.
    What it is: Supports mesh networking so multiple nodes can work together as one Wi-Fi system.
    When it matters: When one router alone cannot cover every floor or room reliably.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Blue Cave supports mesh Wi-Fi, while the average router does not. 37.3% of routers support mesh Wi-Fi.
  • Supports Automatic failover
    ASUS Blue Cave supports automatic failover, while the average router does not. 24.5% of routers offer automatic failover.
    What it is: Can switch to a backup internet connection automatically if the primary line fails.
    When it matters: When uptime matters and the network cannot stop every time the main WAN drops.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Blue Cave supports automatic failover, while the average router does not. 24.5% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • Supports dedicated mesh backhaul
    ASUS Blue Cave supports dedicated mesh backhaul, while the average router does not. 8.2% of routers offer dedicated mesh backhaul.
    What it is: Uses a separate wireless link or radio for communication between mesh nodes instead of sharing client bandwidth.
    When it matters: When mesh nodes move a lot of traffic and you want less speed loss from node-to-node links.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Blue Cave supports dedicated mesh backhaul, while the average router does not. 8.2% of routers offer dedicated mesh backhaul.
  • 79.3% faster Wi-Fi speed
    ASUS Blue Cave has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (2,600 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
    What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
    When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2700 Mbps

    ASUS Blue Cave has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (2,600 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.2,600 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps
  • Supports MU-MIMO
    ASUS Blue Cave supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
    What it is: Supports multi-user MIMO so the router can serve more than one client stream at the same time.
    When it matters: When many active devices share the network and you want wireless capacity used more efficiently.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Blue Cave supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • 295,904 more NAT sessions
    ASUS Blue Cave has more concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (300,000 vs 4,096). The average router supports 4,096 concurrent NAT sessions.
    What it is: The number of simultaneous NAT-tracked connections the router can handle before tables become a bottleneck.
    When it matters: When many apps and devices open lots of parallel internet sessions at the same time.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=16000 sessions

    ASUS Blue Cave has more concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (300,000 vs 4,096). The average router supports 4,096 concurrent NAT sessions.300,000 vs 4,096
  • 2 more spatial streams
    ASUS Blue Cave has more spatial streams than the average router (4 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.
    What it is: Shows how many parallel Wi-Fi spatial streams the router can use for wireless data transmission.
    When it matters: When modern clients need higher throughput from wider multi-stream Wi-Fi connections.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 4 spatial streams

    ASUS Blue Cave has more spatial streams than the average router (4 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.4 vs 2
  • Supports Captive portal
    ASUS Blue Cave supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
    What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
    When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Blue Cave supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
  • Supports Mesh Wi-Fi
    ASUS Blue Cave supports mesh Wi-Fi, while the average router does not. 37.3% of routers support mesh Wi-Fi.
  • Supports dedicated mesh backhaul
    ASUS Blue Cave supports dedicated mesh backhaul, while the average router does not. 8.2% of routers offer dedicated mesh backhaul.
  • 79.3% faster Wi-Fi speed
    ASUS Blue Cave has a higher Wi-Fi speed than the average router (2,600 Mbps vs 1,450 Mbps). The average router reaches Wi-Fi speed of 1,450 Mbps.
  • Supports MU-MIMO
    ASUS Blue Cave supports MU-MIMO, while the average router does not. 47.8% of routers support MU-MIMO.
  • 2 more spatial streams
    ASUS Blue Cave has more spatial streams than the average router (4 vs 2). The average router has 2 spatial streams.
  • Supports Automatic failover
    ASUS Blue Cave supports automatic failover, while the average router does not. 24.5% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • 295,904 more NAT sessions
    ASUS Blue Cave has more concurrent NAT sessions than the average router (300,000 vs 4,096). The average router supports 4,096 concurrent NAT sessions.
  • Supports Captive portal
    ASUS Blue Cave supports captive portal, while the average router does not. 23.8% of routers support captive portal.
  • 256 MB GB more RAM
    ASUS Blue Cave has more RAM than the average router (512 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
  • Higher CPU clock speed
    ASUS Blue Cave has a higher CPU clock speed than the average router (2x1.6 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz). The average router has CPU clock speed of 2x0.5 GHz.
  • Suitable for gaming
    ASUS Blue Cave is suitable for gaming, while the average router is not. 37.2% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    ASUS Blue Cave supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WPS, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA2, WPA, WPS.
  • Fewer NAS services
    ASUS Blue Cave includes SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access. 0.00% of routers include SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services.
  • 4.6 W higher power consumption
    ASUS Blue Cave uses more power than the average router (12.7 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    ASUS Blue Cave has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
  • Fewer NAS services
    ASUS Blue Cave includes SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access. 0.00% of routers include SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services.
    What it is: Lists the onboard file-sharing services the router can provide, such as SMB, FTP, or media sharing.
    When it matters: When the router is expected to handle light file serving without separate NAS hardware.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Blue Cave includes SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access. 0.00% of routers include SMB, FTP, time machine NAS services.SMB, FTP, time machine vs SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access
  • 2.22x more expensive
    ASUS Blue Cave is more expensive than the average router (£200 vs £90).
    ASUS Blue Cave is more expensive than the average router (£200 vs £90).£200 vs £90
  • 4.6 W higher power consumption
    ASUS Blue Cave uses more power than the average router (12.7 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.
    What it is: The amount of electrical power the router draws during normal operation, usually measured in watts.
    When it matters: When the router stays on all day and you care about heat output and long-term electricity cost.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <6 W

    ASUS Blue Cave uses more power than the average router (12.7 W vs 8.1 W). The average router uses 8.1 W power.12.7 W vs 8.1 W
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    ASUS Blue Cave has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    What it is: Shows how many antennas are mounted externally on the router.
    When it matters: When you want stronger adjustable coverage or plan to aim antennas for difficult room layouts.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: 3 antennas

    ASUS Blue Cave has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.0 vs 2
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    ASUS Blue Cave supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WPS, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA2, WPA, WPS.
    What it is: Lists the wireless security standards the router supports, such as WPA2 or WPA3.
    When it matters: When you want stronger wireless protection without locking out older devices that still need compatibility.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Blue Cave supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, WPA, WPS, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS. 0.00% of routers support WPA2, WPA, WPS.WPA2, WPA, WPS vs WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS

Graphic comparison of ASUS Blue Cave and other routers

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Third-party reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS Blue Cave?

  • Unique, modern design with no external antennas that fits well in home decor
  • Strong 5GHz performance and fast overall speeds for a mid-range AC router
  • Excellent built-in security features powered by Trend Micro (AiProtection) with no subscription fee
  • Highly customizable web interface and user-friendly mobile app
  • Supports Alexa voice commands and IFTTT for smart home automation
  • Compatible with Asus AiMesh for expanding coverage with other Asus routers

What customers dislike about ASUS Blue Cave?

  • Slow data transfer speeds when using the USB 3.0 port for network storage
  • Lacks support for third-party firmware (like OpenWrt) due to its Intel chipset
  • Older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard, which is less future-proof than Wi-Fi 6 (AX)
  • Short-range throughput can sometimes be inconsistent compared to routers with external antennas
  • Occasional reports of the router failing to auto-reconnect if the internet connection drops
  • Light from the 'cave' can be bright at night (though it can be turned off)

Expert reviews

S
smallnetbuilder.com
11/04/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave AC2600, reviewed by SmallNetBuilder, is a uniquely designed, aesthetically driven router featuring an Intel/Lantiq platform, a triple-core CPU, and 512 MB of RAM. While it offers a stylish alternative to traditional "black spider" routers, it lacks wall-mounting options, requires open-air placement due to heat, and initially lacked AiMesh support....Read more

T
tomsguide.com
06/03/2019

The Asus Blue Cave AC2600 router features a distinct, aesthetically driven design with a center "cave" and provides robust security through a lifetime subscription to Trend Micro-powered AiProtection. While offering excellent long-range, single-story performance, it falls short on short-range speed and struggles with inter-floor throughput compared to competitors. Despite a high-end...Read more

T
trustedreviews.com
26/09/2018

The Asus Blue Cave is a stylish AC2600 dual-band router designed for smart homes, offering Alexa/IFTTT integration and subscription-free AiProtection security. It delivers solid 4K-capable performance and exceptional long-range stability, despite lacking external antennas. However, the device falls short in short-range speed tests compared to premium alternatives, and its high price...Read more

D
dongknows.com
12/07/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave is a uniquely designed, antenna-less AC2600 Wi-Fi 5 router powered by an Intel dual-core 1.6 GHz CPU, offering high-end performance for medium-sized homes. It provides excellent 5GHz speeds and fast close-range 2.4GHz performance with a 150-foot effective range, while supporting AiMesh, Alexa, and free AiProtection for security. However, the device features...Read more

C
cnet.com
11/05/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 is a dual-band wireless router that breaks traditional design norms with its unique, light-up "vortex" center, making it a conversation piece that blends into home decor. Powered by an Intel Wi-Fi chipset, it provides top-tier speeds of up to 1,733Mbps on 5GHz and 800Mbps on 2.4GHz, with exceptional long-range 2.4GHz performance. A significant pro is the...Read more

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kitguru.net
08/05/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave AC2600, reviewed by KitGuru, features a unique, antenna-free design aimed at aesthetic, living-room placement, while delivering solid AC2600 dual-band performance (1,734Mbps on 5GHz, 800Mbps on 2.4GHz). It maintains functionality with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port, powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Puma 7 processor. Pros include strong, competitive WiFi...Read more

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pcmag.com
03/05/2018

The Asus Blue Cave AC2600 is a "lifestyle" router featuring a unique, sculpture-like design with a blue, illuminated central hole, intended for modern homes. Its key strengths include an easy installation process, robust Trend Micro-powered network security, and smart home integrations, such as Amazon Alexa and IFTTT support. While the router delivers respectable close-range...Read more

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thetechrevolutionist.com
17/07/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave AC2600, reviewed by The Tech Revolutionist, distinguishes itself with a unique "donut" design, abandoning traditional external antennas for an aesthetic, home-friendly appearance that delivers strong performance. Key strengths highlighted include a robust security suite with free, lifetime AiProtection powered by Trend Micro, excellent parental controls, and smart...Read more

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funkykit.com
19/07/2018

The ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 is a high-performance, aesthetically driven router featuring a unique white, donut-shaped design without external antennas. It utilizes a dual-core Intel processor, offering fast 5G and 2.4G Wi-Fi speeds along with robust AiProtection and versatile operation modes. While praised for its, ease of use and strong, stable throughput, the device lacks detailed...Read more

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