OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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REVIEWS
Scored using Routers Methodology v3.0
Routers Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Routers Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Routers Methodology v3.0

ASUS RT-AX52 review: 77 specs compared

Avg. price:~£60Wi-Fi version:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi speed:1800 MbpsLAN port speeds:1 GbpsMesh Wi-Fi:yes

ASUS RT-AX52 Review: Compare 77 technical specifications, 9 expert and video reviews and 3 best-of lists to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

ASUS RT-AX52
8.0/10

Overall score

Score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 82% of models
Score components

40%

7.7

Technical score

25%

8.6

Reviews score

25%

8.3

List score

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.9, the mark of a weaker model in this category

▲Better than 82% of routers
8.6

Value for money

Value for money
8.6/ 10
✕
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 distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 89% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

▲Better than 89%
7.7

Technical score

Technical score
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 72% of models
Score components

26%

7.2

Wireless

20%

5.6

Ports

18%

9.6

Networking

14%

9.5

Security

12%

7.1

Hardware

10%

8.4

Management

▲Better than 72%
8.6

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.6/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 86% of models

80%

8.6

Average grade

20%

8.5

Popularity

Grades by review (9)
4 reviews: 2 with a printed score, 2 estimated from the review. 5 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
▲Better than 86%
8.3

List score

List score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (3)
List score: in 3 of 86 lists (3%)
▲Better than 87%
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the ASUS RT-AX52

Based on 3 · 5

Reviewers like the security tools, easy app and solid build, but criticise the missing USB ports and thin feature set.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what
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Routers model ranking

Ranked #75 of 524 models in Routers (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of router ASUS RT-AX52

Technical score
Technical score
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 72% of models
Score components:

26%

7.2

Wireless

20%

5.6

Ports

18%

9.6

Networking

14%

9.5

Security

12%

7.1

Hardware

10%

8.4

Management

7.7
Reviews score
8.6
List score
8.3
Value for money
Value for money
8.6/ 10
✕
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 distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
▲ Better than 89% of models
Score components:

70%

8.0

Overall score

30%

10

Price

8.6
Brand name
ASUS
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
This router uses Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which is more advanced than 58.5% of routers and equal to 25.9% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
This router supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 24.2% of routers and equal to 65.6% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
1,800 Mbps
Market range: <0 Mbps – >6k Mbps
This router delivers 1,800 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is higher than 54.1% of routers and equal to 3.9% of routers.
Channel widths supported
20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
This router supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 36.5% of routers and the same as 29.9% of routers.
Show more
What reviewers say
Wi-Fi security protocols
WPA3
This router supports WPA3 Wi-Fi security protocols, which are more advanced than 56.5% of routers and equal to 3.9% of routers.
DoS protection
yes
This router includes DoS protection. 9.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
yes
This router includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 4.7% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
yes
This router supports MAC address filtering. 1.7% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
yes
This router supports URL filtering. 2.6% of routers include URL filtering.
Show more
What reviewers say
IPv6 support
yes
This router supports IPv6. 8.8% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
yes
This router supports dynamic routing. 54% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
?
VLAN tagging
?
QoS
yes
This router includes QoS controls. 2.4% of routers include QoS controls.
Show more
N. of LAN ports
3
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 3 LAN ports, which is fewer than 66% of routers and the same as 18.2% of routers.
LAN port speeds
1 Gbps
This router offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 25.7% of routers and on par with 56.1% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 0.8% of routers and the same as 89.4% of routers.
N. of USB ports
1
Market range: <0 – >5
This router has 1 USB ports, which is more than 40.1% of routers and the same as 41.5% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
no
This router does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 1.7% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
Show more
What reviewers say
Management interface
Web UI, App
This router uses Web UI, App for management, which is more advanced than 29.7% of routers and equal to 60.9% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
Web UI, App, Automatic
This router supports Web UI, App, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 71.9% of routers and equal to 27.2% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
yes
This router includes traffic monitoring. 13.9% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
yes
This router offers a guest Wi‑Fi network. 7.3% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
?
Show more
CPU clock speed
2x 1.3 GHz
This router runs at 2x1.3 GHz, which is faster than 58.2% of routers and on par with 1% of routers.
RAM capacity
256 MB
Market range: <0 MB – >1k MB
This router has 256 MB of RAM, which is more than 46.3% of routers and the same as 14.9% of routers.
Internal storage
0.125 GB
Market range: <0 GB – >0.5 GB
This router has 0.125 GB of internal storage, which is more than 47.9% of routers and the same as 23.8% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
yes
This router offers hardware acceleration. 24.9% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
4
Market range: <0 – >10
This router has 4 external antennas, which is more than 69.9% of routers and the same as 19.4% of routers.
Show more
What reviewers say

ASUS RT-AX52 vs the average router

246810TotalWirelessSecurityNetworkingPortsManagementHardware
  • Supports mesh Wi-Fi
    This router supports mesh Wi-Fi, while the average router does not. 45.2% of routers support mesh Wi-Fi.
  • Supports automatic failover
    This router offers automatic failover, while the average router does not. 31.2% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3 vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports link aggregation (LACP)
    This router supports link aggregation (LACP), while the average router does not. 14.1% of routers support link aggregation (LACP).
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • 11.7% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.6/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.7 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    ▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    ▲ Better than 86% of models

    80%

    8.6

    Average grade

    20%

    8.5

    Popularity

    Grades by review (9)
    4 reviews: 2 with a printed score, 2 estimated from the review. 5 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.6 vs 7.7
  • 6.7% better value for money
    ASUS RT-AX52 has better value for money than the average router (8.62 vs 8.1).
    8.62 vs 8.08
  • Supports mesh Wi-Fi
    This router supports mesh Wi-Fi, while the average router does not. 45.2% of routers support mesh Wi-Fi.
  • Supports OFDMA
    This router supports OFDMA, while the average router does not. 41.5% of routers support OFDMA.
  • Newer Wi-Fi version
    This router supports a newer Wi-Fi version than the average router (Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average router uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
    Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Supports TWT
    This router supports Target Wake Time (TWT), while the average router does not. 42.6% of routers support Target Wake Time (TWT).
  • Stronger Wi-Fi security
    This router supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA3, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP.
    WPA3 vs WPA2, WPA/WPA2, WEP
  • Supports automatic failover
    This router offers automatic failover, while the average router does not. 31.2% of routers offer automatic failover.
  • Supports dynamic routing
    This router supports dynamic routing, while the average router does not. 46.1% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Supports link aggregation (LACP)
    This router supports link aggregation (LACP), while the average router does not. 14.1% of routers support link aggregation (LACP).
  • 2 more external antennas
    This router has more external antennas than the average router (4 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
    4 vs 2
  • 4 years newer release date
    This router was released more recently than the average router (2023 vs 2019). The average router release year is 2019.
    2023 vs 2019
  • 1 fewer LAN ports
    This router has fewer LAN ports than the average router (3 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    3 vs 4
  • 1 fewer spatial streams
    This router has fewer spatial streams than the average router (2 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
    2 vs 3
  • 72 mm thicker design
    This router is thicker than the average router (126 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    126 mm vs 54 mm
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • 1 fewer spatial streams
    This router has fewer spatial streams than the average router (2 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
    2 vs 3
  • Narrower DFS range
    This router has fewer supported DFS channels than the average router (52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144). The average router supports 52-64 + 100-144 DFS channels.
    52-64 + 100-140 vs 52-64 + 100-144
  • 1 fewer LAN ports
    This router has fewer LAN ports than the average router (3 vs 4). The average router has 4 LAN ports.
    3 vs 4
  • 72 mm thicker design
    This router is thicker than the average router (126 mm vs 54 mm). The average router is 54 mm thick.
    126 mm vs 54 mm

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

9.0
JK Chavez
≈ estimated
22/03/2024
Hands-on review · setup, speed tests and gaming latency
Verdict
ASUS RT-AX52 is an affordable upgrade over a stock modem router, with good range, stability and gaming latency.
9.0
Jayce Ooi
≈ estimated
14/03/2024
Hands-on review · Wi-Fi benchmarks and AiMesh tests
Verdict
ASUS RT-AX52 is a budget router that punches above its price, with strong speeds and whole-house coverage.
Shop video

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

9.0
mkaugaming.com
✓ explicit
21/09/2025
Hands-on test · Router app setup
Verdict
The ASUS RT-AX52 is the easiest router to set up, with a phone app for device tracking, parental controls and VPN, though entry-level hardware may strain busy homes.
9.0
es.root-nation.com
≈ estimated
29/05/2024
Hands-on test · Wi-Fi 6 router
Verdict
The ASUS RT-AX52 is a simple Wi-Fi 6 router whose signal stays steady through three walls, suiting smaller homes that don't need USB sharing.
9.0
redeszone.net
✓ explicit
10/01/2024
Lab test · Wi-Fi 6 router
Verdict
The ASUS RT-AX52 is a simple Wi-Fi 6 router that holds full gigabit internet speed over a cable in most tests, suiting homes that don't need USB storage.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about ASUS RT-AX52

  • Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 with OFDMA and MU-MIMO
  • Budget price for a mesh-ready router
  • USB port for a printer or 4G dongle
  • Automatic failover to a backup connection
  • AiProtection Classic included without a subscription
  • Runs ASUSWRT or OpenWRT firmware

What customers don't like about ASUS RT-AX52

  • Wi-Fi 6 only, with no Wi-Fi 7 or 6 GHz band
  • LAN and WAN ports limited to 1 Gbps
  • Two antennas and 256 MB of RAM limit large homes
  • Only three LAN ports

Verdict

ASUS gives the budget RT-AX52 a surprising amount of flexibility. This AX1800 dual-band router pairs the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands with OFDMA, MU-MIMO and beamforming, and it adds Target Wake Time for battery-powered gadgets. Three Gigabit LAN ports and one WAN port cover a small wired setup, and the USB port can share a printer or a 4G dongle connection. Automatic failover switches the connection if the main line drops. It runs ASUSWRT or OpenWRT, includes AiProtection Classic without a subscription, and joins AiMesh. The compact 340 g body has 256 MB of RAM and two antennas, so it suits flats and small homes rather than big ones. There is no Wi-Fi 7, no 6 GHz band and no multi-gig port. It is the pick for light households that want a cheap, tweakable upgrade.

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