Asus zenwifi pro et12: ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS USA

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 review – Review 2023

Although Wi-Fi 6 is still making its way to homes and offices, routers and access points with the updated Wi-Fi 6 E standard are becoming increasingly common on store shelves. The E stands for enhanced and basically adds a 6GHz band to your Wi-Fi router which, ideally, should result in better, faster Wi-Fi.

Today, I’m taking a look at the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 AX11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh WiFi System which comes in a 2-pack box and is ideal for mid sized homes. Either of the units can be used as your primary router as each has the same number of ports and connectors. You can purchase additional units to add to the Mesh network- something that will be needed in larger homes.

Hardware features

The ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is in the shape of a tall black Aluminium cube that acts as a heatsink to move heat away from the unit. The top part is transparent and houses eight antennas positioned at various angles to maximise signal coverage. There’s an LED inside here as well with the Asus logo adding to the aesthetics. While I liked the way the router look, it wasn’t something my wife was keen on displaying at a prominent location in our house. The ZenWiFi Pro ET12 definitely stands out instead of blending in like the Eero.

There are four RJ45 ports on the back out of which one LAN port and one WAN port support 2.5G which is fantastic and means that not only can the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 support an internet connection that’s over a Gigabit but can move data at similarly high speed across your network. I’ve sen other routers that have 2.5G WAN port but they don’t have additional 2.5G RJ45 ports so you can never get that throughput on a wired device.

You can also use this 2.5G port to connect to the second ET12 unit for mesh networking. The other two RJ45 ports are Gigabit but can also be aggregated to plug into devices such as NAS units that support link aggregation for speeds over a Gigabit. From a wired perspective, the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 offers excellent connectivity for a home network.

Coming to wireless connectivity, the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is tri-band and supports one 6GHz, one 5GHz and one 2.4GHz band. If you are using a wired mesh method, you can have all three bands available for your clients or devices and this is the best option to use with this router. If you prefer meshing it wirelessly then the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 will try to connect the units over the 6GHz band as that will likely be the least crowded band.

However, this will make you lose the 6GHz band for your client devices and turn the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 into a dual band solution with 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands- something that almost all other and much cheaper routers are capable of. That’s not to say that you’ll lose all other features the device has to offer but if you are interested in the new Wi-Fe 6E capabilities, make sure you connect the ET12 units over a wired network.

Software features

As with other Asus routers, the amount of software features are extensive on the ET12 allowing you to control security and access levels to devices through AiProtection and Parental Controls. AiProtection works with Trend Micro to prevent bad players entering your home network while Parental Controls let you set schedules for your kids and block access to harmful sites.

You can also see all your network activity to provide you good insights into your network and almost all of these functions can be done using your browser or the mobile app. In fact, you can also set the entire router up using the app- though I did run into an issue doing that on the iPhone and had to use an Android phone to complete the setup. This has likely to do with the PPPoE connection I have which requires an extra step setting up every router.

Performance

As far as performance is concerned, the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 was able to max out my Internet connection on 5GHz WiFi using my iPhone 14 Pro which is 600Mbps down and 100Mbps up. I could also connect to the 6GHz band using my Pixel 7 Pro but, as expected, the speeds remained the same. With the WAN supporting 2.5G, there is plenty of headroom even if your ISP supports Gigabit plus connections.

Coming to the Wi-Fi range, the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 proved to be about as good as the best wireless router I’ve tested. I placed one unit upstairs and the other downstairs and both were able to communicate with each other on the 6GHz band. Moving them further resulted in the mesh connecting over the 5GHz band. Keep in mind that the 6GHz band does have a shorter range compared to 5GHz band- just like the 5GHz band has a shorter range compared to the 2.4GHz band.

For testing the range, I used wired mesh so all bands were available. The ET12 managed to reach almost all areas within my home but, like most routers I’ve tested, couldn’t keep a constant healthy connection to my doorbell located at my gate. For that, I would have needed an additional unit which was expected.

Conclusion

Priced at AED 2,499, the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is very much on the higher side but that’s expected as you are getting the best that WiFi has to offer. Other than excellent hardware capabilities, Asus also supports pretty much all software features a power user could ask for their home networking.

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 review

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The Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is a top-of-the-range Wi-Fi 6E mesh system for larger homes and offices

(Image: © Future / Cliff Joseph)

TechRadar Verdict

It’s very expensive, and massive overkill for most homes, but larger homes and public buildings will benefit from the performance and range of the ET12’s mesh Wi-Fi.

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Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12: One-minute review

The Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 isn’t going to be for everyone. Most of us have barely started to get our heads around Wi-Fi 6. However, it’s still worth considering as we’re already starting to see a steady flow of new routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems that have adopted the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.

It’s tempting to overlook these new routers – especially given their current high prices – but with new products such as the forthcoming iPhone 14 expected to adopt Wi-Fi 6E before the end of this year, it’s clear that 6E will be a mainstream Wi-Fi technology within just a few months.

Mind you, even if you’re an eager early adopter, a high-end mesh system such as the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 may still be what the Sisters Of Mercy once referred to as ‘a slight case of overbombing’. As well as supporting tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, the ET12 provides a top speed of 11Gbps – or 10.756Gbps, to be precise, but router manufacturers always like to round things up – while the two-pack mesh system that we review here is capable of covering areas of up to 6,000 sq. ft.

That means that it’s very much designed for larger homes with half a dozen or more bedrooms, as well as businesses that may have large offices or public venues such as hotels or restaurants that need good Wi-Fi.

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $479 /£399 for a single unit
Where is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

Spec Sheet

Wi-Fi: tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (2. 4GHz/5.0GHz/6.0GHz)
Wi-Fi Speed: 11.0Gbps
Connectivity: 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (WAN), 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 2x Gigabit Ethernet LAN Processor: 1.2GHz quad-core
Processor: Broadcom, quad-core 2.0GHz
Memory: 1GB
Storage: 256MB Flash
Dimensions (per router): 240 x 115 x 115mm
Weight (per router): 0.75kg

State-of-the-art Wi-Fi 6E mesh networking doesn’t come cheap, and the ZenWifi Pro ET12 is one of the most expensive mesh systems we’ve ever seen. But, somewhat oddly for a mesh Wi-Fi system, you can only buy the ET12 as a single unit from Asus’ website.

A single ET12 router costs $479 from Asus in the US and should be able to cover an area of up to 3,000 sq. ft, so a single router on its own should certainly be suitable for most small and medium-sized homes. If you need more extensive Wi-Fi coverage for larger homes or buildings then you’ll have to search around online to buy a 2-pack from third-party retailers for around $900.

That option doesn’t seem to be available in the UK, with the ET12 currently only being sold as a single unit for £399. However, the ET12 hasn’t yet reached Australia at all, with only the older XT12 model – which supports plain old Wi-Fi 6 – available as a two-pack for AU$1300.

Value: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12: Design and features

Big and bulky
High-end Wi-Fi 6 performance
Wide-range Wi-Fi coverage

Most routers fall firmly into the ‘boring black box’ category, but while the ET12 mesh routers are still black – they’re certainly not boring. The two routers stand 240mm high, and 155mm wide and deep, with the upper section of each router consisting of a shiny, clear perspex section that houses the router’s eight antennae, along with some colour-changing status lights. Each router also has a separate power supply unit and cable, so you’ll need a fair bit of room to set everything up.

As mentioned, the ET12 supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6E with a top speed of 11Gbps, but it also provides top-of-the-range wired connectivity as well, with a pair of 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports – one for your broadband connection, and one for connecting a device, such as a gaming laptop or console that needs a fast, lag-free connection. There are also two additional Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections as well. It’s odd, though, that these expensive routers don’t also include at least one USB port for attaching a network storage device or printer.

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

Getting started is a little daunting – and not helped by the fact that Asus’ Quickstart guide is cunningly hidden in a secret panel at the bottom of the box. The guide also assumes that you already understand terms such as ‘AiMesh router’ – when, in fact, AiMesh is a proprietary Asus technology that few people will have heard of.

Thankfully, the Asus Router app steps in here and prompts you to turn on Bluetooth on your iOS or Android mobile device. This allows the app to connect to the two routers and helps you set up your new mesh network.

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

But, as we’ve seen before with Asus routers, the new network is initially unprotected so you need to keep going to add your security password as quickly as possible. This is where things get a little more complicated, as the ET12 can transmit a Wi-Fi signal on three separate frequencies – 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, and 6.0GHz. The Router app leaves it up to you to decide if you want three separate networks on these frequencies, or whether to combine the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands into a single network, for use with devices that only support Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6.

Newcomers who haven’t used a mesh Wi-Fi system before could get a little confused here, so the Asus app and manual could provide a little more step-by-step guidance for people who aren’t network experts. The rest of the app is pretty straightforward, though, providing features such as ‘quality of service’ (QoS) to prioritise tasks such as gaming or streaming video, and good parental controls with filters to block material that is unsuitable for children.

The price of the routers also includes Asus’ AiProtection Pro security features that can monitor your network to prevent attacks from malicious websites or downloaded files.

Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12: Performance

Top-of-the-range Wi-Fi performance
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet WAN/LAN
Extensive Wi-Fi coverage

BENCHMARKS

Ookla Speed Test – 2.4GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 100Mbps/11Mbps

20GB Steam Download – 2.4GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 12.5MB/s
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 12.5MB/s

Ookla Speed Test – 5.0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 100Mbps/11Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 100Mbps/11Mbps

20GB Steam Download – 5. 0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 12.5MB/s
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 12.5MB/s

The Wi-Fi 6E performance of the ET12 is more than adequate for most small and medium-sized homes. In fact, it’s probably overkill for most domestic broadband services unless you’re lucky enough to have a super-fast fibre connection.

We connected the first ET12 unit to our normal broadband router and then placed the second ET12 in a hallway close to a back office in our building where poor Wi-Fi has always forced us to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired connection.

As we’d expected, devices close to the first ET12 simply recorded speeds of 100Mbps with the Ookla speed test, and 12.5MB/s for Steam downloads, which are the maximum speeds provided by our office broadband service. However, the second ET12 allowed us to maintain those maximum speeds, even in the hard-to-reach back office, and even when using the slowest 2.4GHz band, eliminating our Wi-Fi dead spot with no trouble at all.

Of course, not everyone will need that sort of speed or wide coverage for their home broadband, but if you have a larger home or office that needs the fastest possible Wi-Fi then the ET12 is hard to beat.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12?

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

Buy it if…

You’re an early adopter
If you’ve got your eye on a new smartphone or laptop that supports Wi-Fi 6E then it makes sense to opt for a future-proof router or mesh system that also supports this new Wi-Fi standard.

You have a lot of bedrooms
A single ET1 router can cover homes of up to 3,000 sq. ft, while this 2-piece system covers 6,000 sq. ft. It’s also a good option for business users who want far-reaching Wi-Fi for their offices or public venues.

You’re a network guru
The Asus app is easy to use, but the ET12 also provides a web browser interface that allows more experienced users to configure every aspect of their network.

Don’t buy it if…

You just want faster Wi-Fi
Few people currently have computers or mobile devices that support the new Wi-Fi 6E standard, and you can get perfectly good Wi-Fi performance from existing Wi-Fi 6 routers.

You’re on a budget
The ET12 is seriously expensive. If you just need to boost the Wi-Fi in one or two rooms around your home, then an affordable range extender might be a better option.

Also consider

Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid
Its WiFi 6 performance is more modest, but this Hybrid mesh system also includes PowerLine connectivity that allows it to bypass thick walls and other obstacles.

Read our full Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid review

Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E
Netgear got there first, introducing Wi-Fi 6E to its Orbi mesh systems, and this top-of-the-range three-piece can cover huge homes and offices up to 9,000 sq. ft in size.

Read our full Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E review

Motorola MH7603
The MH7603 is an entry-level mesh system, with a top speed of 1.8Gbps, but it’s competitively priced, easy to use, and still fast enough for most home broadband services.

Read our full Motorola MH7603 review

Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12: Report card

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Value	It’s seriously expensive and best suited to very large homes or public buildings that need wide-ranging Wi-Fi.	3.5 / 5
Design	Asus could provide more help for beginners, but the ET12 stands out with its high-speed Wi-Fi and wired connectivity.	4 / 5
Performance	Its Wi-Fi 6E support provides top-of-the-range speed, along with the new 6. 0GHz frequency for the latest smartphones and PCs.	5 / 5
Total	The Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is great larger homes and public buildings that benefit from the performance and range of this mesh Wi-Fi.	4 / 5

First reviewed July 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained – regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it’s on our radar.

Test & Review: ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 mesh system with Wi-Fi 6E

The Wi-Fi 6E standard can be called a major new step in WLAN technology. Various consumer devices are already prepared for the new standard, and when you buy a new laptop, smartphone or tablet, you will certainly get Wi-Fi 6E support. Our test lab received the ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 mesh system with Wi-Fi 6E support. We recently tested the ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 gaming router from ASUS, which supports the new standard. It will be interesting to compare the results with a mesh system.

The WiFi 6E standard uses the 6 GHz frequency in addition to the 2. 4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. To be more precise, the standard is allocated a range between 5.925 MHz and 7.125 MHz. The number and width of individual channels have in some cases increased significantly. For example, combinations of 29x 40 MHz, 14x 80 MHz or 7x 160 MHz are possible – the latter is exactly supported by ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12. The Wi-Fi 6E standard significantly increases throughput in parallel with 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. Compatible devices will operate over Wi-Fi 6E channels, if available, for faster network throughput.

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is aimed at those users who need high bandwidth Wi-Fi 6E, but also need maximum coverage. Mesh systems just provide it. In principle, ZenWiFi Pro ET12 mesh stations can be added to the same ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 router to increase coverage.

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ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 9 Specifications Overview0016
Model	ASUS Zen WiFi Pro ET12
Retail price	1. 105 euro
Manufacturer website	www.asus.com
Technical specifications
Internet	PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, Automatic IP, Static IP
Telephony	–
WLAN	– WLAN AX (Wi-Fi 6E) up to 4.804 Mbps (6 GHz) – WLAN AX (Wi-Fi 6) up to 4.804 Mbps (5 GHz) – WLAN AC up to 4.804 Mbps (2.4 GHz) – 4×4 (2.4 GHz), 4×4 (5 GHz) and 4×4 (6 GHz) MU-MIMO – Works normally with WPA2 encryption (WPA3 is optional) – Guest WLAN
Interfaces	– 1x 2.5GBase-T (WAN) – 2x 1000Base-T – 1x 2.5GBase-T
Dimensions	241 x 115 x 115 mm
Delivery set	– ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 – Power supply – LAN cable – Installation manual

We received a set of two modules for testing. ASUS mentions a 4-core processor running at 2 GHz. The amount of RAM is 1 GB, and flash memory – 256 MB.

ASUS has chosen an interesting design for the ZenWiFi Pro ET12 with vertical square columns measuring 241 x 115 x 115mm. ASUS installed a transparent cover at the top, under which part of the antennas is located.

There are a total of ten internal antennas in the housing, eight of which are under a transparent cover. But ASUS chose plexiglass only for design reasons, there was no technical need for this. The bottom line is that ASUS has also added a backlight, which we will discuss later.

One of the side faces is cut off, it has a mirror strip with the ASUS logo and the model name, which light up after the device is turned on. Of course, the backlight can be turned off.

In terms of interfaces, ASUS offers a WAN Uplink connection port with a bandwidth of up to 2.5 Gb / s plus three Ethernet ports, one of which also supports 2.5 Gb / s, and the other two are simple gigabit. The power supply for mesh devices is external, so there is a corresponding connector on the back. Also note the on / off button, reset and WPS.

We have already noted above the illumination of transparent covers, here we will dwell on it in more detail. The backlight is decorative, but also indicates the status of the router or mesh network.

Blue means ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is ready to be configured. During loading, the backlight is green. Flashing white means syncing with another mesh device. And when all functions and connections are ready, the backlight will turn solid white. If the signal between the mesh devices weakens, then the backlight will turn yellow. And if there are problems with Internet access, it will turn red. All this is described in the user manual.

<>Test and Review: ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 Mesh System with Wi-Fi 6E
User Interface

Review ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12

ASUS | Overviews

Page Contents

Purpose
Specifications
Security & Traffic Management
Block Diagram
Specifications
European Power Table

9012 2 Conclusions about ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is an advanced tri-band mesh WiFi system offering the highest throughput of any ASUS mesh system for the most demanding users, offering the latest WiFi 6E connectivity to compatible client devices.

If you’re experiencing poor WiFi connectivity in your home, even if you’re already using a really great wireless router, it’s not enough. However, meshed (Mesh) WiFi systems combine several nodes to increase the range of the wireless network and provide a good signal level.

The 6 GHz band can be used to organize communication between Mesh network elements, providing data transfer between routers. But in order to use all the capabilities of these devices, it is best to use a cable connection using 2.5GbE ports for communication between nodes, which will free up all the resources of wireless networks.

ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 with WiFi 6E support uses 4×4 MIMO for each band to provide better wireless network performance. In general, one node can provide a total data transfer rate of up to 11,000 Mbps. Having two 2.5 Gb / s Ethernet ports, one for WAN, the other for LAN, allows you to fully use the potential of WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E, there are also 2 more 1 Gb / s ports that can be aggregated among themselves, for example, for connecting a NAS. The router is equipped with a quad-core processor BCM4912 2. 0GHz and 1024MB DDR4 RAM.

There is another model ZenWiFi Pro XT12 , which exactly repeats ZenWiFi Pro ET12, but has one difference, lack of support for WiFi 6E, as well as limited operation of the second 5 GHz band in Russia.

Purpose

The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is the perfect solution for highly demanding users looking for an ASUS mesh WiFi system. Despite its small size, the mesh system has the high performance of WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E radios. The router copes with tariff plans for Internet access up to 2.5 Gbps.

Specifications

Support WiFi 6/6E (802.11ax) and 160 MHz channel width
High data rate: 2.4 GHz band – 900 03 1148 Mbps , in 5 GHz band – 4804 Mbps and 5 GHz band – 4804 Mbps
MIMO scheme used : 2.4 band GHz – 4×4:4 , in range 5GHz – 4×4:4 and 6GHz – 4×4:4
MU-MIMO and work with many connected devices at the same time

Technology Target Wake Time – allows you to reduce power consumption by allocating time intervals during which data will be transmitted. Client devices will go to sleep during periods of inactivity

Free Information Security System AiProtection Pro based on company technology Trend Micro

Technology Agile Multiband – improved interoperability to reduce switchover time from one access point to another access point

Compatible with 900 technology 03 ASUS AiMesh
Ten built-in non-removable antennas
256 MB flash and 1024 MB RAM
Two network ports 2.5 Gbps one each for WAN and LAN
No USB ports CM6715 , 6 GHz – BCM6715
Game Features: OpenNAT
Additional Features Channel Aggregation – 802.3ad
certain operating modes of the device
No support for third-party firmware

Security and traffic management

Information security system AiProtection Pro based on company technologies Trend Micro includes network protection and parental control

9 0122 A traffic analyzer that will help restrict access or block required sites

QoS allows certain applications to prioritize the use of Internet connection bandwidth

Block diagram

Specifications com BCM4912 A0 (2.

0 GHz, 4 cores)

RAM

1024 MB

Flash

256 MB

9000 3 WiFi chip 2.4 GHz

BCM6715

2.4GHz MIMO Configuration

5GHz WiFi Chip

BCM6715

5GHz MIMO Configuration 9 0005

6GHz WiFi Chip

BCM6715

MIMO Configuration 6 GHz

Pay attention to the location of the router. During normal operation, during a day of work on an open bench, the temperature of the processor did not exceed 61 ° C. In the case of installing a niche closure, special cooling panels can be purchased as one of the solutions.

Power table for European version

9 0273

2G (channel)	90 394
				90 416

5G Low (channel )

			90 486
5G High (channel)		9050 5


5G X1 (channel)
	905 75
					9 0017

To get high data rates, you need to be in close proximity to the access point when interference is minimized, providing sufficient signal strength , also client devices must be equipped with compatible WiFi adapters and have the latest software.