ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 brings Wi-Fi 8 to gaming for the first time

ASUS is getting remarkably far ahead of the networking industry with the ROG Rapture GT-BN98, which it describes as the world's first Wi-Fi 8 router - even when the Wi-Fi 8 standard itself has not been officially ratified yet. The IEEE 802.11bn specification is currently expected to be finalized in May 2028, meaning ASUS is effectively selling hardware based on a draft standard years before the official specification is complete.

The GT-BN98 is a quad-band router with eight antennas, covering one 2.4GHz band, two 5GHz bands, and one 6GHz band. Combined throughput across all four bands reaches a staggering 25,000 Mbps, although actually making use of that bandwidth will require compatible client devices and extremely fast internet or local network connections.

Unlike recent Wi-Fi generations that have largely emphasized higher peak speeds, Wi-Fi 8 is designed around consistency, range, and reliability. ASUS says its AI Game Boost technology can reduce latency by up to 34% by intelligently optimizing the connection path from end to end. The router also features a thicker aluminum top plate, an enhanced nanocarbon cooling layer, and an elevated stand to help manage heat.

Wired connectivity is equally substantial. The GT-BN98 has two 10Gb Ethernet ports, four 2.5Gb ports, and one 1Gb port, with one 10Gb and one 2.5Gb connection configurable as either WAN or LAN. The router supports Multi-WAN setups and can combine its two 10Gb ports for up to 20Gbps of link aggregation. ASUS also includes dedicated IoT and children's networks alongside VPN support.

Much of the interest in Wi-Fi 8 comes from technologies intended to improve connections when devices move farther away from the router or between access points. Features such as Distributed Resource Units (DRUs), Enhanced Long Range (ELR), and Unequal Modulation (UEQM) are designed to improve efficiency and maintain more consistent connections across multiple devices.

Wi-Fi 8 also introduces more advanced coordination between access points. Mesh nodes and repeaters can work together more intelligently to reduce interference when their coverage areas overlap, potentially making roaming smoother and maintaining better performance throughout larger homes.

Of course, the GT-BN98 is going to be excessive for most households, particularly when relatively few client devices can take advantage of its capabilities today. ASUS is nonetheless positioning it as forward-looking hardware, with the router launching globally in October.

Because the final Wi-Fi 8 specification has not been completed, ASUS is effectively selling early-access hardware based on the current draft. The company says the GT-BN98 should support the finalized standard, with any required changes potentially delivered through firmware updates.

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