Our Editor's Review of Asus ZenWifi AX Mini XD4 Mesh Router System
The Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini is an easy-to-use dual-band mesh router that works well to eliminate dead spots on your WiFi network. These routers use multiple nodes to make the WiFi network bigger. I tested a system that came in a three-pack, but Asus also sells the AX Mini by itself and in two-packs.
Asus ZenWifi AX Mini Router is a cute mesh WiFi system that you can put almost anywhere in your house to get high-speed Internet without any trouble. If you want a mesh WiFi solution that is quiet, stable, and can cover a good amount of space, the ZenWifi AX Mini is an easy recommendation.
Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 Whole Home Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System
- Dual-band mesh Wi-Fi 6
- Bandwidth of up to 1800 Mbps
- Reliable performance
- AiMesh technology
- AiProtection
- Advanced Parental Controls
- Support IFTTT
● Throughput: 1800 Mb/s Total
2.4 GHz: 600 Mb/s
5 GHz: 1200 Mb/s
● Operation Modes: Mesh
● Supported IEEE Standards: 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
Connectivity
● Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); Dual-Band (2.4 & 5 GHz)
● Number of Antennas: 2 x Internal (Amplified)
● MU-MIMO Support: Yes
● Beamforming Support: Yes
● Wireless Security: AiProtection + WPA3
Hardware
● CPU: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core
● Memory: 256 MB (Router)
● Flash Memory: 256 MB NAND (Router)
Pros: What we liked about the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 Mesh system:
The ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 is the first AiMesh system with both router and satellite hardware (or node). We liked the extensive controls and management via the app too. Other AiMesh systems use the same hardware because they all use routers. The XD4R (router) can act as the principal router or a node in another AiMesh system. But the XD4N (node) can only act as a satellite. No WAN port means it can't be a router.
We liked the great security and parental controls which were convenient and user friendly
AiProtection offers free lifetime Trend Micro Network Protection and Parental Controls. Sadly, the XD4 lacks both compared to the XT8. A two-way Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) protects the network from spam, DDoS, and other assaults. A time-based Internet access block is all Parent Control is.
Setup and management was a breeze to use
AiMesh systems are similar in their setup. Setup the router unit as you would any other router with a web interface. (You may also use the Asus Router mobile app, but I like the interface.) The app is well-designed and has good router access. You can also enable Dynamic DNS-based remote access without an Asus account.
Performance
The AX Mini XD4 performs averagely. On my test laptop (in the same living room as the router), it downloaded at 670Mbps, which is comparable to a Wi-Fi 5 router. The speed was 210Mbps in a remote bedroom with the laptop attached to the satellite node. We had no network failures or pauses when utilising the ZenWifi AX Mini XD4 as our primary Wi-Fi network. Use at least one more satellite node beside the primary router for the best coverage. With just one main router and one satellite node, we were able to cover our 600 square feet flat in Wi-Fi, eliminating most dead zones. The ZenWifi AX Mini XD4 remained reliable even while streaming music in the bathroom with the door closed.
Cons: What we did not like so much about the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 Mesh system: and what we felt could be improved
The ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 is a dual-band system that lacks the 160 MHz channel width needed for Wi-Fi 6. As a result, Wi-Fi 6's maximum 5 GHz band speed is limited to 1200 Mbps when working with 22 clients.
Notably absent from the ZenWiFi AX Mini XD4 is a multi-gigabit connector. Notably, it lacks Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation. No USB port either.
ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini (XD4) Resources, Drivers, FAQ and Manuals
Official Asus Mini XD4 Full Specifications from Manufacturer
Product Support, Drivers, FAQ and Manuals for ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini (XD4)
Asus Service Centre Locations in Singapore
Why it's Important to have a Fast Broadband Connection
Singaporeans use the internet more than ever because it gives them access to entertainment, the ability to work, and quick ways to talk to each other. All of these things depend on how fast your broadband connection is.
But what kind of high-speed Internet connection is best for you?
All of these things show how important it is for your family to have a fast broadband connection so that they can go about their daily lives without problems. But your family's needs can be different depending on their ages and what each person does online.
What is bandwidth? And Why it is Important.
Your bandwidth is the most information you can get in a certain amount of time. This is shown in megabits per second or Mbps. Mbps is the number, in millions, of bits of information that your connection can get in one second.
Do you and your family watch much online TV or play many online games? Does your family often use more than one thing at once? If so, you should use a connection with high bandwidth. Families with four or more people should also have a high bandwidth connection. These higher data transfer rates are great for streaming movies and TV shows in 4K UHD and other high-quality formats, as well as for online gaming, like massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) like Final Fantasy XIV or real-time first-person shooters (Online FPS) like the Call of Duty series.
With high bandwidth, everyone in the house can connect to the internet without any problems. If your connection bandwidth is too low, you might have a lot of buffering, freezing, and lagging. This could make it hard for you to enjoy these activities. For a stable internet connection, gamers should always connect their device directly to their router, like with a LAN cable, instead of relying on WiFi. Streaming entertainment systems should also be connected directly with a cable.
How Much Bandwidth Do You Need?
Here are a few quick tips to help you figure out how much bandwidth you need.
Video Streaming: Sites like Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch recommend a 5Mbps connection for full HD content and a 25Mbps connection for 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) content per device.
Smart Home Devices: Most experts say that you should add 5 Mbps to your plan for every 10 smart devices you have. However, some products, like cameras, will need a bit more.
Gaming: You don't need as much bandwidth as you think to play games. Most games require just about a 10Mbps connection per device. If your game is slow, it's probably because of latency.
To figure out how much bandwidth you need, you can do some quick math and make a rough estimate of how many devices will be connected to your network at the same time.
Get the Right Home Internet and WiFi Connection for You
Once you know what level of bandwidth you need, you can go to MyRepublic's website to find a variety of fast, high-bandwidth broadband packages. Check out MyRepublic's broadband plan for fast, reliable, and secure internet that can handle all of your online needs, even those that require a lot of bandwidth. There's something for everyone in MyRepublic's home internet plans. Surf, stream and game to your heart’s content.
Our tech editor's final words – In our tests, the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini router can drastically improve the coverage and speed of your network, however, remember to configure it correctly with optimal hardware and network settings
The Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini did an acceptable job of spreading a usable signal throughout my home. Fast WiFi 6 speeds are available at home with this tiny mesh system, although performance was patchy. On my test laptop (in the same living room as the router), it generated a download speed of 670Mbps, which is comparable to what you get with a WiFi 5 router.
The AX Mini is deficient in some functionality when compared to more expensive Asus routers. Notably, there isn't adaptive QoS (Quality of Service) that dynamically modifies bandwidth usage based on specific use cases like gaming or video streaming.
If you want more control over what your children can do online, the ZenWifi AX Mini isn't the router for you because its parental settings are fairly limited.
