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Home » Asus Rp AX56 Wifi Extender vs Netgear Which One is Better?

Asus Rp AX56 Wifi Extender vs Netgear Which One is Better?

Due to the emergence of mesh WiFi systems, the demand for traditional WiFi range extenders has decreased. However, they are still necessary as many non-mesh WiFi routers are still in use. This is why some vendors continue to offer traditional WiFi range extenders, such as Asus with their rp ax56 dual-band AX1800 WiFi 6 range extender and their newer model, the Asus RP-AX58. If you’re wondering how new Asus wifi extender series compare to those from TP-Link and Netgear, read on.

In this article:

Asus Wifi Extender

People prefer something compact and easy to setup products, so do about wireless range extender products. Most popular models of range extender products are wall-plug model. No wonders that most vendors including asus, tp-link and netgear introduce their lines of range extender products with wall-plug model for easy to setup and easy placement by plug-in to the available power outlet on the wall.

The recent asus wifi range extender series that become popular are asus rp ax56 and the recent update is asus rp ax58 range extenders.

The asus rp-ax58 has a sleek and modern design that is similar to the asus rp-ax56 model, and both have the same dimension size with the same 2x internal antennas. This is in contrast with TP-link re-715 that comes equipped with two external antennas, while the newer model of TP-link re-815 comes equipped with four external antennas.

Asus rp-ax1800 range extender
Asus rp-ax1800 range extender

Asus RP-AX56 vs RP-AX58

The ASUS RP-AX58 is a dual-band WiFi extender that supports speeds of up to 3000Mbps, which is faster than the RP-AX56’s maximum speed of 1800Mbps. Both asus asus wifi range extender series rp ax56 and ax58 feature AiMesh technology, which allows you to create a mesh network with compatible ASUS routers, for even better coverage and performance. Both models also support the latest WiFi 6 standard, which provides faster speeds and better performance.

Network segment

The ASUS RP-AX58 has several advantages over the RP-AX56, including faster speeds with double bandwidth @5GHz band, better coverage, and the ability to create a mesh network with compatible ASUS routers. Additionally, both models feature user-friendly interfaces for easy setup and management and feature LED indicator for the best placement.

One potential downside of the ASUS RP-AX58 is its higher price point compared to the RP-AX56 and other popular wifi extenders in the market.

Both asus wifi extender series rp-ax58 and rp-ax56 are solid choices for those looking to upgrade their WiFi coverage and performance. Asus rp ax58 delivers faster speeds, better coverage, and mesh network capabilities make it a great option for larger homes or offices. However, the asus rp-ax56 which is so far becoming one of best wifi extenders in the market is still a reliable choice for those looking for a more affordable and compact WiFi extender.

Take a look at the following spec comparison table below between asus rp-ax56 and asus rp-ax58 wifi extenders.

You can notice that both asus wifi extender series are designed with the same body style, the same dimension and weight, the same two internal antennas, and the only difference is the speed @5GHz band, while the speed @2.4GHz band is the same.

AP Mode

Please notice that in some cases you can configure your range extender to work as wireless access point mode. How to setup this?

Most range extenders can be configured to work in access point mode. Here are the general steps for setting up a wireless range extender as an access point:

  1. Connect your range extender to your router using an Ethernet cable.
  2. Access the range extender’s configuration page by typing its IP address into a web browser.
  3. Go to the settings or configuration page and look for a setting called “Operation Mode” or “Wireless Mode”.
  4. Select “Access Point” mode and save the changes.
  5. Choose a name and password for your access point network, and save the changes.
  6. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and place the range extender in the desired location where you can connect the extender device to the available network.
  7. Connect your devices to the access point network using the name and password you selected.

Be sure to consult the user manual of your asus wifi extender or support website for specific instructions. Additionally, keep in mind that setting up a range extender as an access point may not provide the same coverage and performance benefits as using a dedicated access point.

Table 1 Asus wifi extenders

Asus wifi extenderAsus RP AX58Asus RP AX56
Wifi segmentDual band ax3000Dual Band AX1800
Signal rates574Mbps @2.4GHz 2×2 2404Mbps @5GHz 2×2574Mbps @2.4GHz 2×2 1201Mbps @5GHz 2×2
1x Gigabit Ethernet PortYesYes
LEDx LED indicatorYesYes
Aimesh / Aimesh nodeYesYes
Range extender / Access point / Media bridge modeYesYes
Dimension150*72*87 (5.91*2.83*3.43 In)150*72*87 (5.91*2.83*3.43 In)
Weight190 grams190 grams

Asus rp ax56 vs Netgear

Asus rp ax58 is relatively newer model released by Asus with compact and wall-plug model updating the previous asus rp ax56 series. On the other hand, Netgear with similar products as Asus, released netgear eax12 ax1600 and eax15 ax1800 in terms of wifi extender based on wifi-6 product with wall-plug model. Both netgear eax15 and eax12 physically have the same stylist compact and sleek design.

Let’s see how this Asus rp ax56 compares with netgear eax15, you can refer to table 2 below for spec comparison between asus wifi extender and netgear.

Mesh Support

If you currently have an Asus AiMesh router like the Asus RT-AX89U or other Asus ax6000 wifi 6 routers with AiMesh technology at home, consider adding the Asus RP-AX56 range extender if you need to increase coverage. This is because by connecting to the same AiMesh technology devices, you can create a mesh WiFi system that extends all the features of your AiMesh router, including using the same SSID and password. You can even create a separate SSID to segregate certain traffic, such as gaming, from other standard traffic. Most new Asus WiFi 6 router products come with AiMesh technology built in.

Today you may find the price of one unit asus rpax56 is around $99.0 while for 3-pack of asus zenwifi xd4 mini is around $199.99. With 3-pack of asus zenwifi xd4 mini, you can create whole home mesh wifi ax1800 network. So when you need to create a wireless home network, forget about purchasing a wireless router and wireless range extender, it is better to purchase a mesh wifi system such as Asus zenwifi xd4 mini for ax1800 network. Or you may create high speed wifi 6 network using mesh ax6000 such as asus xt9 or mesh ax11000 such as Asus zenwifi et12 axe11000.

Universal Feature

When comparing the Asus RP-AX56 with the Netgear EAX15, both of these range extenders are universal and can pair with any third-party WiFi routers from any vendor. However, there are differences in how they support mesh WiFi.

The Asus WiFi range extender features AiMesh technology that allows you to create a mesh network when connecting to other Asus AiMesh products. This means that you can extend all the features of your AiMesh router, including using the same network name and password.

In contrast, the Netgear EAX15 (and also the Netgear EAX12) is a mesh range extender that supports universal connectivity to any third-party WiFi router. It also allows you to use the same network name and password as the connected router. This means that the Netgear EAX15 can create mesh WiFi universally with any third-party router.

So, both Asus and Netgear support mesh WiFi in different ways. Asus WiFi extenders create mesh with other AiMesh Asus routers, while Netgear creates mesh universally with any third-party routers.

Netgear eax15 ax1800 range extender
Netgear eax15 ax1800 range extender
Operation mode

As discussed previously, asus wifi extender can be configured to work as wireless access point instead of range extender, so can netgear wifi extenders. With netgear eax15, connect this device to the existing home network and run from your web browser to access http://www.mywifiext.net, and follow the installation wizard.

Table 2 Asus rp-ax56 vs Netgear eax15

ModelAsus AX1800 Rpax56Netgear eax15
Dual band ax1800 wifi 6  Yes, with Aimesh featureYes
Wifi speeds: 1,201Mbps @5GHz  2×2 574Mbps @2.4GHz  2×2YesYes
Antennas2x internal antennasInternal antennas
1x Gigabit Ethernet PortYesYes
SecurityExtend all aimesh routers including AiProtection,Standards-based Wi-Fi Security
(802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK)
Mesh supportSupport mesh with any compatible Asus AiMesh routerscreates a mesh Wi-Fi 6 system with your existing router
ModesRange extender Wifi AP Media bridge AimeshRange extender Access Point
Price$99.99$99.00
Summary

The Asus RP-AX56 wifi extender offers dual-band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with a total bandwidth of up to 1800Mbps with strong and stable wireless coverage. It also features Asus’ AiMesh technology, allowing it to seamlessly connect to other Asus AiMesh routers to create a mesh network. You can also configure it to work in access point mode if needed.

Netgear EAX15 wifi range extender offers dual-band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with a total bandwidth of up to 1800Mbps as well. Like the Asus RP-AX56, it can also be configured to work in access point mode. The EAX15 offers excellent range and coverage, making it a great option for larger homes or offices.

Both Asus rpax56 and Netgear eax15 ax1800 range extenders are sold at the same price around $100.00 in some online stores. Click each of the product’s link below to shop the product in Amazon (#ads).

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