ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI VS Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO BE30000/BE25000/-BE19000

[Redskins16]

I know that there are maybe many treads already being made about this topic, but now that the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI is available on the market and already it has a merlin firmware version, I thought based on experience that people have with the router that they could share with us information about it, aside of the well known information online which are sometimes contradictory. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI has being put as a gaming router and some say that they sacrifices a dedicated 6 GHz band in favor of much more powerful internal processing hardware? Also the question comes the mind doesn't the AI function sabotage or maybe be risk for the privacy? I want to hear all you option and experience and hope that you could me be patience in regards to the question and information one whats to know.

 

[Redskins16]

the information that is on the web as summary:
The main distinction is that the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI is a tri-band router with powerful new AI-driven features and superior processing hardware, while the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is a quad-band router with higher theoretical total wireless bandwidth.
Feature Comparison
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro

Wi-Fi Bands	Tri-Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz)	Quad-Band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, dual 6 GHz)
Max Wireless Speed	Up to 19,000 Mbps	Up to 30,000 Mbps
Key Differentiator	First "AI Router" with AI Core (NPU) and Docker support	Dedicated second 6 GHz band for potential wireless backhaul in mesh setups
Processor	Dual system (CPU, NPU, MCU) for AI tasks	Quad-core 2.6 GHz CPU
RAM/Storage	4GB RAM, 32GB Flash (plus another 4GB/32GB for AI core)	2GB RAM, 256MB Flash
Firmware	ASUSWRT 6.0	ASUSWRT (older version)
Wired Ports	Dual 10G ports, four 2.5G ports, one 1G port	Dual 10G ports, four 2.5G ports, one 1G port

Key Takeaways

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI: This model is a newer generation that sacrifices a dedicated 6 GHz band in favor of much more powerful internal processing hardware, including a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for on-device AI tasks (like ad-blocking and game optimization) and the ability to run Docker applications. It is generally better in real-world performance for wired connections and offers a more responsive user interface.
• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro: This router focuses on maximizing wireless bandwidth with its quad-band design, offering two separate 6 GHz bands. One can be dedicated to a wireless backhaul for AiMesh systems, potentially benefiting users with large homes seeking seamless, high-speed mesh coverage. It has less powerful internal processing hardware than the AI model.

In summary, the GT-BE19000AI is a more advanced "smart" router with greater processing power and AI features, while the GT-BE98 Pro is focused purely on raw, theoretical wireless bandwidth maximization through its quad-band structure.

 

[Tech9]

Are you sure you want to spend so much money on Wi-Fi 7 AIO router right now?

Shallow Packet Inspection for 2025

Since wifi 8 is not expected to be completed until 2028, maybe we'll see a few years of router model stability which should make your efforts a little easier.

www.snbforums.com

ASUS development will shift focus on Wi-Fi 8 devices in 2026. Your latest and greatest will be old news in about a year. If you have good working equipment - wait, no rush to spend money on disposable devices.

 

[Redskins16]

Are you sure you want to spend so much money on Wi-Fi 7 AIO router right now?

Shallow Packet Inspection for 2025

Since wifi 8 is not expected to be completed until 2028, maybe we'll see a few years of router model stability which should make your efforts a little easier.

www.snbforums.com

ASUS development will shift focus on Wi-Fi 8 devices in 2026. Your latest and greatest will be old news in about a year. If you have good working equipment - wait, no rush to spend money on disposable devices.

What do you mean? Can you elaborate?

 

[Tech9]

What do you mean?

This:

ASUS debuts a new WiFi 8 demo system

https://edgeup.asus.com/2026/asus-debuts-a-new-wifi-8-demo-system-and-puts-it-to-the-first-ever-real-world-throughput-test-at-ces-2026/

www.snbforums.com

Shallow Packet Inspection for 2025

Since wifi 8 is not expected to be completed until 2028, maybe we'll see a few years of router model stability which should make your efforts a little easier.

www.snbforums.com

Still not clear?

 

[Ripshod]

TBF, reads like some AI involved in this thread.

 

[Tech9]

GT-BE98 Pro

This model is not available in your region (Europe). Don't import routers from other regions. You won't be able to use the second 6GHz radio effectively turning GT-BE98 Pro into much cheaper RT-BE96U. It may also allow much higher Tx power and offer additional channels not available in EU and this is illegal.

TBF, reads like some AI involved in this thread.

AI selling AI.

 

[RMerlin]

ASUS development will shift focus on Wi-Fi 8 devices in 2026. Your latest and greatest will be old news in about a year. If you have good working equipment - wait, no rush to spend money on disposable devices.

You say that as if Asus was a team of three persons who can only work on one thing at a time. Their team is large enough that they can even continue to provide security updates to devices that they themselves marked as being End of Life almost two years ago. That should tell you a thing about their ability to do active development on multiple products.

Wifi 7 is fine right now if you have Wifi 7 clients, and it will be fine for many years to come if you buy it today. Waiting for Wifi 8 makes zero sense, and they won`t stop development for Wifi 7 devices because of products that are around a year away from launch, and are currently in the hands of completely different engineers. The Wifi 8 portion of the code is developped by Broadcom/Qualcomm/Mediatek, not by Asus.

People should just buy what suits their needs today, and stop worrying about what was and what will be. Technology will never stop advancing, having buying paralysis because something better will eventually come is pointless.

 

[RMerlin]

In summary,

In summary, stop trusting AI chatbots...

The CPU and wifi SoCs are the same (BCM4916 CPU, BCM6726 wifi). So no, the performance won`t be different.

including a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for on-device AI tasks (like ad-blocking and game optimization)

The NPU has nothing to do with either of these. It's currently used by Frigate for its video image recognition, for instance. I suspect it`s possibly also used for their "AI assistant", which is a basic LLM that can answer various configuration questions on-device - that LLM runs on the SL1680 board. I haven`t confirmed whether it taps into the NPU or not.

It is generally better in real-world performance for wired connections

There will be no difference for wired connection.

They removed one Wifi SoC that was used for the second 6 GHz band, and replaced it with a Synaptics SL1680 that contans the CPU and the NPU, both being used by Docker.

 

[Tech9]

You say that as if Asus was a team of three persons who can only work on one thing at a time.

Nope. I say that based on what we've seen with the flagship model GT-AXE16000 just before the appearance of first Wi-Fi 7 devices. People who paid big money for this gaming spider were wondering at one point if it was abandoned by ASUS, waiting for firmware with almost a year gap between releases.

 

[Redskins16]

In summary, stop trusting AI chatbots...

The CPU and wifi SoCs are the same (BCM4916 CPU, BCM6726 wifi). So no, the performance won`t be different.


The NPU has nothing to do with either of these. It's currently used by Frigate for its video image recognition, for instance. I suspect it`s possibly also used for their "AI assistant", which is a basic LLM that can answer various configuration questions on-device - that LLM runs on the SL1680 board. I haven`t confirmed whether it taps into the NPU or not.


There will be no difference for wired connection.

They removed one Wifi SoC that was used for the second 6 GHz band, and replaced it with a Synaptics SL1680 that contans the CPU and the NPU, both being used by Docker.

First I would like to say that I really appreciate the information you provided. Thank you very much for that. The summary is what I typed on the internet and it give me that information. It wasn't intend of using AI. I don't trust AI that's why one of the questions I had in regards to the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI, if the AI poses a privacy risk?

 

[RMerlin]

had in regards to the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI, if the AI poses a privacy risk?

What AI specifically? It's just a marketing term to denote the presence of an NPU that allows on device inference. The router does not connect to any external LLM.

 

[Redskins16]

What AI specifically? It's just a marketing term to denote the presence of an NPU that allows on device inference. The router does not connect to any external LLM.

The AI that is mostly hosted on external servers, which means that security and control can be compromised. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[RMerlin]

The AI that is mostly hosted on external servers, which means that security and control can be compromised. Correct me if I'm wrong.

There's nothing of this on the GT-BE19000AI.

 

[jzchen]

If you're asking for an overall comparison, then it will be difficult to beat what a Google, ChatGPT, or other search can already tell you.

You'll have to decide what you need/want/timeframe/budget and balance those four in your decision. Sometimes it's a need basis, sometimes it's a want basis, sometimes you can wait, sometimes you can't, sometimes money is a factor, sometimes you can or are willing to spend....

Routers are themselves a security risk. There's constantly new CVEs and fixes, whether Ai is a security risk, I'd have to agree with @RMerlin it is more risky if the processing of data is done remotely vs locally. You're essentially buying a two-in-one with the BE19000Ai. The BE98 Pro has 2 6 GHz channels, probably it would make sense to consider it if you have at least 2 6 GHz capable devices that may be in the same room as the router, at the same time. If you have one like me because my son moved out with his 2, then you may appreciate the range of the Ai router. In fact I moved the BE98 Pro to his room, for whenever he comes home with them. Both models are ROG. What defines a Gaming router may be partly personal preference...

If I had to sum up the key differences as briefly as possible:

BE19000Ai has a lot more features to optimize/maximize performance, and Ai.
BE98 Pro, being BE30000, has a lot more throughput.

 

[Tech9]

Let's not read and answer the way AI does. @Redskins16 is in Europe, GT-BE98 Pro is not a the right model for this region and it won't have more throughput even theoretically.

GT-BE98 Vs Pro model

Hi mate, I've had my GT-BE98 for a few months now too, but I'm on stock ASUS firmware. I'm thinking of flashing Gnuton's firmware but wondering what benefits I'll see over the stock ASUS firmware? May I ask do you have the GT-BE98 Pro or just the GT-BE98?

www.snbforums.com

Otherwise I vote for GT-BE19000AI, even two in AiMesh. I have no issues when someone else wants to waste money. I'm pretty sure @Redskins16 needs something like this right now and can't wait.

 

[jzchen]

How am I supposed to know the Redskins are now the Commanders, and that the OP is in Europe?

Having the two routers, and currently a single 6 GHz capable device, I thought my post made sense. Who knew I was artificial...

 

[Tech9]

How am I supposed to know

Memory. You have replied to @Redskins16 once here. I also remember a forum member who received the white spider for testing and a developer who received it as development unit. None of them paid $900 for it and I guess it makes it easier to recommend the unit to someone else. I personally can't recommend this overprices experimental device to anyone, especially when the next generation Wi-Fi is on the horizon and its main goal is improved stability and user experience. Since you used car analogy in another thread and I'm a big cars fan - it's like buying the most expensive version of a last model year car. Unless it's something collectible - the fastest depreciation model.

 

[jzchen]

Memory. You have replied to @Redskins16 once here. I also remember a forum member who received the white spider for testing and a developer who received it as development unit. None of them paid $900 for it and I guess it makes it easier to recommend the unit to someone else. I personally can't recommend this overprices experimental device to anyone, especially when the next generation Wi-Fi is on the horizon and its main goal is improved stability and user experience. Since you used car analogy in another thread and I'm a big cars fan - it's like buying the most expensive version of a last model year car. Unless it's something collectible - the fastest depreciation model.

Thanks for reminding me.

Sorry my memory has been damaged by sleep deprivation from the two parents I watch pretty much 24/7. Short term memory goes first, so Redskins reminds me of a football team mascot....

The OP asked the difference from experience. Did the OP ask for an opinion on purchasing? This is borderline trolling....

If you ask me how much I paid for the BE98 Pro, I'd have to say the same.

WiFi 8 has not mentioned anything about AFC. Can we safely assume it will be included?....

 

[RMerlin]

WiFi 8 has not mentioned anything about AFC. Can we safely assume it will be included?....

AFC requires additionnal hardware and software, so it will always be an optional feature provided on a per device basis.