RT-AX86U Pro abandoned?

[Justinh]

This model has not yet get gotten the newest round of firmware updates. It seems every other model in the ASUS world has. Is there a problem with this model, or the new firmware?

 

[Tech9]

Just wait.

 

[bennor]

This model has not yet get gotten the newest round of firmware updates. It seems every other model in the ASUS world has. Is there a problem with this model, or the new firmware?

Someone else made the same observation last Wednesday in the RT-AX86U series 3.0.0.4.388_24386 9/1/2025 firmware thread about a lack of firmware update when many other models have received them in the past month.

Release - Asus RT-AX86 Series Firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24386 9/1/2025

This update felt good but the spare router is now back on the shelf. I noticed a few things, perhaps not all new: o the admin password must now be 10 characters min... alpha, numeric, and symbol... overkill with the Captcha enabled(?) o UPnP defaults to OFF; o Local Access Config defaults...

www.snbforums.com

Anyone know why no AX86u Pro firmware release (mine running rock solid on stock), it's been 6 months!

If I remember right in the past many other routers also got their firmware updated while the RT-AX86U Pro lagged behind a few weeks. The RT-AX88U Pro also hasn't gotten the latest firmware either. Its last release was also back in March like the RT-AX86U Pro's was.

 

[iFrogMac]

Someone else made the same observation last Wednesday in the RT-AX86U series 3.0.0.4.388_24386 9/1/2025 firmware thread about a lack of firmware update when many other models have received them in the past month.

Release - Asus RT-AX86 Series Firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24386 9/1/2025

This update felt good but the spare router is now back on the shelf. I noticed a few things, perhaps not all new: o the admin password must now be 10 characters min... alpha, numeric, and symbol... overkill with the Captcha enabled(?) o UPnP defaults to OFF; o Local Access Config defaults...

www.snbforums.com

If I remember right in the past many other routers also got their firmware updated while the RT-AX86U Pro lagged behind a few weeks. The RT-AX88U Pro also hasn't gotten the latest firmware either. Its last release was also back in March like the RT-AX86U Pro's was.

I've read posts on this forum that suggest the RT-BE86U has replaced the AX86U Pro, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. It seems like everyone is pushing WiFi 7 now. At least it seems that way at a glance of most of the current models being sold.

 

[Tarek Yag]

If I understand this correctly, isn't it strange that Asus do not release firmware updates for the Pro series as quick/much as the older non-Pro series? Keeping in mind that the Pro series still has more years of support ahead?!

 

[bbunge]

I've read posts on this forum that suggest the RT-BE86U has replaced the AX86U Pro, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. It seems like everyone is pushing WiFi 7 now. At least it seems that way at a glance of most of the current models being sold.

Mmm, there are still many articles promoting WIFI 6 over WIFI 7. Some of us still consider WIFI 7 in beta and not ready for prime time.
My AX86U Pro boxes can wait for that next firmware upgrade ....

 

[iFrogMac]

Mmm, there are still many articles promoting WIFI 6 over WIFI 7. Some of us still consider WIFI 7 in beta and not ready for prime time.
My AX86U Pro boxes can wait for that next firmware upgrade ....

Not in disagreement here. I happen to have three routers:
My Airport Extreme (6th) generation that's no longer supported, but still works
The RT-AX86U, which is on older firmware from current generations, but still gets occasional updates.
TP-Link Archer BE9300, I did have an Asus BE92U for a while, but it developed issues, that I couldn't resolve, so I got rid of it, and got the TP-Link as a replacement.
Out of the two more current routers, the RT-AX86U is overall more stable, and that's only regarding 2.4Ghz smart devices. 5Ghz, 6Ghz, capable, and wired devices work fine. So, the WiFi 7 related issues I've had the most, are related to older generations of WiFi used by smart lights, etc. So currently using my Gundam edition RT-AX86U. I had to update the firmware anyway, from the last update, so wanted to test the reliability. It's still been a solid router.

 

[Jeje2]

A year ago was the same problem with RT-AX86U -- the latest update just didn't come to it... even though many moany others got their updates... So ended up during Black Friday to buy RT-BE86U .... just to notice thr RT-AX86U got the update.
And also with RE-BE86U have already noticed it get's the update later than other models.
I do wonder why, it isn't that a different model compared to other ASUS products... or is it?

 

[wol-shiver]

If you start paying attention to release orders, you'll find the pros are usually a bit later in the Ax world

 

[Tech9]

the pros are usually a bit later

It takes time to become a Pro.

 

[bennor]

Wonder what the hold up is now that we're into the second full week of October and no stock firmware update for the RT-AX86U Pro. Last firmware update was 2025/03/17. The RT-AX88U Pro also hasn't been updated either with the new firmware release a number of other routers, including a few 3006.102.x firmware based routers, have received starting in mid August.

 

[jksmurf]

Wonder what the hold up is now that we're into the second full week of October and no stock firmware update for the RT-AX86U Pro. Last firmware update was 2025/03/17. The RT-AX88U Pro also hasn't been updated either with the new firmware release a number of other routers, including a few 3006.102.x firmware based routers, have received starting in mid August.

I haven’t really been following what else on this list has been updated but I wonder if it’s VLAN capable ones taking longer to get sorted out. I hope they don’t start considering dropping VLAN support for the older ones like the two models you mentioned, in case they are having issues with the firmware.

Product EBA63, EBG15, EBG19P, EBM68, EBR63, GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AX6000, GT-BE19000, GT-BE96, GT-BE98, GT-BE98 Pro, ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, RT-AX57 Go, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, RT-BE86U, RT-BE88U, RT-BE96U.

 

[bennor]

Product EBA63, EBG15, EBG19P, EBM68, EBR63, GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AX6000, GT-BE19000, GT-BE96, GT-BE98, GT-BE98 Pro, ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, RT-AX57 Go, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, RT-BE86U, RT-BE88U, RT-BE96U.

From that list eight routers, denoted by an asterisk, have the newer firmware (the one where Asus recommends a factory default reset). Three of the routers, including the RT-AX86U Pro have last March as the most recent firmware, and one has last May as their most resent firmware. (ETA: two have Oct. 2024 firmware dates.) The rest are all August or newer firmware dates.

EBA63 3.0.0.6.102_45868 2025/09/23
EBG15 3.0.0.6.102_45868 2025/09/23
EBG19P 3.0.0.6.102_45868 2025/09/23
EBM68 3.0.0.6.102_44485 2024/10/18
EBR63 3.0.0.6.102_44547 2024/10/23
GT-AX11000 Pro 3.0.0.6.102_34750 2025/03/18
GT-AX6000 3.0.0.6.102_34860 2025/08/27 *
GT-BE19000 3.0.0.6.102_37899 2025/08/08 *
GT-BE96 3.0.0.6.102_38984 2025/08/26 *
GT-BE98 3.0.0.6.102_37902 2025/08/14 *
GT-BE98 Pro 3.0.0.6.102_38984 2025/08/11 *
ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 3.0.0.6.102_36387 2025/05/21
RT-AX57 Go 3.0.0.6.102_56746 2025/09/23 (password update but no suggested factory default reset)
RT-AX86U Pro 3.0.0.6.102_34349 2025/03/17
RT-AX88U Pro 3.0.0.6.102_33352 2025/03/19
RT-BE86U 3.0.0.6.102_38984 2025/08/11 *
RT-BE88U 3.0.0.6.102_38186 2025/08/08 *
RT-BE96U 3.0.0.6.102_38984 2025/08/26 *

* Important: After installing this firmware, we strongly recommend performing a factory-default reset to activate every new security adjustment.

 

[jksmurf]

From that list

Thanks bennor, comprehensive as usual. No real pattern there, some of the E designated (business?) range seem to even go back to 2024.

 

[bbunge]

Might be soon. I just checked for an upgrade and the process failed. Could be a sign of a pending upgrade?

 

[NoLight]

Might be soon. I just checked for an upgrade and the process failed. Could be a sign of a pending upgrade?

Just checked and it was successful in that it's running the latest firmware
I am getting a little worried about it, but it could be they are just working on more bugs with the AX86U/AX88U pro models. There was this beta patch that is newer than the current firmware https://www.snbforums.com/threads/a...orkpro-auth-failure-on-ax86u_pro.93894/page-2

 

[Tech9]

some of the E designated (business?)

Enterprise!