Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 vs Google Nest WiFi Pro: 5 Things to Know!

By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023

If you're in the market for a new Wi-Fi mesh system, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) can be a good option, owing to its fast speeds, wide coverage, and advanced features. However, the Google Nest WiFi Pro is also a solid choice, especially with its capability to serve as a Matter-compatible Thread border router.

In this article, we will compare both Wi-Fi mesh systems based on 5 important aspects: price, technical specs, design, features, and setup process to help you decide which one is the better option for your home.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)

Best for Bigger Home

✓ WiFi 6, 5500 sq. ft. coverage, 6.6Gbps speed
✓ 1.5GHz Quad-Core, 512 MB RAM, 256 MB storage
✓ Free parental control and internet security
✓ Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT

Buy on Amazon

Google Nest WiFi Pro

Best for Connected Smart Home

✓ WiFi 6E, 4400 sq. ft. coverage, 5.4Gbps speed
✓ 1.0 GHz Dual-Core, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB storage
✓ Free parental control and internet security
✓ Google Home, Matter, Thread

Buy on Amazon

#1 Price

Google Nest WiFi Pro

A single unit of Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is priced at $209.99, while a single unit of Google Nest WiFi Pro is priced at $199.99. This is a slight difference, but if you want to create a Wi-Fi mesh system, a minimum of two units are required for wider coverage. Purchasing two packs of Google Nest WiFi Pro is significantly cheaper, costing only $239.99, compared to Asus ZenWiFi AX which costs $349.99 for 2 packs.

#2 Technical Specs

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)

The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) supports WiFi 6 while the Google Nest WiFi Pro supports the newer WiFi 6E, which is currently the only wireless standard that supports the new 6 GHz frequency band. As a tri-band router, the ZenWiFi provides 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz frequency bands, while Google Nest WiFi Pro provides 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands.

Despite its older WiFi standard, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) claims to have a faster speed of 6.6 Gbps and wider coverage of up to 5500 sq. ft. (for two routers). It is better than Google Nest WiFi Pro which claims to provide speed of up to 5.4 Gbps and a coverage of up to 4400 sq. ft. (for two routers). However, the Google Nest WiFi Pro does provide more RAM of 1 GB and storage of 4 GB, compared to Asus ZenWiFi AX with only 512 MB RAM and 256 MB storage.

#3 Design

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)

Both mesh routers come with a sleek and modern design. The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has a rectangular shape with specially designed vents for increased airflow, improving thermal performance for optimal operation. It weighs 730g with a dimension of 6.3 x 6.4 x 3.0in and comes in white and black color options. It also features 4 ports: 3 LAN ports, a 2.5G/1G WAN port, and a USB 3.0/2.0 port.

Google Nest WiFi Pro

On the other hand, the Google Nest WiFi Pro has a more compact and circular design, with a dimension of 4.6 x 5.1in and a lighter weight of 450g. It is made of high-gloss plastic and comes in various color options, including fog, lemongrass, linen, and snow. Each router features 2 Ethernet ports that support up to 1Gbps.

#4 Features

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)

Both routers come with various features at no additional cost or subscription. Parental control settings are available in both systems, allowing you to monitor activities, create schedules, apply content filters or site blockers, and so on.

In terms of security features, Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) comes with AiProtection Pro, which provides network security powered by TrendMicro. The system blocks all common internet-based attacks and makes sure your privacy on connected devices is protected. The Google Nest WiFi Pro also offers similar security features with encryption, hack protection, security booting, and software updates.

Google Nest WiFi Pro

One advantage that the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has over Google Nest WiFi Pro is the ability to use separate names (SSID) for different frequency bands. This will allow you to easily identify which band you are connecting to, especially for smart home devices that require a specific frequency band. Google Nest WiFi Pro on the other hand uses the same name (SSID) for all frequency bands, which can be confusing when connecting to the network.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Google Nest WiFi Pro only works with Google Assistant, but it has a built-in Matter-compatible Thread border router, so you can easily connect it with other Matter- and Thread-compatible smart home devices in your home. This is an important feature, as Matter and Thread are expected to be the future of smart home connectivity and interoperability. Therefore, in terms of which router is better for smart home integration, Google Nest WiFi Pro has the advantage.

#5 Setup

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)

Both the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) and Google Nest WiFi Pro have simple and straightforward setup processes. Their respective apps, the Asus Router App and Google Home App, will guide you through the process of setting up the mesh system, including adding additional nodes, creating a Wi-Fi network, and setting up parental controls and other features.

One important consideration is that the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) has more flexibility when it comes to expanding your mesh system. AiMesh allows you to mix Asus router models to create a mesh network, meaning that you can connect the ZenWiFi AX (XT8) models with other Asus routers to create a larger network. In contrast, the Google Nest WiFi Pro is only compatible with other Google Nest WiFi Pro. It is not compatible with previous generations of Google WiFi or Nest WiFi due to its WiFi 6E standard.

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Google Nest WiFi Pro

Final Thoughts

Google Nest WiFi Pro

Both routers have comparable features, but Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) offers wider coverage and faster speed. At a more affordable price, Google Nest WiFi Pro provides competitive performance and unique features unavailable in ZenWiFi, including support for a 6 GHz band and a built-in Matter-compatible Thread border router.

If you like to read more about Wi-Fi Mesh Systems, check out our other relevant guides here:

Best Wi-Fi Mesh Systems in Singapore (2023)

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Orbi AX6000 (RBK852): Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Routers Comparison

Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) vs Eero Pro 6: Which One is the Better Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router?

Google Nest WiFi Pro vs TP-Link Deco XE75: Best Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Routers Comparison

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