Asus ExpertWiFi Overview (vs. ZenWifi): A New Mesh-Ready SOHO Hardware Series

On January 4, 2023, Asus unveiled its new ExpertWiFi product line.

After unsurprisingly missing the initial availability target, initially set for “the first quarter of 2023, ” the networking vendor is finally shipping the ExpertWiFi EBR63 standalone router. There will soon be more hardware options, including those supporting Wi-Fi 7.

That said, if you’re wondering what ExpertWiFi is—especially in comparison to Asus’s existing ZenWifi product line, which debuted three years earlier with the CT8—you’re reading the right post. Among other things, you’ll see where the new hardware approach is intended to fit in among Asus’s vast Wi-Fi portfolio.

Right off the bat, ExpertWiFi is not necessarily suitable for everyone, though it’ll work for anyone. And, so far, with the first round of hardware, home users haven’t missed out on anything yet.

Dong’s note: I first published this post as a news piece on January 6, 2023, and updated it on February 6, 2024, with more information on the new product line.

Asus ExpertWiFi: AiMesh Turned 100% Professional

The first and foremost thing to remember about ExpertWiFi is that, like ZenWifi, it’s also based on AiMesh, a mesh feature available in virtually all Asus Wi-Fi 6 and newer hardware.

Asus confirmed with me that you can use ExpertWiFi with AiMesh hardware interchangeably. That’s to say, you can pick any Asus router of whichever series or product line, and chances are you can make them work together to form a Wi-Fi system. In my trial with the EBR63, despite its latest AsusWRT 5.0 firmware, the router indeed can host AiMesh satellites made of existing routers, including those running firmware as old as the 384 release.

But whether or not you should mix the two in a system is a different question. Here’s a hint: It’s probably not a good idea, and you might not have good reasons to do that anyway.

While similar to ZenWifi, ExpertWiFi hardware is built for small office/home office (SOHO) environments. As a result, the new hardware focuses more on reliability than performance and is generally behind the curve in hardware specs.

Compared to existing AiMesh hardware, the new ExpertWiFi series is similar thanks to the shared Auswrt firmware but still differentiates itself in features and hardware design.

Asus ExpertWiFi: Standard web user interface, built-in VLAN, captive portal, and more

On the firmware front, ExpertWiFi has everything in network settings you’d find in the existing Asus RT and Zenwifi series, plus the following:

• Advanced self-defined networking (SDN): Up to half a dozen or so virtual SSIDs and VLAN support. Users can program each network port to do different things, including a Wi-Fi network with a captive portal that allows network admins to manage the way employees or guests can access the network via web-based logins.
• More Aimesh node support: Users can have up to 12 nodes instead of 10 of the existing AiMesh in a mesh setup.
• A more comprehensive AiProtection Pro feature.
• Better VPN support: Enhanced VPN-related features compared to existing Asus routers.
• Advanced Dashboard: Better monitoring and prioritization/isolation of client/connected devices.

That said, feature-wise, ExpertWiFi is more comparable to other business solutions, such as TP-Link Omada or EnGenius Fit. Still, it retains the familiar interface and a certain level of ease of use that home users have grown accustomed to.

Familiar setup process

As mentioned, the ExpertWiFi series comes with a new web user interface, accessible via the default IP address shared in all Asus hardware series: 192.168.50.1. As a result, setting up new hardware is quite simple. Specifically, you can follow these three steps:

1. Connect a computer to one of its LAN ports or use the default Wi-Fi network printed on the underside.
2. On the computer, navigate a browser to this default IP address to create a new username and password for the admin account. Then, run the Quick Internet Setup wizard to get things started.
3. Configure your network the same way you do a standard router.

After that, you’ll note the hardware’s interface is self-explanatory. If you have worked with an Asus router before, you’ll be able to figure things out rather quickly despite the relatively new layout of the interface, as shown below.

New user interface via screenshots

These screenshots are based on the EBR63 standalone router. However, you can expect all ExpertWiFi hardware to have similar, if not the same, settings and features.

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The new mobile app, no vendor login required, and no gaming features

Other than the new web UI, the ExpertWiFi also comes with a new mobile app called Asus ExpertWiFi. This app, for the most part, is similar to the existing Asus Router app, but for obvious reasons, it’s now built to handle the series’ new features and functions.

The app can give you in-depth access to the hardware, though not as in-depth as the web UI. What’s noticeable is that it allows users to change the theme, which is, for now, available in Simplicity White and OLED Black and light options.

It’s worth noting that whether you use the web UI (my preference) or the ExpertWiFi mobile app, there’s an option for remote management via Dynamic DNS. However, with the latter, you can opt to bind your hardware with a Google, Asus, WeChat, or Facebook account.

Overall, ExpertWiFi almost has everything Asus’s previous series and more.

But, as shown in the first round of hardware below, there’s one thing this series doesn’t include: the gaming features of the ROG of the TUF series—though you can play most games just fine with it via the robust Active QoS feature. Additionally, the slow adoption of the latest Wi-Fi standard and, most importantly, the lack of Multi-Gig Ethernet support means it’s, for now, not exactly the hot hardware for those wanting to be on the cutting edge.

First hardware’s specifications: ExpertWiFi EBM68 vs. EBR63

As mentioned, the initial ExpertWiFi hardware is behind the curve in Wi-Fi standards. Its first products, the EBM68 mesh system and EBR63 router, are Wi-Fi 6 broadcasters. However, eventually, you’ll find ExpertWiFi hardware supporting the latest Wi-Fi standard.

	ASUS ExpertWiFi EBR63	ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68
Availability	Standalone router	2-pack mesh set
Antennas	4 x external antennas	6 x internal antennas
Wi-Fi Grade	Dual-band AX3000	Tri-band AX7800
1st Band (channel width)	2×2 AX: up to 574 Mbps (20/40MHz)
2nd Band (channel width)	5GHz 2×2 AX: up to 2402 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)	5GHz-1 2×2 AX: up to 2402 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
3rd Band (channel width)	None	5GHz-2 4×4 AX: up to 4804 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
Hardware Role (each unit)	Wireless Router Mode AiMesh Node Mode Access Point Mode
UNII-4 Support	No	Yes
Network Standards	IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IPv4, IPv6
CPU	1.7GHz quad-core CPU
Memory and Flash Storage	256 MB Flash, 512 MB DDR3 RAM	256 MB Flash, 1 GB DDR4 RAM
Multi-Gig Port	None	1 x 2.5 Gbps WAN
Gigabit Port	1 x Gbps WAN, 4 x 1 Gbps LAN,	3 x 1 Gbps LAN
USB Port	1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0	1 x USB 3.0
Buttons	Power Switch, Reset Button, WPS Button
DC Power Adapter	AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz)  DC Output: 12 V with max 2 A current	AC Input: 100~240V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max 3 A current
Package Contents	ASUS ExpertWiFi EBR63 RJ-45 cable  Power adapter  Quick Start guide  Warranty card	ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68 RJ-45 cable  Power adapter  Quick Start guide  Warranty card
Dimensions	8.86 x 4.16 x 6.04 in (225 x 105.7 x 153.5 mm) (with antennas)	6.57 x 3.03 x 7.32 in (167 x 77 x 186 mm)
Weight (each unit)	.96 lb (436g)	1.78 lbs (808 g)
Release Date	December 2023
Warranty	3-year
US Retail Cost (at launch)	$149.99 (Single Router)	$599 (2-pack)

ExpertWiFi’s new design approach: Professional with “pristine white”

Design-wise, the ExpretWifi line comes with a bit of style and a whole lot of practicality. All devices have well-thought-out shapes that help declutter the office space. The ExpertWiFi EBR63 router, for example, can stay in a horizontal or vertical position with a design that tucks the plugged-in cable away.

Additionally, ExpertWiFi has a larger hardware ecosystem that includes non-Wi-Fi routers, PoE access points, PoE switches, and more. The warranty is also increased to three years instead of one year.

Asus says its new “ExpertWiFi series features a minimalistic and professional aesthetic, with a pristine white exterior designed to blend into a business environment” to give the users more preferences in hardware placement.

In other words, the hardware can blend in better with the surroundings instead of standing out like an eyesore to specific aesthetically hard-to-please groups of users. In my experience, the EBR63 is indeed a versatile router. It’s one of the most compact and light Wi-Fi machines that’s also incredibly practical, and that’s not a bad thing.

The takeaway

Any existing Asus RT or ZenWifi device will work in a business environment—they generally all deliver the connection an office needs. However, if you want more features and network customization, there’s now a better choice.

While not earth-shattering, at least not yet, the new ExpertWiFi series is excellent for those needing common and specific business applications having to resort to enterprise-class hardware. And judging from my early experience with the EBR63 router, the new series is definitely a welcome and exciting option.

Chances are it’ll only get better in the near future.