Asus Google OnHub SRT-AC1900 Review - Review 2022

When we reviewed the first Google OnHub router ($89.99 at Amazon) (manufactured past TP-Link) back in September, we gave information technology loftier marks for its stylish looks, solid brusk-range performance, and ease of use, merely we dinged it for not offering basic management features, such as parental controls. We were besides disappointed that a few of its more than appealing features were non yet enabled. The new Asus Google OnHub SRT-AC1900 ($219.99) may wait a scrap different than its predecessor, but it's still a cool-looking router that delivers good close-proximity performance and is very easy to ready. Unfortunately, it suffers from many of the same issues as the original OnHub, and it's a bit more than expensive besides.

Editors' Note: This review has been edited to remove mentions of the Asus Google OnHub SRT-AC1900's inability to support invitee networks, which was the instance when we tested the router in January, 2022. Google has added this functionality with a firmware update. The score has not been changed.

Blueprint and Features

The Asus OnHub($109.99 at Amazon) shares the aforementioned cylindrical shape as the original model, simply this time around the base is wider than the meridian instead of the other fashion around. It also has a speaker and an LED ring embedded in the base instead of the top. The light ring glows teal when the router is up and running, blue during setup, and amber when there is a problem that requires troubleshooting. The router stands seven.8 inches high and is v.two inches wide at the base. It tapers off to 4 inches wide at the top and has a slate-greyness stop.

This dual-band AC1900 router is capable of maximum throughput speeds of 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and i,300Mbps on the 5GHz ring. It supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and is equipped with a ane.4GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, seven internal Wi-Fi antennas, a Bluetooth antenna, and a Zigbee 802.15.four (home-automation) antenna. As is the example with the TP-Link OnHub, the Zigbee and Bluetooth features are not notwithstanding enabled, but volition be activated via a firmware update at a later date.

The Asus OnHub also has a built-in proximity sensor that enables the router'southward Wave Control feature, and a congestion-sensing radio that polls wireless activity and automatically changes channels to increase performance. Wave Control is a Quality of Service (QoS) characteristic that lets you requite network priority to a predetermined client by waving your hand over the router. You tin give the preferred client network priority for 1, 2, or four hours but you tin't permanently assign priority to any device, nor can you assign a specific radio band to any device (both bands appear equally a unmarried network SSID).

Asus Google OnHub SRT-AC1900

You don't accept to remove the outer shell to gain access to the ports like y'all do with the TP-Link OnHub. In fact, the Asus OnHub's beat is screwed in and non meant for removal. A meager selection of network ports is located in a recess at the base that holds a WAN (Internet) port, a single gigabit LAN port, and a Power jack. Merely higher up the recess is a solitary USB 3.0 port that is reserved for recovery use and is non meant for connecting external peripherals, such equally USB drives and printers. In comparison, the Asus RT-AC68U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 Gigabit Router($138.99 at Amazon) is equipped with four wired LAN ports and a pair of fully functional USB ports.

Every bit with the TP-Link OnHub, you can't access this router'south settings via a Web-based console. Instead, the Asus OnHub is controlled using the Google On app for iOS and Android mobile devices. The app is tastefully designed and offers lots of tips, tutorials, and troubleshooting communication, just information technology's missing some important management features, parental controls, QoS settings for multiple clients, website blocking, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) settings. However, information technology does allow you to select DHCP or Static IP addressing, enable Wave Control priority for a single device, operate the router in Bridge mode, create a custom DNS, and enable Port Forwarding. The opening screen displays a network map with connected devices and has a network-bank check utility that measures your mobile device'south potential Internet upload and download speeds.

Installation and Performance

Installing and configuring the Asus OnHub is very easy, but you must accept a Google account and a live Internet connection to use this router, and it must exist set up using the mobile app. I already had the app on my iPhone from testing the TP-Link OnHub and had to use the Factory Reset option to remove the TP-Link OnHub router before I could become started.

When I restarted the app, I chose the Asus OnHub and followed the directions. Starting time, I was instructed to become the setup network proper noun and lawmaking located on the base of the router. I so went to my phone's Wi-Fi settings, connected to the OnHub using the code, and returned to the app. The router was immediately found, and I had to create a network name and password. The app informed me that it was edifice my network, the OnHub emitted a weird chinkle, and I was connected.

I typically run throughput tests on each ring of a multiband router, only since the OnHub doesn't allow you to specify a band, my results are based on the router's ability to select the best band for optimal functioning. On my close-proximity (same-room) test, the Asus OnHub'southward throughput speed of 307Mbps was impressive, trumping the TP-Link OnHub (297Mbps) and the Asus RT-AC68U (290.5Mbps) past a small margin. However, it couldn't go along stride with our leader, the D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-890L/R)($160.00 at Amazon) (558Mbps)

Like its predecessor, the Asus OnHub does not offer very good range functioning. Its throughput speed of 39.8Mbps on my xxx-pes tests was significantly slower than the Asus RT-AC68U (305Mbps) and the Tenda AC1900 Wireless Dual Band Router AC15 ($69.00 at Amazon) (115Mbps), only pretty much in line with the TP-Link OnHub (38.6Mbps). Over again, the D-Link DIR-890L/R led the pack with a score of 310Mbps.

Conclusion

Equally with the original TP-Link Google OnHub, the Asus Google OnHub SRT-AC1900 makes it easy for anyone, particularly the technically challenged, to set upwardly and maintain a dual-band network in their home. Its sleek looks will fit in with whatever home décor, and its thoughtfully designed app makes configuring your home network quick and easy. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth and Zigbee features are not enabled and you can't designate a radio band for specific client devices. Moreover, the OnHub lacks a fully functional USB port and is missing many of the management settings that you'd await from a $220 router. Information technology delivered good close-range-throughput speed in testing, just its long-range functioning was less than stellar.

Our Editors' Choice midrange router, the Asus RT-AC68U, offers much better long-range performance and a total feature set, including four wired LAN ports, 2 USB ports, and plenty of management settings, and its listing price is around $20 less expensive. For the best all-effectually operation and characteristic set, the D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router DIR-890L/R is your best bet, but information technology'll cost you upward of $300.