ZenWiFi BQ16 Quad-band WiFi 7 Mesh with dual 5GHz bands, 25Gbps, 8000 sq.ft (2pk), Dual 10G Ports, Security & Parental Control Included, Smart Home Master SSIDs, 4G & 5G Mobile Tethering

After years of testing high-end routers and networking gear for both home and professional use, I can confidently say that the BQ16 Wi-Fi 7 router is a breakthrough product. It not only outperformed my trusted ASUS GT-AX6000 but also did so in real-world scenarios that matter most: multi-wall coverage, wireless backhaul performance, and consistent VPN handling. Bought in January 2025 and now running the latest firmware as of March 2025, this device is nothing short of exceptional.The setup was straightforward and impressively fast. Using the BQ16 app, available on both Android and iOS, I had the entire mesh system up and running in under 10 minutes. The app walked me through every step intuitively, from placing nodes to optimising channels. Firmware updates were applied seamlessly during the setup, and the app has since been reliable for monitoring traffic, toggling features like QoS, and managing connected devices.In my household, I tested the router with a combination of devices: a MacBook Pro M1 (2021), a Dell XPS 15 (2023), iPad Air 5th Gen, iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Pixel 7, and several IoT smart devices like a Philips Hue Bridge and Google Nest Hubs. The BQ16 handled all connections effortlessly.Coverage was nothing short of jaw-dropping. My house is a detached, two-floor brick home with thick internal walls, and traditionally, getting reliable signal in the attic and back garden has been a challenge. I used a two-unit BQ16 setup with wireless backhaul, and the secondary unit was placed in a room three walls away from the main router. Despite the challenging layout, I was able to connect my main workstation via Ethernet to the backhaul unit, which in turn used Wi-Fi 7 to communicate with the primary router. The result? Full gigabit speeds, zero lag, and not a single drop during extended work sessions, video editing, or remote desktop usage.What sets this system apart is how well it handles WireGuard VPNs. On my GT-AX6000, enabling WireGuard would cut my 940 Mbps fibre connection nearly in half, hovering around 400-450 Mbps regardless of which server I used. With the BQ16, I enabled WireGuard client mode through the web interface, linked it to my favourite secure VPN provider, and tested it across multiple endpoints. The difference was astounding: I consistently achieved 880-930 Mbps while connected to VPN servers across Europe. The performance hit was minimal and within expected ranges, making this router ideal for security-focused users or remote workers who rely on encrypted connections.During tests, I ran speed benchmarks on every floor, including areas previously plagued by dead zones. My iPhone 15 Pro showed 920 Mbps download in the living room (main router location), 850 Mbps in the kitchen, and 700 Mbps in the attic. Even the garden office, situated 12 metres away through two brick walls, received a solid 450 Mbps. Streaming 4K content, cloud backups, and Zoom calls all worked concurrently without bottlenecks.Apple and Android devices seamlessly roamed between nodes with no noticeable handoff delays. My MacBook Pro performed flawlessly with sustained download speeds and no interruptions, even while moving between floors. Similarly, the Dell XPS laptop never struggled with latency, even when gaming on a 240Hz monitor connected to a dock via the backhaul LAN.The router's default settings were excellent out of the box, but I delved deeper to explore more advanced configuration options. Manual channel selection, beamforming tweaks, and VPN kill-switch integration were all present. More importantly, despite pushing every setting to its limit, I encountered zero crashes or instability. The BQ16 remained rock solid under stress testing.I researched potential issues mentioned by other users, such as rare backhaul connection drops or app pairing bugs. I discovered these can usually be resolved by disabling DFS scanning during initial setup, ensuring the same firmware version across both nodes, and restarting both units post-synchronisation. Once that was done, I never had to touch it again. I can safely say this is one of the few mesh systems where 'set it and forget it' truly applies.File transfers between local devices, such as moving raw photo folders from my MacBook to a NAS, were also extremely fast. The internal QoS prioritised Zoom and Teams calls perfectly, even while large downloads were running in the background.The 6GHz band, typically the bottleneck in Wi-Fi 6E routers due to lack of client support or interference, is well utilised here. My Pixel 7 and Galaxy S22 Ultra both leveraged Wi-Fi 7, and the connection was crisp, responsive, and consistently fast. I saw no disconnections or signal drops, even during extended gaming or streaming sessions.When it comes to the 2.5GHz band, I was particularly surprised by how well the BQ16 performed compared to the GT-AX6000. While 2.5GHz is usually slower and more congested due to device load and interference, the BQ16 managed to maintain more stable throughput and better range. In areas like the garage and utility room—where the GT-AX6000 would drop to sub-50 Mbps or disconnect entirely—the BQ16 kept a consistent 120-150 Mbps with lower ping jitter. This makes it perfect for low-priority smart devices that need reliable background access.On the 5GHz band, which is typically where premium routers shine, the BQ16 delivered far more consistent speeds across distance and barriers. With the GT-AX6000, I would often see a noticeable speed decline once I crossed two internal walls. The BQ16, however, retained high throughput even three rooms away, achieving over 900 Mbps on my iPhone 15 Pro in the furthest bedroom. Its beamforming and signal shaping seem better optimised, with devices showing less fluctuation in speed tests over time. This consistency translated into smoother 4K streaming, cloud file access, and stable low-latency gaming.I also appreciate how slim the units are and how silent they remain. There's no noisy fan, and the heat management appears to be passive yet effective. Even after extended operation in an enclosed media unit, the chassis was barely warm.To wrap it up, the BQ16 is an elite performer. It is rare to find a router that not only matches premium models on specs but actually beats them in real-world usability, especially with VPN usage and multi-wall mesh configurations. If you're coming from a high-end Wi-Fi 6 or 6E model like the GT-AX6000 and are considering the leap to Wi-Fi 7, this router will make that transition feel long overdue. Whether you're a remote worker, a gamer, or a demanding home user with dozens of devices, the BQ16 delivers on every front with confidence and consistency.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Stellar Wi-Fi 7 Speeds on 5GHz with a Single BQ16 Unit recently purchased a single ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 to upgrade my home network and leverage its Wi-Fi 7 capabilities with my gigabit internet connection, and I’m thoroughly impressed. Setup was incredibly easy using the ASUS Router app—up and running in under 10 minutes. Even with just one unit, it covers my 2,000 sq.ft home with no dead zones.I haven’t tried the 6GHz band yet, as my devices are primarily on the 5GHz band, but the speeds are still fantastic. On my 1 Gbps fibre connection, I’m getting 850-900 Mbps download and upload speeds when connected via the 10Gbps Ethernet port. Wirelessly, on the 5GHz band, I’m hitting 600-700 Mbps at 15 feet and around 400-500 Mbps at 40 feet through a couple of walls. These speeds handle 4K streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers effortlessly.The 10Gbps port and three 1Gbps ports offer great flexibility for wired connections, and the AiProtection Pro security features are a solid bonus without any subscription fees. The price (£430 for a single unit) is steep, but for the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 performance and reliability on a gigabit connection, it’s a worthwhile investment.Highly recommend the ZenWiFi BQ16 for anyone with a high-speed internet plan looking for fast, reliable Wi-Fi without needing a full mesh system yet. Can’t wait to test the 6GHz band with future device upgrades!

As a massive (experienced) fan of ASUS networking gear in my own home, I purchased a twin pack of the BQ16 along with a twin pack of BT10 for use on a friend's large old property; which had a GigaClear fibre 500 GBps internet connection.With the latest Firmware all-round, I configured the AI Mesh network which was OK for the first 7 days or so - after that I suffered nothing but issues. The main issue was around repeatedly dropped Internet Connection for the wireless Clients; which were mostly legacy Apple devices. It would be OK for a few days then the Clients couldn't connect.I did plenty of research including talking with the ISP and ASUS Tech Support; and tweaking the Client settings. Things like reverting to older versions of the Firmware didn't instil confidence plus it's very time consuming!Long story short - I ran out of patience repeatedly trying to make this a stable WiFi7 system - and returned all the devices. My conclusion is that WiFi 7 is still relatively immature - and to think carefully about the age of the client devices. Whilst buying to future-proof is one thing; having a stable, reliable system is the primary requirement imo.

A very nice product with good coverage. A bit fiddly to setup as the units take up to 5 minutes or more to lock in to each other. The units are well marked as master and second. The Asus app is very useful. The second unit can be linked either by ethernet cable (preferred method) or over the air. The units are neat but the led is very bright but can be turned off. There are cheaper systems but if you have a fast internet connection this is able to share it around very well.