When it comes to gaming routers, players—especially competitive ones—need something that can deliver speed, stability, and low latency. But given how quickly tech advances, you can add future-proofing to that list of requirements. The ASUS TUF Gaming BE6500 Dual Band WiFi 7 Gaming Router aims to deliver all of that, including next-gen WiFi 7 performance.
Out of the box, the ASUS TUF Gaming BE6500 looks “high-tech,” like most of the company’s gaming routers. It resembles a sleek drone—or if you remove the antennas, it has the shape of a race car steering wheel. It has a wedge shape and plenty of vents, including aluminum heatsinks with nanocarbon coating to keep it cool. What I like most about it is that it’s not bulky and doesn’t take up a lot of desk space.
The LEDs are found on the front, but they’re placed underneath, making it hard to see the router’s status unless you stoop down and look.
At the back, you’ll find the power button, DC In, USB 3.0 port, WPS and reset buttons, and quad 2.5 GbE ports, with LAN 1 serving as the dedicated Gaming Port.
Powering it is a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB DDR4 RAM, and 256MB flash memory. Setup is done through the ASUS Router app, which only took us about 15 minutes to complete. Once that’s done, you can start enjoying its features.
If you have a PC or a laptop with an Ethernet port, you can immediately take advantage of the dedicated Gaming Port using LAN 1, which automatically prioritizes traffic for whatever device is plugged in. No need to set up anything—just plug in your rig and you’re good to go.
The USB port supports 4G LTE and 5G mobile tethering, so you can stay connected when your main internet connection goes down. Just don’t expect the same level of performance, especially if mobile data in your area is slow.
When you need to go wireless, the BE6500 boasts dual-band WiFi 7 that can deliver speeds up to 6,500 Mbps. It supports 4096-QAM for better data throughput and Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows multiple wireless bands to be used simultaneously for better performance and reliability. In the ASUS Router app, you can also activate Mobile Game Mode to optimize the network for your mobile devices and games. It also features Open NAT, which is great for console owners who play multiplayer titles.
While the BE6500 is designed for gaming, that doesn’t mean it’s not built for other tasks as well. The wireless bandwidth has enough capacity to handle a wide variety of devices, including smart home systems and CCTVs. It also comes with ASUS’s suite of network security features—malicious site blocking, parental controls, VPN support, and vulnerability protection with regular updates. And if you have dead spots at home, the router supports AiMesh, so you can expand your coverage with other AiMesh-compatible routers.
At this point, the ASUS TUF Gaming BE6500 impresses with its features, especially with WiFi 7. One might argue that most devices in the market are still on the WiFi 6 or 6E standard, but that only makes this router’s positioning even more compelling. You’re not just buying a router for today—you’re investing in a network that’s ready for the next wave of WiFi 7-capable devices.
The combination of WiFi 7 features, multi-gig wired ports, USB tethering, and AiMesh support makes it one of the most future-proof routers in its class. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a streamer, or someone just tired of unstable connections, the BE6500 is a solid upgrade that will serve you well in the long run.
The ASUS TUF Gaming BE6500 WiFi 7 router is priced at PHP 11,550.
