ASUS Malaysia announced the availability of the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series, which the company claims as the world’s only quad-band Wi-Fi 8 router currently available for purchase from retail stores. The series is scheduled for worldwide release in October, alongside the ASUS ZenWiFi BN12, a dedicated Wi-Fi 8 mesh system also launching that month.
ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Series Brings Quad-Band Wi-Fi 8
The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series includes two models: the GT-BN98 Pro (BN30000), available only in the United States, and the GT-BN98 (BN25000), which will be sold in Malaysia. Both use a quad-band Wi-Fi 8 design with total wireless throughput of up to 30,000Mbps, supported by a 2.6GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Connectivity includes two 10Gbps ports and four 2.5Gbps LAN ports for multi-gigabit wired connections, while the router combines a 16-antenna architecture into eight external antennas through a 3D structural design.
ASUS states that internal testing shows measurable performance gains when the router is paired with existing Wi-Fi 7 devices, allowing users to benefit from the hardware before Wi-Fi 8 client devices become widely available. The company also points to simulated improvements from Wi-Fi 8 features such as Unequal Modulation (UEQM) and Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA), which are intended to improve connection stability and reduce interference as compatible devices enter the market.
ZenWiFi BN12 Mesh System Targets Larger Homes
The ASUS ZenWiFi BN12, scheduled for consumer availability in October, is described by ASUS as the world’s first 12-stream tri-band Wi-Fi 8 mesh system. It is built to cover up to 7,000 square feet using 2x LDPC wall-penetration technology, with dual 10Gbps ports supporting high-speed wired backhaul between mesh nodes. The mesh system includes subscription-free AiProtection Pro and customizable parental controls, and supports AiMesh interoperability with existing compatible ASUS setups.
Separately, ASUS highlighted its ranking in the Cybernews Router Privacy Index 2026, which assessed the privacy disclosures of 25 router brands across 22 data points, including web traffic, personally identifiable information (PII), and location data. Per report, ASUS recorded the lowest overall privacy risk score among brands evaluated in the study, though do note that this is based on publicly disclosed practices rather than a technical audit of router behavior.
Pricing & Availability
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 (BN25000) will be available in Malaysia from mid-October 2026, with pre-orders now open at a suggested retail price of RM3,988. Customers who pre-order are entitled to a RM200 Steam Wallet code upon redemption, with details available on ASUS’s campaign page. Pricing and availability for the ZenWiFi BN12 in Malaysia have not been disclosed.
Pokdepinion: Well, nobody owns a device that can actually use it yet.
