WiFi 8 is coming

[xiaofan]

After some googling, the official IEEE 802.11bn standard will not be finalized until 2028

Indeed, but Wi-Fi 8 routers will be available before 2028 using the draft stanard.

It is the same for Wi-Fi 7 routers, we got Wi-Fi 7 routers in Singapore in 2023 but the standard was only "finalized" in 2024. Then in 2024 we saw more Wi-Fi 7 routers offering in Singapore. Then Wi-Fi 7 routers became more affordable in 2025 when all the ISPs bundle Wi-Fi 7 routers.

Same for Wi-Fi 8 routers, we will see Wi-Fi 8 routers in Singapore market in 2027 but it may only be widely available in 2028. We should see ISPs bundle WiFi 8 routers in 2028/2029.

 

[xiaofan]

TP-Link is very aggressive to push out Wi-Fi 8 routers. But is is very expensive to buy this Archer 8 Ultra, BN19000, dual 10 Gbe ports and quad 2.5Gbe ports, reported to use Broadcom Wi-Fi 8 chipsets.

1. Product info and specifications
https://www.tp-link.com/sg/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-bn800/

Standards and Protocols	IEEE 802.11bn/be/ax 6 GHz IEEE 802.11bn/be/ax/ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11bn/be/ax/n/g/b 2.4 GHz
WiFi Speeds	11528 Mbps (6 GHz) + 5764 Mbps (5 GHz) + 1376 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
WiFi Range	18× Internal WiFi Antennas 3× Antenna Operating Modes
Working Modes	Router Mode, Access Point Mode, EasyMesh Agent Mode

Ethernet Ports	1× 10 Gbps SFP+/RJ45 WAN/LAN Combo 1× 10 Gbps RJ45 WAN/LAN 4× 2.5 Gbps LAN 1× 1 Gbps LAN

2. Press release
https://www.tp-link.com/us/press/news/22555/

You can see that there are features not available during initial launch.

• Available at launch: UEQM, new MCS, and 2×LDPC hold throughput steady in a noisy home, delivering up to 33% more consistent throughput at mid-to-long ranges and up to 24% more consistent throughput than Wi-Fi 7 under interference.* NPCA keeps the network responsive as more devices come online.
• Rolling out via OTA (Over-the-Air) updates: As the standard matures, DSO will expand many-device capacity, ELR and DRU will strengthen coverage at the edges of the home, and Co-TDMA, Co-SR, and Co-BF will coordinate homes with more than one access point.

3. Pricing info.
https://www.techradar.com/computing...tting-edge-wi-fi-8-router-is-seriously-pricey

The TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra is available to buy in the UK and Australia, as well as Germany and some other countries (not yet specified by the router manufacturer).

Pricing will naturally vary by region, but the cost in the UK is £669.99 (around AU$1,200) if you place a pre-order now, although that price tag will be bumped up to £899.99 (around AU$1,700) later on.

 

[xiaofan]

In the region, Asus will have preorder for ROG GT-BN98 (BN25000) for Malaysia.

SRP at RM3988, about S$1249.

https://www.asus.com/my/events/infoM/activity_ROGRaptureGTBN98WiFi8PreOrder

ROG Rapture GT-BN98 WiFi 8 Gaming Router Pre-Order!

Event time
2026/09/25 00:00 ~ 2026/10/18 23:59

Final Registration End Date
2026/10/31 23:59

Time for a future-proof upgrade? Level up yours with World's 1st WiFi 8 Gaming Router today & redeem RM200 worth of Steam Wallet Code for a limited time!

Suggested Retail Price (SRP): MYR 3,988.00*
(Marketplace SRP may varies)

 

[limmk]

 

[HiHelloBye]

In the region, Asus will have preorder for ROG GT-BN98 (BN25000) for Malaysia.

SRP at RM3988, about S$1249.

https://www.asus.com/my/events/infoM/activity_ROGRaptureGTBN98WiFi8PreOrder

ROG Rapture GT-BN98 WiFi 8 Gaming Router Pre-Order!

Event time
2026/09/25 00:00 ~ 2026/10/18 23:59

Final Registration End Date
2026/10/31 23:59

Time for a future-proof upgrade? Level up yours with World's 1st WiFi 8 Gaming Router today & redeem RM200 worth of Steam Wallet Code for a limited time!

Suggested Retail Price (SRP): MYR 3,988.00*
(Marketplace SRP may varies)

Singapore when??

 

[xiaofan]

Singapore when??

No idea, maybe later this year or early 2027.

Asus has not listed ROG GT-BN98 with Singapore CLS Product List yet.
https://www.csa.gov.sg/our-programmes/certification-and-labelling-schemes/cybersecurity-labelling-scheme/cls-items/?filters=[{"id":"Brand","items":[{"id":"ASUS"}]},{"id":"Status","items":[{"id":"Active"}]}]&page=1

Their latest listings on 12-Feb-2026 include the following product.
ASUS TUF-BE3600
ASUS TUF-BE9400
ASUS GS-BE7200X
ASUS GS-BE18000
ASUS GT-BE19000AI
ASUS BD4 Outdoor
ASUS RT-BE58 Go
ASUS RT-BE82U
ASUS RT-BE50

 

[kashix]

Singapore when??

Soon, stay tuned ~

 

[xiaofan]

Soon, stay tuned ~

Now you have a good chance to break the Wi-Fi speed record by @jasonho, if you get this Asus router and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or Gen 6 Extreme based mobile phone, which claims to support 4x4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4x4 Wi-Fi 7.



Product brief from Qualcomm.
https://www.qualcomm.com/content/da...ragon-8-Elite-Extreme-Gen-6-Product-Brief.pdf

https://www.qualcomm.com/content/da...ts/Snapdragon-8-Elite-Gen-6-Product-Brief.pdf

• The first system to achieve 4x4 Wi-Fi configuration and over 10 Gbps speeds, Qualcomm® FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System is 2x faster with 3x longer gigabit range*, built for next-generation Wi-Fi 8**, Bluetooth® High Data Throughput (HDT), Ultra Wideband, and Thread.

 

[kashix]

Now you have a good chance to break the Wi-Fi speed record by @jasonho, if you get this Asus router and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or Gen 6 Extreme based mobile phone, which claims to support 4x4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4x4 Wi-Fi 7.



Product brief from Qualcomm.
https://www.qualcomm.com/content/da...ragon-8-Elite-Extreme-Gen-6-Product-Brief.pdf

https://www.qualcomm.com/content/da...ts/Snapdragon-8-Elite-Gen-6-Product-Brief.pdf

• The first system to achieve 4x4 Wi-Fi configuration and over 10 Gbps speeds, Qualcomm® FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System is 2x faster with 3x longer gigabit range*, built for next-generation Wi-Fi 8**, Bluetooth® High Data Throughput (HDT), Ultra Wideband, and Thread.

I never chase speed liao, I chase stability hehehe

千万不要有跟人斗的心，你要赢的是你自己

 

[xiaofan]

I never chase speed liao, I chase stability hehehe

千万不要有跟人斗的心，你要赢的是你自己

Haha, Wi-Fi 8 is supposed to improve the stability and not chasing for speed.

ROG GT-BN98 has the same top wireless speed as ROG GT-BE98.

But Qualcomm kind of ups the game with 4x4 support for both Wi-Fi 8 and Wi-Fi 7 with FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System inside SD8 Elite Gen 6 and ZD8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme.

So technically we may see similar top speed when the upcoming flagship Android phones with the Qualcomm chipset are connected to either ROG GT-BN98 or ROG GT-BE98 on the 6GHz band.

 

[kashix]

Haha, Wi-Fi 8 is supposed to improve the stability and not chasing for speed.

ROG GT-BN98 has the same top wireless speed as ROG GT-BE98.

But Qualcomm kind of ups the game with 4x4 support for both Wi-Fi 8 and Wi-Fi 7 with FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System inside SD8 Elite Gen 6 and ZD8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme.

So technically we may see similar top speed when the upcoming flagship Android phones with the Qualcomm chipset are connected to either ROG GT-BN98 or ROG GT-BE98 on the 6GHz band.

ROG this year using Qualcomm? I thought Asus always using Broadcom solutions.

 

[xiaofan]

ROG this year using Qualcomm? I thought Asus always using Broadcom solutions.

Asus ROG GT-BN98 router uses Broadcom chipset. Even TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra is powered by Broadcom chipset.

I am saying the wireless client side will see great improvement with Qualcomm FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System inside SD8 Elite Gen 6 and ZD8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme, and maybe future laptop/desktop Wi-Fi 8 adapter. It is supporting 4*4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4*4 Wi-Fi 7.

Current generation of wireless clients only support 2*2 Wi-Fi 7 or 2*2 Wi-Fi 6.

I am not sure if Intel or MediaTek will follow Qualcomm to come out with 4*4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4*4 Wi-Fi 7 support for the Wi-Fi client chipsets.

 

[kashix]

Asus ROG GT-BN98 router uses Broadcom chipset. Even TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra is powered by Broadcom chipset.

I am saying the wireless client side will see great improvement with Qualcomm FastConnect™ 8800 Mobile Connectivity System inside SD8 Elite Gen 6 and ZD8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme, and maybe future laptop/desktop Wi-Fi 8 adapter. It is supporting 4*4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4*4 Wi-Fi 7.

Current generation of wireless clients only support 2*2 Wi-Fi 7 or 2*2 Wi-Fi 6.

I am not sure if Intel or MediaTek will follow Qualcomm to come out with 4*4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4*4 Wi-Fi 7 support for the Wi-Fi client chipsets.

4x4 on client should be interesting, can hit 8gbps liao

 

[jasonho]

Now you have a good chance to break the Wi-Fi speed record by @jasonho, if you get this Asus router and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or Gen 6 Extreme based mobile phone, which claims to support 4x4 Wi-Fi 8 and 4x4 Wi-Fi 7.

 

[Arandalo]

TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra and TP-Link Deco 8 Ultra having 18 and 25 antennas respectively is kind of insane.

 

[xiaofan]

TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra and TP-Link Deco 8 Ultra having 18 and 25 antennas respectively is kind of insane.

The number of internal antennas has been greatly increased compared to the 8 internal antennas in the TP-Link flagship Triband Wi-Fi 7 routers or the 12 internal antennas in the TP-Link flagship Quad Band Wi-Fi 7 routers.

1. Archer BE800 Triband BE19000
https://www.tp-link.com/sg/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-be800/

8× Optimally Positioned Internal Antennas

2. Deco BE85 Triband BE22000​

https://www.tp-link.com/sg/home-networking/deco/deco-be85/

8 high-gain antennas

3. Archer BE900 Quad Band BE24000
https://www.tp-link.com/sg/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-be900/

12× Optimally Positioned Internal Antennas

4. Deco BE95 Quad Band BE33000
https://www.tp-link.com/sg/home-networking/deco/deco-be95/

12 high-gain antennas

 

[xiaofan]

Archer 8 Ultra -- need to see the function allocations of the 18 internal antennas. The massive number of internal antennas may be due to some TP-Link proprietary technology or Wi-Fi 8 features.

https://www.tp-link.com/sg/wifi8/
https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-bn800/?hl=en-SG

Whole-home coverage for every device

18 high-performance internal antennas with Multi-Floor Mode and Range Boost deliver up to 3,600 sq ft of coverage for up to 200 connected devices. Signal reaches across floors, not just rooms, with up to 30% better multi-floor performance than WiFi 7. No external antennas to hide.‡

 

[kashix]

TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra and TP-Link Deco 8 Ultra having 18 and 25 antennas respectively is kind of insane.

Archer 8 Ultra -- need to see the function allocations of the 18 internal antennas. The massive number of internal antennas may be due to some TP-Link proprietary technology or Wi-Fi 8 features.

https://www.tp-link.com/sg/wifi8/
https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-bn800/?hl=en-SG

Whole-home coverage for every device

18 high-performance internal antennas with Multi-Floor Mode and Range Boost deliver up to 3,600 sq ft of coverage for up to 200 connected devices. Signal reaches across floors, not just rooms, with up to 30% better multi-floor performance than WiFi 7. No external antennas to hide.‡

I'm testing the 8 Ultra now ~
The 18 antennas special mode seems to strength the signal noticeably ~

 

[xiaofan]

I'm testing the 8 Ultra now ~
The 18 antennas special mode seems to strength the signal noticeably ~

Wow, it is really nice to get hold this Wi-Fi 8 router so early.

 

[kashix]

Wow, it is really nice to get hold this Wi-Fi 8 router so early.

Yes, I prob 1st in Singapore hahahaha