ASUS ZenWiFi BD4 Wi-Fi 7 Router Review

The future of wireless connectivity is arriving faster than many expected, and ASUS is planting its flag early with the ZenWiFi BD4. This mesh system isn’t just an incremental upgrade; it’s a bold leap into the Wi-Fi 7 era, promising to untangle our most congested home networks. It represents a foundational shift for power users, gamers, and anyone tired of digital bottlenecks.

Design and Build

ASUS continues its tradition of clean, unobtrusive design with the ZenWiFi BD4. The nodes are compact, minimalist white towers with a subtle texture and a soft blue indicator light. They are designed to blend into a modern home’s decor rather than stand out as aggressive “gamer” hardware. Build quality is solid, with a dense plastic construction that feels premium enough for its price point. Each unit, both the primary router and the satellite, is equipped with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port and a 2.5 Gbps LAN port, a welcome inclusion that ensures your wired backbone won’t be the bottleneck for a multi-gigabit internet connection. However, with only two ports per node, users with many wired devices might find themselves reaching for an additional network switch.

Performance in the Wi-Fi 7 Era

The BD4 is a dual-band BE9300 system, which is the headline feature. This classification breaks down into roughly 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and a massive 8647 Mbps on the 6 GHz band, leveraging the new 320 MHz channel widths exclusive to Wi-Fi 7. The key technology here is Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows a single device to connect to multiple bands simultaneously, boosting speed and reducing latency. In practice, with a Wi-Fi 7 client, the performance is staggering, easily saturating a 2.5 Gbps internet connection with headroom to spare. Even for legacy Wi-Fi 6/6E devices, the network feels more responsive due to the sheer power of the underlying hardware and improved backhaul communication between the nodes. The one significant caveat is its dual-band nature. Without a dedicated third band for wireless backhaul, the system must share its client-facing bandwidth for inter-node communication, which can slightly reduce peak performance in a purely wireless mesh setup compared to more expensive tri-band competitors.

Features and Software

Where ASUS consistently outshines the competition is its software. The ZenWiFi BD4 is powered by the familiar and robust ASUSWRT firmware, accessible via a web interface or a polished mobile app. Setup is straightforward, but the real value lies in the deep customisation available. You get lifetime-free access to AiProtection Pro, a Trend Micro-powered security suite that offers commercial-grade network protection against malware and intrusions. The Adaptive QoS (Quality of Service) is excellent for prioritising traffic for gaming or streaming, and the parental controls are comprehensive. These are features for which rivals often charge a monthly subscription, making the ASUS ecosystem a strong long-term value proposition.

The Verdict: A Forward-Thinking Investment

The ASUS ZenWiFi BD4 is a powerful, forward-looking mesh system for the serious home user. It’s not for everyone—the premium price and the current scarcity of Wi-Fi 7 client devices make it an early adopter’s purchase. However, if you have a multi-gigabit internet plan and are looking to build a network that will remain on the cutting edge for the next several years, the BD4 is a compelling entry point into the Wi-Fi 7 world. It’s best suited for tech enthusiasts and power users who want to eliminate every possible bottleneck in their home network and appreciate the robust, subscription-free software package that ASUS provides.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon