ASUS launches ZenWiFi BN12, the world's first Wi-Fi 8 mesh system

ASUS has announced the release of the ZenWiFi BN12, which it claims is the world's first mesh system to utilize the Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) standard. The system is a tri-band setup, categorized as BN19000, offering a theoretical aggregate speed of up to 19 Gb/s.

Each unit features eight built-in antennas and twelve radio frequency front-end modules. The system provides bandwidth across three bands: approximately 1.37 Gb/s on the 2.4 GHz band, 5.76 Gb/s on the 5 GHz band, and 11.53 Gb/s on the 6 GHz band. Designed for large homes and offices, a two-node set is rated to cover up to 650 m².

Unlike previous standards focused primarily on speed, the Wi-Fi 8 standard emphasizes Ultra High Reliability (UHR), aiming to improve connection stability, reduce latency, and enhance coordination between multiple access points to minimize interference. The hardware includes high-speed connectivity options such as two 10GbE ports and three 2.5GbE ports.

While the Wi-Fi 8 standard is still being finalized, ASUS has moved to market with hardware based on the current draft. In the UK, the system is available for pre-order through retailers like Scan, with a single unit priced at approximately £529.99 and a two-node kit at £999.98.