Budget Wi‑Fi 7 in 2026: Why These Two Routers Matter
A budget Wi‑Fi 7 router is a dual-band or tri-band wireless device that supports the 802.11be standard while cutting extras such as premium hardware, rich port layouts, and advanced software so it can deliver modern speed and coverage for typical homes at a lower price than flagship models. The Devolo BE6500 and ASUS RT‑BE55 are two such affordable Wi‑Fi 7 options that chase value in very different ways, and understanding their trade‑offs is more important than getting hung up on peak headline speeds.
The key takeaway: for most households, the ASUS RT‑BE55 router feels like the safer budget Wi‑Fi 7 bet, while the Devolo BE6500 is a niche pick for those who insist on 6GHz support and can live with fewer features. On paper, both promise decent throughput and multi‑gig internet capability, but they prune different branches to hit a low price. The Devolo leans on a mesh‑style design and switchable 5GHz/6GHz radio, whereas the ASUS doubles down on software features while omitting 6GHz altogether.
Specs and Design: Two Takes on ‘Good Enough’ Hardware
This router comparison starts with the raw specification sheet, because the way each device trims hardware tells you who they are built for. The Devolo BE6500 is a dual-band Wi‑Fi 7 router that can switch its high‑band radio between 5GHz and 6GHz, instead of running both at once. That means you get 2.4GHz plus either 5GHz or 6GHz, not all three simultaneously, which is a clear compromise. At the rear, Devolo fits a single 2.5Gbits/sec WAN/LAN port and three gigabit LAN sockets, with only a WPS button and reset hole on the chassis and no power button in sight. It even looks like a compact mesh node, measuring 175 x 118 x 72mm.
By contrast, the ASUS RT‑BE55 router takes a more conventional dual‑band approach: it offers 688Mbits/sec on 2.4GHz and 2.8Gbits/sec on 5GHz with no 6GHz radio at all. Hardware connectivity is similarly pragmatic: there is a 2.5Gbits/sec socket for multi‑gigabit internet, while the four LAN ports are limited to gigabit speeds. The ASUS design is described as basic and no‑frills but compact, with front status LEDs to keep you informed. In short, Devolo wins on 6GHz bragging rights and a smaller footprint, while ASUS wins on having more wired LAN ports and a more familiar router form factor.
| Spec / Feature | Devolo BE6500 | ASUS RT‑BE55 |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless bands | 2.4GHz + switchable 5GHz or 6GHz dual-band Wi‑Fi 7 | 2.4GHz (688Mbits/sec) + 5GHz (2.8Gbits/sec) dual-band Wi‑Fi 7 |
| 6GHz support | Yes, but only instead of 5GHz high band | No 6GHz radio |
| WAN / multi‑gig port | 1 x 2.5Gbits/sec WAN/LAN | 1 x 2.5Gbits/sec socket for multi‑gig internet |
| LAN ports | 3 x gigabit LAN | 4 x gigabit LAN |
| Physical controls | WPS button, reset hole, no power button | Standard controls; no USB support noted |
| Dimensions | 175 x 118 x 72mm compact casing | Compact footprint; exact size not detailed |
Performance Trade‑offs: 6GHz Novelty vs Solid 5GHz Delivery
On performance, the Devolo BE6500 review materials are blunt: the 6GHz band offers no real performance boost in practice and the router cannot use 5GHz and 6GHz at the same time. That means if you chase the theoretical 5.8Gbits/sec 6GHz speed, older devices without 6GHz support are dumped onto a slower 2.4GHz band rated at 688Mbits/sec. Worse, this is described as leaving performance “unexceptional for the price, regardless of which radio band you choose to use”. In other words, Devolo’s clever dual‑personality radio ends up being more gimmick than game‑changer for a typical home full of mixed devices.
The ASUS RT‑BE55 takes the opposite stance: no 6GHz radio at all, but bandwidth that is “fast enough for most homes”. Its 2.4GHz and 5GHz speeds are pitched as a lightweight specification aimed at households that do not place special demands on their network. The reviewer goes so far as to say that, for regular home internet duties, it will do the job perfectly well. According to one quoted assessment, “the RT‑BE55 is Asus’ latest budget Wi‑Fi 7 router, and it’s a perfectly decent offering” with reasonable wireless bandwidth and decent wired connectivity. If your priority is reliable 5GHz performance rather than chasing bleeding‑edge 6GHz, the ASUS lands in a more sensible sweet spot.
Software, Features and Shared Weaknesses
If you care about advanced controls, the software differences between these budget Wi‑Fi 7 routers matter more than their radio tricks. The Devolo BE6500 is described as comparatively short on connectors and features. Its QoS implementation lets you choose only from four priority modes, with no way to create rules by device, application or schedule. There is no active threat detection, no parental controls and no VPN support. That is a long list of omissions in an era where even low‑cost routers often ship with at least basic parental filters and built‑in security.
The ASUS RT‑BE55 router flips the script: while the hardware is stripped‑down and there is no USB support, the system software is, as usual for ASUS, packed with features. You get the maker’s “clever software features” and a broad feature range, but the price is a complex user interface that can intimidate newcomers. So both devices share the same core caveat: they are budget Wi‑Fi 7 routers that either limit advanced configuration or hide it behind a dense UI. Compared with more expensive models, you are choosing between streamlined but bare‑bones software on Devolo and richer but more complex software on ASUS.
Value Verdict: Which Budget Wi‑Fi 7 Router Should You Buy?
Affordable Wi‑Fi 7 is finally colliding with the price of older Wi‑Fi 6 hardware, and both the Devolo BE6500 and ASUS RT‑BE55 sit in that emerging middle ground. The Devolo BE6500 comes in at £130 and is called “the cheapest 6GHz Wi‑Fi 7 router” seen so far, while there is now a growing market of sub‑£80 Wi‑Fi 7 routers that includes the ASUS RT‑BE55 at £76. In that context, Devolo is priced like a mid‑range curiosity, while ASUS is clearly positioned as a budget Wi‑Fi 7 router. Both are still described as offering decent Wi‑Fi speeds for basic use, which means either one will serve a standard home network better than clinging to a similarly priced Wi‑Fi 6 device.
- Buy the Devolo BE6500 if you care about having 6GHz capability at the lowest entry price and are willing to accept its inability to run 5GHz and 6GHz together.
- Skip the Devolo BE6500 if you want strong performance for the money, rich configuration options, or more physical connectors; its execution is described as unexceptional for the price.
- Buy the ASUS RT‑BE55 if you want an affordable Wi‑Fi 7 router that is “fast enough for most homes” and comes with a broad range of software features.
- Skip the ASUS RT‑BE55 if you demand 6GHz, need USB connectivity, or dislike complex router interfaces; it offers no 6GHz radio, no USB and a complex UI.
For a typical home that values simplicity and feature depth over 6GHz experimentation, the ASUS RT‑BE55 is the more sensible affordable Wi‑Fi 7 choice. The Devolo BE6500 is best seen as a specialist option for people who know they want 6GHz now and can live with limited software and only modest gains. Either way, stepping up to one of these budget Wi‑Fi 7 routers is a smarter long‑term move than spending the same money on yesterday’s Wi‑Fi 6 hardware, so long as you pick the trade‑offs that match how you actually use your network.
