Asus gave us a first look at its Wi-Fi 8 router at CES, and it's nothing we could've expected

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Asus previewed the ROG NeoCore Wi-Fi 8 router at CES 2026
• The router will focus on wireless stability and reliability.
• Asus’ first Wi-Fi 8 routers are slated for release later this year.

It feels like only yesterday that Wi-Fi 7 arrived, ushering in an era of faster home networking. Yet the industry is already looking forward as Wi-Fi 8 is just around the corner. At CES 2026, Asus previewed what could be the very first Wi-Fi 8 router, the ROG NeoCore.

Also: CES 2026 live blog: Latest news on TVs, AI, phones, more

It’s important to note that this is only a proof of concept. There’s no guarantee the ROG NeoCore will actually launch — at least not in its current form. Its icosahedron shape is visually striking. I’ve never seen a router look anything remotely like this. 

Also: Best of CES 2026 Awards: Official Winners List (CNET)

It’s hard for me to imagine something like this fitting neatly on a side table or tucked behind the TV next to the modem. I suspect Asus will opt for a more practical, boxy design for its eventual Wi-Fi 8 router, as the cost of its sci-fi flair may outweigh its benefits. ZDNET’s Kyle Kucharski saw the NeoCore in person and told me that it comes with a hook for wall mounting. So, there’s a chance the 20-sided shape could stay.

Concrete details about the router are limited. Asus hasn’t shared the chipset the router uses, the number of bands it supports, or the features it might include. However, if you look at the image above, you can see what appear to be three Ethernet ports, heat vents, and an input for the power adapter. What we do know is that Asus plans on releasing its first Wi-Fi 8 home routers later this year.

Also: Asus has a new 2026 laptop lineup, including a GoPro Edition for mobile creators

In the announcement post, the company instead extols the positives of Wi-Fi 8 and the improvements it’ll bring to wireless connectivity. While Wi-Fi will bring another boost to speed, its main upgrade is stability. Asus says its routers are designed to tackle “four core connectivity challenges” —

• Reduce speed degradation
• Improve connection stability
• Strengthen two-way communication for low-power devices like smart lights
• Better manage congested networks.

Compared to Wi-Fi 7, Asus claims Wi-Fi 8 will offer up to twice the midrange throughput, twice the IoT (internet of things) coverage, and as much as 6x lower P99 latency.

Asus didn’t specify exactly how its routers will achieve the company’s goals, but we have a fairly good idea. ZDNET senior contributing editor Steven Vaughan-Nichols wrote a Wi-Fi 8 explainer last year detailing how the wireless standard will improve network stability. It’s introducing multiple new technologies, such as Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR), which allows devices to dynamically adjust their power output according to the proximity of other devices. Its purpose is to reduce interference and Wi-Fi congestion.

I’m excited about the next generation of routers. Current wireless speeds are solid, but there’s always room for greater stability. Wi-Fi 8 is shaping up to be that solution.

That said, it is somewhat surprising that Asus is introducing a Wi-Fi 8 router now. The IEEE, the organization that develops Wi-Fi standards, in its most recent status update stated that Wi-Fi 8 (aka IEEE 802.11) won’t be finalized until 2028. Perhaps Asus is trying to beat everything to the punch by releasing a supporting router this year.