Following its preview at CES 2014, ASUS launched the ASUS RT-AC87, the first Wave 2 802.11ac consumer router and the fastest 5 GHz with speeds up to 1.73 Gbps. The RT-AC87 utilizes four external antennas and Universal Beamforming to maximize range throughout the home or office, improving signal strength and performance even to older 802.11a/b/g/n clients. Capable of reaching speeds up to 1.73 Gbps, the RT-AC87 is ideal for HD-grade video, ultra-low-latency gaming and heavy file sharing. Its MU-MIMO technology enables it to stream rich content to multiple devices in every corner of a home, in Full 1080p or 4K Ultra HD resolution.

With MU-MIMO, the RT-AC87 can form groups of multiple devices that can be served at the same time, simultaneously. Previous 802.11n and 802.11ac routers can stream to only one device at a time. MU-MIMO increases the efficiency of the Wi-Fi network, mitigating potential bottlenecks as more devices are connected to the access point. Furthermore, the RT-AC87's multiple antennas, coupled with its advanced beamforming, reduce the transmission's signal-to-noise ratio and improve the reliability of the Wi-Fi signal.

The RT-AC87 also features AiProtection with Trend Micro that uses real-time network monitoring to detect malware and other intrusions before it reaches your PC or device.

Pre-installed with RT-AC87 is the ASUSWRT user interface that gives you access to the web-based installation process, AiCloud 2.0 and many more wireless management options.

ASUS AiCloud 2.0 is an application that turns the router into a personal cloud server. Files stored on the network, on attached USB storage devices or on ASUS WebStorage are synchronized using the ASUS Smart Sync feature. Users can access their data via the AiCloud web interface or the free AiCloud app for Android and iOS devices - so they can sync, share and stream content anywhere.

The ASUS RT-AC87 router will be available in North America shortly for an estimated MSRP of $270.