Asus RT-N53 router review
Asus introduced the RT-N53 router in 2011. It is powered by Broadcom BCM5358UB0 @ 500 MHz chipset, 32 MB of RAM, and 8 MB of flash memory.
Curious if this Asus router is a real gem? Read on!
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Asus RT-N53, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The RT-N53 is a popular router model from Asus. Many users have given it positive reviews. Asus offers good customer support, including firmware updates, documentation, and technical assistance.
Asus RT-N53 specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N53 |
| Type | RT-N53 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2011 |
Body
| Dimensions | 172 x 145 x 60 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 330 g |
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM5358UB0 @ 500 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The Broadcom BCM5358UB0 @ 500 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the RT-N53 router. You cannot expand the router's memory (32 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Asus packages the RT-N53 router with 12 V / 1 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The RT-N53 features a Fast Ethernet WAN port that has a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 4 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Class | N600 |
| Speed | 300 + 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | no |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The router supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The 5GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4GHz band. This is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance. The top speed, 300 + 300 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions.
WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security.
Connectivity
| USB ports | no |
|---|---|
| Print server | no |
| File server | no |
The RT-N53 router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Asus one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- lightweight
- works on 5 GHz band
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- missing WPS support
- no USB connectivity
Asus RT-N53 photos
If there’s information about the Asus RT-N53 that you would like to see on this site, then write to us.
