Called Blue Cave, ASUS launched the router at the Computex technology show in Tapei, Taiwan this week. The company claims that Blue Cave’s “hole” design and enclosed internal antennas make its Wi-Fi signal up to 20% faster than rival products.
The router operates at AC2600 speeds and offers concurrent dual-band transfers. It’s based on Intel Wi-Fi technology and is capable of communicating with several different client devices simultaneously.
The radical design offers something new to the generally rather uniform world of WI-Fi routers. Around the back, you’ll find a row of Ethernet outputs and a single USB port on the bottom of the device. The central hole is finished in blue paint and holes in the exterior create a striking look that makes the Blue Cave stand out in the home. It glows with light when turned on. The antennas are integrated into the top of the “cave” to offer maximum reception.
Accompanying the hardware features, ASUS has focused on including a robust set of software tools to simplify managing and using the Blue Cave’s Wi-Fi. It features integration with online automation service IFTTT which enables the router to connect with other devices in your home to respond to task triggers from cloud services.
There’s also support for ASUS AiProtection, the first “commercial-grade” built-in Wi-Fi security solution for home users. It’s powered by Trend Micro’s Smart Home Network technology. When enabled, AiProtection will proactively guard all of the devices connected to the Blue Cave. You can have peace of mind in browsing the web, including on devices like smart TVs where you can’t directly install antivirus software.
Parents can use the Blue Cave’s Family Overview screen to keep tabs on the Internet usage of every member of their family. It can be accessed from a smartphone or tablet. You can set usage limits for each connected device and download activity reports to monitor how much bandwidth is being used.
The ASUS Blue Cave is one of a growing number of Wi-Fi routers seeking to stand apart from the blinking black boxes present in most homes. It seems to be targeting a similar audience to Google Wi-Fi, offering integrated family management, security and automation features in a package that takes a new approach to design.
“A winner of a Computex 2017 Best Choice Golden Award, Blue Cave combines superb performance, commercial-grade security and family friendly features with stylish good looks,” said ASUS.
The Blue Cave router will retail at $180. ASUS hasn’t said when or where it will be available. The company has launched a wide range of products at this year’s Computex, including a selection of premium laptops and new compact gaming notebooks.
