ASUS says its ROG Rapture GT-BN98 WiFi 8 router series is now available through Canadian retail stores, ahead of a planned worldwide rollout in October 2026. The company also says its ZenWiFi BN12 WiFi 8 mesh system will become available to consumers in October, although it has not provided an exact date.

The announcement does not provide Canadian prices for the GT-BN98 configurations, US launch details or any India-specific availability information. ASUS’s performance statements are based on company-described engineering tests and simulations, not independent testing supplied with the announcement.

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GT-BN98 series reaches Canadian stores

ASUS announced the Canadian availability on September 4, 2026. The ROG Rapture GT-BN98 family has two configurations:

  • ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro (BN30000)
  • ROG Rapture GT-BN98 (BN25000)

The company says the series is scheduled for worldwide release in October 2026. US launch information will be announced separately, according to ASUS. A footnote in the release states that the GT-BN98 Pro is available in Canada only.

ASUS has not stated when either model will be sold in India. ASUS says its WiFi 8 ecosystem is engineered for worldwide operation, but that does not establish Indian availability, pricing or regulatory status.

Hardware and wireless capacity

The GT-BN98 series uses a quad-band wireless design. ASUS advertises total wireless throughput of up to 30,000 Mbps for the series. The release footnote specifies that this maximum data-rate figure applies to the GT-BN98 Pro (BN30000); it does not provide an equivalent total-rate figure for the GT-BN98 BN25000 in the supplied material.

Both routers include:

  • a 2.6 GHz quad-core processor;
  • 2GB of RAM;
  • two 10Gbps ports; and
  • four 2.5Gbps LAN ports.

ASUS describes the antenna system as a 16-antenna architecture implemented through eight external antennas using a three-dimensional structural design. The release does not provide independent measurements showing how this design affects range, throughput or reliability in homes or other real-world environments.

Claims about WiFi 7 clients and future features

ASUS says ROG engineering tests indicated measurable performance gains when the GT-BN98 is paired with existing WiFi 7 client devices.

The announcement does not provide the test method, client-device details, comparison setup, network conditions, measured effect sizes or results. It therefore establishes that ASUS is making the claim, but not the size or generality of the reported gains.

ASUS also points to two features called UEQM and NPCA. The company says simulations indicate that these features may improve connection stability and reduce the effect of interference when compatible client devices become available.

Those statements are conditional and simulation-based. The release does not provide the simulation assumptions or measured results. It also does not establish when compatible client devices will be available.

The announcement describes the products as WiFi 8 devices but does not explain the standardisation or compatibility status of WiFi 8. The product label should therefore not be treated as evidence that all advertised capabilities will work across existing wireless hardware.

ZenWiFi BN12 mesh system

ASUS plans to make the ZenWiFi BN12 available to consumers in October 2026. It is described as a 12-stream tri-band WiFi 8 mesh system.

ASUS says the BN12 can cover up to 7,000 square feet and includes two 10Gbps ports that can be used for wired backhaul between nodes.

The 7,000-square-foot coverage figure is an ASUS claim. The supplied release does not provide independent evidence establishing this coverage area under defined real-world conditions, so it should not be interpreted as a guaranteed coverage area for every home.

The BN12 also includes:

  • subscription-free ASUS AiProtection Pro;
  • customisable Parental Controls; and
  • compatibility with ASUS AiMesh setups.

The supplied material does not provide an exact October release date or a price for the BN12.

Sources