Asus ZenWifi BT8 Wi-Fi 7 mesh system review: I love this router

8.6

I have reviewed a lot of Wi-Fi routers from a lot of different brands over the years. There are some brands that I dread having to review, and others I genuinely look forward to. Asus is one of those brands I automatically know I’m going to have a good time with. This is because the app is so easy to use, and the devices are so good that they either work well, or have an obvious and fixable reason if there’s a problem.

The Asus ZenWifi BT8 Wi-Fi 7 mesh system lived up to my expectations, and I think I’m in love.

Earlier this year, I wrote a love letter to the Asus ZenWifi BQ16 Wi-Fi mesh system; it was a quad-band system with all the bells and whistles. I still think about it sometimes. The BQ16 is the system I would buy if money were no object.

The Asus ZenWifi BT8 is for people who want a lot of what the BQ16 had to offer, but for about $2,000 less. It’s for those who want to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7, but are okay with a tri-band system and don’t need the kitchen sink of features thrown in. For $799, you get an excellent tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system with two nodes. You’re not going to get much better value than this.

Table of contents

• First impressions
• Specifications and price
• Speed
• App
• Bonus features
• Who is the Asus ZenWifi BT8 for?

First impressions

All that being said, I first thought the Asus ZenWifi BT8 nodes were kinda ugly. They look like the front tooth of a reality TV star: large, rectangular and very white. It’s inoffensive and unobtrusive enough, but it does take up a bit more desk space than some other routers. But its aesthetics aren’t too bad.

Image: Alice Clarke.

Setting up the system was super easy. I just plugged it all in, scanned the QR code, and the app did basically all of it for me. It first set up the main network, and then the IoT (smart devices) network, which some other systems call the guest network. I put in the network names and passwords I wanted, and then it updated the firmware, set it all up, and connected me to the internet. Basically, it did everything except gently kiss me on the forehead.

Asus ZenWifi BT8 specifications and price

Network standard	IEEE 802.11a IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) IPv4 IPv6
Wi-Fi data rate	2.4GHz: up to 688 Mbps 5GHz: up to 4,323 Mbps 6GHz: up to 8,643 Mbps
Antennas	7 x internal antennas
Coverage	Up to 5,900 square feet (two-pack)
Memory	RAM: 1GB Flash: 128MB
Speed	Up to 14 Gbps with 6GHz Wi-Fi
Operating modes	Wireless Router Mode AiMesh Node Mode Access Point Mode
I/O ports	1 x 2.5Gbps WAN 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN 2 x 1Gbps LAN 1 x USB 3.0
Dimensions	159 x 72 x 186 mm
Price (RRP)	$799 (two-pack)
Warranty	Three years
Official website	Asus Australia

The big thing here is that it’s capable of up to 14Gbps speeds. I’m too Australian to be able to imagine ever experiencing such speeds, but it’s a pretty big callout. The ability to cover up to roughly 590sqm with a two-pack (depending on your wireless environment) is pretty impressive.

Only having two 2.5Gbps ports for wired backhaul is okay. Considering current Australian internet speeds, that’s more than most people will need. I also like that it’s capable of having mobile tethering for always on internet the next time your NBN goes down, or when Optus does something weird.

Image: Alice Clarke.

Overall, these specs are a bit better than you’d expect at this price point, and there are more than enough bells and whistles for the vast majority of users.

It’s fairly similar to the BQ16 model that I reviewed last year (and loved), though this is the simpler, streamlined model with fewer bells and whistles and a $800 price tag instead of $2,799. There are key differences that will matter to people with high internet speeds or significant networking requirements. But this is the version that will suit more regular homes and gamers.

Speed

Having a Wi-FI router that conveys as much of your home internet speed as possible is basically the whole point. Luckily, this router is pretty good at that, given the challenging Wi-Fi environment I’ve put it in. The Asus ZenWifi BT8 is ready for basically any internet speed you can actually get in Australia, which is a low bar to get over, but still good to acknowledge.

I tested these speeds on my home internet, which is a 1000/1000Mbps plan from Pineapple Net. An Ookla speed test directly from the modem tests at 913Mbps up and 939Mbps down.

I have the Asus ZenWifi BT8 Wifi Mesh System connected at a 100sqm inner city apartment with a tonne of interference and a deeply weird layout. More people live in this apartment complex than in the town I grew up in, and with that comes a lot of competing Wi-Fi networks creating congestion.

Image: Alice Clarke.

Using a Wi-Fi 7-compatible iPhone 16 Pro Max, I get the following speeds:

• Next to the mesh controller: 882Mbps down / 938Mbps up
• In the baby’s room (the furthest room from the study nook where the main unit lives): 575/293
• In the living room: 776/599
• In the bedroom next to the other unit: 598/415
• Near the front door: 388/168

Connected to the 2.4GHz-only guest network, I got these speeds:

• Next to the mesh controller: 53.8/73.4
• In the baby’s room: 52.2/31.6
• In the living room: 26.1/16.2
• In the bedroom next to the other unit: 31.9/59.1
• Near the front door: 3.98/2.73

The drop-offs are pretty significant, though roughly what I’d expect from a tri-band router. A quad-band would be a better call if I wanted to avoid drop-offs in an environment with lots of competing signals. I’d also say quad-band would be essential on a 100/20 NBN plan. However, quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems are very, very expensive.

App

For the most part, the Asus app is excellent. It’s clear, easy to use, and the information is written plainly. Information and settings are stored in well-labelled categories that make sense. That sounds like it should be the bare minimum, but it is rarer than you’d expect.

I do wish it had a bit more info, like a visual representation of the congestion on different channels. The phone app also doesn’t include everything included on the web app, which is a running theme with router makers. But the app has everything most users need, and those who need to do more than the basics (and a bit more than the basics) are those confident enough to use the web app.

Bonus features

Another great thing about the Asus ZenWifi BT8 is that it has parental controls, a basic VPN and Trend Micro security included with the device, and not part of a subscription service. That this even needs to be celebrated is sad, but given industry trends, this is a great inclusion that makes this already good-value bundle even better.

I particularly like the layout of the parental controls. They’re approachable for people who might not know where to start, or have reached levels of sleep deprivation they hadn’t previously thought possible.

The app has suggested profiles for different age groups, including a set of suggested types of sites and app types to ban. It’s basic, and it lacks ways to add specific sites or apps that you want to block that aren’t covered by the categories. At least it’s a really good place to start before you start doing more specific stuff at a device level. You can also easily block the devices listed under each child’s profile from internet access, or reward them with an extra 10-60 minutes (with other custom options).

Plus, there are suggested profiles you can make for adults, if you want to schedule internet downtime for just your devices. It can also block access to gambling sites and apps, for example.

Who is the Asus ZenWifi BT8 for?

The Asus ZenWifi BT8 is the type of Wi-Fi 7 system that’s best for most users, particularly for those with smart home devices. For most people, Wi-Fi 7 is overkill for now, but if you’re due to upgrade and plan on getting new laptops and other devices in the next couple of years, it’s probably worth future-proofing your Wi-Fi purchase now.

It’s perhaps not the ideal system for a high-congestion environment, like an inner city environment, but it holds its own shockingly well. The Asus ZenWifi BT8 would be perfect in the suburbs, or one of those extra fancy high-rise buildings where you’re a bit further away from your neighbours. Given the price, the Asus ZenWifi BT8 is now my top recommendation for mesh Wi-Fi.

Asus ZenWifi BT8

For $799, you're not going to get much better value than this excellent tri-band mesh system with two nodes.

Features

9

Value for money

9

Performance

9

Ease of use

9

Design

7

Positives

App is really user friendly

Parental controls and security features included

Good and reliable performance

Negatives

No 10GbE port

8.6

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Building my dream F1 racing sim rig transported me to the track

I’m an F1 fanatic. Each year, I make my pilgrimage to Albert Park to see the Australian Grand Prix up close. It’s always been on my bucket list to build a racing sim rig so I can experience the thrill of formula racing for myself. And that’s exactly what I did, learning how sim racing worked and all the parts required.

The end result, which you can watch on YouTube, exceeded my expectations. Feeling the steering wheel trying to work against me, while literally putting the pedal to the metal, was extremely cool. Of course, I had to put the rig to the test by playing F1 25, EA’s latest racing game. You just can’t replicate the feeling of being on the track with a standard game controller.

Stay tuned for my guide explaining how the simulator came together, including tips on the best gear to buy and everything else you need to know.

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Norton 360 Platinum review: Watching your back

8.8

Taking a more holistic approach to online safety and security, Norton 360 Platinum lets you know when hackers pick your pocket.

There was a time when paid antivirus software simply had one job: to scan your computer for nasty viruses and neutralise them before they could wreak havoc. Eventually, Windows’ security issues became so dire that Microsoft was forced to include free “Windows Defender” antivirus tools with every copy of Windows.

Rather than compete head-to-head with Microsoft’s free alternative, third-party antivirus software makers like Norton realised that – to stay in business – they needed to go far above and beyond what was covered by Windows Defender.

Ever since, security suites have continued to expand the ways in which they protect you from all kinds of online threats. Rather than just block exploits, Norton 360 Platinum also lets you know if someone is stealing your money or your identity.

Table of contents

• Features
• Specifications and price
• Norton 360 Platinum in action
• Financial monitoring
• Who is Norton 360 Platinum for?

Norton 360 Platinum features 

Norton 360 Platinum is a one-year subscription protecting up to five Windows, macOS, Android and iOS devices. The key new feature is Financial Monitoring, which alerts you to suspicious charges on your credit cards and bank accounts.

Norton’s addition of Financial Monitoring is a smart, multi-layered approach to security. Rather than just trying to stop hackers from accessing your funds using malicious software, it also helps limit the damage if a hacker does get through your defences.

As part of the Financial Monitoring service, Norton includes 12 months’ access to Equifax Credit Protect for monitoring your credit rating.

Along with Financial Monitoring, Norton includes Dark Web Monitoring, which warns you if your personal information is available for sale in the darkest corners of the internet, such as your email address, credit card number and driver’s licence.

Alongside monitoring services, Norton 360 Platinum offers a wide range of other tools designed to thwart hackers, as well as help you recover from successful attacks.

Norton 360 Platinum’s desktop home screen puts most features within reach, although some can only be accessed online via a browser. Screenshot: Adam Turner.

Naturally, you’ve got Device Security, which offers real-time protection against threats like viruses, spyware, malware and ransomware. This includes watching for unsafe websites as well as scam emails and text messages. Plus, there are Parental Controls and SafeCam for PC, the latter of which blocks attempts to access your webcam.

When it comes to device security, Norton also includes a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which helps keep your online activities safe from prying eyes when using Wi-Fi away from home.

Along with security, Norton 360 Platinum also protects your privacy. Screenshot: Adam Turner.

There’s also a Password Manager to help you create and store strong passwords, along with PC Cloud Backup, which stores important files online to safeguard them against hard drive failures, stolen devices and ransomware.

Norton 360 Platinum’s security tab. Screenshot: Adam Turner.

Meanwhile, Social Media Monitoring checks your accounts for account takeovers, risky activity and inappropriate content. It’s important to note that it doesn’t include monitoring of chats or direct messages, so it’s not designed to specifically identify issues like cyberbullying, explicit/illegal content or hate speech.

Finally, Norton 360 Platinum includes Identity Restoration Support. Should you fall victim to identity theft, a dedicated identity restoration specialist will work with you step-by-step, providing advice and support.

Norton 360 Platinum specifications and price

Devices supported	Windows macOS iOS Android
Devices covered	Five
Price	$139 for 12 months via Bing Lee
Official website	Norton Australia

Norton 360 Platinum in action

Installing Norton 360 Platinum is pretty straightforward. The days of installer discs are long gone. Instead, you’re provided with a product key that you enter into the Norton website – which requires creating a Norton account.

The desktop versions are compatible all the way back to Windows 7 and macOS 10.13 High Sierra. The mobile versions run on Android 10.0 or later, as well as iPhones or iPads running the current or previous two versions of Apple iOS.

Thankfully, Windows support includes devices running on either x86/Intel processors or AMD Snapdragon/ARM chips used in some Windows devices such as “Copilot+ PCs” (which can’t run all Windows applications). It’s important to read the fine print because a few Norton features are missing on macOS and Windows ARM computers.

On installation, Norton 360 Platinum immediately scans your device and network for potential vulnerabilities. It then schedules a weekly scan, with the option to change the timing and frequency.

Running on a fresh installation of Windows 11, the initial scan found no malware threats or network issues, but threw up a red exclamation mark to flag “Advanced issues”. If you’re familiar with Norton, you can guess where this is going.

Clicking “Advanced issues” revealed that a massive 1,451 issues were slowing down my PC, from resource-hogging apps to broken registry keys and 5GB of junk files. Remember, this is on a completely fresh Windows 11 installation.

Click ‘Continue’ (the only button) and Norton tries to sell you its Norton Utilities Ultimate software to make these scary-sounding things go away, even though they’re not an actual threat to your security. 

Again, there’s only a big yellow ‘Continue’ button in sight to pay for Norton Utilities Ultimate although, if you scroll down, you’ll discover ‘Not Interested’ in small print. Click ‘Not Interested’, or kill the window, and it still tries to get you to agree to a free trial, after which you’re automatically billed unless you remember to unsubscribe.

Norton 360 Platinum’s Smart Scan alerts you to 1,451 issues on a brand-new Windows 11 install, and then does the hard sell on Norton Utilities Ultimate. Screenshot: Adam Turner.

Such scareware tactics come into play a few times whenever Norton sees an opportunity to encourage you to pay for extra software to cover things that aren’t included in your subscription. It’s banking on the fact that non-tech-savvy users will hand over their money just to be on the safe side.

To be fair, Norton’s not the only security vendor to use such tactics – an example of sales techniques the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) describes as “dark patterns” – but hopefully the irony of using scare tactics to sell extra software isn’t lost on Norton as it tries to protect users from being scammed. 

Norton 360 Platinum financial monitoring

Considering that most features of Norton 360 Platinum are old hat, it’s worth focusing on the new Financial Monitoring options.

You can’t actually set up Financial Monitoring from within the Norton 360 Platinum app. Instead, you need to use a browser to log into your My Norton account, where it’s somewhat hidden away under My Protection.

Here you can also enter your various details to enable social media and dark web monitoring.

Unfortunately, you can only take advantage of Norton’s Financial Monitoring if your bank is supported. Australia’s big four banks are covered, along with some smaller banks and a few superannuation providers.

To be fair, if your bank is not included, it’s probably not Norton’s fault. The Financial Monitoring features rely on your bank supporting the Federal government’s Consumer Data Right service, also known as “open banking”, which is designed to make it easier for Australians to securely link their banking to third-party services.

After choosing a bank, you need to select a sharing period of 90, 180 or 365 days and then specify if you want to grant Norton the ability to monitor both your account details and your transaction details.

At this point, you’re taken to your bank’s CDR login page, where you enter your customer number. Rather than asking for your online banking password, the bank texts a one-time code to your mobile phone. Enter the code, and you can select the accounts you want Norton to access.

Norton 360 Platinum makes it easy to monitor your bank accounts, as long as your bank is on the supported list. Screenshot: Adam Turner.

This approach is a lot more secure than handing over your online banking password to a third party like Norton, which is a major security risk and would probably break your bank’s terms and conditions.

By using CDR, Norton only has read-only access to your accounts, which means it can’t move money around, but it is enough for Norton to see what’s happening and alert you to suspicious transactions.

To reduce false alarms, you can set separate amount thresholds for cash withdrawals, purchases and transfers. They’re each set to flag transactions over $500 by default, but can go as low as $100 or as high as $25,000. Remember, Norton can’t actually block suspicious transactions, but it gives you a quick heads up so you can immediately contact your bank.

Who is Norton 360 Platinum for?

Norton 360 Platinum tackles security from just about every angle, making it a good choice for those people looking for the simplicity of all-in-one protection. Especially when desktop and mobile protection is rolled into one subscription.

Financial Monitoring is a great practical addition, especially for people who don’t check their bank accounts every day. The sooner you report a suspicious transaction to your bank, the greater the chance you have of stopping it.

Unfortunately, non-tech-savvy users looking for simplicity are also more likely to fall for Norton’s dodgy tactics for selling extra software to address “advanced issues” that aren’t actually threats.

Norton 360 Platinum

Along with blocking security threats, Norton 360 Platinum watches for signs your banking or socials have been hacked.

Features

9.5

Value for money

9

Performance

9

Ease of use

8

Design

8.5

Positives

Holistic security coverage

Both defends against attacks and monitors for signs of successful attacks

Identity recovery support

Negatives

Few people would need all of its features

Scareware tactics for selling extra Norton software

8.8

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Seriously thin Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 sets new Aussie standard

Of all the phone trends in 2025, thinner designs have been the most consistent. Samsung launched the slimline Galaxy S25 Edge not that long ago, and now it has its thinnest foldable yet, announcing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at the Galaxy Unpacked event overnight.

Other than the Google Pixel Pro Fold, Samsung doesn’t have much competition as far as the book-like foldable segment goes in Australia. Overseas is a different matter entirely. In China, Honor recently revealed the Magic V5, a phone that’s just 8.8mm thin when folded.

At 8.9mm thick, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes mightily close to being the thinnest foldable in the world. Samsung’s engineers have made decent strides in slimming down the form factor, reducing the thickness by 4.2mm compared to last year’s Z Fold 6. Next to the more traditional Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Z Fold 7 is only 0.7mm thicker, and that’s after folding it.

Here’s what the Z Fold 7 (left) looks like next to the S25 Ultra (right). Image: Samsung.

This improved form factor also comes with a $150 price increase for the 256GB model, starting at $2,899 in Australia. In exchange, you get the latest Samsung-optimised Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the same as the S25 Ultra.

Elsewhere, Samsung has also expanded both the outer and inner screens, giving you more room to work with. The Fold 7 now has an 8-inch main inner screen (up from 7.6 inches), and the front display is 6.5 inches (up from 6.3 inches).

A 200MP wide-angle camera makes its Galaxy Z debut with the Fold 7, sharing the same megapixel count as the S25 Ultra’s main camera. Although megapixels aren’t everything, a higher count lets you zoom in and crop further on existing images without adding distortion.

Out of the box, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, like the new Galaxy Z Flip 7, gets the latest One UI 8 operating system, based on Android 16. As part of the new AI software features, the foldable phone will get enhanced Gemini Live and Google Circle to Search functionality, like multimodal search.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 price and release date

As mentioned before, the Z Fold 7 starts at $2,899 for the base model. That higher price quickly surpasses the $3,000 mark once you look at bigger storage configurations:

• 256GB: $2,899
• 512GB: $ 3,099
• 1TB: $3,549

Fortunately for the early adopters, many of the Z Fold 7 pre-order offers include a free storage upgrade. So, if you pick the 512GB model, you’ll pay the price of the 256GB version and so on. As for colours, the Z Fold 7 comes in Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, and Jet Black, while Mint is exclusive to phones ordered via Samsung’s website.

Pre-orders are live now, ready for a 1 August release date.

Valens Quinn attended Galaxy Unpacked in Brooklyn as a guest of Samsung Australia.

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Long awaited Ghost of Yōtei gameplay to debut during State of Play

Since PlayStation announced Ghost of Yōtei last year, everyone’s been keen for one thing: gameplay footage. After a brief tease in June, eager gamers are getting their wish. A nearly 20-minute State of Play presentation will air this week, showing Ghost of Yōtei gameplay in action.

Scheduled to stream online on 11 July at 7:00 AM AEST, the State of Play will see the game’s creative directors, Jason Connell and Nate Fox from Sucker Punch, take viewers through the footage.

A sequel to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei follows Atsu, a rōnin warrior seeking revenge in 17th-century Japan. Ghost of Yōtei is coming to PS5 on 2 October 2025, so there’s not long to wait between the gameplay reveal and its subsequent launch.

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Gorgeous NAIDOC Week Cricut designs support a good cause

As NAIDOC Week events kick off around Australia, recognising First Nations culture and history, Cricut has added a range of designs from local artists to use in your home projects.

Designed by Dharug woman Kyralee Shields, Narlung woman Leah Cummins, and Gomeroi woman Caitlin Trindall, the artworks honour Indigenous culture and provide a connection to community.

Available via Cricut’s Design Space app, the NAIDOC Week designs require a Cricut Access subscription, priced at $13.99 a month in Australia. Every time one of the designs is used, Cricut will donate the proceeds to Indigenous charities, including Children’s Ground and Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Owners of Cricut devices, like the Maker 4 and Joy Xtra, can print the designs on all sorts of materials, like shirts, cushions, and tote bags. It’s a cool initiative, one that provides great-looking art while supporting a good cause.

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Vobot Mini Dock aims to be the docking station for geeks

“Crafted with the spirit of the geek in mind.” At least that’s what the Vobot Mini Dock says on the box, and that’s what drew me to take a look at it in the first place. It’s a modern take on a computer docking station for your notebook PC. A good docking station allows you to connect your PC with one cable to your desk setup, including power, monitor, keyboard, mouse, camera, Ethernet, phone charger, and more.

The advantage of a one-cable connection is that if you take your notebook PC to a meeting, you remove one cable and you’re on your way. When you return, you connect one cable and you are back on your monitor and charging.

The Vobot requires a USB-C charger capable of charging your PC (100W is ideal), which powers it, and a supplied USB-C cable that plugs into one of your computer’s USB-C ports. In addition, it includes an Ethernet port, one HDMI (4K), one USB-A, and two USB-C ports. Depending on the number of wired peripherals you have, this may not be enough ports.

A diagram of how the Vobot Mini Dock works. Image: Vobot.

Here is the geeky bit: the Vobot has LED lights which can be set to different colours and rhythms. It also has a dot matrix clock and a 2-inch LCD screen.

The LCD is controlled by a small wheel and button on the side, allowing you to change what is shown on the screen. Built-in choices include weather, break timer, real-time stock and crypto prices, real-time PC temp monitoring, game emulator and a photo album.

If you want to further geek out, not only is there an app store, but also the ability to write your own apps. Want an app for news, sports, or social apps? It’s all possible.

What I don’t like about the Vobot Mini Dock relates to its small size. With all the cables plugged in, it does not sit flat because of how light it is.

For roughly AU$80 via Vobot’s online store, this is a bit of fun and cheaper than many traditional docking stations on the market. It will certainly draw attention to your desk and show you off as a geek to your workmates.

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