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D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95: One-minute review
Most routers are fairly boring black boxes that just sit in a corner and occasionally flash a few lights at you.
However, D-Link has decided to go its own way with its new R95, which is part of the company’s Aquila Pro AI range (yes, AI has even got into routers now). The router’s sweeping curves look more like the wings of an aquatic manta ray than a conventional router.
It’s not clear if that design has any practical function, but it certainly looks interesting, and the use of tri-band Wi-Fi 7 ensures that the R95 will really make your wireless network fly at top speed. It also provides good support for older computers and mobile devices that may not have Wi-Fi 7.
D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Price & release date
- How much does it cost? $254.99/£180 (around AU$355)
- When is it available? Now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK
Wi-Fi 7 routers are still fairly expensive, but the R95 is competitively priced for a high-end Wi-Fi 7 router, costing $254.99/£180, which compares well with high-end rivals such as the Acer Predator T7.
Unfortunately, Wi-Fi 7 products still tend to take a while to reach Australia, and the R95 isn’t currently available in that region, although the US price translates to approximately AU$355.
D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Specs
|
Wi-Fi: |
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, 6.0GHz) |
|
Wi-Fi Speed: |
9.5Gbps |
|
Ports: |
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN) |
|
Dimensions: |
220 x 238 x 207mm |
|
Weight: |
0.94kg |
D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Features
- Eye-catching design
- Well-designed app
- Dual-network support
The external design of the R95 is certainly its most obvious feature, with gracefully curved ‘wings’ that look nothing like any conventional router that we’ve seen recently. The real headline feature, though, is the router’s performance, boasting tri-band Wi-Fi 7 that uses the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands to provide a total speed of 9.5Gbps (strictly speaking, it’s actually 9,334Mbps, but manufacturers always like to round these numbers up).
It devotes two of its four antennae exclusively to the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to provide maximum performance for computers and mobile devices that support Wi-Fi 7, while the other two antennae handle the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands for older devices. Its wired connectivity is right up to date as well, with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port available for high-speed broadband services, and three more 2.5Gb ports for connecting devices, such as a PC, games console or smart-TV, that will benefit from a lag-free wired connection.
The Aquila app works well too, allowing you to quickly scan a QR code in order to connect to the R95’s new network. It then gives you the option of simply keeping the default name and password for the R95 network, or changing the name and password for extra security.
And, in order to provide the best performance for different types of devices, the Aquila app creates two separate networks, with the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands combined into a single network for older computers, while the 6.0GHz band creates a separate network for newer devices that do support Wi-Fi 7.
You also have the option of creating a guest network that provides only limited access for visitors and guests, and a separate IoT network (Internet of Things) for smart lights, security cameras, and other smart devices. The R95 also supports the Matter standard for controlling smart home devices, and can be used to create a mesh network when used with other Asus routers or range extenders.
Our only complaint is that the parental controls within the app are fairly basic. The app does allow you to create a schedule to limit Internet access for the devices used by your children, but its web filtering options require you to manually enter the web address for any unsuitable sites that you want to block. It doesn’t provide the preset filters that are available with some of its rivals, which automatically block different categories of unsuitable material, such as ‘violent’, ‘adult’ or ‘gambling’.
D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Performance
- Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
- 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
- Dedicated 6.0GHz network
Benchmarks
Ookla Speed Test – 2.4GHz/5.0GHz (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps
20GB Steam Download – 2.4GHz/5.0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps
Ookla Speed Test – 6.0GHz (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps
20GB Steam Download – 6.0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps
My old office router is crying out for an upgrade, as it only supports the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands that are available with Wi-Fi 5 and 6. It can provide decent performance for devices that are nearby, but struggles to reach an office at the back of the building, where I have to use PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired connection.
The office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but the 2.4GHz band of the old router can only manage a speed of around 70Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam downloads and the Ookla Speedtest. The 5.0GHz band works better, giving a full 150Mbps for devices that are nearby but, as mentioned, the router’s Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong enough to reach all the way to that back office.
The R95 eliminated my Wi-Fi problems with no trouble at all. Even its slower network, using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, immediately hit the full 150Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam and Ookla. More importantly, it reaches right into the back office as well, and achieves full speed in both tests. It did take a few seconds for Steam downloads in that office to ramp up from 130Mbps to 150Mbps, but the R95 was then able to maintain that speed consistently.
Given the strong performance of that 2.4GHz/5.0GHz network, I wasn’t surprised to find that the faster 6.0GHz network hit the ground running, immediately hitting 150Mbps for both Steam and Ookla, and maintaining full speed throughout my tests.
There are less expensive routers that only provide dual-band Wi-Fi 7 – omitting the high-speed 6.0GHz band – and these can be a good option for people who own older computers and mobile devices that don’t need the full speed of Wi-Fi 7. But if you have a gaming PC or other devices that do support Wi-Fi 7, then the D-Link R95 provides excellent performance at a competitive price.
Should I buy the D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
The parental controls could be better, but the R95 provides versatile connectivity and a well-designed app to help you get started. |
4.5/5 |
|
Performance |
A speed of 9.5Gbps will be more than fast enough for most users, and we like the dual-network options that cater to a wide range of computers and mobile devices. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
There are less expensive Wi-Fi 7 routers, but the R95 provides high-end performance at a mid-range price. |
5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
|
D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 |
Netgear Nighthawk RS100 |
Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price (as reviewed) |
$254.99/£180.00 |
$129.99/£129.99/AU$259.00 |
$749.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,499 |
|
Wi-Fi |
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 |
dual-band Wi-Fi 7 |
quad-band Wi-Fi 7 |
|
Wi-Fi Speed |
9.5Gbps |
3.6Gbps |
24.4Gbps |
|
Connectivity |
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN) |
1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 4x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN) |
1x 10Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0), 1x USB-A (2.0) |
|
Processor |
Not Specified |
quad-core 2.0GHz |
quad-core 2.6GHz |
|
Memory |
Not Specified |
1GB RAM |
2GB RAM |
|
Storage |
Not Specified |
512MB Flash |
256MB Flash |
|
Dimensions |
220 x 238 x 207mm |
184 x 66 122mm |
350 x 350 x 221mm |
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