Question How reliable is the initial version of a new router's firmware?

[zhwu]

I am about to upgrade to a new AX5400 router just released by Asus (I have 4 devices supports wifi 6 at home) This is a brand new router design with just the original firmware. What are my risks? Does major brand do enough testing on their products before release or they rely on early adopters as their beta testers? Also, if I run into issues with the router. Should I try to return within 30 days or wait & hope they will fix it with firmware updates?

 

[UsandThem]

I am about to upgrade to a new AX5400 router just released by Asus (I have 4 devices supports wifi 6 at home) This is a brand new router design with just the original firmware. What are my risks? Does major brand do enough testing on their products before release or they rely on early adopters as their beta testers? Also, if I run into issues with the router. Should I try to return within 30 days or wait & hope they will fix it with firmware updates?

It's been out now for 8 months, and including the initial release firmware, it's been updated 7 times already. I'd imagine most major bugs have already been ironed out.

If you have issues and after troubleshooting/configuring/fixing any issues (which most settings are able to be changed to eliminate problems), you then would likely return it and get a replacement if you suspect you have a dud (which happens), or go with a different model altogether.

Netgear has a good track record in supporting their products with regular firmware updates (in stark contrast to a company like T-P Link who might do 1 or 2 firmware updates before they basically EOL the product).

 

[SamirD]

In my experience with consumer and smb devices, the first few firmwares are the most solid/reliable.

After that, the bugs left by the updates start causing more problems than what you're trying to fix until the whole thing is either so buggy and goes eol or they just make a completely new firmware from scratch that is incompatible with any prior versions in an attempt to fix the issue.

 

[zhwu]

It's been out now for 8 months, and including the initial release firmware, it's been updated 7 times already. I'd imagine most major bugs have already been ironed out.

If you have issues and after troubleshooting/configuring/fixing any issues (which most settings are able to be changed to eliminate problems), you then would likely return it and get a replacement if you suspect you have a dud (which happens), or go with a different model altogether.

Netgear has a good track record in supporting their products with regular firmware updates (in stark contrast to a company like T-P Link who might do 1 or 2 firmware updates before they basically EOL the product).

I was talking about Asus RT-AX82U, it's very new and only has the original firmware. I am picking it over the netgear router (very similar hardware spec) because of AIMesh feature and possible third party Merlin firmware down the road.

My main concern is its hardware form factor as Asus has never released any previous routers (in their AC line) that look like this shape. Will the new design overheat or have other problem can't be fixed by firmware? (Not easy for end user to tell whether its software, pdefective unit, or overall hardware design issue)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Honestly, with consumer SOHO routers, it's kind of like, "You spend your money, and you takes your chances". IOW, akin to gambling.

That's why routers with 3rd-party firmware are way better.

 

[Fallen Kell]

So, I am about a week late to this discussion, but the Asus RT-AX82U isn't really a "new" shape, just a tweaked older shape. The only things on the outside that seem different is the middle which dips down some instead of going up into a peak, which is simply cosmetic plastic difference from older configs. I am not sure intenally, but I suspect if you take the outside plastic off, you will see it looks almost exactly like other designs.