The ROG USB-BE92 is ASUS’s answer to the Nighthawk A9000 from NETGEAR. Both are quick ways to add tri-band Wi-Fi 7 to a Windows computer and share the same hardware specs.
In my trial, the ROG USB-BE92 has a clear advantage in ease of use and flexibility, thanks to its USB-C cradle and built-in software driver, while the NETGEAR has a tiny edge on performance thanks to the external antenna.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re looking to add fast Wi-Fi 7 to your existing Windows computer, whether a laptop or desktop, the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 is an excellent buy. Get one today!
Dong’s note: I first published this post on Aug 20, 2024, as a preview and updated it to an in-depth review on August 21, 2025, after thorough hands-on testing.
ASUS ROG USB-BE92: A Windows computer’s flexible Wi-Fi 7 friend
Like the case of the NETGEAR Nighthawk A9000, the ROG USB-BE92 is an easy alternative way to upgrade a computer to Wi-Fi 7 from the Intel BE200 or the Qualcomm NCM865 internal adapters. All you need is an available USB port on the machine.
On the downside, the ROG USB-BE92 features entry-level Wi-Fi 7 for an adapter. Similar to the case of the NETGEAR, it’s a tri-band adapter without support for 240MHz or wider channel width.
Having no colapsible antenna, the ASUS is also a bit bulkier and has slightly slower real-world rates over range, though not by much. The table below shows the detailed specs of the two USB Wi-Fi 7 adapters with the Intel BE200, which is more suitable for an internal upgrade, as a reference.
ASUS ROG USB-BE92 vs. NETGEAR Nighthawk A9000 vs. Intel BE200: Hardware specifications
USB 3.0 with USB-C option, embedded software driver
As mentioned, out of the box, the most significant difference between the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 and the NETGEAR A9000 is the fact that the former comes with a cradle that uses USB-C. That makes it more flexible since you can use it with a (desktop) computer of either port type.
Other than that, the ASUS has an integrated antenna, making it a tad thicker and longer. As a USB adapter, it comes with a lid for its USB-A connector, which I misplaced within the first 24 hours. That happens.
What you won’t worry about misplacing is a thumb drive that holds the software driver, like the case of the NETGEAR A9000, because the ROG USB-BE92 doesn’t come with one. Instead, the adapter itself has an integrated 8MB flash drive that holds the software.
The first time you plug it into a Windows computer, this storage portion appears as a CD drive for users to install its software driver. After that, the CD never appears again until you plug the adapter into another computer that doesn’t already have the driver installed.
In any case, it’s best that you download and install the latest driver from ASUS, which is also the version I used for the testing.
ASUS ROG USB-BE92: Overall excellent performance
I tested the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 for a couple of days using it with both laptops and a desktop, and it generally worked as intended.
As supposedly a ROG gaming device, the adapter has an RGB light that glows red on top and a little flashing blue light to show the connection status. Both are subtle enough not to be a distraction.
In terms of real-world data rate, the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 proved to be generally the same as the NETGEAR counterpart, though if you look closely, it was slightly slower in some tests and slightly faster in others. Overall, the numbers were within the margin of error and not enough to decide which is faster.
Other than that, the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 remained cool during operation. It proved to be a bit bulky for a laptop, but for a desktop, its size is perfect, especially with the included USB-C cradle.
Pros
Quickly adds Wi-Fi 7 to a Windows computer with fast and reliable real-world performance
Built-in software driver for true plug-and-play
Cons
No 240MHz or wider channel support
Conclusion
While not a must-have, the ASUS ROG USB-BE92 is an easy Wi-Fi 7 upgrade for a Windows computer, especially a desktop that lacks Wi-Fi or supports an older standard.
The fact that it has an embedded software driver means you can also carry it around and add Wi-Fi 7 to any computer on demand. And that can come in handy. Get one today!