The first Wi-Fi 8 routers have gone on sale, even though no phone or laptop can yet use the new standard.

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98, a gaming router, began worldwide shipping on October 6. TP-Link opened pre-orders for its Archer 8 Ultra on September 30 in Germany, Australia and the UK.

They are not cheap. The Archer 8 Ultra lists at 799.90 euros in Germany and 1,499 Australian dollars in Australia, where pre-orders include a free robot vacuum. The ASUS router is priced at $1,999.

Wi-Fi 8, based on the IEEE 802.11bn standard, is not about top speed. On paper it is no faster than Wi-Fi 7. Makers say the gains are in reliability and latency, especially when signals face interference. TP-Link claims up to 33 per cent more consistent throughput at mid-to-long range.

The standard itself is not expected to be finalised until May 2028, and no client devices support it yet. The routers remain compatible with Wi-Fi 7 and older devices.

The Archer 8 Ultra offers tri-band connectivity with up to 19Gbps wireless speeds and covers about 3,600 square feet.