ASUS is preparing to launch the ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor, a dual-band mesh Wi-Fi 7 router designed to extend your existing wireless internet system beyond the home. It appears to be a solid option for those who own a large property and are already invested (or are willing to invest) in the ZenWiFi ecosystem.
The ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor supports speeds up to 3,600Mbps and features a range of 2,530 feet. Of course, since it’s a Wi-Fi 7 router, it also provides Multi-Link Operation (MLO) stability, and it’s compatible with existing ASUS AiMesh-capable routers for whole-home, multi-node Wi-Fi connectivity.
And like other ZenWIFI routers, the BD4 Outdoor features built-in support for OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN services for full network encryption. You can also set up three separate SSIDs through ASUS’ Smart Home Master feature to better manage IoT devices, such as smart bulbs or cameras.
Really, the only thing that’s missing is 6GHz connectivity—this is a simple dual-band router with 5GHz and 2.4GHz antennas. Though, to be fair, the BD4 Outdoor router is intended for large outdoor spaces that are unlikely to experience severe wireless congestion. The 6GHz band might be unnecessary in this context.
As far as durability is concerned, the BD4 Outdoor appears to be quite resilient. It’s IP65-certified for dust and water resistance, it features integrated surge protection, and it has an operating temperature range from -22 to 140 Fahrenheit (or -30 to 60 Celsius).
Just know that installation may require a bit of elbow grease. You’ll need to mount the router to a wall, tree, or pole (unless you’re putting it in a garage or shed, of course), and run power to it over an A/C adapter or PoE+ cable. The A/C adapter makes sense in situations where you don’t need a wired internet connection—this is a mesh router, after all—while PoE+ makes sense for those who prioritize speed or need to install the router outside of their home’s mesh Wi-Fi range.
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As a quick side note, I’d like to point out that the ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor has a fairly large, blocky design. Other options, like the eero Outdoor 7, are a bit slimmer and may look better when mounted on a wall, though the BD4 Outdoor’s ability to stand up on a flat surface may appeal to people who want to place the router in a garage or shed (as well as those who would like the option to repurpose this router for indoor use in the future).
Unfortunately, the ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor is not available for purchase in North America at the time of publication. Pricing is also a mystery, though New Zealand retailer PBTech is currently selling a ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor two-pack for $547 AUD, which shakes out to about $353 USD (I expect U.S. pricing to fall closer to $300, as the indoor version of this two-pack is only $230 MSRP, but I could be wrong).
Source: ASUS
