USB Wi-Fi adapters are a simple solution to annoying wireless connection problems. They’re a compulsory device for many desktop PC users: while almost every laptop has a built-in Wi-Fi card, you can’t say the same for all desktops. That’s not the only reason you’ll need an adapter like this, though.
Maybe your home or office router is in an odd place and doesn’t give good network coverage. Maybe your house has thick walls and your devices keep losing Wi-Fi signal. Perhaps your built-in Wi-Fi or network card has broken, and you’re not too keen on spending hundreds of dollars to get a new one installed.
A good USB Wi-Fi adapter solves all these issues and more. Today we’re looking at several of the best USB Wi-Fi adapters across a range of different categories, helping you choose the one that suits your specific set of requirements.
- Size: 4.5 x 1.2 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- Type: AC1900
- Bands: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz
- Supports: Windows, macOS
- Range: High
- Size: 6.8 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 0.6 ounces
- Type: AC1300
- Bands: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz
- Supports: Windows, macOS
- Range: Moderate
- Size: 0.8 x 0.6 x 0.3 inches
- Weight: 0.1 ounces
- Type: AC1300
- Bands: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz
- Supports: Windows, macOS
- Range: Low
- Size: 9.8 x 4.0 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Type: AC1200
- Bands: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz
- Supports: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Range: High
- Size: 4.7 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 2.4 ounces
- Type: AC1900
- Bands: 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz
- Supports: Windows, macOS
- Range: Moderate
Best USB Wi-Fi Adapter For Gaming and Desktop PCs: Asus USB-AC68
Latency is what really matters for online gaming. The worse you connection is, the more packets are dropped and the greater your ping time.
Cheap wireless cards won’t cut it: you need something that can support high-speed connections and long-range connectivity, with minimal lag. The Asus USB-AC68 Wi-Fi adapter provides all this and more.
The dual-band USB 3.0 AC68 can support theoretical speeds of up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band, and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Even if you have a super-fast internet connection, the AC68 won’t be the bottleneck.
It has two 3×4 MIMO antennas that use Asus’s beamforming technology to optimize and shape the Wi-Fi signal. As long as your router also supports beamforming (most do), the end result is stronger connections and greater range. With the AC68, you can easily connect to networks within a 150ft radius.
Asus also provides an additional cradle with a long extension cable. Instead of directly plugging the adapter into your computer, you can stick the USB Wi-Fi adapter somewhere with a better signal: on a shelf or window sill, for instance. The antennas are also foldable, making the adapter easier to transport and less likely to break when you do.
In terms of size, it’s not excessively large for what it offers. Without the antennas stretched out, the adapter is only 4.5 inches tall, so it won’t take much space behind your PC when plugged in directly.
These AC68 provides a fast and smooth browsing experience on your desktop PC and a better online gaming experience, at a reasonable price. The only real downside is unstable drivers on old versions of Windows: we’d suggest looking elsewhere if you’re still running Windows 8 or below. Then again, we’d also suggest upgrading your operating system!
For everyone else, it’s our top pick for gaming, and our overall pick for the best USB Wi-Fi adapter right now.
Buy on AmazonBest Budget USB Wi-Fi Adapter: TP-Link Archer T3U Plus
If you want a Wi-Fi adapter that provides impressive coverage at a very small price, the TP-Link Archer T3U Plus is a great choice. This small USB adapter has a particularly long, adjustable antenna, ensuring much stronger connections than most inbuilt Wi-Fi cards.
The Archer T3U Plus supports dual-band AC1300 wireless, providing theoretical top speeds of up to 400Mbps on a 2.4GHz network or 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. That’s not the absolute fastest option these days, but it’s still more than enough for most home internet connections.
That dual-band support lets you switch to a 5Ghz network if the usual 2.4Ghz band is congested in your area: a common problem these days, and one of the biggest causes of slow Wi-Fi speeds.
The Archer T3U Plus also supports all the latest operating systems, including the upcoming Windows 11. Our only real concern with this adapter is its build quality: the antenna connection is a little flimsy, so be careful if you’re planning to travel with it.
Buy on AmazonBest Small USB Wi-Fi Adapter: TP-Link Archer T3U Nano
The TP-Link Archer T3U Nano is one of the smallest USB Wi-Fi adapters you’ll find, well under an inch long and wide. Just because it’s tiny doesn’t mean it’s lacking in speed, though. given its support for dual-band AC1300 wireless.
That equates to theoretical speeds of up to 400Mbps on a 2.4GHz network or 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. You won’t get that in the real world, but it’s still absolutely fine for the average household internet plan. Range is ok, but no better than most inbuilt Wi-Fi cards, given the lack of external antenna.
Given its tiny size and weight, there’s no problem leaving the adapter permanently plugged into your laptop, since it barely protrudes from the USB port. This makes it the ideal replacement for an outdated or broken laptop wireless card.
Since you’re definitely sacrificing some range to get a Wi-Fi adapter this small, it’s not our top pick for travel despite the tiny size: for that, keep reading below. For general use, though, especially in situations where you want to leave the adapter connected all the time, it’s the ideal choice.
Buy on AmazonBest Long Range USB Wi-Fi Adapter: BrosTrend 1200
The promise of better network coverage is one of the main reasons people buy a USB Wi-Fi adapter. Sometimes it’s just impossible to find the perfect spot to put your router to ensure strong connections and fast speeds in every corner of the home or office.
It’s even more difficult when you’re in a concrete building or especially large house. In such cases, you’ll need a USB Wi-Fi adapter that not only provides fast speeds, but significantly extends your network range as well.
The dual-band BrosTrend AC1200 is an inexpensive solution for anyone needing to boost the range of their wireless card. It comes with a pair of 5dBi high gain antennas, letting you connect to networks within a theoretical 500ft radius. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly see a lot of new Wi-Fi network names from around your neighborhood!
The antennas are detachable, so if your router is nearby, you can always take them off to make the adapter cut a less imposing figure on your desk. It’s definitely not the smallest we’ve ever seen.
We do have some concern about the build quality: the antenna connection is somewhat flimsy and prone to breaking with any kind of rough treatment. If you’re a Linux user, you may also want to look elsewhere: getting it working well on that platform isn’t easy.
Even so, with USB 3.0 support for faster speeds and the latest WPA3 encryption, this is a well-spec’d Wi-Fi adapter that provides much greater Wi-Fi range at a very reasonable price.
Buy on AmazonBest USB Wi-Fi Adapter For Travel: Netgear AC1900
If you’re travelling or working remotely, a good USB Wi-Fi adapter that gives greater range and stronger connections than your laptop’s inbuilt wireless card makes all the difference. It needs to be durable and easily portable, though: bulky, easily-broken accessories are no use to anyone on the road.
Given those criteria, the NETGEAR AC1900, a compact dual-band device that’s capable of 1300Mbps speed on the 5GHz Wi-Fi band or 600Mbps on 2.4GHz networks, is our pick as the best USB Wi-Fi adapter for travel.
At 4.7 inches long and 1.8 inches wide, with a weight of just 2.4 ounces, the adapter is small enough that you’ll barely notice it in your day bag or coat pocket. The top cover extends out to act as an antenna, folding down when not in use for easier transport.
Rated to be able to detect networks up up to 200 feet away. Netgear’s AC1900 helps ensure an uninterrupted Wi-Fi experience in thick-walled hotels, rural AirBnbs, and anywhere else that signal is hard to come by.
The AC1900 ships with a magnetic stand that lets you place the adapter on your desk or somewhere else that gets better coverage, rather than having it sticking out the side of your laptop. The stand is a bit bulky to travel with (although you could if you needed to,) but is ideal for when you return home.
Note that while this is our top USB Wi-Fi adapter pick for travel, you’ve got other options when it comes to size, range, and multi-device support. We covered them all in depth here.
Buy on AmazonMain image via Forgem/Shutterstock.com, product images via Amazon
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