The Best WiFi Adapter for PCs

PCs were deficient in wireless connectivity for a significant amount of time. The use of wired connections like LAN was fast and reliable, but with the rapidly growing wireless communication protocols finding the best WiFi adapter for PC is now becoming necessary. Users require less wire clutter in their gaming setup. Manufacturers have also significantly improved the aesthetics of wireless communications devices and made them compact to fit on any tabletop. Suppose a generation older PC does not contain a WiFi module built into the motherboard, the demand for WiFi adapters increases. Although the wireless connectivity reduced clutter, it posed the problem of lagging response and longer ping times, solved by the best gaming router on the market. They introduced dual-band technology to ensure that the device has two independent frequencies to communicate with, thus enhancing performance.

Owning the best router is not enough; you will need a receiver capable of understanding what the router is putting out in the air. Currently, multi-user multi-input and multi-output (MU-MIMO) technology, beamforming, IEEE 802.11ax, and dual-band are features that compose the best USB WiFi adapter. However, there are more powerful options if we use the best powerline adapter for gaming. Still, due to their high power consumption, bulkiness, and a slight improvement over the USB adapter, we considered the USB WiFi adapter a better option for any average gamer. If you compare a small WiFi adapter to the best Bluetooth car adapter, you would be unable to spot a difference as they are comparative in size. Still, when it comes to communication speed, there is no match for wireless connectivity of WiFi adapters.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

To understand the tech behind these adapters, we recommend going through our quick shopping tips for a better understanding of the terms used:

MU-MIMO: It is the latest addition to wireless data transfer technology. Traditionally WiFi routers only communicated with one device at a time, posing the limitation of continuous data transfer. Still, multiple users receiving multiple inputs and outputs were made possible with MU-MIMO. Ensure that the WiFi router you use supports the tech; otherwise, no improvement is observable.

Dual-Band: Bands are frequencies at which the router communicates. Higher frequencies tend to be fast, but they have shorter travel lengths. Lower frequencies are slower in data transfer speed but have higher penetration power, ideal for homes to travel data across multiple walls. Manufacturers combine them in a single adapter and router to take advantage of both simultaneously through feedback.

WiFi Standards: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides standards for wireless data transmission. It contains standards for protocols and services that the WiFi router or receiver offers. An 802.11ac (2014) can provide a frequency band of 2.4GHz & 5GHz at a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbps. Similarly, 802.11ax (2019) can give the 10-12gbps a similar frequency band. IEEE introduces a new standard every few years.

Interface: Your WiFi adapter will eventually be plugged into a USB port. The data transmission speed of your USB protocol may cause a bottleneck to your hardware. Some USB adapters specifically require a USB 3.0 port for complete functionality. Plugging it into an older USB interface like USB 2.0 will cause the speed to reduce and performance to drop overall.

The Best WiFi Adapter for PCs: First look

The Best WiFi Adapter for PCs: In-depth Review

If you have a WiFi-5-based router, then Trendnet TEW-809UB is an excellent choice with advanced features and powerful reception. The maximum achievable bandwidth by this router when running in AC mode is 1300Mbps. Since it’s a dual-band receiver, an N mode capable router can add 600Mbps to the network, making it the best WiFi adapter for PC with 1500 Mbps. Four powerful detachable antennas offer high gain. It can be used as a transmitter if required under certain conditions, but it is mainly used as a receiver.

We all know that the speed is not dependent on how well the router sends the signal, but it depends on the receiver’s sensitivity. At 5GHz frequency 802.11n, the receiving sensitivity of the adapter is -88 dBm at 600 Mbps. At the same time, the sensitivity when the router is transmitting 802.11ac signals is -84 dBm at 1300 Mbps. It is the best USB WiFi adapter compared to the WiFi adapters in the market. To fully utilize the adapter’s capability, you must ensure that your PC’s USB version is 3.0 or higher. Otherwise, the data transfer speeds may become restricted or capped at a lower rate.

TP-Link holds a massive chunk of the market share regarding WiFi devices. TP-Link Archer T4U Plus is their compactly designed AC-based wireless adapter for PCs. It’s an 84mm by 19mm base with two antennas that can easily sit on any surface. The design is elegant with a glossy finish and two external 5 dBi High Gain Antennas, making it the best performance WiFi adapter for PC. 4K resolution has gained popularity with powerful graphics cards and monitor support. A single 4K video streaming requires at least 25 Mbps speed for smooth, uninterrupted streaming. 1300 Mbps is high enough to support multiple streaming and gaming requirements.

The USB 3.0 high-speed communication protocol is used for communicating with the PC. Due to the presence of only two antennas, the sensitivity is lower than any four antenna-based adapter, but it’s high for a two antenna-based adapter. It has the all-new MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) technology that can enhance performance for gaming. Since gaming requires lower ping and if the WiFi adapter for the PC is busy entertaining another device and keeps you on hold, then the ping will increase. It can communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, thus leading to lower ping required for online games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty.

Asus has been the leading brand in gaming products. Their design is meant for people with a niche for high-end, technologically advanced products. ASUS USB-AC68 is a compact WiFi adapter for desktop PCs and laptops. You get 1900 Mbps internet connection speed with the best portable WiFi adapter for PC, a compact device that looks to be something extraterrestrial. Compared to the traditional design of WiFi adapters like the N900, You get 1900 Mbps internet connection speed with the most suitable option available. This compact device looks like something extraterrestrial. it gives a 300% increase in the rate at 5GHz frequency and a 33% boost to 2.4GHz frequency. It works with the USB 3.0 protocol, which is 10x faster than the older generation USB 2.0 interface.

Asus has made this adapter portable using a cradle connect and disconnect method. If your signals are weak in some area, you can use the cradle to place it at a location where reception is better, or you can easily plug it in directly to your PC with the USB port. It can communicate in simultaneous three-input and four-output designs, making it the best WiFi adapter for PC. Asus routers are some of the top ones in the business, and this WiFi receiver is designed to fully utilize the high-tech options like ASUS AiRadar beamforming offered by some of the best routers in the world.

Edimax is a Taiwan and China-based company that has been in the top 35 most valued companies in Taiwan. They are best known for their network solution, and Edimax EW-7833UAC is one of their top-shelf items. The world claims this item as the best USB WiFi adapter for PC. It’s a single antenna-based portable USB adapter that can be used on a desktop or a laptop. The design is simple, and the device comes with a plug-and-play configuration for all the latest Windows versions. It has three transmitters and three receiver multi-input multi-output capabilities, making it ideal for gaming. Forming a beam to communicate with the router makes it responsive and fast.

The high-data transfer speed of 1750Mbps remains uninterrupted due to the 3Gbps data transfer speeds allowed by the USB 3.0 interface. Any potential bottleneck that could cause the speed to slow down is removed by using a faster interface, making it the best USB WiFi adapter based on responsiveness. It offers dual-band connectivity, thus improving data connection speeds. A single antenna is placed right on the device, which is adjustable to turn 180° for the enhancement of signals. The only drawback is that the device looks basic, and with a glossy finish, it’s not meant to be for the aesthetics but for operational efficiency.

Linksys has been around long enough to prove its competency. They have the most reliable communication devices for various applications. The Linksys WUSB6300 is a 1200Mbps high-speed connection USB dongle. The brand has designed it as the best nano USB WiFi adapter for PC. Its dimensions are the main highlight when it comes to portability. No external antennas serve as an advantage by making it compact and slimmer. The device can easily fit inside a pocket or a backpack making it ideal for college students. It has excellent compatibility with Windows 10 and above. There are no hiccups in internet connectivity during its operation.

We did notice that due to the absence of high-gain antennas, there are a few drawbacks that one should consider when buying this device. It has low sensitivity to both 2.4 and 5GHz frequency bands. A larger antenna is always suitable for better transmitting and receiving signals in a WiFi adapter for PC. It works on the latest 802.11ac standard, which means it would work with any router with WiFi-5 compatibility. Be sure to use it on Windows 8 and above; it is not compatible with Windows 7 or below. For Apple products, users should know that it is compatible with MAC 10.11 to 10.15.

TP-Link produces some of the market’s best price/performance ratio products. They are stable and work as specified. TP-Link Archer T9UH is their high-end receiver designed for gamers and streamers. From price to tech and portability, it is the best overall WiFi adapter for PC. It works with the latest AC technology, two times faster than the previous generation of wireless networking. If you want to stream your gaming at a 1440p resolution or greater, you would require high bandwidth with technologies like beamforming to properly utilize the router’s bandwidth. The elegant-looking cradle with silver and black combination looks aesthetically pleasing for any tabletop.

It has a flip cover that contains four high-gain antennas for better sensitivity and lower ping. There is a 3ft cable that comes inboxed with the device and a cradle in which Users can plug the USB-based WiFi adapter. You can go portable with only the USB stick or place it strategically in a place where signal strength is better. In terms of price-to-performance ratio, it is the best WiFi adapter for PC. Users who want to make this device a hotspot or fully utilize the bandwidth provided by the router should consider that it does not feature MU-MIMO capability.

The latest technology in wireless data transfer is WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax). D-Link DWA-X1850 Wi-Fi 6 is the only device on our list with this technology. It can transfer data at the 1850 Mbps speed and by enabling the Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) offered by the best WiFi 6 adapter for PC. The latest generation of WiFi can improve the overall efficiency of the system and provide better connectivity. It has the most secure WPA3 Wi-Fi security to prevent network hacking or attacks. Moreover, backward compatibility has been provided within the device without any driver installation for all routers.

Aesthetically the device looks pleasing with a light indicator and shapes ideal for gaming-oriented PC builds. With the MU-MIMO technology, you can be sure that your first-person shooter like Fortnite will not lag under high network loads, making it the best USB WiFi adapter for gaming. The advanced beamforming technology offered by WiFi-6 makes it ideal for lowering ping to avoid any stuttering issues. You would not want to miss your shot just because somebody on the same router is close to the router then you. To fully utilize its capability, you must ensure that the router you use has beamforming, MU-MIMO, WiFi-6, and dual-band frequencies for best results.

TP-Link Archer T3U Plus is an excellent WiFi adapter for all applications. It lets you save money to buy a better router to enhance your system’s performance. Gaming and streaming on this WiFi adapter are ideal as it features MU-MIMO technology. TP-Link used a single element containing two antennas apart from each other to ensure maximum reception in a small size, making it the best small USB WiFi adapter for PC. It features two bands, 2.4GHz, which provides 400Mbps, ideal for surfing the internet and moderate load activities, or you can switch 5GHz 867Mbps for gaming and streaming.

The antenna has decent maneuverability and combined swing and sways motion for a single antenna. When it comes to price, it’s tough to beat TP-Link, and when the product is vital in terms of specifications like this WiFi adapter for PC, then it’s almost impossible for anybody to shy away from it. 1300Mbps speed is more than enough for gaming streaming and watching 4K videos. There will be no bottleneck caused by the device. It provides security of WPA2 for high encryption standards to avoid any potential breach of your network and offers comprehensive compatibility with Windows 11,10,8.1,8,7 and Mac OS 10.15 and earlier.

Final Words

To be practical, users will plug the WiFi adapter into a single device. If three devices simultaneously perform online multiplayer gaming and 4K streaming, you would only use 100Mbps of your internet bandwidth. So if a single user is performing all these functions, then 100Mbps is more than sufficient for any internet bandwidth extensive activity. When it comes to lowering bottlenecks in the system and providing faster protocols to reduce ping in gaming, the best WiFi adapter for PC would be the one with the highest bandwidth. We primarily focused on the mature 802.11ac technology as 802.11ax was recently introduced in 2019. Most people are probably still using an 802.11ac-based router which leads us to focus mainly on the WiFi-5 technology. We did include a product with 802.11ax enabled protocol, but it was due to its exceptionally low price for the latest tech and backward compatibility.

If you are looking for something that works stable and has a price tag that is within reach of most readers, the TP-Link products should be on top of your list. If you are looking for a brand with mature technology and a strong background in a professional setting, then D-Link is the name you should look for in a product. When it comes to gaming products, there is no match to Asus products. Their line-up has always been targeted at the gamers. First-person shooters like Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and PUBG require a lower ping resulting from faster communication between the router and the receiver. If the number of users increases on the network, the router has to address each user one and a time quickly enough so that the speed doesn’t drop. MU-MIMO solves these issues, and further ping issues are resolved with beamforming. We hope you find the right product for your computer setup.

Frequently Asked Questions