5 Best Wi-Fi Adapters for PC in 2024

Whether you design your own or get an off-the-shelf PC, it’s common to receive a computer and discover it doesn’t have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or maybe it is, but your internet speeds are faster, your game downloads are bigger, your router has already been upgraded, and you need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter your situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or laptop setup is worth your time. Here we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for use with your PC. Most are incredibly affordable and just plug into any available USB port and start working.

Best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024

TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 USB Adapter

perfect for most people

For a do-it-all USB Wi-Fi adapter, check out this TP-Link. The TP-Link AX1800 features ultra-fast data transfer speeds, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and an expandable “antenna” flap that can be used as a stick or plug-in stand connected to a 1.2 meter cable. You can also place it in Support from a distance. As an individual, you may not always find all of these features useful in your situation, but these features give you everything you need. maybe We’ve combined your wishes into one package.

For example, antenna flaps are a great way to get additional Wi-Fi “reception” if you’re far away from your router. Placing the AX1800 on a stand-up base, connecting a 1.2 meter USB cable, extending the antenna, and placing it on a table away from the PC tower may improve your Internet connection. Just as you need to place your router properly, it also helps to place your receiver in the right place. At the same time, this device is not magic. Wi-Fi signals that are not present will not be received. In that case, you need to extend your Wi-Fi range. Still, the flexibility provided here is very useful for setting up his PC at home.

Meanwhile, close the antenna flap and stow the stand and you’ve got an ultra-powerful Wi-Fi adapter with a compact form factor and the highest data transfer speeds of any device of its kind. This is perfect for minimalist home PC setups or budget laptops that require Wi-Fi 6 functionality. This doesn’t mean you’ll get the high speeds that native devices offer, but it does mean you’ll get the low latency that newer technologies offer.

TP-Links AX1800 has become a kind of standard for Wi-Fi adapters due to its wide range of applications and high speed. However, it is not without its flaws. This isn’t the most expensive adapter on the list, but it will cost you over $50 unless there’s a big sale. There is a need to Spend $50 or more on a Wi-Fi adapter for functionality. Additionally, to get the most out of your AX1800, you will need to upgrade the drivers that come preloaded on your AX1800. Still, this Wi-Fi adapter has enough features to make it a great starting point on your journey to find what you want.

Netgear Nighthawk A8000 Wi-Fi 6/6E Adapter

best alternative

Netgear’s Nighthawk A8000 is clearly pretty close to being the best overall Wi-Fi adapter. It has a very compact body with solid construction and can be used as a simple USB stick or placed in a cradle away from the connected computer. These are all features that a Wi-Fi adapter should have, and again, they’re kind of the gold standard feature list for a product like this.

The Nighthawk A8000 is available in two versions: one with Wi-Fi 6 and one with Wi-Fi 6E. As long as you have the right Wi-Fi 6 router, these technologies will significantly upgrade your performance. Getting the Wi-Fi 6E version may improve connection reliability, reduce interference, and reduce latency issues. However, the maximum speed of the Wi-Fi adapter is limited to 1201 Mbit/s (or other speed-limiting factors that may be present on your system).

So what’s the drawback that puts the Nighthawk A8000 in the runner-up category? Again, it’s all about price. The Nighthawk A8000 is the most expensive product at MSRP. Look for great deals before you buy.

Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi Adapter

The most convenient dongle

If you’re looking for a classic jump drive USB look that you can plug into your PC and almost forget about, this is it. Ugreen offers a decent level of speed (though not as much as the top contenders) while maintaining a simple and reliable form. More or less, you don’t have to fiddle with antennas or deal with long cords, so you can just plug it in and start using it. Another great convenience is his one-click WPS Wi-Fi connection button, which allows you to easily connect to new networks.

Another nod to the jump drive origins of the Ugreen AC1300 form factor is the nice protective cap on the end. When you want to take your device with you, you can easily protect your Wi-Fi adapter. You may also use your laptop’s stick if the built-in Wi-Fi adapter goes out. However, in this case, you need to be careful if you use the laptop on your lap while reclining in bed or on the sofa, as with a wrong movement the end of the adapter can get caught. In other words, if you primarily use your laptop at your desk, this is the best Wi-Fi adapter for you, but if you’re on the go a short mini dongle is the best Wi-Fi adapter for you.

The final reason for choosing the Ugreen AC1300 is its relatively fast speed for its form factor. You should know that it still doesn’t support the speeds of higher-end models, but for the majority of people, this connection should be fast enough and useful enough.

TP-Link Archer T4U Plus

Ideal for weak signals

TP-Link Archer T4U Plus is a dual-band Wi-Fi adapter that helps you get the most out of difficult situations when receiving a signal. The Wi-Fi adapter itself is a stand that connects to your PC via a USB 3.0 cord that fits into the back of the main “tower” chassis. The body of this “tower” is very short, but two antennas that can be adjusted 180 degrees come out of it. These antennas have high gain, and some users report being able to receive a signal up to 200 feet away from the router. That being said, no matter how good your antenna is, it can’t pick up a signal that isn’t there.

Another great advantage of this Wi-Fi adapter is its affordable price. Just about anyone should be able to add his Wi-Fi adapter of this level and pricing to their cart without too much worry. At the same time, this Wi-Fi adapter requires a cord and extension, so it’s not ideal for laptops. You’ll want to keep it permanently somewhere on your high-quality computer desk instead of moving it around all the time. However, if you give it a dedicated space and take the time to properly tune it, you should be able to get a good connection from your Archer T4U Plus.

TP-Link Archer T2U Nano

optimal budget

TP-Link’s Archer T2U Nano uses the mini-dongle form factor popularized by some of the best wireless mice. This Wi-Fi adapter has the following dimensions: modest, many of which fit into one cubic inch. That makes the TP-Link Archer T2U the perfect Wi-Fi adapter for laptop users. Due to its small size, it can be safely stored in your laptop’s USB port while on the go and almost forgotten.

There are also good cases to buy TP-Link Archer T2U. Any device. price. This is one of the lowest priced Wi-Fi adapters you can find. The speeds it offers are quite a bit slower than others, but if that doesn’t really matter to you and that’s the type of internet usage you normally do, this is a ‘buy’.

How I chose a Wi-Fi adapter for PC

Choosing a Wi-Fi adapter isn’t the hardest thing in the world, but there are some things worth considering during the process. Here are some points worth noting.

Data transfer speed and Wi-Fi protocols

Abstractly, you can think of Wi-Fi as the last part of a long single file journey from the Internet country to your home PC.of slowest Part of the journey dictates the pace. As a result, if you use a Wi-Fi adapter that has a slower data transfer rate, or at least slower than the next slowest one in the connection, that Wi-Fi adapter will slow down your connection. If your Wi-Fi adapter is causing your internet speed to be slower than expected, be sure to try other ways to increase your internet speed.

Pay attention to Wi-Fi protocols. You’ll probably hear about Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E if your manufacturer supports it. This is because it also affects the connection of your Wi-Fi adapter. However, it does not necessarily affect connectivity in the expected way. Wi-Fi 6, despite manufacturer language to the contrary. I don’t Make your internet connection faster than the slowest link in the aforementioned race.

Generally, when choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, we have prioritized adapters with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, which can provide a better and more stable connection.

USB connection

Wi-Fi adapters have hit a kind of technical impasse, being even slower to adapt to USB-C than the latest iPhones. That makes sense, since USB-C devices tend to have pretty decent Wi-Fi internally, but it’s a weird peculiarity in this space. In case you’ve long forgotten the complexity of USB-A, USB 3.0 is the best one, and this is the one that is usually selected.

size, length, wire, leverage

How do you use the device to which your Wi-Fi adapter is connected? If you constantly walk near it or move the connected device around quite a bit, as is the case with your laptop, you may unintentionally You will create a lever. Like a seesaw, the far end of the USB stick has a big impact, and if enough force is applied, bumping it or pushing it too hard can cause the Wi-Fi adapter to snap at the USB plug. into bed.

If you’re one of these users who travel near ports on your PC (or use a Wi-Fi adapter on your laptop), consider purchasing a mini or “nano” Wi-Fi adapter. please. Although typically slower, they are much less likely to break than stick form factors. If you have a more rugged, stationary PC setup, you can also get his Wi-Fi adapter, which has a stand or base that extends from the cable’s USB port. This also has the advantage of allowing you to place your Wi-Fi adapter in a more advantageous location.

antenna

A final word about the form factor of Wi-Fi adapters. He may have one or two antennae.these can, it certainly helps improve your Wi-Fi signal. However, don’t assume that a Wi-Fi adapter can compensate for a real-world lack of signal or overcome obstacles in your setup. We thought the antenna, similar to what some of the best Wi-Fi adapters have, would be nice to have (especially when expansion is an option), but not necessarily required.If your router is in the next room, you probably do not have Wi-Fi adapter requires an antenna.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial Department.

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