If you plan to connect your PC to the Wi-Fi network, a USB Wireless PC Adapter may be the most painless solution. Here are what features to keep an eye on and reviews of the best USB WiFi adapters for PCs.
Why do you need to buy the best USB WiFi adapters for your PC? If you’ve bought a laptop in the last five years, it probably already has a good Wi-Fi card. But if you’ve had a bad connection, and spent too much time waiting for Netflix to buffer it might be the time to add a wireless PC adapter. Even at their best, few internal wireless cards can get the same type of reception as an external adapter. Large antennas make it easy to get a signal through USB WiFi adapters, even if there are multiple walls or floors between you and the router, which means less loss and a more reliable connection overall.
Second, if you are looking to update your router in the short term (and we recommend doing so), many laptops built before 2015 are not able to decode the latest wireless standard: 802.11ac. Read our reviews of the best WiFi adapters for PC and find the right one.
Also, read our other guides on the best keyboard, mouse, and printer for your computer.
Wifi USB stick: How does it work?
USB WiFi adapters are easy to install. Just plug it into an available USB port and install its drivers (if your operating system does not already include them). If necessary, the manufacturer includes an installation CD with the Wifi USB key.
Caution: Be aware that the external nature of a USB adapter means that you will have one less available USB port, and some large models may even block two.
Note that 802.11ac is the current Wi-Fi standard: it uses both the 2.4 GHz band (like 802.11b and 802.11g) and the 5GHz band (like 802.11n).
The 802.11ad should appear in the coming months to add a third frequency (60GHz) designed for a wide bandwidth over short distances.
Wifi USB Key – buying guide
It has become increasingly important, nowadays, to use the internet and specifically a computer, both for work and for a hobby. This trend, which has gradually become established, has allowed us to change our habits.
There are many ways to connect a computer to the Internet: for example, the Ethernet cable, which offers good speed and great stability.
However, if your computer is far from the modem/router, you need to focus on other solutions: to connect the computer to the Internet using a wireless connection you will have to buy an internal wireless network card, to ensure superior performance.
Let’s see the technical features necessary to make sure you make a secure purchase of network cards.
The different types of network cards on the market
Network cards are digital interface that allows you to connect to a computer network, which allows the exchange of data between different devices. On the market you will find the following types of network cards:
USB external network card
In this case, it must not be mounted on your computer but it can be connected thanks to a USB port, which is now present in all PCs. The advantage of this type of board is the great versatility, in addition to using a very intuitive use. Its disadvantages are the lack of availability on the market and the purchase prices, which are still relatively high.
PCI internal network card
This is the most common type on the market, which is directly mounted inside the computer via the PCI interface. We find it on most modern computers. Its advantages are above all those of offering excellent performances and having a very low cost, especially compared to competitors. The only disadvantage is related to the assembly: in fact, specific knowledge is needed to do this.
PCMCIA network card
The latter type calls into question network cards that are appreciated for their small size. They are perfect for anyone who wants to install them on a laptop computer, which must, however, be equipped with a special input, called PCMCIA.
Where and how to buy network cards?
Depending on your needs and the basic characteristics of the card you are looking for, you can proceed with the purchase. It is possible to buy them both in specialized shops that deal with the sale of electronic products, or hardware and computer components.
Or you can just start a search on the internet to have a greater number of choice options. The web is, in fact, the most complete source of resources both for alternative proposals and for types of offers and promotions.
Continue to scroll down to find the complete ranking that will reveal to you which are the best network cards you can find on the market.
Best selling wireless PC adapter (USB WiFi Keys) you should consider buying
An old fixed computer to be recycled as a media center and thus transform a FullHD TV into a smart TV. A PC is a bit too far from the home router (or office) but still requires a non-wired Internet connection. These are some reasons that might lead you to look for a way to add Wi-Fi connectivity to a desktop computer you have at home or in the office. The solutions can be many: from the expansion card to be mounted in the PCI slots of the motherboard to the desk antennas, to be connected to the computer.
TP-Link TL-WN725N N150 USB Wireless WiFi Network Adapter
This is probably the best wireless WiFi network adapter for Mac and Linux. Released in 2015, this model remains today the bestseller of TP-Link recognized for its compatibility with Mac and Linux machines. It also works with all versions of Windows earlier than 10.
This Wi-Fi USB key is particularly compact and can not interfere with other ports. The installer is simple, thanks to the plug-and-play design that requires little configuration regardless of the operating system you are working on.
Once you’re online, you have advanced security with 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption standards for peace of mind while browsing online.
But its big strength is its unbeatable price since it only costs a few euros. In addition, the warranty of the manufacturer is 3 years which makes an excellent quality/price ratio.
+ PROS
- With the speed of 150 Mbps, you will get uninterrupted live video streaming and thereby endow fast connectivity as well.
- Easy to install and comprises a wonderful security system as well which is WPA/WPA2 encryption.
– CONS
- Some people encounter the problem of signals becoming weak and dropping.
Discover more and the price here
1200Mbps Wireless USB WiFi Adapter
This is another of the best USB WiFi adapters for PC to buy. This 1200Mbps USB WiFi key can work with your PC, laptop, or Mac with the latest WiFi AC router for faster speed and extended range. The JUST ENJOY 5dbi High Gain Detachable Antenna sets the best and most stable connection signal on the market, so you can watch free HD video and play games online, even if the distance or signal is weak. Its Wi-Fi speed of 1200Mbps in the 5GHz (866Mbps) or 2.4GHz (300Mbps) bands is much faster than its competitors at 600Mbps.
Its USB interface is in 3.0 mode, if the USB port of your PC is also USB 3.0, the WLAN stick is perfect for your PC, it works very well and efficiently. If your PC is USB 2.0 or USB, it will have to connect to the USB port of the PC where the current is greater than or equal to 500mAh, but the connection cannot be as stable as with 3.0.
This antenna has two modes and a WPS function, that is, it can receive a wireless network signal in station mode or create a Wi-Fi hotspot in AP mode. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) encryption feature maintains the security of your wireless network.
+ PROS
- Easy to use
- 12 months and a lifetime warranty for its quality
- 5dbi double band detachable antenna
– CONS
- Standby
- A little classic design that does not suit everyone
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USBNOVEL USB WiFi Adapter 600Mbps
USBNOVEL proposes to us its new Wi-Fi key that can reach a maximum speed of up to 433Mbps 5GHz or 2.4GHz 150Mbps dual-band connection for online games and HD video streaming. Easy to install, make sure to install the software first before connecting the wireless adapter. If you do not have a CD player, you can get the driver online. Dual-Band reduces Wi-Fi interference and its USB 2.0 interface is backward compatible with USB 1.1 for standards to IEEE 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b. Security: WFA, WPA, WPA2, WPS2.0, WAPI.
The key to the advantage is thin enough which allows it not to obstruct a USB port that would be next. The connection is perfectly functional in standard AC and 2.4 GHz frequency and 5 GHz with correct flows. For most neophytes, you must take 2 factors into account because a Wi-Fi connection is established between 2 devices which should preferably be on the most recent standard to benefit from higher flows.
To properly use the speeds of this Wi-Fi dongle, make sure your Internet Box or Wi-Fi point is also compatible with the Wi-Fi AC standard, otherwise, your connection will work but at the speed of the device with the lowest standard. Also, check that your Box or Access Point and dual-band are 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz compatible. The 2.4 GHz frequency will have a larger range but a lower yield/flow. The frequency 5Ghz will have a smaller range but a higher yield/flow.
+ PROS
- Use with Windows 10: Plug and Play
- Price
- Size and design
– CONS
- Quite regularly at the start of the PC, it is no longer recognized, an obligation to disconnect and reconnect.
- The manual is not up-to-date.
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NETGEAR AC1200 Wi-Fi USB Adapter
This is another of the best USB WiFi adapters for PC to buy. The Netgear model A6210-100PES is probably the best key USB WiFi on the market in 2018. The installation is simple. Just plug the drive into your computer, install the drivers (CD included), and connect to the Internet. With its adjustable outdoor antenna for enhanced reception, this Wi-Fi adapter offers exceptional range and speed. It is capable of delivering speeds up to 867Mbps on the 802.11ac standard or up to 300Mbps on the 802.11n standard.
Netgear provides a reputable after-sales service with a one-year warranty as well as regular updates of software and drivers.
+ PROS
- The presence of high-gain antennas elevates the performance of the device manifolds.
- Along with a beamforming feature that boosts the speed multiple times, there is wonderful range coverage.
– CONS
- You need to update the driver regularly to keep up its functionality.
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TP-Link USB Wireless WiFi Network Adapter for PC
If you have a computer equipped with Windows 10, the less recent Wi-Fi USB keys are not necessarily compatible. So be careful when choosing a suitable model, this is the case with the TL-WN823N N300 TP-Link wireless USB adapter.
Upgrading any computer to the compatible 802.11n standard in the future means that the maximum data rate can reach 300Mbps over the connection.
In addition, there is backward compatibility on the 2.4GHz band to ensure a stable connection regardless of your ISP.
Finally, a WPS button allows you to connect to the computer quickly without difficulty for the user.
+ PROS
- 300 Mbps, Fashion Mini design
- Soft AP for Internet Sharing
- Easy encryption w/ WPS button
- Advanced Security-WPA / WPA2
– CONS
- Nothing
Discover more and the price here
That’s all for now, friends. These are some of the best USB WiFi adapters for PCs on the market. What do you think about this list? Comment below to tell us! Thank you.
Also, see the best portable router, 3D printers, and WiFi Boosters on the market.