Which wifi adapter to choose

Wireless communication is by no means unified, and over time has undergone changes and improvements to new standards. At the current time, the newest is the fifth generation, 802.11ac. The vast majority of WiFi adapters are fully backward-compatible with the standards of previous generations.

10 Best Wi Fi Adapters

*Review of the best according to the editorial board of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, it is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. Before you buy it, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Wireless communication is so tightly integrated into our lives, that even washing machines are downloading software updates via Wi-Fi. Consequently, the electronics market is literally flooded with all sorts of Wi-Fi networking equipment. It can sometimes be difficult to figure out, and the Expertology editorial staff decided to help you with that. We present you the rating of the best Wi-Fi adapters available on the market today, which have been highly evaluated by our industry experts. But first, just in case we'd like to remind you of the main things you should pay attention to when choosing a device.

How to Choose a Wifi Adapter

The first thing to decide is the connection interface, and therefore whether it will be an internal or external adapter. If you intend to connect only to a laptop or other portable device, then there is no choice – only an external adapter. If you plan to connect a desktop PC, then both options are possible. Here you need to decide for yourself, and we will describe the features of one and the other type of devices.

USB adapters

This is the most popular and popular type of adapters due to their versatility and portability. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and features – they can look like an ordinary flash drive and have minimal features, or they can be quite weighty desktop devices with a lot of extra features.

If you need a WiFi adapter for your laptop, it does not automatically mean that the device must be small and as portable as possible. It is necessary to be guided by the nature of exploitation of the laptop. If you often carry it with you and do not always provide him the proper conditions of transportation, then really, the adapter is smaller, the better. But also within reason – there can be a model with a little more size, but with a more powerful antenna, which is hinged right out of the case, and in our rating such models will be presented.

Choosing a WiFi adapter for your home desktop, have a look at the signal strength and the antenna capabilities – the higher these parameters are, the better. At least the signal strength should be at least 20 dBi. In order for wi-fi to properly "pierce" the walls, it is desirable that the antennas were powerful enough. Well, and if all of the most important parameters you have taken into account, and there is still a choice, you can look at the design. The variety of visual solutions of wi-fi adapters is so great that it is not difficult to pick the perfect model for any interior or workplace.

Internal adapters

Here everything is more or less clear – we mean adapters which are connected directly to the PCI Express slot. In this case, the antennas go outside. Internal adapters almost always have removable antennas.

How I chose the Wi-Fi adapters on AliExpress and what I ordered

On Aliexpress I typed "Wi-Fi adapter" into the search. You can also go to "Wi-Fi adapter", or go to the "Network Cards" section and in the filter settings on the left set the parameters of the device you need.

I have chosen two of the most popular and, in my opinion, the best. Of the inexpensive ones. Each adapter has a lot of orders and reviews.

And so, one bought with an antenna. It has no name, as far as I understand. The adapter itself says "easy idea wifi n.". This model has a removable antenna. It costs about 4 dollars. Very modest specifications. Speed up to 150 Mbps, and the antenna is 2dB. Came in a bag. Adapter, antenna, and driver disk. The CD was not even put in the envelope. Just laying around with the adapter in the bag 🙂 .

What about the quality? Not great. Like $4. Assembly and plastic, including the antenna for three. But it's an adapter, it's plugged in and forgotten. Chipset RT or MTK21 NOV. If it matters to you, then look at the characteristics of a particular adapter, or check with the seller.

The second adapter EDUP (802.11N) . In Chinese stores there are a lot of different adapters from the manufacturer EDUP. There are different models. I ordered one of the cheapest. For three dollars. It is a compact Wi-Fi receiver, which I recommend to buy only for laptops. For desktop computers, it is better to get an antenna. Especially if the router is far away from the PC. The package also includes a disk with drivers.

The assembly is not bad. B. Maybe because the adapter is very small and because of that the case seems more robust. I didn't pay attention to the curved inscriptions and other little things. The speed is also up to 150 Mbps. Powered by the chipset MTK7601 (MediaTek). It is listed on the CD with the drivers.

My review and opinion of Wi-Fi receivers from China

Of course, to start it would be good to work through such an adapter for a few weeks, check many different models, test them under load, check the speed in different conditions, etc. But to be honest, I have no desire to do that.

Both adapters I tested, of course. Both work, that's already good 🙂 In Windows 10 everything worked immediately, without installing drivers. As soon as I plugged the adapter into a USB port, the computer immediately saw the available Wi-Fi networks. This was very satisfying. It is clear that in Windows XP, Windows 7, 8, and even in some cases on the ten will have to install drivers manually.

Many people don't order such equipment from China because they are afraid of problems with drivers. But in most cases this is not a problem. For the driver is installed or with a disk, which is often included, or downloaded from the Internet. It can be found by the ID of the equipment. I think to prepare a separate material on this topic.

When checking, at first sight the "easy idea wifi N" adapter (the one with an antenna) is not inferior to TP-Link Archer T2UH. The level of omen is the same. The speed is the same. True, it is limited to 25 Mbit/s at me. Yes, most likely a nameless adapter from AliExpress will lose to the adapter from TP-Link in reliability and speed (if you have it at 100 Mbps) . But it is six times cheaper!

On the second one, which is from EDUP, I did not really like the reception level. Very bad signal. And because of that the speed is low. It's understandable, it's without an antenna. But in the area of a more stable signal works quite well.

In our stores Wi-Fi adapters with the same characteristics of Tenda, Edimax, Mercusys, TP-LINK, D-Link will cost about two or three times more.

Conclusions

The devices work. In the kit is the driver (I can not say for all models and different sellers), in Windows 10 is likely to work right after connecting. At first glance no worse (at least not much worse) than more expensive, branded adapters. The price is lower by about half compared to models from popular manufacturers.

What to do if the Wi-Fi module on your laptop is broken?

If you have tried everything and nothing works, or the internal module is glitchy, you need to replace it.

Perhaps your laptop is still under warranty. If so, give it to the service center, let them replace the module or the motherboard. If there is no warranty, then you can take the laptop to a repair shop and pay for the repair.

Yes, you can disassemble the laptop, find the wireless module in it, order somewhere the same (or another manufacturer), and replace yourself. But there are two problems:

• Not everyone understands it. And if you have already decided to do it, then remember that you do everything at your own risk. It is possible to do even worse, and stay not only without Wi-Fi, but also without a laptop.
• As I have written before, in most newer laptops the WLAN module is soldered into the board. You can't just replace it.

It is possible to connect the laptop to the Internet via a network cable. This is not a very good solution, but it can be an option.

The easiest solution is a USB Wi-Fi adapter.

There are many external adapters on the market that connect via USB. I already wrote an article on how to choose them, and I gave a link at the beginning of this article. Many manufacturers have compact adapters that are great for laptops. They are no bigger in size than a wireless mouse or keyboard adapter. I have such a nano adapter – TP-Link TL-WN725N.

You plug it in, install the driver (in Windows 10 everything is automatic) and you can connect to the Internet.

Not only TP-Link has such compact models. You can look at some online store.

This is a quick and easy replacement of the internal Wi-Fi module. Yes, it takes up 1 USB port, and it sticks out a bit, but it's better that way than with a cable.

The top models are.

• ASUS PCE-N10. This is a good solution for the computer. You can set up the connection and other devices (tablets, smartphones). The model is available with both one and two antennas. Quite a decent and inexpensive option. The cost comes to 1000 rubles.

• TP-Link TL-WDN3200. Works in two bands. Is not sensitive to interference coming from household appliances. It has a simple interface and high speed. With such an adapter you can play online games and view high quality video resources. The price goes up to 5,000 rubles.

• TP-Link TL-WN722N. Equipped with an external antenna and has an average speed. The price is 600 rubles.

Video review Wi-Fi adapter firm TP-Link look in the following video:

As looks network adapter Tenda W311M, see the picture:

• D-Link DWA-525. It works in two bands. It has one powerful antenna and decent bandwidth (up to 300 Mbit/s). It has the ability to save several user profiles. A good solution for office premises. The price is 700 rubles.

• WIFI USB Alfa AWUS036H 54Mbps. The power of this device allows it to catch the signal at a decent distance. Is compatible with virtually all operating systems. A good option for using the internet outside the home. Can be purchased for 900 rubles.

• Router from the provider MTS. MTS Wi-Fi adapter provides the ability to connect multiple computers and other devices to the Internet at speeds up to 300 Mbit/s. It is characterized by stable access to Internet services. The price of the device is 1 300 rubles.

The choice of Wi-Fi adapters is quite large. Information about the technical characteristics will guide you in choosing the best option for a comfortable work in the Internet. Chain stores DNS offer Wi-Fi adapters for PCs in a variety of options.

Best Wi-Fi USB-adapters

TP-Link Mini AC600 Dual Band – the best budget adapter

This is an extremely affordable adapter, as small as it can be, and which comes with dual-band and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) support. Maximum transmission speeds are 433 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 200 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. For this price, those speeds are more than enough. There are no extra features here, but we didn't expect any at this price. TP-Link Mini AC600 is great for desktops and laptops alike because it's modestly sized so it doesn't block other ports. The lack of external antennas leads to a limited range, but it will be fine in all cases except when your router is on the opposite side of your house.

• Extremely Affordable.
• Supports up to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a / b / g / n / ac)
• Great performance for the price
• Dual band
• Maximum throughput: up to 433 Mbps (5 GHz); up to 200 Mbps (2.4 GHz)

EDUP LOVE EP-AC1675 – adapter with long range antenna

EDUP LOVE EP-AC1675 Doesn't empty your wallet, while offering an external antenna, excellent speed, lots of features and an external stand. First of all, the design is similar to other USB Wi-Fi adapters that come with foldable antennas. But, when used on a laptop, it will block the neighboring ports. The magnetic stand comes in handy if you're using the adapter with a desktop PC, and it can be very handy, providing more range and easy installation. Instead of breaking your back trying to plug it into the back of your motherboard I/O, just use the stand and easily switch the adapter between your PC and laptop. As for speed, you get 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and up to 1,300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The router supports Wi-Fi 5 as well as features like Beamforming and MU-MIMO. The adapter uses the USB 3.0 standard and can be used as a Wi-Fi access point. Overall, this is a very powerful Wi-Fi adapter that offers almost all the features of high-performance models at a noticeably lower price.

How to choose a USB Wi-Fi adapter

Choosing the right USB Wi-Fi adapter is a lot easier than, say, choosing the right combo modem router. Instead of having to deal with two feature sets for two different devices packed into one case, you only need to focus on a few important considerations. Features such as support for different wireless standards, external antennas, dual-band support, or adapter size matter.

Check the USB ports on your device

USB standardization is a complicated topic, but today we only need to talk about the differences between USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. If you have an older laptop or desktop PC, chances are you have at least one or a couple of USB 3.0 ports.

This is important because the USB 2.0 standard has a maximum transfer rate of 60 Mbps or 480 Mbps, and the USB 3.0 ports have a maximum transfer rate of 640 Mbps or 5 Gbps. That's a huge difference. But, it doesn't really matter when it comes to wireless USB adapters because your Internet rate is probably below 480 Mbps. If you have a working USB port, that's okay.

You should only plug the adapter into a USB 3.0 port if you have ultra-fast Internet or use an ultra-fast connection in your work. Access points in public places, as well as universities, shopping malls, and other places, are probably much weaker than the maximum bandwidth of USB 2.0.

You need a Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) adapter

The Wi-Fi specification may look as complicated as the USB standard, but once we move to numbers instead of the old labels, which include both numbers and letters, it becomes much easier to decipher.

• 802.11b is now called Wi-Fi 1 and supports bandwidths up to 54 Mbps
• 802.11a is now called Wi-Fi 2 and supports up to 11 Mbps throughput
• 802.11g is now called Wi-Fi 3 and supports up to 54 Mbps throughput
• 802.11n is now called Wi-Fi 4 and supports bandwidths up to 600 Mbps
• 802.11ac is now called Wi-Fi 5 and supports up to 1.3 Gbps of throughput
• 802.11ax is now called Wi-Fi 6 And supports up to 10-12 Gbps of throughput

Which Wi-Fi adapter is better to buy

Choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, experts recommend paying attention to several important parameters with which the device will provide a stable and smooth operation of the network. It's important to consider compatibility with the OS, the connection interface, capabilities and specifications, as well as support for Wi-Fi-communication standards. The communication standards will indicate at what speeds it can operate, and the access area and range will determine the stability of the signal. Having broken down the submitted models by category, the experts recommend considering the following nominees:

• To ensure a stable high-speed signal on your PC, you can take a closer look at the Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Powerline pack, which has a built-in signal amplifier and can connect to a wired network.
• Also for a PC, the Alfa Network AWUS036NHV with support for monitoring technology and compatibility with any OS will be a good option.
• You can choose Lumax DV0002HD for your TV or set-top box with an easy setup, long antenna range and Wi-Fi Direct support.
• Another good wi-fi adapter for a set-top box or TV will be a small Tenda U9, which is able to provide a stable and reliable signal and has Mu-Mimo technology built in.
• And for the laptop, experts recommend looking at Edimax EW-7611UCB with built-in Bluetooth 4.0. It has good power, is compatible with all operating systems and works on two bands.

The other models presented are also worthy of attention and have their merits before the buyers. Rating 2023 invites users to determine them independently based on the intended criteria.

Which wi fi adapter is better for PC to choose and buy?

The pricing policy of manufacturers can vary significantly with respect to devices with the same capabilities. That is why it is so important to compare the technical characteristics and choose the best option:

• Such an adapter as ZYXEL NWD6605 is quite modern, will provide a stable connection, but you can find a cheaper one with similar parameters.
• LUMAX DV0002HD is definitely worth choosing if the set-top box is of the same firm.
• Edimax EW-7711UAn is easy to set up and operate and produces a stable signal. But you should not expect a large range from it.
• ASUS USB-N14 is compact and powerful but it only sees one band.
• Alfa Network AWUS036NHV is chosen by users for whom the distance to the access point is important. It has good sensitivity combined with a smooth signal.
• Reasonable price, good communication quality at a distance of 10-15 meters, and no difficulty in using the Tenda U3.
• Confidently works on modern communication standards in two bands D-link DWA-182/D1. But the price is a bit pricey.
• The optimal option that demonstrates the capabilities of modern adapters is TP-LINK Archer T2UH. It is the leader in terms of price to quality ratio.

It is recommended to buy a model for your computer with the same parameters that the home Wireless Fidelity router supports. If you choose a lower performance, it will worsen the quality of the network. Therefore, it is advisable to read the router's manual first.

Wi fi adapter for computer – what is it?

Wi-Fi adapters refer to useful devices that allow you to connect stationary computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets and other digital devices that do not originally have the function of wireless connection to the global web to the world stream of the Internet. The adapters operate in a given frequency range through broadband radio communication.

By the way, if you are choosing a monitor for your computer, don't jump to conclusions until you study our rating of the best models.

Adapters with good technical characteristics can significantly improve the quality of communication and increase the range. Therefore, they have recently been increasingly used for laptops that have wifi, but do not have a stable signal.

Modern network adapters are equipped with external and internal antennas. There are three types of adapters:

• External. Connect to the system unit (laptop, tablet) via a USB port.
• Built-in. To use them for a desktop computer you have to make a direct connection to the motherboard.
• Cardboard. So far they haven't found a wide spread because they are used for computer equipment with a PCCard slot.

Some models can only receive the signal, others can receive and transmit. Drivers are almost always used to digitize correctly.

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