Best USB Wi-Fi Adapters For Windows

Need a USB Wi-Fi adapter for your computer or tablet? Picking the right one can be difficult only due to the numerous choices, but most of them are pretty good, so don't sweat it. Let's break down a few things you should know and then start shopping for an adapter for you.

2.0 or 3.0 USB:
Most commonly found today is USB 2.x and 3.x. If your computer is 2008-09 or older, you might not have USB 3.0 so buying a 3.0 adapter would be pointless, although they are backward compatible. Check your router specs; there are many IEEE Wi-Fi standards with the latest common release being 802.11ac. If your router is 802.11 A-N, you can base your USB 2.0 or 3.0 choice on price or features. However, if your router is 802.11ac, USB 3.0 is the correct choice to take advantage or the higher speed considering that standard is theoretically faster than USB 2.0, which would cause a bottleneck. You can Google your router name to find out quickly. Check the back or bottom of your router for a sticker that tells you the brand and model.

Price:
They say you get what you pay for. In this case, not really. Some lesser known brands can be both a best seller and well reviewed online, but they may lack support and reliability. If money needs to be saved, then get a lesser known brand, but if support and reliability are a concern, then you're probably going to pay a little more for names like Linksys, D-Link, or Netgear, for example.

Style or Size:
The next thing you want to know is what "size" adapter you will need so let's get that out of the way. There are essentially three different sizes, so, for the most part, I am making up names for them. They are:

1: Mini or Micro Best for laptops, but they also work fine with desktops. These USB adapters are so small you barely notice them. Don't let the small size fool you; there are some excellent choices here in price, quality and performance.

2: Standard USB Wi-Fi Adapter Best for desktops first, then laptops if you don't mind that they stick out a little. These are usually rectangular and can be roughly two inches long (give or take) and are thin. They are much larger than mini or micro, but may sometimes offer a slightly better range with larger built-in antennas.

3: Antenna Wi-Fi Adapters Best for desktops. They have antennas that either fold out or are screwed into the end of your adapter by hand. The idea behind antennas is that you get better range. In my opinion, for the most part, if your range is this bad you might consider purchasing what is called a Wi-Fi extender or repeater for a better signal. Most of them are plug-and-play with the push of a button.

Now you should have an idea of what adapter will work for your situation, so let's begin looking at some excellent choices. As mentioned, there are hundreds of vendors and tens of thousands of choices, but these are available now, work with Windows 7-10 (sometimes XP) and top rated. Links and pictures open in a new tab so you can click at will, check out the details, close and return.

Mini or Micro

1: TP-Link Archer T1U Wireless Nano USB Adapter
Under 20 bucks. TP-LINK's AC450 Wireless Nano USB Adapter, the Archer T1U allows you to connect a desktop or laptop computer to a wireless network and achieve speeds of up to 433Mbps. This miniature adapter is designed to be as convenient and unobtrusive as possible, while also including attractive features such as advanced wireless encryption, easy installation, and Soft AP Mode.

2: Netgear A6100-100PAS IEEE 802.11ac - Wi-Fi Adapter
In some places, this costs almost 80 bucks. Here it is for under 50. The NETGEAR A6100 Wi-Fi USB Mini Adapter with AC600 Dual Band wirelessly connects your notebook or desktop computer to an 11ac network for applications such as lag-free, HD streams throughout your home, online gaming and a secure and reliable connection to the Internet. NETGEAR genieÂ® is included for easy installation. With the NETGEAR Push 'N' Connect feature, enjoy a secured wireless Internet connection, at the push of a button.

3: Heiyo Dual Band Wireless Adapter,600Mbps 802.11ac Mini USB
Under 20 bucks. Heiyo mini wireless wi-fi adapter, a new experience of enjoying 5.8GHz+2.4GHz dual band with OFDM wireless technology, it presents less signal interference while works at a 5.85.8GHz frequency, and providing better transmission with its 433Mbps data rate, the unique design brings easy and free wireless digital life.
Standard USB Wi-Fi Adapter

Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Wireless USB 3.0 Adapter
I'm using this now and have for some time. Brand name, stable and reliable and under 50 bucks. The Linksys WUSB6300 USB 3.0 adapter enables you to connect your computer to a wireless-AC network, so you can easily stream high-definition video and enjoy high-speed gaming. The WPA-TKIP, WPA2, WPS and WEP protocols help keep data private.

NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Adapter
Middle of the road price-wise under 40 bucks. Yes, I have this one too. They've updated it over the years, and this is not the newest one, but the best bang for your buck. When you're ready to connect your desktop or laptop to a wireless hotspot or new Wireless-N network, the NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter will get the job done with outstanding speed, minimal interference, and robust connections. Featuring dual-band Wireless-N technology, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter delivers exceptional range and speed of new Wireless-N devices while still offering backward compatibility to older Wireless-G networks.

Panda 300Mbps Wireless N USB Adapter
Under 15 bucks! It's small for this category but too big for a micro. Most adapters in this size that are any good tend to be in the 40-60 dollar range. The Panda 300Mbps Wireless 802.11n USB Adapter (PAU05) upgrades the Wi-Fi interface on your computer to the latest 802.11n standard. Your computer can communicate wirelessly with any 802.11g/n wireless router at home, coffee shops, etc.

Antenna Wi-Fi Adapters

Heiyo Network Wi-Fi Dongle, 600Mbps 802.11ac Mini USB Wireless Adapter

This one crosses over being a micro USB with an antenna. Neat. 20 bucks. Heiyo USB wireless wi-fi network adapter with high gain long-range antenna, a new experience of enjoying 5.8GHz+2.4GHz dual band with OFDM wireless technology, it presents less signal interference while works at the 5.85.8GHz frequency, and providing better transmission with its 433Mbps data rate, the unique design brings easy and free wireless digital life.

NETGEAR AC1200 Wi-Fi USB Adapter High Gain Dual Band USB 3.0

I have this in my hand right now. I have a drawer full of adapters. I've had great luck with this one as well, however where my desktop is I kept bumping into it, so I am using the Linksys above right now. Around 50 bucks. The NETGEAR AC1200 Wi-Fi USB 3.0 Adapter with high-gain antennas provides 3x faster access than USB 2.0. Wirelessly connect your notebook or desktop computer to an 11ac network for applications such as lag-free, multiple HD streams throughout your home.

TP-Link N150 Wireless High Gain USB Adapter

It's 12 bucks so if you need something cheap, this will suffice. TP-Link has a consistent line of well-rated adapters. The adapter has an external 4 dBi omnidirectional antenna that delivers stronger signal penetration strength and wider wireless coverage than its standard counterparts. The antenna can be adjusted 360 degrees to get the best signal reception.

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