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Whether you’re looking for a better WiFi connection for your laptop, or have a desktop pc without inbuilt wireless connectivity, there are plenty of reasons to consider picking up a USB WiFi adapter. With more and more people working from home, it’s important to have a stable, high-speed connection that will remain strong no matter where you are in the house.
There are a number of top products on the market that will make sure that your WiFi connection will remain strong no matter where you are in the house. Whether you’re on a Zoom call with work colleagues, or at a crucial point in an online game, our ranking list of the 10 best USB WiFi dongles and adapters in the UK will keep you connected. Stay tuned for our picks from Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS and more, available on Amazon and Argos!
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Mbps stands for Megabytes per second and is the unit of measurement for how fast computer data is transferred. It's used when copying files to a hard drive, downloading and uploading, and is how your internet speed is measured.
The higher the number, the faster the connection, but the magic number that we recommend is 600mbps. This allows for 300mbps to be transferred each way across the two bands, which is more than enough for average usage.
If you have a high-speed internet connection and do a lot of HD streaming or online gaming, it is well worth considering a 1200mbps or above USB adapter. If you only use your device for browsing and emails and have a slower internet connection, 300mbps can suffice.
Boost your signal with our Best WiFi Extenders!
When looking at USB adapters there are a lot of numbers. This can be quite confusing, especially before the nomenclature was rebranded to the current WiFi 6 style as the now known WiFi 5 was previously known as IEEE 802.11ac-2013. Important numbers to look out for are 2.4GHz and 5GHz as they indicate the adapter is "Dual Band".
WiFi works in a similar way to a radio, using radio waves to send information between devices. GHz stands for gigahertz, which is simply the frequency band of the radio waves. WiFi uses both 2.4GHz and 5GHz to transmit data, with 2.4GHz offering lower speeds, but a wider coverage, and 5GHz having higher speeds, although it is more adversely affected by walls and other obstructions.
Some older adapters are only capable of transmitting at 2.4GHz. That's why it is extremely important to have a dual band adapter to provide the highest speeds and best coverage available, no matter where you are in the house.
You may see a few different letters after the term "Wireless" when looking at USB adapters, but the important thing to know is that Wireless N, G, and B are mostly outdated technology. When looking at which USB WiFi adapter to buy, it’s well worth investing in Wireless AC or AX as they’re up-to-date and provide the highest mbps speeds.
That said, Wireless N may be worth considering if you only have a basic internet connection and are working with a tight budget. This is because it can only reach 300mbps. However, we’d always recommend buying the most up-to-date technology as the type or wireless doesn't need to perfectly match the router as adapters that are AC will work fine with previous iterations.
As with the wireless technology itself, USB technology is also constantly improving and updating. Even if you already own a USB WiFi adapter, it may be time for an upgrade if it doesn’t have USB 3.0 compatibility and your device does. USB 3.0 adapters also reportedly have a much more consistent performance when it comes to high-speed gaming.
It's worth noting that a USB 3.0 capable adapter will still work even if your device only has the 2.0 ports. It just won’t be able to reach the absolute top speeds possible. As we mentioned before, it’s always a good practice to buy the most up-to-date products available but isn't crucial if you're not pushing the limits of your network capabilities.
Set a good foundation with our Best WiFi Routers!
There are two main styles of USB WiFi adapter available on the market at the moment, ones that have a wire, and often antennas, and the simple dongle. For a laptop, a dongle is easily the most convenient if you’re constantly moving from room to room, as it’s not to difficult to find a sweet spot where the signal is strong.
If you’re more stationary, you’ll want to opt for a USB adapter you can move around and adjust until you find where the connection is at its best. You’d be surprised how useful it can be being able to move an adapter around, even a radius of just 30cm can make all the difference.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TP-Link AC1900 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter | £44.99 High Mid | The Best USB WiFi Adapter for Improved Connectivity and Exceptional Speeds | ||
2 | Netgear AC1900 Nighthawk | £58.00 High Mid | The Best Choice for Online Gaming and Streaming, Due to It’s Superb Performance | ||
3 | WAVLINK AC1900 USB 3.0 WiFi Adapter|WN690A5D | £29.99 Mid | A Versatile Choice for Laptops and Desktops That Can Be Used Freestanding or as a Dongle | ||
4 | Alfa Network AWUS1900 Ultra speed USB | £51.72 High Mid | A High-End Choice With a Quad-Antenna Design, Perfect for Ultra Speed | ||
5 | TP-Link AC1300 High Gain Wireless USB Adapter|Archer T3U Plus | £15.99 Low Mid | A Discrete Yet Powerful Option for Desktop Builds Featuring MIMO Technology | ||
6 | VIVIOO WiFi Adapter | £13.99 Low Mid | A Top-Spec USB 3.0 Adapter With High Mbps, and Two Moveable Antennas | ||
7 | BrosTrend Long Range USB WiFi Dongle | £29.99 Mid | An Affordable USB 3.0 Option With a Handy Dock, Perfect for Gaming on a Budget | ||
8 | TP-Link Mini Wireless Network Adapter|TL-WN823N | £7.08 Low | A Budget Option for Basic Tasks, Great for Those With Slow-Speed Internet | ||
9 | Tp-Link AC600 Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter | £11.99 Low Mid | An Excellent, Budget Friendly Dongle That’s a Great Choice for Working on the Go | ||
10 | Netgear Wi-Fi USB Mini Adapter|A6100-100PES | £23.49 Mid | A Neat Laptop Upgrade From a Trusted Brand That’s Simple and Easy to Use |
It's no surprise that such a trusted brand like TP-Link have made the best USB WiFi adapter in the UK. Offering high speeds and great connectivity in one neat little package, it's perfect for everything from an office desktop, to a gaming rig or portable laptop.
It supports beamforming, helping to create stronger connections and has discrete high gain antennas. It even comes with a dock with a 3ft USB cable, meaning you'll be able to place it wherever you want.
As Netgear rightly claim, this USB adapter is built for gaming, streaming, and mobility. It's a fantastic device that delivers a great performance, whether you're on a laptop or desktop pc. If online gaming is your thing, then this is the right choice for you.
The included magnetic cradle means you can always find the right spot, and with its beamforming and MIMO technology, you'll always have a reliable wireless connection wherever you are in the house.
This USB adapter can do almost anything. It has extremely high mbps, can be used as a dongle or freestanding, and can even act as an additional router to boost the WiFi signal around your home!
It's also worth noting its thermal design as, like many other computer components, USB adapters can become hot with prolonged use. Overheating can negatively affect the performance of you adapter over time. Thankfully, this isn't a worry with this choice.
We understand that a person's office space needs to create the right atmosphere in order to be as enjoyable as possible and allow for better productivity when working. Many of the higher-end WiFi adapters tend to follow similar designs, but this product from Alfa Network seriously stands out.
The quaruple attena design sits neatly on a desk and looks super futuristic! It doesn't sacrifice any performance for design either, capable of hitting all the high notes that other premium USB adapters can.
If you're building a new desktop pc, opting for an easy USB wireless adapter over a card is a good choice to make. A card may mitigate the need for messy wires, or an adapter taking up space on top of you desk or tower, but this comes at the cost of signal strength.
This option provides you with the best of both worlds. It discreetly hides away at the back of your tower, and has a powerful high gain antenna and MIMO technology, meaning that your signal will stay consistent and strong.
This USB adapter ticks all the right boxes in terms of specifications. It's USB 3.0, has high mbps, and has two moveable antennas in order to maximise signal strength wherever you are. There are, however, some annoying design flaws.
The large size and antennas mean that it isn't really suitable for use with a laptop as the heavy weight will put pressure on your ports, and for a desktop, you'll need to pick up an extending USB cable to go with it. That said, for a docked or desktop setup, it works very well.
This is a great adapter for the price and will take care of your basic online gaming needs. The handy included dock means it works well with both desktop and laptop computers, and the USB 3.0 capabilities mean you'll get the most from your internet.
You may be wondering why this isn't further up on our list, and it may well deserve to be. However, the lack of a recognised brand name does ring some alarm bells when it comes to computing products.
If you're not looking to break the bank, this option from TP-Link is a great choice if you don't have the fastest internet connection. Plus, it's the cheapest option on our list.
Just be aware that you do get what you pay for in some respects. At 300mbps, it's the slowest adapter and is only Wireless N, meaning it can't hit those top speeds that the more expensive options can. It is only 2.4 GHz as well, but if you just need basic internet functionality, it will suffice.
This is a great little dongle from another trusted brand in wireless technology that would be great for updating an older laptop, without physically getting in the way.
It doesn't have the quick connect button that the previous offering has, but it does come in at a cheaper price point, making it well worth considering if you're on a tight budget. Unfortunately, this is only really useful for those who need something to cover basic web browsing and sending emails while on the go.
If you couldn't guess from the name, Netgear specialise in all things WiFi and are a big brand when it comes to routers and wireless adapters. This option is a good choice if you have an older laptop and are experiencing WiFi connection issues.
While not the most up to date or cheapest option on our list, it will just plug in and work, connecting to your router with the push of a button. Saying that, it is only really suitable if you're looking for a quick and easy fix for an old or broken laptop.
Depending on the age of your laptop, you could be using old technology. This means you won’t be getting the faster speed and increased coverage newer technologies can offer. The most recent update in WiFi technology is WiFi 6, which currently has the highest transfer speeds available. However, most USB adapters on the market still use WiFi 5.
We will get into the technical details below, but in layman’s terms, a newer USB adapter is capable of transferring more data per second than older models. This makes them a better choice for use when your device is in a different room to your router as the signal is drastically reduced by walls.
You may need to install drivers from a CD or online source, but most newer computers will have 'plug and play' technology, meaning you won't need to install any drivers manually. Open the USB in the connections folder and select Setup.exe, and the programme will run through all the steps you need to follow.
A USB WiFi adapter provides a faster and more reliable connection than a computer's internal connectivity function by overriding the computer's built-in technology and upgrading it. This improves issues with speed and latency, meaning you're less likely to suffer buffering or lag.
Written and researched by David Sexton
No. 1: TP-Link|AC1900 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter
No. 2: Netgear|AC1900 Nighthawk
No. 3: WAVLINK|AC1900 USB 3.0 WiFi Adapter|WN690A5D
No. 4: Alfa Network |AWUS1900 Ultra speed USB
No. 5: TP-Link|AC1300 High Gain Wireless USB Adapter|Archer T3U Plus
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