Hooray online gamers!!! It’s a big time to forget the frustrations of yesterday’s (bad signal, bad network, and bad connection), move on to the excitation of today, for any hardcore online gamer possessing the best Wi-Fi adapter for gaming is a necessity and not an option.
Also, if you’ve ever been thrown out of an intense gaming situation not because of your bad network but for a lagging Wi-Fi connection which turns your exciting experience on its head. Investing in the best Wi-Fi adapter for gaming will avert the looming headache and the constant fear of being been tossed out of the seventh world.
But how would you pick one? Not just any one, rather the best for your gaming purpose.
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How to Choose the Best Wi-Fi Adapter for Gaming in 2021
You needn’t been told this is the best Wi-Fi adapter, the interest rather is letting you know what makes the best Wi-Fi adaptor, so that you wouldn’t be making a blind decision when going for one. Also with this bulk of information, you can go into the marketplace to ratify and compare several products on the precipice of your gaming purpose before deciding on which of the adaptor you are putting your dime on.
Do you really need one?
Except you are in for coping with cables across your station, a good Wi-Fi adapter can be a great savior and of immense importance. Also, if you just like the Freedom of wireless connection, nowadays who knows where corded connections to the internet are, this brings another limitation to where you can game and game.
What to consider?
There are many things to consider when getting a Wi-Fi adapter for your gaming console. Wi-Fi adapters differ in forms and features and by no means not equal. Even though the most important consideration for gamers is the speed; that is, the amount of data that can be sent and received by your adapter. There are many other factors of consideration such as beamforming, wireless technology standard, antennae, compatibility, range and more.
Don’t get overwhelmed, these are no super complex technology terminologies, they can be explained in simple language for you to understand.
Speed
The Real deal any hardcore gamer would ever want to optimize is the speed. Probably the most important feature any USB Wi-Fi adapter must possess. Wi-Fi adapter speed is a dictate of the amount of bands it possesses, on the minimal a Wi-Fi adapter has a transmission frequency between 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz.
The higher the frequency means that the higher the Mbps speed a Wi-Fi adapter can offer. Because you are interested in gaming, wireless signal should be given preference over the download speed, as it determines the interactivity of the game. Rather than connecting to the internet directly you can even want to connect between gaming devices hands Wi-Fi adaptor with a Mbps can let you transfer files more efficiently
Range
MU-MIMO (multi user multi input multi output) is a modern wireless terminology and technology which has the impact of greatly affecting the quality of any wireless signals with multiple devices. Having more than three to four devices on the single wireless adapter can greatly slow down Wi-Fi connection, but with MU-MIMO you can actively stream data in real-time to several devices while maintaining a robust connection, an impossible feat during the wired old days.
Research has also shown that this new technology that has taken the wireless market by storm can up your Wi-Fi connection up to over 100% faster than normal connection.
Beamforming
Another important feature gamers must watch out for in Wi-Fi adapter is beamforming, a newer technology that improved reception between router and devices by concentrating wireless signal in a focused beam, directly to devices and does that at incredible energy level. This solves the problem of fluctuating transmissions often common to wireless signal bouncing round in pumping waves.
Format
There are several forms in which wireless adapters come. The most common of all is the external USB connection adapter that can be plugged-in into a USB port and steak-out or connected to a larger device using a USB cable.
Another form is the internally plugged wireless card that attached directly to the laptop PCIe slot. For consistent is the key reason why the internal is better, but if you’d prefer a wide range the external will be the best and can also be used on more than one computers a major downside for the internals
USB 2.0 Vs 3.0
USB 2.0 is edging out already and a lot of gamers are moving to the latest modern 3.0. It has a maximum of 48 Mbps while 3.0, overly superior at a speed of 5Gbps should be a better choice for online gamers in search of stability and consistency.
Wi-Fi Technology (802.11(x))
This refers to the technology behind all wireless devices. There exist many types but only a few are relevant for your online gaming purpose. The newest format 802.11ac, is arguably 3x faster than any in the family. You will always find on any Wi-Fi adapter, a label in the form AC1300. Preferably for gaming purposes AC2100, has been labeled by users amidst the best in modern time, for the stability and super-fast connection it provides.
Antennae
MU-MIMO devices are often accompanied by antennae because of its advance features. Adapter varies from a small internal antenna to the prominent four large external antennas. As an online gamer, you’d want to put everything in perfect condition for the optimum experience, you will benefit immensely from external antennas. They can secure connections in area with limited coverage and still offer great connection speed.
Compatibility
Before or after extending your view into the intricate features of any Wi-Fi adapter. It’s imperative you confirm its compatibility with your gaming devices. What a useless spending that would be? if eventually you’ve spend on what’s destined for the junkyard. Fortunately, rarely there occur an issue of incompatibility, but you need to be sure your system OS support the wireless adapter.
Warranty
There is every possibility that tech products will come with flaws, maybe from the producer or damages from the store. It’s important to be ascertained you are covered. From research and experience, product in this category mostly comes with 2-year warranty, Wi-Fi adapters shouldn’t be an exception.
Now that you’re familiar with the factors needed to consider when choosing the best Wi-Fi adaptor for your online gaming activity, we’ve helped you to handpick 10 of the best Wi-Fi adaptors to save you stress and time.
Top 10 Best Wifi Adapter For Gaming Reviews in 2021
| Product | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. EDUP Dual-Band Wireless USB Network Adapter | Best for Non-interference Connection | 4.4 |
| 2. TP-Link AC1300 PCle Wireless Wi-Fi PCle Card | Best for Old and New Routers | 4.2 |
| 3. EDIMAX Wireless USB Adapter | Best for All Operating Systems | 4.0 |
| 4. D-Link USB wireless dual-band Adapter | Best for Strong Internet Connection | 3.8 |
| 5. ANEWKODI 600Mbps USB WIFI ADAPTER | Best for Reliable and Secure Connection | 3.8 |
| 6. NETGEAR Nighthawk Ac1900 Wi-Fi USB Adapter | Best for Lag-free Internet Connection | 4.1 |
| 7. TRENDnet’s AC 1900 High Power Dual Band Wireless USB Adapter | Best for Connecting Multiple Device | 3.5 |
| 8. Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Wireless USB 3.0 Adapter | Best for Fast Internet Connection | 3.9 |
| 9. ROSEWELL 802. 11AC Dual Band AC1900 PCI Wi-Fi Adapter | Best for Efficient Internet Connection | 4.2 |
| 10. ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100 802. 11AC Adapter | Best for Effortless Online Gaming | 4.4 |
1. EDUP Dual-Band Wireless USB Network Adapter
With the improvement in technology comes an increasing need to have a reliable, comfortable and fast network connection. EDUP wireless USB adapter is an innovative and mesmerizing product that provides a speedy and reliable connection which aids gaming conditions. It possesses a dual band wireless adapter that is heralded as the newest and the most powerful Wi-Fi technology.
This dual band prevents interference which in-turn improves connection with wireless networks. EDUP wireless adapter is compatible with all types of routers and supports windows XP/vista/7/8.1/10 and Mac (apple) OS X 10. 7- 10. 14.
As adapters go, this product is one of the fastest around being a high speed 802. 11AC adapter. It boasts an impressive 600Mbps Wi-Fi speed on 5GHz (433Mbps) and 2.4GHz (150Mbps). With the2.4GHz an ideal fit for web surfing and chatting while 5GHz is perfect for seamless HD video streaming and online gaming.
It is easy to install, requiring only to insert the disk in the package into the CD ROM and running the driver on it or if it is a System without CD ROM, the driver can be downloaded on EDUP website after which you can insert the USB adapter.
Pros
- Portable and easy to carry about.
- The antenna helps with wide coverage and performance.
- Pretty fast.
Cons
- Signal strength is sometimes affected by obstacles like wall.
2. TP-Link AC1300 PCle Wireless Wi-Fi PCle Card
Have you been searching for a wireless Wi-Fi card that will replace or improve your old and slow Wi-Fi card to the latest gaming speed requirement? Your search is over as TP-Link AC1300 wireless card is specially made to attain maximum speed and high performance level in old and new computer systems.
It is compatible with windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP and works with both old and new routers of all types. Once successfully installed it upgrades your Wi-Fi card to 867Mbps on 5GHz and 400Mbps on 2.4GHz. It also supports the latest Wi-Fi standard IEEE 802. 11ac which offers transfer rate that are three times faster than wireless N speeds. Owing to this features, it is absolutely perfect for lag-free online gaming and buffering-free HD video streaming.
One of the impressive characteristics of this product is the advanced heat sink which helps to dissipate heat generated by the adapter and as a consequence improves performance and stability. It also has external advanced antennas that offer easy alignment, stable connections and incredible coverage.
Pros
- Easy to set up with advanced security.
- Fast connection
- Reliable and secure.
Cons
- Not easy to set up especially on windows 10.
3. EDIMAX Wireless USB Adapter
The joy of having a pretty fast and reliable wireless internet connection is often underestimated by the majority. The introduction of Wi-Fi adapters has proved an eye opener to internet users and game lovers on what they have been missing out on. One of such products that give an immeasurable joy to frequent game players is EDIMAX dual-band wireless USB adapter.
This product is a USB 2.0 Wi-Fi adapter supportive of wave 2 and MU-MIMO (multiple users, multiple input multiple output) technology. For optimum service, pair with an 11AC wave 2 MU-MIMO router, this will help to upgrade the older PC to a MU-MIMO device operating at a speed of about 867Mbps on 5GHz or 300Mbps 2.4GHz. It is compatible with windows 7/8/8.1/10, Linux 2.64.15 and apple Operating System (OS) 10.710.13
With the 11AC wave 2 MU-MIMO technology, you can run four streams and serve multiple devices simultaneously allowing smooth web surfing, video streaming and online gaming. Another big plus of this device is its Nano, lightweight design that can be easily plugged into any type of laptop for mobility and convenience. All-in-all this is a device that packs speed and versatility into a single product.
Pros
- Extremely fast.
- Portable and light in weight
- Can serve multiple devices at once.
- Features 64/128 bit WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption which a high level of security.
Cons
- Does not support any power saving mode.
4. D-Link USB wireless dual-band Adapter
Have you been searching for an adapter that gives the same signal strength from all corners and angles of your room? Then your search is over as D-Link USB wireless dual-band adapter provides the perfect solution to your problem. This USB 3.0 adapter provides uniform speed across all angles and areas in your room and lets you have the best gaming experience from any location.
With the advanced AC smart beam improving the coverage and performance by directing the bandwidth between your router and the D-Link wireless adapter. D-Link wireless adapter is compatible with all versions pc/laptop and all router types.
This wireless adapter is extremely fast with AC1900speed (about 1300Mbps on 5GHz and 600Mbps on 2.4GHz) and offers connection flexibility with the availability of 2.4GHz for day-to-day activities like web surfing and 5GHz for HD video streaming and online games. Also with USB 3.0 compatibility it transfers data 10times faster than the USB 2.0 standard and enhances power management.
For an eye-catching design blessed with high speed and coverage range, this is a product you won’t want to miss out on.
Pros
- Super-fast strong signal
- Has a wide coverage.
- Does not get affected by barriers like walls.
- Safe and easy to use.
Cons
- Sometimes drop connection.
5. ANEWKODI 600Mbps USB WIFI ADAPTER
Are you a frequent computer user and passionate gamer in search of a reliable and fast connection to your Wi-Fi? Then, this is the product you have been looking for. ANEWKODI dual wireless USB adapter is a low cost but extremely reliable and fast Wi-Fi adapter with a strong network signal boosting feature.
This adaptor is easy to install and requires no drivers for windows 10 while also being compatible with a host of devices such as windows 10/8/7/vista/2000/XP, Mac OS 10.5-10.13. One of the attractive features of this product is its long-ranged 2dBi antenna working to create strong connection irrespective of the signal strength.
With this adapter you can easily move between 2.4GHz (giga heartz) and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands. This in-turn helps to prevent interference and provide optimal Wi-Fi connection on your pc/laptop. The 2.4GHz band can easily be used for web surfing and online chatting while the 5GHz band makes streaming of high quality HD videos and online gaming seamless.
For a low cost and high quality dual Wi-Fi adapter, you can hardly do better than this.
Pros
- Relatively cheap compared to other adapters.
- Works at a maximum speed of 2.4Hz 150Mbps (megabyte per second) or 5Hz 433Mbps.
- Has a sturdy and does not easily damage.
- Compatible with all types of routers.
Cons
- There might a reduction in network strength when there is a wall between the adapter and the router.
6. NETGEAR Nighthawk Ac1900 Wi-Fi USB Adapter
Have you been wondering if your old laptop/desktop could surf the web and play online games at optimum speed? Well it is very much possible with Netgear Wi-Fi USB adapter. Netgear USB adapter once connected to your system, it connects your system old and new pc to the faster and highly efficient 802. 11ac Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.9Gbps. This product works better and faster with USB 3.0 port and it is also compatible with USB 2.0 of Microsoft windows 7,8,10 and Mac OS X 10.8.3 or later.
With the USB 3.0 port it works at an optimum speed of about 600Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1300Mbps on 5GHz. It transfers data at an impressive rate while also producing lag-free online gaming and HD video streaming.
The adapter includes a magnetic cradle that aids with flexible and dynamic placement and an easy mount on magnetic surface. It also possesses powerful antennas with beamforming technology which boosts speed, reliability and range of Wi-Fi connections.
Pros
- Super-fast and compatible with windows OS and Mac OS.
- Easy to install
- Compatible with all Wi-Fi router.
- Connects router’s Wi-Fi network with Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS)
Cons
- It is a little bit large, takes space and adds additional weight to the pc/laptop.
7. TRENDnet’s AC 1900 High Power Dual Band Wireless USB Adapter
Have you been having problems connecting multiple devices to your router all at once resulting into low performance? TRENDnet dual band wireless USB adapter brings an end to your worries and problems.
This product which works like a switch is a high power radio with detachable antennas which increases Wi-Fi coverage and range. It upgrades a computer to wireless AC1900 network and effortlessly connects you to a high performance wireless AC network at 1300Mbps or to a wireless N network at 600Mbps.
With its four 5dBi antennas and beamforming features, it improves real-time performance through directing stronger wireless signals to all of the devices connected to it. The dual band feature makes it possible to select between 2.4GHz (600Mbps) for web surfing and chatting and 5GHz (1300Mbps) for effortless and lag-free online gaming and 4k HD video streaming.
It also possesses LED indicators that show the status of the adapter. Keeping it simple, this is a carefully designed and amazing dual band wifi adapter.
Pros
- Easy to setup.
- Reliable and compatible with windows OS and Mac OS
- Has wireless encryption WEP, WPA/WPA2-PSK.
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Makes high pitch noise.
8. Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Wireless USB 3.0 Adapter
If you tired of connecting your pc/laptop to your router using a cable or your device operating system is windows 10/8/7/vista/XP with a USB 3.0 port with passion for online gaming. You have just come across a product specially made for you. LINKSYS dual-band wireless adapter is an extremely fast and secured Wi-Fi adapter.
The device is compatible with windows 10/8/7vista/XP having a USB 3.0 port and works with all Wi-Fi routers. It is extremely reliable and offers about 128bit encryption (WEP, WPA and WPA2) for content protection and prevention of backend leakages.
This unit is one of the fastest dual Wi-Fi adapters in the market with up to about 867 Mbps speed on Wireless AC 5 GHz band, and 300 Mbps speed on Wireless N 2.4 GHz band. This allows an absolutely fast high definition (HD) video streaming without lag or buffering and an imperative online gaming presence.
It also supports WPS (Wi-Fi protection setup) button for ease of connection with wireless router and access points. In short, this is an absolute gem of a product.
Pros
- Extremely fast.
- Secured
- Easy to use.
- Portable and adds no additional weight to your pc/laptop.
Cons
- The driver sometimes does not load automatically.
9. ROSEWELL 802. 11AC Dual Band AC1900 PCI Wi-Fi Adapter
Just about everything thrives on the efficiency of internet connection, ranging from businesses to entertainment. Rosewell dual band Wi-Fi adapter card is a major step forward towards giving people satisfaction when computing. This product is one the leading and most reliable Wi-Fi adapter cards around.
Thanks to the broadcom’s new generation Wi-Fi 802. 11ac chipset, this device is load quickly at a speed of about 1300Mbps without hiccups. At 5GHz band and 600Mbps at 2.4GHz band, it is three times faster than the 802. 11n Wi-Fi speed.
With this impressive speed, online gaming, web surfing, chatting and video streaming is made seamless and enjoyable. It also maintains a full backward compatibility with all previous Wi-Fi standards. Also, its 3 high gain detachable antennas, it offers wide coverage range.
The stylish aluminum heat sink dissipates heat from the chipset ensuring reliability and longevity. It is compatible with windows XP/7/6.1/10 and supports advanced security 64/128 WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK. The beamforming feature makes sure you are connected to the strongest and most reliable connections available.
Pros
- Powerful and fast.
- Has a wide coverage range.
Cons
- The driver does not easily run on window 10.
10. ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100 802. 11AC Adapter
Quality is the tagline for success and that is exactly what ASUS adapter card provides. ASUS adapter card is a carefully designed product with speed and efficiency in mind. This adapter card is extraordinarily fast and brings far-reaching high throughput dual-band AC3100 to your laptop/pc and makes online gaming effortless.
With its four transmit, four receive antenna design the Wi-Fi range and signal stability are increased drastically for faster, smoother and stronger Wi-Fi. It boasts an impressive speed of about 2100Mbps (5GHz band) and 1000 (2.4GHz) that allows you to enjoy an impressively smooth streaming and low-latency online gaming.
It also possesses a magnetic antenna which allows it be placed on any location which enhances signal strength. Its custom heat sink effectively dissipates heat which improves stability, reliability and longevity.
For the best results, connected devices must be 802 compatible.
Pros
- Super-fast and reliable.
- Strong signal
- Compatible with all types of routers.
Cons
- It sometimes malfunctions on windows while using 5GHz
FAQ About Best Wi-Fi Adapters in 2021
Does size really matters?
That’s a question of preference, it could rather be uncomfortable carrying a larger adapter along when the smaller size mini USB are available. Either way, both have their ups and downs. Smaller may work with most PC units but the larger may be preferred for their extended features.
Do I need a range extender?
Except your apartment is relatively small, drop in connection strength and signal quality become more noticeable with distance. Nevertheless, a range extender could be of benefit if you want to cover a bit extra range.
What software must be considered?
The best adapters are the easiest to be installed. Adapter with drivers requires no extra effort even for novices. However, some adapter comes with on disk full-fledged software, they may offer the benefit of more operating system compatibility, but often prove tricky on installation.
Conclusion
With these, you’ve realized there is more to selecting the best Wi-Fi adapter than just putting in some amazing words for your search engine. This will help, and in the long run will get you the ideal product. The selection shouldn’t be a thing of trial and error, also you can rely on this-like information from reliable sources to making a guided decision.
Gradually corded internet connections are becoming forgetting things as modern wireless technology is growing to give wireless adapters that compete at the same level of efficiency and speed with their predecessors and even more faster. You can benefit from this ever evolving technological gadgets, especially for your online gaming purpose, the only thing you need to do right is making an informed decision.
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