With the world going wireless, it’s painful to find out that your PC lacks Bluetooth connectivity. Last month, I moved from a laptop to a slightly older desktop. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t connect my wireless earphones, and that’s when my search for quality Bluetooth USB Adapters began.
The good thing about these tiny thumb-sized accessories is that you just need to plug them to a USB port on your PC and they are good to go.
In this post, we are going to explore some of the best Bluetooth USB adapters for PC gaming.
Things to Check While Buying Bluetooth USB Adapters
There are certain things that you should check before buying,
- Latency
- Size
- Bluetooth range
You have to keep in mind that while all USB adapters connect to wireless headphones and earphones, they don’t do the same for gaming controllers.
Also, you have to sacrifice one of your PC’s USB A outlets.
Note
: Before Windows 8, Windows laptops and PCs didn’t have the support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. Microsoft brought the said profiles in
.
Hence, you may see pairing issues or connection issues if your system runs Windows 7 or below.
1. Avantree DG40S Bluetooth USB Adapter
With over three thousand user reviews, Avantree’s DG40S Bluetooth adapter enjoys the tag of Amazon’s Choice and has more than 70% positive reviews. This adapter doesn’t need a dedicated setup process on Windows 10 PCs. Also, these can connect with everything, right from a pair of wireless headphones to gaming mice or controllers. This device runs Bluetooth 4.0 with EDR and has transfer rates up to 3Mbps.
As far as music quality is concerned, you will get a decent audio quality, and also an impressive speed. There is minimal latency, and the gaming experience is almost flawless.
Most user reviews praise this device for its simple connection process. But do keep in mind that it may differ for different devices such as external speakers.
Note
: The Avantree DG40S isn’t compatible with the
and Nintendo consoles.
It is priced at $12.99.
2. Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter
Up next we have the wireless USB adapter from Plugable. It claims to pair up to seven devices at a time, with one device staying active. It is compatible across Windows and Linux systems and thus seems to be an ideal choice for gaming and for watching movies or streaming music. The range is good with one user claiming that it can go up to 48 feet.
Aside from that, you can hook up the gaming controllers and doesn’t have any issue with recognizing and the subsequent pairing. The only thing you will have to keep in mind not to plug it to a USB 3.0 port as it may cause interference resulting in spotty connection issues.
On a side note, the Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter is not compatible with car stereos, TVs, or MACs. You can pick yours up for $12.95 from Amazon.
3. Cable Matters USB Bluetooth Adapter
Next, on our list, we have the USB adapter from Cable Matters. That is renowned for its excellent connectivity, zero lags, decent sound quality and will connect with most Windows systems. This little adapter is power efficient and claims to drain minimum power from the associated device.
Interestingly, users have praised this new product for its performance when it comes to gaming.
However, some Windows 7 users have complained about installation issues, so you may want to consider it if you are still on Windows 7.
4. Techkey Bluetooth Adapter for PC
The Techkey Bluetooth Adapter for PC is one of the best USB adapters out there, and the sheer number of good reviews speak for it. So far, users have seldom found any connectivity or performance issues with it. It has only 6% negative and over 76% positive reviews.
It supports a bunch of gaming devices such as Nintendo Wii controller, Xbox One controller or wireless keyboards.
Similar to the products above, it automatically connects if you are on Windows 10 system. This one is priced at $12.99.
5. SoundBot SB340 Universal Plug and Play Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter
At $8.99, the SoundBot SB342 Universal adapter has around two thousand customer reviews and is rated 3.6 stars out of 5. This one bundles the standard Bluetooth v4.0 Class 2 with EDR and can provide connectivity up to 10 meters. It does support multiple devices, but as is the standard with these devices, it can only maintain a single active connection at a time.
6. Sabrent USB Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter for PC
With less than 10% negative reviews, the Sabrent USB Adapter for PC is one of the newest entrants in Amazon’s Bluetooth peripherals list. It boasts of the same features as the other adapters on the list. The only difference being that this one has a tiny light indicator at the end to indicate its status.
This one works well for casual gamers and beginners alike. However, if you are into serious gaming with live chats, you might want to give this a miss.
Do note that several users have reported that the companion software is spammy. Thankfully, Windows 10 users may entirely skip that part.
The Sabrent USB Bluetooth adapter is priced at $7.99.
7. ZEXMTE Bluetooth USB Adapter
Last but not least we have the ZEXMTE Bluetooth USB Adapter. Again, this one is a good option as long as you are looking at some casual gaming. Compatible with Windows 10, this USB adapter installs on its own. The range is decent, however, don’t expect it to have a long range and well, that’s the best one can expect out of a $9 product.
When it comes to the overall performance, the reviews are a bit mixed. While some users have complained about abysmal range, at the same time, others have praised its performance and connectivity.
Similar to its other counterparts, this device works best when connected to the USB 2.0 port.
Go Wireless!
These were some of the best Bluetooth USB adapters that you can buy. One thing that’s worth to be noted about these products is that you can’t expect flawless performance or durability, for the price. Still the ones above do their best in getting you a lag-free experience.
Next up: Wondering which Bluetooth speaker to get? Check out the best speakers that money can buy in the post below.
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Last updated on 07 February, 2022
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