With the introduction of Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, users can now enjoy faster speeds, improved coverage, and better overall performance. While modern laptops support the Wi-Fi 6 standard, most PC users have not been able to benefit from the newer Wi-Fi tech. If you fall under the same umbrella, then you must be on the lookout for the best Wi-Fi 6 Adapters for your PC.
And that’s exactly what this post is all about. We will be talking about the best Wi-Fi 6 adapters for PC users available in the market today. The list includes both USB adapters and cards, to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
But first, you might want to check out the following:
- Play online games easily with these budget gaming Wi-Fi Routers
- Continue to stay online with these power banks for your Wi-Fi router
1. Linccras USB WiFi 6 Adapter
- Interface: USB | Maximum Speed: 1800Mbps
Available in either black or white color options, the Linccras USB WiFi 6 Adapter works best when connected to a USB 3.0 port on your PC. This allows it to transmit at a much faster rate, as opposed to the older USB 2.0 standard. As for signal reception itself, the dual 2dBi high-gain antennas provide nice wireless transmission and can receive signals from any angle.
The dongle also comes with an Access Point mode. Essentially, if your PC is connected to the Internet via Ethernet, you can use this adapter to create a Wi-Fi 6 hotspot to connect your smartphone or other devices.
2. TP-Link Archer TX20U Plus
- Interface: USB | Maximum Speed: 1800Mbps
The TP-Link Archer TX20U Plus is a big adapter that rests on top of your PC cabinet or on your desk. At the same time, it connects to your PC via a 1-meter USB cable. It features adjustable antennas which you can rotate and adjust for the best reception.
Apart from supporting Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 standards, it also comes with a handful of extra features. You get support for MU-MIMO and Beamforming technologies, allowing you to get faster speeds despite congestion in your network. As for security, there’s support for WPA3 encryption as well.
3. QGOO AX1800 USB 3.0 WiFi Dongle
- Interface: USB | Maximum Speed: 1800Mbps
While most Wi-Fi 6 dongles only have support for Windows 10 and above, the QGOO Wi-Fi 6 USB Adapter is a rare product that supports Windows 7 as well. In fact, there are plenty of consumers who specifically bought this product for this very feature.
That being said, while the drivers are provided inside the package on both a USB drive and a mini CD, some users did face issues with driver installation. Nonetheless, you can easily download the Realtek 8832AU drivers from DriverHub to solve this issue.
Also, as compared to the Linccras adapter, the QGOO Wi-Fi 6 USB Adapter features superior 5dBi antennas. As such, you should get even better signal reception and faster speeds.
4. Cudy WiFi 6E PCIe Card
- Interface: PCIe | Maximum Speed: 5400Mbps
Compared to Wi-Fi 6, the Cudy WiFi PCIe card’s Wi-Fi 6E standard allows you to connect not just to 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, but also to the 6GHz band. As a result, if you have multiple Wi-Fi connections in range, you can just connect to the 6GHz band to avoid interference without compromising on the maximum speeds.
What’s more, is that this PCIe adapter also comes with support for Bluetooth 5.2 technology. Compared to Bluetooth 4.2, the latest standard provides twice the data speeds and quadruples the range.
One thing to note here is that while the product description states that you only require a PCIe x1 slot, some customers have complained about the same. As such, make sure that you have a spare PCIe x4 slot on your motherboard for the adapter to work properly. Additionally, if you wish to make use of the Bluetooth functionality, keep a F_USB header free on your board.
5. TP-Link Archer TX3000E
- Interface: PCIe | Maximum Speed: 3000Mbps
Be it gaming, 4K streaming, or transferring big files wirelessly over your network, the TP-Link Archer TX3000E can do it all. In fact, the folks over at Digital Citizen gave it a 5-star rating. The adapter also has over 8,100 ratings with a combined 4.7-star rating on Amazon.
While the Cudy Wi-Fi 6E card is a great deal, the company isn’t the most reputable vendor on the market. On the other hand, most folks swear by TP-Link’s products, and the Archer TX3000E offers excellent performance without compromising on anything.
You get two multi-directional antennas with a magnetized base, which are connected to the PCIe card. What’s more, you can place the antenna dock at a distance for better signal reception.
It also makes use of OFDMA technology, which essentially improves wireless efficiency and also reduces ping in games. Also, similar to the Cudy card, you get the added benefit of Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. Add to that, there’s also support for WPA3 encryption for secure connections.
6. ASUS USB-AX56
- Interface: USB | Maximum Speed: 1800Mbps
The ASUS USB-AX56 is a simple plug-and-play device that hooks up to the USB port of your PC or laptop. While you can plug it directly into your system, it also comes with an external antenna and cradle. This allows you to place it anywhere you like for the best signal reception.
In terms of performance, the unit delivers on its maximum rated speed of 1800Mbps quite consistently. Additionally, PCWorld’s review highlighted that the Wi-Fi 6 USB adapter has a very high TCP throughput, which is great for transferring large bits of data over the network.
Other than that, you also get the latest technologies such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and BSS Coloring, along with support for WPA3 security. Add to all that the assurance brought about by ASUS’ brand name.
FAQs about Best Wi-Fi 6 Adapters for PC
Yes, Wi-Fi 6 adapters are backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards. This means that you can use a Wi-Fi 6 adapter to connect to older Wi-Fi networks that use previous Wi-Fi standards.
There are two main types of Wi-Fi 6 adapters for PC: USB adapters and PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) cards. USB adapters are small and portable, while PCIe cards offer better performance and are ideal for desktop PCs. Depending on your needs and use case, you might prefer one over the other.
Technically, yes. You can use a USB Wi-Fi 6 adapter on older USB 2.0 ports as well. However, you will not benefit from the fast speeds of the Wi-Fi 6 standard, since USB 2.0 does not have enough bandwidth for it.
Get Wi-Fi 6 for Your PC Easily
A Wi-Fi 6 adapter is an excellent investment if you want to experience faster speeds, improved performance, and better coverage on your PC. Whether you choose a USB adapter for its portability or a PCIe card for its superior performance, the options we’ve listed will help you get the most out of your Wi-Fi 6 connection.
So which of these best Wi-Fi 6 Adapters for PC will you be going with? Let us know in the comments below.
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Last updated on 22 March, 2023
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