OVERVIEW
Internet gaming has gone mainstream in recent years. Being a 90s kid myself, I remember when the online gaming scene was restricted to very basic games, which, however, at that point, seemed very modern. Like everything else, the online gaming scene was bound to evolve. We went from games like Club Penguin, Ice and Fire to Age Of Empires, World Of Warcraft and now to Playerunknown’s Battleground (Pubg), Fortnite, DOTA and much more.
The common thing amongst all these games is that they require you to have an internet connection (for multiplayer at least but you get my point). These games, the modern ones, require a strong and fast internet connection in order to experience them as the developers intended; at their very best.
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Most gamers agree that the best way to play games is through a desktop. Desktops being customizable offers you, a gamer, the ability to build it as per your requirement and need and overall gives a way better performance and easier controls in comparison to, say, a laptop or tablet.
A major drawback of a desktop, however, is that the lack of wireless connectivity. Most people now have a Wi-Fi system setup at their homes, it would be ideal to have a smart gaming wifi router that connects your adapter and completely bypasses the whole mess that ethernet LAN wires can create. However, if you need to connect devices simlutaneously you a use a smart WiFi router.
A Wi-Fi Adapter lets you do that. It lets you connect to the internet without any wires and connects to it as your laptop or mobile would. So, here is a top 10 list of Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming.
REVIEW OF BEST WIFI ADAPTER FOR GAMING
1. Archer T2U Nano (TP-Link Mini - AC600)
The first entry on my list of Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming is the Archer T2U Nano. As the name suggests, this thing isn’t huge but rather its Nano. It’s like a little pen drive, around the size of a coin that lets you connect to the internet (Oh! Technology).
The T2U Nano or AC600 Mini is a budget dual-band dongle that supports 2.4 GHz and 5Ghz. Being a budget dongle takes nothing away from it as this thing does its job well. Pairing this with an older laptop or PC would allow you to make use of the faster 5Ghz channel that the inbuilt WiFi adapter might not be able to tap into.
This a solid option for anyone that falls into the “occasional gamer” category and of course, it works just fine for office work and streaming movies.
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2. TP-Link AC600 (Archer T2U Plus)
The second entry on my list of Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming comes the Archer T2U Plus. It is like the elder brother of the previous entry on my list, the Archer T2U Nano. The T2U Plus, aka, TP- INK AC600 High Gain is currently, at the time of writing this article, a holder of the badge of Amazon’s Choice so with that stamp of approval, you know you cannot go wrong with this.
It offers long-range connectivity at high speeds thanks to its 5dB High-gain antenna, which is adjustable and multi-directional. This adapter by TP-Link is better suited for gamers than the T2U Nano as it offers better connection stability, which is required for lag-free gaming.
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3. Techkey 1200 Mbps USB WiFi Adapter
A holder of the Amazon’s Choice Badge and the Number 1 ranked Best Seller in the ‘USB Computer Network Adapters’ category, this is the fastest and one of the Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming on my list. It has a 5dBi antenna that has offers high-speed connectivity and stability for those long gaming sessions.
It gives you a solid range of about 100 yards, you can browse through social media, stream videos, or play games from anywhere in your house. Coming to the speed that this adapter offers when you connect to it is a 5.8G band, this thing can reach the maximum speed of about 867 Mbps.
Now, that’s pretty impressive, but in order to get a to that speed, you need to have a 5.8G signal. To get that, you require a dual-band WiFi router with a 5.8G band so keep that in mind. Otherwise, it offers a decent 300 Mbps speed at 2.42G which isn’t bad at all.
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4. BrosTrend AC3
Next up in my list of Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming offers you something the rest don’t; a cool brand name. Well, at least in my opinion. Brostrend AC3 is much more than just a product with a solid name though.
This WiFi Adapter offers great range and stability thanks to its 2 pieces of 5dBi High Gain WiFi Antennas. With WiFi speeds of 867Mbps on 5GHz WiFi band or 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, you can expect an enjoyable session of lag-free gaming, 4k video streaming and pretty much anything else you would do on the internet.
Equipped with 2.5dBi Antennas, paired along with the 5 feet extension cable in the box with USB 3.0 cable offers fantastic range and speed. USB 3.0 Adapter Speed is 10 times than USB2.0 so one can never go wrong with having that.
Also, the USB 3.0 port is gold plated so that looks, you guessed it, pretty cool. Overall, this is a solid choice for gaming and you won’t regret getting this Wi-Fi adapter.
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5. Techkey AC1200
Another product on my list is taken by Techkey. The Techkey AC1200 is an easy to use WiFi adapter. It comes with Dual Antennas with 5dBi range that ensures long-range connectivity and stability. So if you wanna watch a stream or play a game far away from the router, you can.
It’s fairly easy to install and offers universal compatibility ranging from Windows 10~7/Vista/XP to MAC OS/ 10.4~10.15, which covers the majority of people. With a USB 3.0 port, it is easily connected to PCs and other devices and gives about 10 fold the performance of a USB 2.0 port.
If your computer is under wired Internet connection, you can create a hotspot using the Soft AP feature. With this Best WiFi adapter for gaming offering 300Mbps Speed on 2.42GHz and 867Mbps Wireless Speed on 5GHz WiFi Band, gaming or streaming shouldn’t be an issue, especially on the latter.
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6. Techkey AC1750
Yet this is another product by Techkey on my list, it is the best amongst them. Techkey Ac1750 is the ultimate product, a WiFi adapter with External high-efficiency dual-frequency, high gain, dual antennas of 5dBi, thanks to which the range and stability on this thing are fantastic.
The Techhkey AC1750 takes a major leap in the department of speed. It offers you an insane Wireless Speed of 1300Mbps 5.8GHz WiFi Band or 450Mbps Speed on 2.42GHz, so gaming and streaming should be very smooth. Needless to say, it can handle other things like office work, video calling etc as well.
Like other products by Techkey, the AC1750 too can create a hotspot using the Soft AP Function (if your computer is under wired Internet connection). This is a great product for gamers with its fast speed and range.
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7. ASUS USB-AC68
The best one yet for strict gamers! A product by a company that is the most famous on our list of Best WiFi Adapter for gaming, the Asus AC68 is a beast. This bad boy over here has a 5th generation 802.11ac chipset that gives you dual-band,2.4GHz/5GHz and lets you get up to the maximum speed of a maddening 1.30Gbps.
Its design is really sleek and would blend into a gamer’s setup easily. The design, aside from aesthetics, also has benefits like adding flexibility and scalability. It has three flexible external antennas, provides the range and stability needed for lag-free gaming.
The flexible antennas can be pinpointed at just the right angle for the best reception. The custom heat-sink helps the power users a lot as it dissipates the heat and makes it stable and cooler for continuous use.
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8. Wireless USB WiFi Adapter for PC
This one is a no brainer, easy to use, basic USB WiFi adapter that provides you with the needed speed to stream buffer and play lag-free. The two-piece Dual High Gain WiFi and 5dBi Antenna strengthens a weak signal and provides stable and long-range connectivity.
With USB 3.0 compatibility, you can get a maximum speed of 867Mbps on 5GHz WiFi Band or 300Mbps 2.4GHz. With its multi-directional Antennas and the ease of portability, this is ideal for a gamer on the go.
Needless to say, this will perform fine for those who wish to use it not just for gaming, but also for office work or streaming.
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9. EDUP WiFi Adapter
EDUP is one of the best WiFi adapter for gaming out there that offers a simple and plain WiFi adapter that is a solution to all your troubles. The device isn’t very big or clumsy making it easy to carry while no lacking in the packing-a-punch department. It has an adjustable 5dBi high-gain external antenna, which provides you with a strong reception for better stability.
It is able to reach speeds of 400 Mbps speeds on the 2.4 GHz band, which is ideal for daily, normal usage while the 5 GHz band offers a much higher speed of 867 Mbps for gaming and streaming. With its AP Function, you can create a hotspot which is a handy little feature.
Despite just a single antenna, it is regarded for its stability and ability to provide a stable connection with a fair bit of range, so it does a good job in helping you experience a lag-free gaming session.
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10. Nineplus Wireless USB WiFi Adapter
The last entry on my list of Best WiFi Adapter for gaming is another product by Nineplus. This is a basic, non-gimmicky WiFi adapter that likes to keep it plain and simple. The High Gain Wi-Fi Antenna on this lets you upgrade your old pc from having a slow, clunky connection to now being able to connect to 5G.
The High Gain Long-Range WiFi Antennas of 5dBi also provides a long-range and stable connection, so you can enjoy your game or streams without hassle. With a maximum of 867Mbps Wireless Speed on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, it has got heavy and casual covered.
This WiFi Adapter also has the AP Function feature which allows you to create hotspots and you can never go wrong with having that ability. Supporting USB 3.0 Port makes things way faster and with easy installation, this device is as advertised.
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the one that you may pick depends highly upon your usage and need. Heavy gamer, casual gamer, gaming plus office, a gamer with a knack for traveling. Whatever it may be, I have something for all of you. My personal recommendation would be the ASUS USB-AC68 for hardcore gamers, provided your pocket allows it.
The way it looks and feels speaks magnitudes about its build quality. It is built for gamers and heavy users and it shows. With features like custom heat-sink keeping the heat under control and making sure the work goes on interrupted and 4 antennas go to show that it is the best suited for those that enjoy long periods of intensive streaming or gaming.
The BrosTrend AC3 is what I would recommend for casual gamers or users. For those longing to simply update an old pc to be able to connect to 5G or maybe someone who wants an alternate to maybe fixing a broken inbuilt WiFi chip, BrosTrend AC3 is for you.
It does its job well enough, so if you wish to, you can enjoy gaming on it without committing to the full-on gamer setup that the Asus AC68 asks of you and it is also the cheaper option. So, I hope my list helped you in picking out the Best WiFi Adapter For Gaming.
