Gaming has become really common these days and in fact it is increasing day by day with the advancement of technology. Gaming has changed into something huge and dynamic which is present in everyone’s life in some or the other way.
For being a great gamer you need an excellent internet speed with no hindrances. If you are seeking for a best wireless adapter for gaming, then the chances are that you do not have a motherboard with WiFi.
Wireless network has become the norm in contemporary times. Mostly, the gamers play their games on PC’s and the possibility is that it does not have a WiFi capability. It is very normal for most of the PC’s, thus you would have to buy a wireless adapter to enable this connectivity.
The benefit of the WiFi adapter is that it adds WiFi connectivity in the desktop. Wireless adapters deliver the best performance as they improve the connectivity and offer a consistent wireless connection.
Also Read: Best Ethernet Cables for Gaming 2024 | Reviews, Deals & Buyer’s Guide
There are various options that you can get today for wireless adapters but we have made a list of the best WiFi adapters for you, let’s have a look.
List of Best Wireless Adapter
Last update on 2020-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1) ASUS AC1900 Wi-Fi Dual Band PCI-E Adapter
This WiFi adapter is very simple to set up and is relatively low priced. This adapter looks very stylish and has total 3 antennas that ensure the best results and connectivity.
The most beneficial thing about the adapter is that it comes with a heat sink which keeps it cool and makes the adapter continue to work without any issues.
It comes with a fabulous build quality, the PCI-E device is red in color and the good thing is that it is easy to install with no requirement of additional cables or wires.
You would get a two-way transmission plus a signal boosting design with it. You would be glad to know that it’s WiFi range is quite extended, which means that you would not have to worry about the dead spots in the house.
Pros
- Flexible Antenna
- Impressive speed
- No more messy Ethernet cables
- Heat sink is on the card
- More Speed
Cons
- Comparatively expensive
2) TP-Link AC 1900 Wireless Dual Band PCIe Adapter Archer T9E
This is one of the best wireless adapters for gaming as TP itself is a renowned brand when it comes to making products that are related to networking. This adapter again is easy to set up and comes with dual band standard.
The dual band is not just for gaming but is also good for any demanding network application. You would not have to worry about the lags while using this network.
This adapter is for people who are looking for amazing performance in affordable rates. It provides speed up to 600 Mbps in 2.4 GHz and 1300 Mbps in the 5 GHz band.
It might not be as stylish as other adapters but the technology used to make this adapter is amazing as with this adapter you would be able to receive directional WiFi signals. It has three external antennas which ensure that there are no drops or inconsistency in the speed.
Pros
- Beam-forming technology
- Impressive Speed
- Easy to Install
- Dual Band Configuration
- Offers consistent ping
Cons
- Heatsink is not configured
- Low performance in 5GHz band
3) ASUS USB-AC68 Dual-Band WiFi adapter
It is one of the leading WiFi adapter for gaming as it offers PCE-AC68 adapter. The shape of this adapter is like a bird which plugins straight away into the USB port of the computer and comes with a handy docking station which can be used to extend the connection and place the device somewhere else.
You can keep the antenna closed for better portability as it is USB powered so there would be no issues.
It gives you a speed of 600 Mbps with 2.4 GHz and 100 Mbps with 5 GHz and it comes with a dual-band WiFi adapter. Thus it ensures a great speed and amazing performance.
There are a lot of aspects about this adapter which piqued or interest such as it provides fast speed in affordable prices. It is an ideal purchase for bubbling gamers as the file transfer just takes a couple of seconds.
Pros
- AiRadar Beam-forming technology
- Easy set-up
- Compact Antenna
- Great Speed
Cons
- Cable size poses connection issues with PC’s sometimes
4) D-Link Systems DWA-192
This adapter is quite different from the other adapters when it comes to shape and its designing. Usually all of the adapters have typical USB stick shape but it looks more like a poke ball.
It provides great performance not only for gaming but for it provides a performance as good as what comes with Ethernet connections. It comes with a dual band and the model offers both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Doing large file transfers is pretty easy when you have such a WiFi with amazing speed. It connects to your desktop by a 3-foot USB cable. The best thing about it is that it works well with all brands of WiFi routers and also with all sorts of range extenders.
The basic set-up and installation of this adapter is very straightforward and simple and once that is done you can disable the built-in chip.
Pros
- Fast Speed
- Triple Antennas with Beam-forming technology
- Works with all routers
- Sturdy Construction
Cons
- Slightly bulkier
- Not meant for laptops
5) OURLINK 600Mbps AC600 Dual band USB WiFi Adapter
It is one of the smallest and cheapest WiFi adapters in the list but is a great value for money and is one of the best options for in-house gaming sessions with HD video streaming.
It is made for lightweight gaming; the adapter is small in size but delivers a great amount of performance and speed. This model comes with the best features and that too at an economical pricing.
Another good thing about it is that you would not have to spend a lot of time in setting it as it is very simple to set up. You just plug it in and start playing, it is that easy.
It comes with dual band wireless connection and also comes with an omni-directional antenna which can reach all corners of your house. This adapter is best for live HD streaming, gaming and lag-free Skype calls.
Pros
- Affordable
- Miniature Design
- Single antenna with beam-forming technology
- Compatible with both Windows and Mac
Cons
- USB 2.0 is comparatively slow
- Too big antenna
6) Panda Wireless PAU06 USB Wireless Adapter
It is one of the best WiFi adapters which was launched in 2014. It is a new company in the market which is trying to establish but has already earned a good name in the market because of its great performance.
This adapter provides excellent performance in affordable rates. It is a very lightweight adapter; its minimalist design weighs only 45 gm. You can carry the model anywhere while travelling as it is so light.
Windows 10 users would be glad to use this plug and play adapter that can be setup easily within a couple of seconds. If we talk about the signal strength, it stays strong as long as you are indoors.
Connectivity is never an issue with this adapter. It offers a speed of 245 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz range which is good enough for 2.4 GHz g/n routers. One of the major drawbacks of this adapter is that it does not work well with Windows, 7, 8 and 8.1.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Plug and Play setup
- Backward compatible with 802.11 g standard
- Compatible with various OS
Cons
- Sudden Signal Drop when outdoors
- Motherboard detection issues
7) Trendnet AC 1900 TEW-809UB
It is one WiFi adapter which offers high speed and provides a tough competition to some low-end routers in aspects of signal strength.
You would have mostly seen a wireless adapter with two or three antennas but it comes with four antennas, which makes it look like a four-legged robot spider. For customization, these legs are removable and adjustable.
The reason behind 4 antennas is that they aim to make it work better depending on the applications. If we talk about the speed, it reaches 600 Mbps over 2.4 GHZ band and 1300 Mbps with 5.0 GHz, 1900 in total. The speed of the adapter is better than the D-Link’s DWA-192.
It is a robust WiFi adapter; it is built strong so that it delivers on better portability. Setting this adapter is very easy, you just need to install the drivers through the CD which comes with it and that is it. The range of this WiFi adapter is 30 feet which is great but can be an issue if you have placed the router at a distant place.
Pros
- Supports Dual band standard
- Robust Build
- Consistent Speeds
- 802.11ac equipped
Cons
- Inconsistent speed at long distance
- Does not support MU-MIMO format
8) Linksys AC 1200
It is one of the best wireless adapters for gaming as it has everything that you would expect from a good adapter as it is fast, secure and easy to use. Its installation takes very less time and even a beginner can do the set up on their own.
This WiFi adapter is compatible with all wireless AC 802.11 ac routers and access points. This wireless 3.0 USB adapter is lightweight and very portable, which means you can easily carry it while travelling.
It provides you with dual band speed up to 400 Mbps in 5 GHz band for online gaming or streaming HD videos and 151 Mbps in 2.5 GHz band for normal use such as surfing the web.
Security is the first thing that comes to our mind while using wireless networks and this WiFi adapter supports up to 128 encryption like WAP, WPA2, WPS to effortlessly connect with a router or access point.
Pros
- 128-bit encryption
- Affordable and lightweight
- USB 3.0 Connection
- Compatible with all AC 802.11 ac routers
- Supports Dual band
Cons
- No external antenna
- Not a good speed in 2.5 GHz band
This was about some of the best WiFi adapters from which you can choose and purchase as per your requirements. Now, let us know the key things you should focus on before buying any WiFi adapter:
WiFi/Wireless Adapter Buying Guide (PCIe & USB)
1) Internet connection Speed
First thing is that you need to check on your internet speed and then see if the wireless adapter can handle the internet connection speed or not. Secondly, check if the adapter would be able to support faster transfer speeds higher than what your internet connection offers.
2) Existing wireless router and technology
Check if your old router is compatible with the WiFi adapter or not. As the current technology is a router using 802.11 ac or 802.11 n wireless technology. Also check if the router supports single band or dual band connectivity.
3) Desktop connectivity options
Check if it is the USB port or PCIe slot. Well, using USB 3.0 is advised for best speeds.
4) Signal Strength
The most important thing is signal strength, do check the signal strength and it depends on the antenna of the model. Few have internal and some have external antenna starting from 1 to 4.
For checking the signal strength you would have to consider the distance and walls, if the signal just has to go through no walls or by just 1 wall then you can opt for internal antenna. But, if it has to go through several walls then buy one with several antennas.
Summing Up
After reading this article, you must have gained a lot of information on gaming WiFi adapters and it would help you in choosing the best one for you. Thus, always consider quality before buying any adapter, rest all the features mentioned above would help you make the best decisions easily and quickly. So, opt for the best one and play your favorite games without any connectivity hindrance.
Top Rated WiFi Adapters For Gaming
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Wi-Fi USB... | No ratings yet | $63.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Techkey Wireless USB WiFi Adapter,... | No ratings yet | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  | TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 PCIe WiFi... | No ratings yet | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |  | USB WiFi Adapter for PC, Techkey... | No ratings yet | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |  | USB WiFi Adapter 1200Mbps TECHKEY... | No ratings yet | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2020-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API