Alexis Kestler
Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity has become essential for homes and offices. A good Wi-Fi card can make a world of difference, enabling smooth video calls, streaming, gaming, file transfers and more. This guide covers the 13 best Wi-Fi cards to consider for boosting connectivity.
What to Look for in a Wi-Fi Card
When choosing a Wi-Fi card, key factors to consider include:
- Compatibility – Ensure the card works with your PC‘s operating system and has drivers available.
- Speed – Faster cards support newer standards like Wi-Fi 6E for improved performance.
- Bands – Dual or tri-band cards provide more bandwidth and less interference.
- Antennas – Multiple high-gain antennas enhance signal strength.
- Security – Updated standards like WPA3 offer enhanced encryption.
Advanced features to look for include MU-MIMO, beamforming and Bluetooth support. Considering your usage needs and budget will help narrow down the choices.
Reviews of the Best Wi-Fi Cards
Based on performance, connectivity, features and value, here are 13 of the top-rated Wi-Fi cards to consider:
1. TP-Link Archer TX3000E – Fastest Wi-Fi 6E
If you want the absolute fastest speeds, the TP-Link Archer TX3000E delivers with support for emerging Wi-Fi 6E technology and nearly 3Gbps throughput. It works with the new 6GHz band for less interference plus includes Bluetooth 5.0. With a heat sink and external antennas, this PCIe card provides top-notch connectivity.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6E, up to 2.9Gbps speed
- 6GHz + 5GHz + 2.4GHz bands
- 2x external antennas
- Heat sink for cooling
- Bluetooth 5.0
2. Asus PCE-AX58BT – Feature-Packed Wi-Fi 6 Card
The Asus PCE-AX58BT is a well-rounded Wi-Fi 6 card with strong performance. It includes 5GHz and 2.4GHz support with speeds up to 1.7Gbps, along with Bluetooth 5 and beamforming technology. Dual external antennas, a heat sink and WPA3 security round out the features. If Wi-Fi 6E seems like overkill, this Asus card offers great value.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1700Mbps
- 5GHz + 2.4GHz dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 2x external antennas
- Heat sink for cooling
- Supports beamforming
- WPA3 encryption
3. EDIMAX EW-7833UAC – Budget AC Dual-Band PCIe Card
The EDIMAX EW-7833UAC is an affordable Wi-Fi 5 option with 802.11ac technology. Despite the low price, performance is still solid with dual-band AC1200 speeds. This PCIe card includes dual external antennas and supports WPA2 encryption. For basic dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity without advanced features, it‘s a cost-effective choice.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 5 AC1200 speeds
- 5GHz + 2.4GHz bands
- 2x external antennas
- Supports WPA/WPA2
- Low-profile bracket
4. FebSmart Dual Band AC1200 – Compact Size USB Card
If you need a Wi-Fi card for a small PC case or laptop, check out the tiny FebSmart Dual Band USB device. Despite the tiny size, performance is decent with 300Mbps 2.4GHz plus 867Mbps 5GHz support. An external antenna boosts speeds and the USB interface offers convenient plug-and-play connectivity.
Key Features:
- Dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1200Mbps
- Ultra-compact USB device
- External antenna
- WIDI Wi-Fi display
5. ASUS PCE-AC88 – High Performance AC3100 PCIe Card
Need to cover a large home or office? The ASUS PCE-AC88 offers excellent range and performance. This Wi-Fi 5 card boasts AC3100 dual-band speeds up to 2167Mbps plus four external antennas with removable bases. It also supports MU-MIMO and 128-bit WEP encryption for solid connectivity.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 5 AC3100 speeds
- 4x external antennas
- Customizable antenna placement
- MU-MIMO support
- 128-bit WEP encryption
6. BrosTrend 1200Mbps Long Range USB Card
The BrosTrend Long Range USB card is designed to provide boosted Wi-Fi even in fringe areas. It connects via USB 3.0 and includes a 5dBi antenna for extending range. This 802.11ac dual-band card supports speeds up to 300Mbps on 2.4Ghz and 867Mbps on 5Ghz. Security is covered by WPA2 encryption.
Key Features:
- Dual-band speeds up to 1200Mbps
- 5dBi detachable antenna
- USB 3.0 interface
- Supports WPA2 encryption
7. fenvi AX200 Wi-Fi 6 Card
Here‘s a quality affordable Wi-Fi 6 adapter from Fenvi. The AX200 chipset enables speeds up to 2.4Gbps via dual-band connectivity. It adds in Bluetooth 5.1 support plus beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies for robust wireless coverage. Two antennas come attached for flexible positioning.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 2400Mbps
- 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Beamforming support
- OFDMA and MU-MIMO
- 2x antennas
8. Edimax EW-7822ULC USB Wi-Fi 5 Card
The tiny Edimax EW-7822ULC USB card plugs into laptops and PCs to supply speedy 802.11ac Wi-Fi. It includes a convenient foldable external antenna to boost signals. Performance stands at 433Mbps on 5GHz and 150Mbps on 2.4GHz. If you just want basic dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity from a compact USB device, it fits the bill.
Key Features:
- Plug-and-play USB card
- Foldable external antenna
- Dual-band AC speeds
- Small and portable
9. WAVLINK USB Wi-Fi 6 Adapter
Here‘s a solid USB-based Wi-Fi 6 option from Wavlink. It supplies AX1800 dual-band speeds up to 1.2Gbps on the 5GHz band. This adapter includes Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, two external antennas and useful configuration software. Strong performance, encryption and convenience make this a nice Wi-Fi 6 upgrade.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 speeds
- Dual-band connectivity
- 2x external antennas
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Configuration utility
10. Ubit Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth Card
Ubit offers an affordable PCIe Wi-Fi 6 card touting nice features. It supplies AX speeds up to 1800Mbps across dual bands plus includes Bluetooth 5 connectivity. This card supports MU-MIMO and beamforming for solid coverage, along with WPA3 encryption. If you want Wi-Fi 6 without paying premium pricing, it‘s a good value pick.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1800Mbps
- Dual-band connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0
- OFDMA and MU-MIMO
- Supports WPA3 security
11. EDUP PCIe Wi-Fi 6 Card
EDUP‘s PCIe Wi-Fi 6 card is another good value for upgrading to AX speeds. It offers 1600Mbps performance across dual bands and has an Intel AX200 chipset. The card includes Bluetooth v5.0, MU-MIMO technology and 2×2 MIMO antennas. Performance is solid while checking all the right feature boxes if your PC supports PCIe connections.
Key Features:
- Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1600Mbps
- Dual-band connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0 support
- MU-MIMO and OFDMA
- 2×2 MIMO antennas
12. Panda Wireless PAU06
The Panda Wireless PAU06 is a USB Wi-Fi 5 adapter good for basic wireless connectivity. It allows speeds up to 300Mbps on 2.4Ghz and 867Mbps on 5Ghz. This convenient plug-and-play USB device has a compact design with an integrated antenna. Performance is reliable for typical usage like web browsing, though more demanding tasks may benefit from a faster card.
Key Features:
- Dual-band Wi-Fi AC speeds
- Integrated antenna
- USB plug-and-play
- Portable compact design
13. INICIO PCI Wi-Fi Adapter Card
If you just need basic Wi-Fi connectivity, check out this budget PCI card from INICIO. It provides 300Mbps speeds on the 2.4GHz band utilizing 802.11n technology with one external antenna. Performance is decent for web use and HD video, though more demanding tasks require a faster card. Still, it‘s a nice basic option for adding Wi-Fi to a desktop PC.
Key Features:
- 300Mbps 802.11n Wi-Fi
- 2.4GHz band only
- Single external antenna
- Low-profile bracket
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Wi-Fi card can make a big difference in wireless performance at home or the office. Matching your speed requirements, usage needs and budget will help determine the best fit. Models supporting newer standards like Wi-Fi 6E provide super-fast connectivity for high demand applications. We hope these Wi-Fi card reviews and buying considerations help you find the right upgrade to enable smooth streaming, gaming, large file transfers and more!
