Best USB Wireless Adapters in the UK

NETGEAR is a powerhouse of wireless Internet solutions. A lot of people rely on their routers, so it really comes as no surprise that the company has diversified their production into USB WiFi adapters too. Now, unlike the majority of these protocol converters, the model in question features a slightly larger frame, something that you're just going to have to used to. But if you ask us, the size is the small price to pay for what is essentially a wireless router packed into a body of a USB drive. If you have the appropriate Internet connection and a router, this device will provide you with up to 1200 Mbps of download rate (300 Mbps at the 2.4 GHz frequency and 867 Mbps at the 5 GHz frequency). The latter is possible due to the fact that the adapter supports the latest, 3.0 iteration of the USB standard. As some of you may know, USB 3.0 can handle over ten times the speed of 2.0, so you will have much more opportunities at your disposal in terms of the data transfer rate.

Just like the company's routers, this USB WiFi adapter also comes equipped with the Beamforming+ technology that is responsible for increasing the speed, range, and reliability of the signal. Speaking of which, the model also comes with high-gain antennas, so it boasts a considerable range, providing you with the ability to receive a stable wireless signal from a significant distance.

In short, as it often is the case with wireless Internet solutions, NETGEAR provides one of the most technologically impressive options on the market. With its help, you will be able to forget about wires but enjoy the quality of a signal that you'd normally only get from a wired connection.

TP-Link Archer offers a simple and convenient way of connecting to the Internet without having to deal with bulky PCI adapters or optical fibre cables. Simply plug this bad boy in and you will be able to enjoy a download rate of 433Mbps over the 5GHz band, the sort of connection that is well above sufficient for streaming video content in Full HD or indulging in lag-free online gaming sessions. And if you feel so inclined, you can always use the 2.4GHz band that provides a respectable 150Mbps, which is more than enough for simple web surfing with a legacy device.

As a rule of thumb, we try not to put too much stock in these drives' design, but we're willing to make an exception here as the model's compact and sleek design is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing. The company's very own doubleshot moulding technology gives this USB WiFi adapter a crystal clear surface, making it smooth, polished, yet soft to the touch. Finally, the large majority of people do not necessarily fall under the "technologically savvy" category, but that's not an issue here. With the complementary software that features a particularly straightforward and intuitive interface, just about anybody will be able to set up a wireless connection in a matter of minutes.

Again, what makes TP-Link Archer so appealing is that it is arguably the best USB WiFi adapter when it comes to providing a simple and convenient way of connecting to the Internet without having to deal with bulky PCI adapters or optical fibre ethernet cables. But the attractive and practical design of this product certainly doesn't hurt either.

The Foktech W-107 WiFi Dongle doesn't have a big brand like TP-LINK or NETGEAR behind it but what the company and their product lack in the name they make up for it with creative solutions and solid technologies. Starting with the former, one of the biggest issues with these adapters is that they tend to heat up after a few hours of continuous use. Well, Foktech solved that issue by implementing a number of heat emission holes. As their name suggests, these holes allow the device to disperse the heat that comes from the motherboard instead of storing it. Thanks to this smart design solution, the product doesn't heat up even after tens of hours of use.

In terms of its specs, the model does not trail behind the big brand either. Working with the latest iteration of the Wi-Fi standard, an 802.11ac frame, the USB WiFi adapter is capable of distributing a considerable amount of data in the shortest period of time. Using the 5Ghz band, you will have up to 433 Mbps at your disposal, which is more than enough for HD video streaming, competitive gaming, or any other activity that requires a fast and reliable Internet connection. And if you would just like to browse the Internet on your old tablet, the 2.4 GHz band with a 150 Mbps cap will be able to meet your needs. The device is compatible with just about every iteration of Windows. So, if your computer is running on anything older than Windows 10, simply use the software that comes with the adapter and you'll be able to set a wireless connection up and running in no time at all. Though some customers find the said software a bit clunky and less than optimal, it gets the job done and that's all that matters.

To rephrase our earlier point, the Foktech W-107 WiFi Dongle may not have a big brand like TP-LINK or NETGEAR behind it but what the company and their USB WiFi adapter lack in the name department, they more than make up for it with a creative design approach and solid performance.

Some people love chasing the latest trends of the high-tech world. Some don't. If you subscribe to the latter philosophy and you simply need a capable tool that will allow you to connect your legacy tech to the Internet without dealing with any wires, you might want to give this mini USB WiFi adapter from TP-LINK a try.

The biggest selling point of this product is definitely its miniature design. With about 1.8 x 1.5 x 0.8 centimetres in overall dimensions and 4 and a half grams of weight, you can simply leave the adapter in the laptop and it won't affect the latter in any way, shape, or form. As far as the data rate is concerned, this isn't the most impressive option on the market. Since it's not a dual-band adapter, you'll only have the 2.4Ghz band to work with. But the latter will provide you with 150 Mbps of download speed, and that is more than enough for PC that has seen better days or for a laptop that is just a tad outdated. Plus, despite its disposition towards legacy technology, this USB WiFi adapter features enhanced wireless encryption, so there's not much to worry about here on the network security front. Furthermore, the SoftAP Mode will allow you to turn your PC or laptop into a WiFi hotspot, so you'll be able to distribute the signal to any other gadgets in the vicinity.

So, if you do not have a whole lot of high-end devices and different gadgets at your disposal, there's no need to overpay for a high-end wireless adapter. With the help of this model from TP-LINK, you'll be able to satisfy your wireless connection needs and that is all you need from this kind of drive.

Today you'll be hard-pressed to find a smaller wireless adapter than the EW-7711Un. It's so tiny you won't even need to unplug it to pack your laptop in the bag - the adapter won't impede its transportation. Despite being so tiny in size, the EW-7711Un supports a high data rate of up to 150 Mb/s via 802.11n protocol, which is 3 times faster compared to an old 11g one. Once you plug it in, you'll get a chance to enjoy a high-speed Internet connection. Trying to produce products that would be both high-end and energy-effective, the Edimax company implemented in this adapter the Green WLAN technology, a clever power control protocol. Thanks to this protocol, the adapter is able to adjust the output power according to the communication range without loading the CPU. All this made it possible to reduce the power consumption by 20-50%. So the EW-7711Un is not only one of the quickest and advanced adapter, it's also one of the most energy-efficient.