Best WiFi Card For Laptop And Desktops
Whether you're working, streaming, or gaming on your laptop, it's important to have a strong Wi Fi connection. If your laptop doesn't have a Wi fi card, you won't be able to connect to one. Now, although most laptops come with a Wi fi card inbuilt, it's always good to get an upgrade from the stock model.
Selecting the right kind of wifi card for your laptop might be quite a lot of work. Something you should remember is that the Wi fi cards for laptop are entirely different from the kind of wifi cards used for desktops. This is why I have prepared for you a comprehensive list of the highest-ranking wifi cards in the market. In this list, I have mentioned the features, advantages, and limitations of each card. Based on the information in this list, you can choose the best wifi card for laptop for yourself.
Also, you can find the detailed explanation about Wi Fi card below the listings.
Table of Contents
- 10 BEST WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP REVIEW
- OKN WIFI 6 AX200 - BEST DAUL BAND WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
- INTEL AC 9260 - BEST CHEAP WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
- NETELY 6 AX200 - BEST WIFI AND BLUETOOTH CARD FOR LAPTOP
- UBIT WIFI 6E 6GHZ - BEST LAPTOP WIFI CARD FOR GAMING
- WISE TIGER AX200NGW - BEST WIRELESS WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
- NETELY PCS–NGFF M2 2230
- MQUPIN INTEL WIRELESS AC 9260NGW
- YOUBO AX200 NEXT-GEN WIFI 6 NETWORK CARD
- HOW TO CHOOSE A WIFI CARD ESPECIALLY FOR A LAPTOP
- CONCLUSION
10 BEST WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP REVIEW
1
OKN WIFI 6 AX200 - BEST DAUL BAND WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
Features
When you're connected to wifi, speed is going to be your priority. This wifi card is made to give you the fastest connections. This card can process internet speeds of up to 2974Mbps. What keeps these cards on the top is that they are significantly faster than 11ac cards.
Along with speed, this wifi card brings compatibility to the table. It supports the latest wifi 11ax standard. Apart from that, it is also compatible with 2×2 wifi six technology.
Thanks to which you get data speeds of up to 2.4Gbps. This wifi card works well with most operating systems, including Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit, Linux, and Chrome OS.
If your laptop has an M.2 Key A or Key E slot, then this card is a perfect fit for you. I found it to be a very convenient unit. This is because it was simple to install and did not require much effort to do. It is a combination of such advantages that make this wifi card the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
2
INTEL AC 9260 - BEST CHEAP WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
FEATURES
While upgrading stock parts like wifi cards, you need a model with the latest technology. This is a wifi 5 network card. This means that it is the latest available technology that is compatible with all kinds of cutting-edge components that a laptop has.
The Intel Ac 9260 supports dual-band functions. Because of this, you can get breakneck internet speeds of up to 1.73Gbps. The connection you get on this card is uninterrupted and low latency. This means online gaming, video streaming, and file transfers are instant and hassle-free.
This wireless card is designed to function with all 8th generation intel core processors and above smoothly. It is also completely compatible with the Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit). The Intel Ac 9260 wifi card is perfect for laptops that have either a standard key A or an E socket.
Such cutting features leave any competing 11ac devices in the dust. All in all, you can call this model the best wifi card for laptop without a doubt.
Pros
Cons
3
NETELY 6 AX200 - BEST WIFI AND BLUETOOTH CARD FOR LAPTOP
Features
A minor component like a wifi card shouldn't be too heavy on your pocket. This is why you should go for the Netely wifi 6 AX200 wifi card and a bang for your buck. Don't be mistaken; the low price does not reflect on the performance, and you can get high speeds up to 2.4Gbps with this wifi card.
This wifi card was specifically designed for laptops with M2 network slots. It is compatible with operating systems like Windows 10 (64-bit) and Chrome OS. This wifi card is at the top of the market because it flawlessly meets all the latest wifi 6 standards.
Your wifi connection is safely encrypted with this unit. Thanks to its compatibility with 64-bit and 128-bit wireless security encryption of WEP, TKIP, and AES-CCMP. Something I found appealing as a consumer is how easy it was to install.
There was nothing elaborate involved; in fact, it was kind of a plug-and-play setup. Any smart consumer will see this unit as the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
4
UBIT WIFI 6E 6GHZ - BEST LAPTOP WIFI CARD FOR GAMING
Features
When you're looking for a stronger connection between your wifi and laptop, it is most likely for gaming or streaming movies. Well, you don't have to look any further the Ubit wifi 6E 6Ghz wifi Card has been designed specifically for gaming and 4K streaming;
This wifi card stays a notch above the competition with their combined AX210 chipset. The very purpose of this card is to utilize the complete potential of your wifi 6E/wifi six routers when it is connected to your laptop. This 6GHz wifi card helps you reach blazing speeds up to 2402Mbps without any kind of lag.
The connection also has a long range and won't be interrupted easily. Something I found to be amazing in this unit is the Bluetooth connectivity. With the help of this Bluetooth connection, your internet will have twice the speed and will have four times more coverage. With a wide range of features, there is no doubt that this is the best wifi card for laptop in the market.
Pros
Cons
5
WISE TIGER AX200NGW - BEST WIRELESS WIFI CARD FOR LAPTOP
FEATURES
When you're replacing a stock wifi card, you'll need a substitute that gives you additional features. The Wise Tiger AX200 gives you all of those features and a lot more.
If your laptop has an M.2 2230 or 1216 port, then this is the ideal wifi card for you to use. This unit is a cut above any wifi card that uses the standard Intel AX200NGW chip. It has this added advantage thanks to the innovative software suite that is inbuilt. This wifi card uses MU-MIMO software that allows you to connect multiple devices to the wifi network.
With this device, you'll never have to experience bandwidth congestion and lag. This is a device that is designed to function effectively and efficiently with multiple devices being connected. The wise tiger has Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
Using 5.1 gives you four times more range than older versions. In addition to that, it doubles data rate speed and ensures you have instant transmissions. With so many features loaded in, this is the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
6
NETELY PCS–NGFF M2 2230
FEATURES
While choosing a wifi card for your laptop, it is important to make sure that it is going to work well with the other components. The M2 2230 wifi Card is specifically designed to work effectively with laptop motherboards.
This wifi card works on an advanced 2X2 wave wireless AC network connection for streaming. This wifi card runs on a frequency of 80 MHz which means your laptop can reach speeds up to 867Mbps. This wifi card offers a hassle-free experience whether you are doing regular work or streaming content in 4k.
The NGFF M2 2230 interface comes with Bluetooth 5.0, which increases the connectivity of any Bluetooth device connected to your laptop. Something that puts this device ahead of the competition is the advanced low power consumption design. With such a wide range of advantages being offered, the NGFF M2 2230 is undoubtedly the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
7
MQUPIN INTEL WIRELESS AC 9260NGW
FEATURES
Speed is something every consumer wants from their wifi card. The MQUPIN Intel 9260 wifi card operates at a frequency of 5 GHz(160Mhz). This ensures that they can reach blazing speeds up to 1.73Gbps.
This wifi card is compatible with Linux Kernels 4.14+, Google Chrome OS/Windows 10 on Intel processor-powered laptops. In order to keep the network strong and stable, this wifi card has an IPX4 generation antenna inbuilt.
Now the thing about these antennas is that they are very fragile and small. This is why there is an attached baffle to protect it and ensure that it never loosens up and falls off. This wifi card also comes with all of the standard expected features like Bluetooth 5.0, MU-MIMO software, and superspeed wireless data transmission.
A combination of all these features functioning smoothly together gives it a significant edge over rival products. This is why it can be termed as the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
8
YOUBO AX200 NEXT-GEN WIFI 6 NETWORK CARD
FEATURES
The AX200 uses the M.2 2230 format. This wifi card processes a maximum speed of 2.4 Gbps on the 5 GHz (160 MHz) band and around 574 MB/s on the 2.4 GHz band variant. This wifi card uses the latest MU-MIMO software. With this unit, you get 2x2 TX/RX channels along with two antennae.
The best part of this unit is the strong Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. It is compatible with laptops that use Windows 10 and Google Chrome OS. Additionally, it supports the Linux OS as well as the Linux 5.1 kernel. With such customer-friendly features, this is arguably the best wifi card for laptop.
Pros
Cons
What is a Wi Fi Card?
Most recent laptops will come with Wifi cards or some Wifi capability so you can connect to the internet. A Wifi card is a wireless card that is either PCIe-based or plugs into your M.2 slot. The newer cards can feature Wifi 6, and most modern ones also have a Bluetooth option.
So, you might be wondering, if my laptop already comes with a Wifi card, why would I need a new one? Well, it might be that you’re trying to enhance your current setup and get better connectivity. Or, you might be dealing with a faulty or old Wifi card that isn’t giving you a very good connection, or maybe your Wifi card has finally called it quits on you. USB adapters are a possible alternative, but unlike Wifi cards, they’re not exactly a permanent solution.
You can use them as a stopgap measure while you hunt for a new Wifi card. While you don’t have to mess around with the hardware when setting up a connection via an adapter, the quality of your connection is heavily dependent on the adapter you buy, and the fact that it’s a plug-in makes it more vulnerable to accidents.
So now that we’ve established that a Wifi card is probably your best bet let’s find out some more about the types of Wifi cards you’ll have to choose from.
Types of laptop Wifi cards
When it comes to Wifi cards for your laptop, there are a couple of types available.
Mini PCL: These have a wireless antenna to improve connectivity. If you bought your system prior to 2010, you might have one of these cards. They may be used on desktops or laptops.
Half-height mini PCL: Prior to 2016, you might have one of these. These are much smaller and could also be used on desktops or laptops.
M.2 slot card: If you’ve purchased a laptop recently, this is the Wifi card you’re likely to have. If you have an older laptop model, your new M.2 card might not be compatible with it, so you should double-check. This card also comes equipped with antennas and has a Bluetooth adapter. It’s compatible with most operating systems as well.
HOW TO CHOOSE A WIFI CARD ESPECIALLY FOR A LAPTOP
The Wifi card you choose depends on the kind of system you have and what you need from your internet. Will you be working on your laptop and transferring a lot of files? Will you be gaming or streaming? Does price matter? All these factors have to be taken into consideration. Here are a few tips:
Check if your new Wifi card is compatible
If you’ve picked out a couple of options, you need to first check that the Wifi card in question will fit in your laptop hardware. Check your wireless adapters under your settings on your laptop, and you should be able to locate which Wifi card you currently have. Also, check your laptop BIOS menu. If there is a whitelist, you may have fewer options to choose from. You may want to contact either your laptop’s service center or the manufacturers of the Wifi card to check if your laptop is compatible.
Measure the card
A good idea before buying a new card is to double-check that your old one is accessible and what it measures. It’s also a good test for whether you’ll be able to install your new card alone. In most cases, you just have to unscrew your laptop bottom and check.
Buy the best card for your laptop
If your laptop isn’t that old, opt for a Wifi-6 model for better connectivity. A decent Wifi card shouldn’t run you much more than $20.
Remember Bluetooth
When you own a laptop, a Bluetooth connection for peripherals is a must. Most M.2 cards will come with Bluetooth capability.
Hopefully, this has helped you learn what you need to know about Wi fi cards for your laptop. Happy shopping!
CONCLUSION
The above list contains a list of the best available wifi cards in the market. From this list, you can pick the best wifi card for laptop. This list has been compiled after extensive research on what the best models are in the market.
In this list, you won't just see the best models to choose from, and you'll also find the features, pros, and cons that each model has. So all you have to do is go through all of this information and decide which of these wifi cards meets your needs in the best way possible. On the whole, all of the models mentioned are featured as being some of the best in the market.
