In the present day, where we are all constantly on the move, most of us prefer a laptop over a desktop computer. These devices are extremely handy and allow you to take your work with you wherever you go.
But one of the most vital requirements we have for our laptops is that of a wireless connection. And what else would help us with that, if not a WiFi card?
This article will allow you to pick out the best WiFi card for your laptop, so you can get the internet connection that you need, anywhere and everywhere.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Laptop WiFi Cards
- OUR TOP PICK: Intel 7260 HMWWB.R
- PJ-CARD AR9462 AR5B22
- Intel 3160 Dual Band Wireless AC
- OKN WiFi 6 AX200 802.11ax
- Dell Broadcom Wireless 802
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: HP RealTek RTL8188CE
Comparison Chart of the Best Laptop WiFi Cards
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Can Any WiFi Card Be Used in a Laptop?
Laptops are designed to be considerably smaller than our usual desktop computers. Undoubtedly, their motherboards are also smaller, and so are the slots provided on it. Therefore, the WiFi cards used in laptops are usually smaller than those used in other PCs. For this reason, WiFi cards normally used in desktops can't be used in laptops.
Another difference between the cards used in other computers and laptops is that laptops use PCI or PCI-E cards, which do not work on desktops. Given these modifications, we can say that not just any WiFi card can be used for laptops. You need to carefully pick out the ones that are compatible with your device.
How to Choose a WiFi Card Specifically For a Laptop
The extensive range of WiFi cards available on the market can easily confuse you. The different types available will only serve to distract you from the right unit that is compatible with your laptop. In order to ensure that you choose the perfect option, here are the features that you specifically need to concentrate on.
Compatibility
The unit that you finally pick for your laptop needs to be compatible not only with your laptop but also with your router. If it isn't compatible with even one of the two, then you may experience great troubles as the device simply will not connect to the router.
Size
The slots for WiFi cards on different laptops are sized differently. Before you go ahead and pick one for yourself, you need to make sure that the size of the card matches the size of the available slot. If you pick the wrong one, you won't have any option but to get another one.
Antennas
If your computer or laptop is already equipped with a WiFi card, and you are looking to upgrade it, then make sure that the one you purchase comes with the same number of antennas as the old one. This will ensure maximum compatibility and cross-check extensible authentication protocols.
Quick Take - Best Laptop WiFi Cards
In a hurry? Below are our recommendations for the best laptop WiFi cards:
Review of the Best Laptop WiFi Cards
Now that we know which features to look for in a WiFi card for a laptop, we can finally get to selecting one for you. Here is a list of products that have been picked on the basis of being better than all other similar products. All you need to do is find a card that fits your requirements perfectly.
Best Overall:
Intel Intel 7260 HMWWB.R
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If you're wondering what's so special about this unit, then the user reviews will give you a good idea. Those who have tested this card themselves can't help but sing its praises for the great features and connectivity that it provides. Users believe that it is a unit that greatly surpasses all others with its great excellence
Why it Stands Out to Us
Being the top product on this list, this WiFi card has a great number of features. Out of all these, the one that particularly stands out is the built-in Bluetooth adapter. So with this unit, your laptop will not only be able to connect to wireless internet connections, but will also be able to connect to 4.0 Bluetooth.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit excels in all the features that it provides. You get not only a good internet connection, but also great coverage, capacity, and battery life. For this reason, it is ideal for those who are on the move for a greater period of time. Since it elongates your laptop's battery life, users will no longer have to worry about their battery running out quickly while using WiFi.
Bottom Line
This unit is definitely one that beats all others, no matter what aspect is being considered. It might be a little pricier than other units, but it surely gives you strong value more than worth the money that it costs. No matter what sort of use it is intended for, this WiFi card will be sure to provide you with optimal performance.
Runner-up:
PJ-CARD AR9462 AR5B22
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Those who upgraded to this unit were all very satisfied with their choice. They claim to experience dramatically improved internet speeds along with outstanding coverage. According to the users, this WiFi card is one that has not failed them in any aspect at all.
Why it Stands Out to Us
If you ask us what we love about this unit, it is the great speed boost that it provides. If you upgrade from your current WiFi card to this one, then you too will notice how well it works at providing a speed boost to your internet connections -- not just one or two, but about five times faster than the original.
Who Will Use This Most
Users often complain about a slow internet connection that keeps them from buffering videos faster or playing online games. Since this unit allows a great speed boost, you can do either of these tasks with great ease. Thus, it is ideal for those who take a keen interest in games and videos.
Bottom Line
This unit is one that provides you with all that you need and a lot more, without costing a fortune. It's definitely a safe choice for all those who can't figure out which card to invest in. No matter what use you intend of it, it will be sure never to disappoint you, providing the best internet connection.
Best for the Money:
Intel 3160 Dual Band Wireless AC
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users have found themselves to be pleasantly surprised with this unit. Given the low price point that it comes at, they expected it to be just another standard product, but the great efficiency that it provides has left them quite stunned. From a great speed to great connectivity, users say that it has everything you need.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are plenty of reasons to include this unit on the list, but the one that really stands out to us is the full Intel warranty that backs it up. Even if you were to experience any sort of issues, you would get immediate assistance to help out with whatever the problem is. That's not something a lot of manufacturers offer.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is one that would prove to be a decent upgrade for any sort of pre-installed WiFi card. With all the great features that it offers and its low price point, no one would find any issues with it. So, if you are looking for an upgrade for your device that will fit within a tight budget, then this could certainly be the choice for you.
Bottom Line
Save money where you can. If you can upgrade your laptop's WiFi at a very reasonable price, then why pay more for another fancy unit? This WiFi card will be sure to provide you with all that you need, all the while ensuring that it doesn't weigh too heavy on your pocket.
Fastest WiFi Card for Laptops:
OKN WiFi 6 AX200 802.11ax
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
According to a buyer, this laptop Wi-Fi card is fast and connects quickly. The buyer also recommends it to anyone looking for a Wi-Fi upgrade for an older laptop. Another shopper praised this because of its ability to find the laptop bios quickly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The OKN Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax is undoubtedly an excellent replacement for your old Wi-Fi card as it supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. It is also compatible with many laptop brands, including Lenovo, HP, Dell, ASUS, and Lenovo's T-series notebook making it the best option for broad compatibility.
Aside from that, it also utilizes 160MHz higher peak data rates up to 2.4Gbps, making it suitable for congested areas. This means you don't have to worry about your connection dropping. It allows you to enjoy watching 8k movies and transfer large files simultaneously.
Who Will Use This Most
Anyone who likes surfing the internet will love this Wi-Fi laptop card. This is also perfect for anyone looking to upgrade download speeds.
Bottom Line
If your old laptop's internet connection is slow, this one is a good replacement. This saves you time because this Wi-Fi laptop card is simple to install and works right away! So if you want a better connection and improved speeds, don't think twice to get this one!
Best Laptop Internal WiFi Card:
Dell Broadcom Wireless 802
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This unit is one that you can confidently classify as a high-quality product just by looking at the user reviews. Those who have purchased it recently all comment on its easy functionality and high efficiency. Users guarantee that not only will it provide you with a great internet connection, but will do so without any hassles or troubles.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The ease of installation and great functionality are two of the best features that this unit offers, but what catches our eye, in particular, is the compatibility that it offers with Dell laptops. Given that it is a unit that is made specifically for the brand, on some systems, you won’t even need to install additional drivers for optimal functioning.
Who Will Use This Most
This WiFi adapter is designed to provide users with the highest functionality of a LAN card. And as we said, it provides the best of that when used with a Dell laptop. Therefore, it is highly recommended for anyone with a Dell laptop looking to upgrade their WiFi card.
Bottom Line
Be it Dell or not, this unit will provide you with a wireless internet connection for your laptop, and that too with great speed and no hassles for installation. It has just a simple plug-and-play working that you will find more convenient than ever. It can’t get any better than this.
Best 5GHz Laptop WiFi Card:
PJCARD Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 AC3160 3160
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If you were to read the reviews of this unit, you too would be convinced to invest in it. Users have been so impressed by it that they have found nothing but good things to say about it. The only thing they could further ask for would be compatibility with all devices so it could be used for all laptops. Other than that, there is no shortcoming that would disappoint them.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We definitely love all the features this unit offers for its users, but what we love the most is the Bluetooth connectivity that is offered. Getting this feature to work may be a little tricky, but once you get around with it, it offers the best connectivity for your device.
Who Will Use This Most
Even after upgrading their WiFi cards, some users have trouble maintaining a stable WiFi connection. If you, too, are tired of such issues, then investing in this LAN card is your perfect solution. Its 5GHz functioning will allow you to establish a stable connection, one that will work without any disruptions.
Bottom Line
Whether it is great speed, great connectivity, or great coverage that you are looking for, this unit has absolutely everything you need. If a stable connection is what you need, then this unit will be the perfect choice for you, with no disappointments at all.
Best HP Laptop WiFi Card:
HP RealTek RTL8188CE
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
All the users with an HP laptop find this unit to work with their laptop better than any WiFi card ever has. It provides the perfect functionality that users have been looking for, with all the features that they need. Users say that it is a simple product, which is why they absolutely love it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
If you ask us what about this unit makes it special enough to be on our list, we would tell you about its easy installation. No one likes to rub their heads and spend hours installing a simple device. This device saves you from all that. It is so easy that you wouldn’t even need to see the instructions for it.
Who Will Use This Most
As discussed earlier, this unit is designed to provide users with the perfect compatibility for HP laptops. Any HP laptop would allow the easy installation and functioning of this LAN card. So, if you too own an HP laptop, this unit would be the perfect choice for you.
Bottom Line
All in all, this unit is made to provide HP users with the absolute best for their laptops. A lot of WiFi cards do not support HP laptops, and this unit provides the perfect solution for that problem. You no longer need to check the compatibility of different units to find one that works with HP. None would work better than this.
Best Asus Laptop WiFi Card:
UFON WiFi 6 11AX WiFi Module Intel AX200NGW
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This is yet another unit that has greatly impressed those who have bought it. Not only its great performance, but its easy functioning has always succeeded in swaying users. Those who have recently used this LAN card report that it works as smoothly as it was promised to, and that is all they could ask for.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What really makes the ASUS stand out is the Bluetooth connectivity offered by this unit. A lot of units do offer Bluetooth connectivity, but it is usually 2.0 or 3.0, unlike this one, which supports 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity. This feature might be a simple one, but it is all the proof we need that this product holds an edge over the competition.
Who Will Use This Most
The features and functionality provided by this unit are undoubtedly outstanding, but these perform even better when used on an ASUS laptop. So if you too own a laptop made by ASUS, then investing in this WiFi card would be your best option.
Bottom Line
This unit may be the last one on the list, but its efficiency and functionality are no less impressive than any other product on this list. With the outstanding features that it offers, it stands to be the best laptop WiFi card available on the market, particularly for fans of the ASUS brand.
Types of Laptop WiFi Cards
Since laptops are considerably smaller than normal desktop computers, WiFi cards used for these devices are also usually different. Different laptops use different WiFi cards, and in general, there are three different varieties that are used.
Mini PCI
These WiFi cards were commonly used between 1995 and 2005. If you have a laptop that dates back to these years, then it is likely to have a Mini PCI slot too.
Mini PCI-E
These cards are an upgrade from the older Mini PCI units and were used more recently, until 2010. Most of the systems from these years have the full PCI-E full-height slots. In more recent years, a half-height modified version of these cards has been used. This variation is more compact and a lot more efficient than the full height PCI-E.
M.2 Card
M.2 WiFi cards are the most commonly used WiFi cards in the present day. They provide the best wireless connections for laptops. Most modern-day laptops usually come with an M.2 Key E or Key A slot that is perfect for accommodating these cards.
How to Install/Upgrade a Laptop WiFi Card
If you have already invested in one of these units, and are now worrying about installing it, then do not worry. Installing or upgrading your WiFi card is a considerably simple task. Let us guide you through this process so you can ensure you do it right.
- Shut down and unplug your laptop. If your laptop is on charging, it is essential that you remove the charger, or you will be putting yourself in great danger.
- Open your laptop. Turn your laptop around and open up the back. Once you’ve done that, look for the old WiFi card or the empty slot if you don’t have one.
- Remove the antennas of the old card. If your laptop has a previously installed WiFi card, go ahead and remove its antennas but remember their position so you can place the new ones in the same way.
- Remove the old card. To remove the old card, you may need to unscrew it, so make sure you have the tools needed.
- Put in the new card. Once the slot is emptied, put the new card in the same place and tighten the screws.
- Attach antennas. Attach the antennas of the new card in the same position as you remember from the old antennas.
- Close the back and install drivers. The WiFi card has now been installed so you can close your laptop and plug it in again. But before you start using a wireless connection, you will need to install the required drivers.
If you still have a few questions about installing the WiFi card, why don’t you check out this video below for further guidance on how to do it the right way?
Conclusion
Laptops are the devices of this age and are rapidly replacing desktop computers in various setups. They offer convenience and ease to the users, and one of their most important features stand to be the wireless connections that they allow.
If you still do not have that on your laptop, then you can easily get it for yourself. All you need to do is consider the right options and pick the most compatible unit, then you can get to enjoying your wireless connection
People Also Ask
Not everyone can know everything. So the chances are, you still have a few questions regarding these adapter cards. And in order to ensure that you get the best out of your units, it is important that all of these questions be answered. To ensure that, here are a few questions that other users also ask.
Can I Upgrade the WiFi Card in my Laptop?
If you have an older model of a laptop that doesn’t provide you with sufficient WiFi capabilities, then you can always upgrade your WiFi card. This would require you to open up your laptop and locate the wireless slots. If your laptop doesn’t open or doesn’t have the slots, then you won’t be able to upgrade, but you can still use a USB-based adapter that will provide the same function.
Can You Put a Laptop WiFi Card in a Desktop?
The answer to this depends upon the type of WiFi card being used for your laptop. Some laptops use smaller versions. These cards are usually not compatible with desktops since there is no slot on the motherboard that matches the size. But if your laptop uses a bigger WiFi card, then you may be able to use it in your desktop, but along with that, you will need a PCI conversion card as well for proper functioning
How Do I Know if I Have a WiFi card?
A WiFi card is an adapter card that adds more capabilities to your device. Since it allows your device to connect to a wireless network, the easiest way to check if you have a card is to see if your device allows you to search for and connect to WiFi signals. If not, then you probably do not have a WiFi card.
How to Tell if My WiFi Card is Bad
The simplest way to tell if your WiFi card is working is to check for signals on your device. This can be done very easily. You only need to go to the start menu, from there, go to the control panel. Open the network and sharing center there and click on the option to connect to a network. If your device searches for a WiFi signal, it would indicate that the WiFi card is working fine.
