Home PC Components and Peripherals The Best Bluetooth Dongles in 2022
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The best Bluetooth dongles provide wireless connectivity to older computers that don’t have a built-in Bluetooth receiver. If you are looking to upgrade your laptop or PC so that you can connect it with other, wireless devices, then you need a compatible Bluetooth dongle or adapter. Most Bluetooth dongles connect via USB ports and are classified in two ways: Class 1 and Class 2. Class 1 Bluetooth adapters are used for industrial purposes and have a long-distance range of up to 300 feet. Class 2 Bluetooth devices are designed for mass consumers and have a range of up to 30 feet. Here are the best Bluetooth dongles that you can get for your laptop or PC today.
If you have a Windows PC or laptop, you can get the TP-Link UB500 USB dongle. Economical, sleek, and powerful, it provides a fast Bluetooth connection(version 5.0). Smaller than a thumb drive, the UB500 measures 0.74 x 0.58 x 0.27 inches and can connect to any USB port without being bulky, making it great for travel and transportation. It works as soon as you plug it in for Windows 11 and 10, but drivers are required for Windows 7 systems. The TP-Link works with up to 7 devices at a time, so you can connect a wireless mouse, keyboard, headphones, and printer, and everything should work as designed. Note that the UB500 is not compatible with Mac and Linux systems. It also doesn’t work when plugged into a gaming console.
Bluetooth 5Small, portable designCan connect up to 7 devices at a time
Not compatible with Mac and Linux
The EVEO Bluetooth adapter carries Bluetooth 5.1, making it one of the best Bluetooth dongles around. This mini USB Bluetooth adapter works with laptops and computers running Windows 10 and connects up to a range of 65 feet. Installation is easy as it is Plug & Play, so you won’t need to install software to make it work. The EVEO is said to deliver fast data transfer speeds of up to 3 Mbps. Like the TP-Link UB500, it can connect to up to 7 devices at a time. It’s also super compact measuring 0.87 x 0.6 inches, and blends in with your laptop or desktop computer’s hardware build. It’s important to remember that this dongle is only compatible with Windows 10.
Plug and play65-feet rangeBluetooth 5.1
Only works with Windows 10
The ASUS USB-BT500 is a versatile dongle with Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth low energy (BLE). It’s also backward compatible with Bluetooth versions 2.1, 3.x, and 4.x. This makes it one of the best Bluetooth dongles that will work with older wireless devices. Measuring just 0.28 x 0.59 x 0.69 inches and weighing only 0.16 ounces, it’s a tiny but powerful addition to your computer. On BLE mode, it has a significantly longer range at 40 meters (131 feet) in open space. It works for Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Linux.
131 feet of range on BLEBackward compatible with Bluetooth 2, 3.x, 4.x
Drivers may need to be installed
As one of the few dongles that support most operating systems including Windows 7-11, Raspberry Pi, Linux, and macOS, the Kinivo BTD-400 is as versatile as it gets. It’s fairly small, measuring only 0.25 x 0.75 x 0.5 inches and weighing a mere 4.54 grams. It works with most mobile phones, headsets, printers, and game controllers like the Xbox One Wireless. Users with Windows 10 and Windows 11 need to install the drivers to make this dongle work, while those with Windows 8x can enjoy plug-and-play functionality. Having the Kinivo BTD-400 installed on your system enables a long range of up to 30 feet and speeds of up to 3 Mbps. Tutorials and instructions for installation are found on the manufacturer’s website. You also get a 2-year warranty and US-based customer support.
Works with most devices or computerCompatible with older Bluetooth versions2-year warranty
Installation might require downloading drivers
The Avantree C81 is a Bluetooth dongle designed to be plugged into a USB-C port and stream audio from the source device to another Bluetooth device, such as headphones or speakers. An example would be connecting this dongle to a gaming console like a PlayStation in order to play the audio through a pair of Bluetooth headphones. There’s also a wireless microphone that comes with this dongle. You plug it in through a game console’s auxiliary jack, so you can communicate with your team during a game. With highly specialized features, the Avantree C81 is one of the best Bluetooth dongles for enabling gaming devices to connect wirelessly to peripherals like headphones and microphones. The setup is a cinch as it’s plug and play, and the dongle provides a long range of up to 100 feet in open space. You can also connect two headphones simultaneously, ideal for movie watching or gaming with a friend.
USB-C connectorWorks with PlayStation and SwitchCan connect two headphones
Only works with headphones and speakers
The ZEXMTE long-range Bluetooth adapter is easily one of the best Bluetooth dongles when it comes to range distance. It can connect with devices up to 328 feet away, making this device useful for people who require a wider range of connectivity due to the nature of their work. With Bluetooth 5, Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), this dongle delivers optimal speeds while minimizing its energy use. This adapter is not as compact in design, as it has an antenna at the end of the dongle, but it makes up for it in the quality of connection. It also supports 32/64-bit Windows 10/8/7 as well as transfer speed up to 3 Mbps.
Excellent rangeBluetooth 5
Not compatible with maCOS
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