Bluetooth isn’t quite ready to replace everything, but the technology can, at the very least, enable you to switch over to wireless keyboards, mice, speakers, and even headphones. However, for that to happen you need the hardware, which can be a problem as not every PC has the ability right out of the gate.
Here are the best Bluetooth cards for PC available today.
Q: What’s the Best Internal Bluetooth Card For Me?
Picking the best Bluetooth card for you is actually quite simple. There are only two aspects you should be concerned with: the version of Bluetooth and range. Anything outside of that is just window dressing.
For starters, the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 features a base with two antennas that connect directly to the internal Bluetooth card, exponentially increasing the card’s range. Given that it’s also multi-directional, the base can be placed anywhere within reach without hindering its abilities. When you do connect to the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000, you gain access to both Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, the latter of which puts you ahead of the industry standard.
Considering you’ll connect multiple devices to this Bluetooth card throughout the day, what’s arguably the best feature of the TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 is its WPA3 encryption, the latest in protective measures against cyber-attacks.
Underneath the hood of the Gigabyte WiFi 6E GC-WBAX210 is Intel’s AX210 chip, which supports a variety of bands such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz so your devices don’t have to compete with other Wi-Fi channels that hinder performance. At the same time, the Gigabyte WiFi 6E GC-WBAX210 is also fitted with Bluetooth 5.2, providing the latest and greatest version of Bluetooth available.
The icing on the cake is the included antenna that expands the range of the card, which can be easily and quickly connected once you’ve installed the Gigabyte WiFi 6E GC-WBAX210. It even comes with a magnetic base that sticks firmly to compatible surfaces.
Though not quite plug-and-play, the MSI Dual Band Adapter Card AC905C is still among the easiest expansion cards to install. After a quick and painless driver installation, and screwing in the antennas, the MSI Dual Band Adapter Card AC905C is ready to go. In return for your efforts, you gain access to both Bluetooth 4.2 as well as 2.4GHz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi bands.
The Bluetooth signal is quite strong and handles multiple devices at once, which can drastically reduce the wires at your desk if you opt into wireless options. In the case of Wi-Fi, the MSI Dual Band Adapter Card AC905C has a respectable maximum data transfer of 433Mbps.
To make this a reality, the EDUP PCIe WiFi 6E AX210 comes fitted with MU-MIO and OFDMA technology. These go a long way in improving download speeds, data transfer between devices, and an overall reduction in latency across its 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz Wi-Fi bands.
Despite all that wireless goodness, it doesn’t skimp on its Bluetooth technology either—you get the latest version 5.2, coupled with two antennas in the back to improve the range across Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. If you are in desperate need of cable management, the EDUP PCIe WiFi 6E AX210’s ability to connect to multiple Bluetooth devices at once means you’ll be able to drop all those dongles and cables for a cleaner and neater setup.
The TP-Link AC1200 comes built with a combination of Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 5, both of which provide surprisingly fast speeds when using either technology. In fact, thanks to the inclusion of two high-gain antennas, you can be a few rooms away and still connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi while still maintaining a good connection.
Best of all, the TP-Link AC1200 is the ideal choice if you’re running an older Windows PC, as it not only supports modern 64-bit Windows 10 machines, but 32-bit Windows XP, Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. If you refuse to make the jump to modern versions of Windows, but still want to benefit from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the TP-Link AC1200 will be an invaluable ally.
The Ubit AX3000N is a high-performance hybrid expansion card featuring Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi, allowing you to access the best of both worlds. You can connect Bluetooth-enabled devices like mice, keyboards, and controllers, while simultaneously making full use of your wireless network. In fact, its 6GHz band has a maximum data transfer rate of 1200Mbps, which is more than enough to stream in 4K.
Interestingly enough, the Ubit AX3000N is built to be one of the best gaming companions. The Ubit AX3000N has its own personal heat sink technology solely responsible for reducing further stress to the surrounding hardware with its own heat generation.
Generally speaking, you should pick a Bluetooth card that has the most recent version of Bluetooth, which is Bluetooth 5.2. Of course, that tends to increase the price, so if budget is a concern, nothing older than Bluetooth 4.2 is worth considering.
One of the benefits of having the most up-to-date version of Bluetooth, other than faster data transfer speeds and a more stable connection, is better range. And some models even come with high-gain antennas to improve the range further.
Q: Will One Bluetooth Card Work For Any PC?
No, and it’s very important you pick a Bluetooth card that’s compatible with your system.
For starters, some Bluetooth cards require a PCIe slot; most desktop computers have at least one available. When choosing a Bluetooth card, the card has to be compatible with the hardware interface.
Lastly, the version of Windows your PC is running also matters as some will only communicate with, say, the latest Windows 11 or 10, while others are backward compatible all the way to Windows XP.
Q: Is a Bluetooth Card Worth Purchasing?
That depends entirely on what you need.
If you’re someone who frequently uses wireless devices, then absolutely. Having several Bluetooth dongles for individual devices might free you of cables, but requires sacrificing several USB ports. Installing a Bluetooth card acts as a central hub for your PC peripherals.
