D-Link DWA-182
802.11ac Wi-Fi in your pocket.
A little USB dongle, the D-Link DWA182 packs AC1200 performance into a small form. The unit connects via USB 3.0, and comes with an extension cable and dock, which allows it to be easily positioned to get the best reception. The 182 is a bit of a cross between smaller ‘nano’ Wi-Fi dongles, and the larger models with adjustable antennae.
The DWA-182 can handle up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz spectrum and 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. In realworld testing, it struggles to get full speeds up close, but still puts on a decent show. At range, careful positioning is needed to get the best from the compact dongle. You do need a USB 3.0 connection for the fastest speeds, but it will operate on 2.4GHz using USB 2.0.
The D-Link DWA-182 measures in at 9.7 x 2.9 x 1.2cm, and weighs 9g. While not the fastest adapter, or the smallest, the DWA-182 is quite an affordable upgrade, considering it costs just $49.