Bluetooth technology is widely used in the mobile field to allow the connection between different devices (such as wireless headphones, headset, connection to the car system etc.) but it can also be useful when we are at the PC, so that we can use the same accessories that we would normally use only with the smartphone or tablet, in addition to having a wireless connection system to access the internal memory of the aforesaid (to move a file from one device to another for example). But while on laptops it is easy to find the Bluetooth connection in the standard equipment, what can we do to add Bluetooth to a fixed PC "> Add bluetooth in the car (and on the car radio)
Bluetooth adapter features
With Bluetooth adapters we won't have to look at many technical features, since in the end these are simple devices that can function as two-way radios.
To obtain maximum compatibility with all the devices now on the market, we recommend taking a look at the following features before evaluating the purchase of a particular adapter:
- Bluetooth version : in order to take full advantage of all the Bluetooth devices in circulation, we recommend focusing only on the adapters that have at least the Bluetooth 4.0 version.
Choosing these models we will get the maximum in terms of audio quality (if we use Bluetooth for wireless headphones), signal coverage and data transmission speed.
Previous Bluetooth versions (1.1, 2.0 and 3.0) may still be compatible with current devices, but have a worse range of coverage and may present problems with the connection of some devices (for example the Xbox One controller can only be connected with Bluetooth adapters from version 4.0 onwards).
- Dongle or internal card : the Bluetooth adapters for desktop PCs are available in two formats: USB dongle and internal PCI-E expansion card.
The USB dongle is the easiest to set up and use, just a free USB port on your PC to provide Bluetooth connectivity. The signal is discreet although there may be sporadic interference, especially if there are many wireless networks nearby.
In PCI-E expansion cards, Bluetooth is often integrated together with the WiFi adapter, so with a single card we can get both a connection to a WiFi network and offer Bluetooth connectivity.
The signal obtained with the internal cards is much more stable but it could be more difficult to configure this type of cards.
- Driver : many of the devices are self-configuring (especially on Windows 10), but it is always advisable to install the driver in the package (usually in miniCD format), so as to have maximum compatibility with all devices.
Bluetooth adapters for PC: buying guide
After seeing what you need to look at in the description of a Bluetooth adapter, let's discover together the best models that we can use on PC.
We will take into account both USB dongles and expansion cards.
1) Amotus USB Bluetooth adapter V4.0
A simple USB adapter with Broadcom chipset, one of the best out there for signal stability and coverage.
Bluetooth 4.0 support, automatically compatible with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 (without driver) with EDR: Bluetooth 4.0 + EDR NANO.
We can view this product here -> Amotus Bluetooth USB Adapter V4.0 (10 €)
2) UGREEN USB Bluetooth adapter
Still on the subject of very small Bluetooth adapters, we can recommend the UGREEN, compatible with the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, BLE (low energy connections), EDR and support for the CSR Harmony driver, for unmatched audio transmission quality.
If we are interested in this model of adapter we can view it here -> UGREEN Bluetooth USB adapter (10 €).
3) Asus USB-BT400
If we are looking for a compact quality product, easy to handle and compatible with any motherboard, we can rely on the adapter offered by Asus.
The dongle offers support for Bluetooth 4.0 with EDR, is self-installing (not necessarily requiring drivers, especially on Windows 10) and can transmit thanks to low power technology (BLE).
We can view this adapter here -> Asus USB-BT400 (15 €)
4) AUKEY 2 in 1 Wireless USB Adapter
We need an adapter for both wireless and Bluetooth but we don't know how to mount an internal card on the PC "> AUKEY 2 in 1 Wireless USB Adapter (15 €)
5) ASUS PCE-AC55BT
Among the internal cards that we can use to obtain Bluetooth connectivity on a fixed PC, the ASUS PCE-AC55BT certainly stands out.
This card connects to a PCI-E X1 slot and an internal USB port to offer both WiFi (Dual Band AC, up to 1200 Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, also thanks to the large external antenna (always clean signal in all conditions ).
We can look at this internal card from here -> ASUS PCE-AC55BT (44 €)
6) Abwb 802.11 ac Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 4.0 (For MAC)
We want Bluetooth connection at all costs without giving up WiFi on your Mac or Apple-like PC (Hackintosh) "> Abwb 802.11 ac Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 4.0 (44 €)
READ ALSO: Which is faster between Wifi and Bluetooth?
