A Bluetooth Dongle adapter connects to your computer via the USB port. It is different from other Bluetooth adapters in the sense that it can be installed inside the computer and enjoys much greater popularity. If you are looking for Bluetooth adapters for PC, then you are in the right place!
They are a better option than those that have to be put inside the computer. They are, however, more expensive.
Installing the Bluetooth dongle adapter is extremely easy. The majority of them are plug and play but some of them require you to download the driver. Just plug it in any USB port which is unused and where it won’t bother you and once you’re done, simply restart and enjoy.
Finding Bluetooth dongle adapters is pretty easy. They are available at all major retailers as well as online stores such as Amazon, eBay, etc. Bluetooth adapters for PC are all over the internet.
Table of Contents
What is a USB Dongle?
“Dongle” is actually slang for the external hardware devices having a bit of memory inside of them. It can be attached to the PC or laptop and dangles off of it. A USB Bluetooth dongle is a quick and cheap way to allow Bluetooth Wireless communications onto a personal computer.
Just plug in the USB Bluetooth Dongle adapter into the USB port and any device having Bluetooth functionality will be able to communicate! This includes communications with other computers, laptops, mobiles, etc.
The dongles have a built-in antenna and a wireless range of 2-100 meters. It operates a 2.4GHZ ISM band. Bluetooth adapters for PC are commonly referred to as a dongle.
How to choose the Bluetooth adapters for PC?
While buying a Bluetooth adapter many features have to be considered. We provide you with a list of Bluetooth adapters for PC to make up your mind. It includes range, price, robustness, etc.
Transmission Range is one of the key features. A class 1 Bluetooth adapter provides a range of up to 330 feet. A class 2 adapter, on the other hand, is capable of transmission up to 33 feet.
Most of the adapters available on the market are Class 2 adapters and they are enough to connect to nearby mice, printers, mobiles, laptops, etc.
However, for greater ranges, you might consider a Class 1 adapter. A class 1 adapter provides 10 times more range than a class 2 adapter. It should be kept in mind that the 100 meters range is in case of the ideal situation without obstacles or any external interferences.
The second thing that has to be taken into account is the number of devices supported by an adapter.
A Bluetooth adapter must have an effective way to support the exponentially increasing list of the Bluetooth devices in the market, including printers, Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth speakers and the latest Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.
Also with the advent of new Bluetooth technologies like Version 5.0 and Bluetooth lite, it must have the ability to take advantage of these technologies as well.
The third parameter is the Bluetooth protocol compatibility. A good adapter must support both Mac and Windows. It must also support all the new and old versions of windows. Windows 8, Windows 7, XP, Vista, 2003, 2000 Me 64/32 bit and Mac OS, with an available USB 2.0 or 1.2 port. These are the basic benchmarks.
The final thing to consider is the Bluetooth version in the adapter. From Bluetooth version 2.1 and onwards, EDR technology is featured for transfer rates up to 3 Mbps. That is 3 times faster than the previous ones. Bluetooth 4.0 adapters can provide better stability, ultra-low power consumption making itself a perfect companion for laptops.
The adapter with Bluetooth 4.0 is backward compatible. Most of the Bluetooth adapters for PC are not very expensive considering the privilege they provide.
Current Products
The following is a list of the common Bluetooth adapters for PC in the market.
| Preview | Product | Seller |
 | AVANTREE USB BLUETOOTH 4.0 ADAPTER | |
 | ASUS USB ADAPTER | |
 | ZEXMTE BLUETOOTH USB ADAPTER |
1. AVANTREE USB BLUETOOTH 4.0 ADAPTER
It is a reasonably priced adapter for windows and a versatile device for making versatile connections. It supports such OS as Windows 10/8//7/Vista and even XP but isn’t compatible with Mac, Linux, TV or Car stereo systems.
For Windows 10 it is simply a plug and play device. Just plug it in and it will automatically do the rest for you. Windows Vista/XP/7 doesn’t provide this feature, so you will need to install a driver from the CD or the official website. Avantree DG4OS is an excellent choice for data transfer, internet calls or PC gaming.
Build and Support
The Avantree Bluetooth 4.0 MicroUSB dongle is a solidly built Bluetooth dongle supporting the latest Bluetooth Low Energy modes.
It is based around a quality Cambridge Silicon Radio CSR8510 A10 bundled with a fully licensed and fully featured CSR Harmony Bluetooth Stack offering full support for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP through to 8 installations.
The dongle has no problems functioning under the Bluez Bluetooth stack under Lubuntu 13.10 Linux, although support for profiles beyond just file transfer (OBEX) will depend on the distribution of Linux and troubleshooting skills (as there are many little compatibility issues between certain Bluetooth managers (e.g. Blueman).
Additionally, the software supports the apt-X codec which allows for higher quality Bluetooth stereo audio (A2DP) with compatible CSR apt-X enabled speakers and headsets. This is a feature that you won’t find anywhere else.
Compatibility
The software is quite easy to use and installs correctly the first time on a “fresh” machine which has never seen Bluetooth devices before. It also installs correctly on machines that have previously used other Bluetooth chipsets but have had their software removed cleanly.
Unfortunately, if upgrading from a prior CSR Bluetooth device using the operating system’s Bluetooth stack and also CSR drivers from Windows Update for Headsets/A2DP, you may encounter driver conflicts.
This seems to have affected a few others, it doesn’t make for seamless user experience. This seems to be a problem with CSR Harmony’s installer/uninstaller.
2. ASUS USB ADAPTER
The ASUS adapter is one of the best adapters out there for Windows 10.
The Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter from ASUS is a portable adapter that enables wireless communication with Bluetooth-enabled computers, printers, phones, headsets, speakers, keyboards, controllers, and more. It is backward compatible with Bluetooth 2.0/2.1/3.0. This adapter supports Bluetooth Low Energy technology for energy-saving wireless connectivity.
It is designed with a USB 2.0 interface and supports Bluetooth low energy technology. It supports Bluetooth versions 2.0/2.1/3.0/4.0. Also, it supports a lot of Windows i.e. XP/7/8/10.
Read more: The Best Chromebooks of 2022 For Gaming
This network adapter has a 3 Mbps data transfer rate. And is quite easy to use. Its operation range reaches up to 33 feet but can be drastically be reduced if your device has external interference.
General Perspective
The dongle has plug-and-play compatibility with both Windows 10 and Windows 8, and the provided Asus drivers work properly with Windows 7.
It has not been tested on XP. Even if someone happens to encounter some issues, he/she can always download the latest drivers from the official website. The dongle also comes with a thorough manual.
Price
There is absolutely no fault with this dongle, apart from the fact that it is a bit more expensive than others in its category.
However, this is more than justified given how well the dongle works, as well as the instructions and support offered by Asus.
3. ZEXMTE BLUETOOTH USB ADAPTER
One of the most famous companies making Bluetooth adapters for PC, ZEXTME clearly has a mark. The ZEXMTE Bluetooth adapter is a cheap yet reliable option. If you need a basic, multi-use Bluetooth adapter for a Windows computer at an affordable price, ZEXMTE’s Bluetooth USB Adapter is definitely a good choice.
Features
For a relatively good price, we are provided with a compact Bluetooth USB adapter designed for Windows OS.
It has 3 Mbps transfer rate and a whopping 33 feet of operation range which makes it a class 1 device. Zexmte Bluetooth USB Adapter also provides a Plug-n-Play option for Windows 8/10 meaning hassle-free connectivity.
Zexmte Bluetooth USB Adapter supports Bluetooth Light Energy Technology and is compatible with many versions such as Bluetooth V4/0/3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1. Its tiny size means that it doesn’t block any surrounding USB ports when plugged into a computer. A pro tip for using this is that if you set up playback devices and disable Bluetooth hands-free audio a better and rich experience will be provided to you.
Downside
This adapter can not be used on television sets even if they have a USB port. The dongle is compatible with only PC computers. Mac and Linux operating systems are incompatible with this device.
The Bluetooth adapter may look similar to a wireless adapter for a mouse or keyboard but in reality, there are stark differences. Wireless mice and keyboards use minuscule 2.4G wireless technology, usually found in house phones and remote controls which is a low version technology.
PLUGGABLE USB BLUETOOTH ADAPTER
This low-energy USB Bluetooth adapter from Plugable features a low-profile design that makes it good for laptop travel.
In addition to compatibility with Windows, you can also use this USB Bluetooth adapter with Linux and Raspberry Pi systems. Up to seven devices such as keyboards and speakers from up to 32 feet away can be connected. The USB Bluetooth adapter works best in USB 2.0 slots, but can also be used with USB 3.0 as well.
Unlike all pre-cited Bluetooth adapters for PC, this product supports not only Windows but also Linux OS which is a big plus because not many adapters out there support it.
The Best Bluetooth Adapter For PC – Asus BT-400
Many Bluetooth adapters for PC have different advantages but the one having the optimum balance of everything turns out to be Asus BT 400. Taking into account the characteristics of the above Bluetooth dongles, the one made by Asus takes a decisive victory.
A stable and responsive connection is guaranteed. It is easy to install, use, and ergonomically, its design is very “grippy”, allowing easy removal. It also comes with a detailed manual, which most of the products lack.
Get a dongle other than this one if you’re looking to be as thrifty as possible, and you have special needs that can not be fulfilled by the prospects offered by this device.