D-Link is trying to simplify updating Wi-Fi to your computer. The network company announced what it is calling the “industry pioneer” Wi-Fi 6 adapter integrated into a USB stick. Connect it to your laptop or desktop computer and you can get better performance than the older Wi-Fi chip. The adapter advertises speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps.
It is not entirely clear who the target audience for this update is. You will need to be connected to a Wi-Fi 6 router to get the greatest benefits, and most people don’t have one yet (the Wi-Fi 6 standard only started to be implemented two years ago). And if the laptop or desktop you’re using was purchased at some point in recent memory, it’s likely to support Wi-Fi 5, which is not a big step over Wi-Fi 6.
However, Wi-Fi 6 has some benefits. Devices that support it can communicate with routers more efficiently, which can lead to better performance on a network. Wi-Fi 6 devices also support more secure connections.
The adapter will be available in the second quarter of 2021 for $ 100.
D-Link is also announcing two new Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, both similar to air purifiers. The most advanced model, the AI M32, is a dual-band mesh system that promises speeds of up to 3.2 Gbps. Below that, D-Link is introducing the DIR-LX1870, which is expected to offer combined connection speeds around 1,800 Mbps. The AI M32 will sell for $ 250 starting in the third quarter of 2021; the DIR-LX1870 launches immediately for $ 130.
Many routers are being announced this week as part of CES 2021. The big new update this year is routers with support for Wi-Fi 6E, a major update for Wi-Fi that quadruples the available radio waves on which they can transmit. So far, TP-Link and Netgear have announced cutting edge routers with support for the new technology.