If your wireless router is too far away from your computer to use an Ethernet cable, then Wi-Fi may be your only option. Also, some laptops don’t actually have a wireless card built into them. That’s where Wi-Fi adapters come in. Using a Wi-Fi adapter is an easy and convenient way to add wireless functionality to your computer.
The TP-Link Wireless Nano USB is a little adapter that goes into any USB port on your computer and makes connecting to the Internet fuss-free. This adapter is very popular because it’s very small so you don’t have to plug it out at all. Continue reading to learn more about this Wi-Fi adapter from TP-Link.
TP-Link USB Wi-Fi Adapter (TL-WN725N)
Features
The main feature of this specific model is its size. The “N” in the model name stands for “nano”, which means that it is tiny. Actually, it’s only a little bit larger than the standard size of a standard-size USB connector. It’s one of the smallest Wi-Fi adapters that you can get, which makes it a perfect choice for laptops so that you never have to plug it out.
The size comes at the cost of speed, though. It only supports up to 150 Megabits per second (Mbps). While that might not sound like a whole lot, it’s not that bad either. It will be fine for the vast majority because very few people have high-speed internet subscriptions that go over 150 Mbps.
With that in mind, you are probably starting to realize that it is not the best Wi-Fi adapter for gamers. Playing games requires a stable Internet connection with the lowest ping possible. Unless you are sitting right next to the router and nobody else is connected, gaming with this adapter is not the best experience. Your mileage may vary.
This Wi-Fi adapter is oriented toward consumers that just need basic Wi-Fi functionality for video and audio calls, accessing files online, browsing the web, checking your social media platforms, and watching YouTube. Streaming 4K content shouldn’t be an issue either as long as your Internet is fast.
Design; Quality
The TP-Link adapter is a tiny device yet it manages to squeeze in the TP-Link brand name and logo on the back. The USB connector is gold-plated which protects it against corrosion and might slightly improve connectivity. The plastic housing looks and feels exactly how you’d imagine.
The design is great because the low-profile adapter does not stick too far out of your USB port. If you are using a laptop, this is great because you won’t have to remove it. However, if you do want to remove it, the tiny size makes it hard to pull out because you can’t get a firm grip on it.
If you plan to use this adapter across multiple devices or have to plug it out and in constantly, it may not be the best choice. At least getting multiple of them wouldn’t be too expensive.
Performance
The maximum 150 Mbps speed is not great, but it is fine if you do not need to use your device for anything too demanding. The signal reception is okay but not great either. You won’t be able to play any games on this unless you are sitting next to your router and it still won’t be as good as when using an Ethernet cable.
This adapter is for people who just need to connect their computer to the Internet without too much fuss. Setting it up is fairly easy. You just need to install their setup utility and follow it. After that, the USB adapter will start communicating with your Wi-Fi router.
Pros; Cons
- The main benefit is that it is very small. It hardly protrudes from the USB slot, so you can always have the thing plugged in.
- Setting it up is very easy with the included setup utility.
- It is great for accessing the Internet, watching videos, browsing social media, downloading and uploading files, etc.
- The 150 Mbps maximum speed is the main downside. You won’t be able to play games or do anything demanding with it.
- Because of the size, the signal strength is not great, but it is acceptable.
Conclusion
This Wi-Fi adapter from TP-Link is a great way to get a basic connection to the Internet. If your laptop or computer does not have Wi-Fi, this is one of the cheapest ways to add it. The tiny size makes it great for laptops, but it also means that doing advanced stuff that requires a stable connection, such as gaming, will be harder to do.
