Best Wifi Dongle in India 2023 – 5G Dongle Review

Whether you’re on a vacation or a short business trip, sooner or later you’ll have to connect your devices to the internet.

And even if you can use your mobile phone in tethering, this solution is not always the most convenient for accessing the internet because, in this case, the battery of the smartphone or tablet used as a modem would drain very quickly.

Plus, with the hotspot active, many smartphones and tablets tend to heat a lot.

With the best WiFi dongle in India, you can take advantage of the Internet connection in areas without access to ADSL or fiber optic connections. Furthermore, some of the models on the market are ideal for people who travel frequently.

A survey conducted by Red Roof Inn and Research+Data Insights concluded that in a room, WiFi is one of the most essential things to a traveler. Even more than a good location, parking and complimentary breakfast. 80% of the travelers stated that they would feel more amicable towards a hotel if complimentary WiFi is included.

WiFi dongles do not need any type of installation, nor do they require time-taking and complicated configuration processes, as is the case with other Internet connection devices. You will only have to insert the SIM card in the appropriate slot and start surfing.

When buying a WiFi dongle, the main criteria and features you need to pay attention to are the following: the design, the size, the data transmission speed it offers, the connection options and the battery runtime.

Best Pick Airtel Xstream DigitalTV WiFi USB Dongle

• Brand: Airtel Xstream
• Model Name: Airtel my wifi
• Special Feature: WPS
• Frequency Band Class: Single-Band
• Wireless Communication: Standard 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency

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Best Pick Amazon Basics 4G LTE WiFi USB Dongle Stick

• Brand: Amazon Basics
• Frequency Band Class: Single-Band
• Compatible Devices: All Wifi Enabled Devices
• Recommended Uses For Product: Home, Business
• Included Components Wireless USB Dongle Stick

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Best Pick

Tukzer 4G LTE Wireless USB Dongle

• Brand: Tukzer
• Frequency Band Class: Single-Band
• Wireless Communication Standard: 802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11g
• Compatible Devices: Laptop, Computer, Tablet, Smart Television, Smartphone
• Frequency: 2.4 GHz

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Best WiFi Dongle In India 2023 – Updated List

Below, we present the list that we have prepared with a selection of the Best Wifi Dongle In India currently available on the market.

We have tried to include as many products as possible, for all needs and budgets, so that you can find an option that suits your needs. All, however, are from known and reliable brands, with an excellent quality-price ratio.

Best Wifi Dongle in India 2023 – Reviewed

1. Airtel AMF-311WW Data Card

• Connect up to 10 Devices simultaneously. Supports Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
• 4G LTE, Enjoy Fast Internet. Download speed upto 150 Mbps & upload speed upto 50Mbps. Enjoy even on non-4G devices. Operating System : Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 or Later
• 2300 mAh battery, Stay connected up to 6 hours* & 300 Hours stand by time
• Expandable Memory Capacity: 32 GB
• 6 hours working time on 4G and 300 hours of stand-by time

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

The Airtel AMF-311WW Data Card is perfect for travelling purposes and works just as well as your primary internet source at home. Airtel is known to provide excellent service, as well as their customer support. You can easily connect this dongle to your PC, phone, or your TV to work on high-speed internet.

With a 2300 mAh battery, this data card can last you upto 6 hours while running and also comes with an expandable memory card slot to use it as a storage device as well. The rather small data card is highly compatible with multiple operating systems and works great with any device you use it with.

2. AmazonBasics 4G LTE WiFi USB Dongle Stick

• Upto 150 Mbps wireless connection with the Amazon Basics USB Dongle Stick
• Supports all SIM cards, including Airtel, Jio, Vi and BSNL
• Supports up to 10 WiFi devices
• Easy-to-use: Just connect to the computer/wall charger’s USB port to create a hotspot or connect to the network
• Uses standard SIM slot
• Supports Windows 7/ 8/ 10 and Mac OS
• Increased speed and low power consumption with Qualcomm MSM8916 chipset

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

The AmazonBasics 4G LTE WiFi USB Dongle Stick is easily one of the most compact WiFi dongles on this list. With the ease of carrying and portability with you all along the way, this WiFi dongle proves incredibly helpful especially on trips and such. You can easily get it up with any SIM card and use fast LTE data services without any hassle or issue. The plug and play nature of the device allows for maximum ease of use and setting up is simple and straightforward.

The wingle has a stylish and slim frame, taking no space in your bag. With its compact design, the durability of the product also increases. Lightning fast download speed reaching up to 150 mbps.

3. Tenda 4G180 3G/4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot Device

• Supports different types of Wi-Fi devices such as Personal Computer, Tablet, Laptop, Notebook and Smartphone
• Powerful 2100mAh rechargeable battery for up to 10 hours working time and a week in standby
• This is plug-and-play device supports micro SD memory card up to 32GB of optional storage
• Connects up to 10 Wi-Fi Gadgets simultaneously
• Easy and instant access to any cellular network with SIM card
• Compatible with all cellular network SIM card
• Delivers up to 150 Mbps download speed so that you can enjoy a lag-free HD movie, video chats as well download files in seconds
• Play & Plug, no need configuration

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

Equipped with a powerful 2100mAh battery, 4G180 is able to work effortlessly up to 10 hours. In addition to that, the battery is rechargeable, removable, and even replaceable. It features 4G LTE mobile internet and delivers up to 150 Mbps download speed. Access a mobile network instantly just with an authorized standard SIM card.

The Tenda 4G 180 is a 4G LTE router with the latest LTE technology. Simply pop in your chosen SIM card and you will have access to high-speed Internet that will support multiple devices.

The device supports VOLTE and CSFB technology and by connecting an external landline or wireless phone, you can surf the Internet and make calls simultaneously.

4. Tukzer 4G LTE Wireless USB Dongle

• Wireless type: ‎802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11g
• Compatible with Jio, Airtel, VI, Vodafone & Idea, BSNL etc. INTERNET ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
• Thin, lightweight & portable design allows to keep it in your pocket or bag, and turn it on anytime, anywhere you need Wi-Fi.
• Standard SIM Slot
• Plug and Play
• Up to 150Mbps download speed, and up to 50Mbps upload speed depending on the Network Strength
• Supports 10 WLAN devices
• Qualcomm MSM8916 chip

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

Its super thin, lightweight & portable design allows to keep it in your pocket or bag, and turn it on anytime, anywhere you need Wi-Fi. Just insert a standard SIM card in SIM slot, and you are ready to use high-speed internet. Plug & Play to connect create a network or hotspot. Supports Win7/ 8/ 10/ Mac OS. You will get up to 150Mbps download speed, and up to 50Mbps upload speed depending on the Network Strength. It allows you to make HD video and voice calls, Stream HD videos and games smoothly, and download documents in a flash. It has built-in LED indicator to know status of signals and Wi-Fi.

This powerful device can support 10 Wi-Fi devices, which means you can enjoy Wi-Fi with your family and friends at the same time. Compatible for all WLAN enabled devices like Tablets, Smart Phones, Laptops, Computers, Smart TV etc. Integrated with Qualcomm MSM8916 chipset, supports all SIM & provides sophisticated blend of speed, increasing connectivity speed, balance low power consumption.

5. TP-Link TL-WN821N Wireless N USB Adapter

• 300 Mbps Wi-Fi Speed: Excellent N speed brings best experience for HD video streaming or Internet calls
• MIMO Technology: MIMO technology with stronger signal penetration strength, wider wireless coverage, providing better performance and stability
• WPS Easy wireless security encryption at a push of the WPS button
• Interface USB 2.0
• Frequency: 2.400-2.4835GHz
• Antenna Type On-Board
• Compatibility: Supports Windows 8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS, Linux
• Easy Setup: A friendly user interface on a CD for simple installation
• Worry-free customer support

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

Wireless N USB Adapter TL-WN821N allows you to connect a desktop or notebook computer to a wireless network and access high-speed Internet connection. It provides up to 300Mbps speeds, which is ideal for smooth video streaming, voice streaming and online gaming. A friendly user interface on a CD for simple installation. You can even find the software online, and easy wireless security encryption at a push of the WPS button.

6. Huawei E5576-606 MOBIFI

• Packet Data service up to 150mbps
• SMS based on LTE/WCDMA, Create, delete, or edit APN
• Plug and Play Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (excluding Windows RT). Mac OS X 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 and 10.12 with latest updates
• Built In LTE/WCDMA and Wifi Antena
• Standard Micro USB Port
• Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 10.11, 10.12 with latest Upgrades
• Wifi/Lan 2.4 GHz
• RAM 128MB DDR, ROM 128MB NAND Flash
• Rechargable Lithium Battery (removable) Capacity 3.8 V 1500 MAH

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

Huawei E5576-606 Mobile Wi-Fi is a high speed packet access mobile hotspot. It is a multi-mode wireless terminal for Small Office and Home Office and Business Professionals. You can connect the Micro USB port on the E5576-606 to a Computer using a micro USB data cable or connect multiple devices to the E5576-606 over Wi-Fi. This is easily one of the more convenient devices on this list of the best WiFi dongle in India. It is slim and easily portable. You can potentially take it everywhere with yourself without worrying too much about internet connectivity.

7. Lapcare F90 4G USB Modem

• Enjoy 4G features on your all your Wi-Fi capable devices
• Recommended to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices (smartphone, laptops, tablets and even smart TVs)
• Plug and Play modem
• Works in WiFi Mode or USB modem mode or Both depending on the configuration selected
• Dialer based GUI which helps you to get the modem work in easy way

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

If you are looking for a very affordable WiFi dongle that can serve your internet needs, we suggest this one from Lapcare. The compact design it follows easily makes it one of the best WiFi dongle in India. It is highly portable and can connect up to 10 users simultaneously. That said, you cannot use it as a dongle attached to your computer as well as use it as WiFi at the same time. This dongle does not allow you both at the same time. Besides that, it is compatible with all SIM cards and is fairly easy to set up as well.

8. Binatone BMF423-3G/4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot Device

• Supports different types of Wi-Fi devices such as Personal Computer, Tablet, Laptop, Notebook, All Smart & IoT Devices.
• Powerful 2700 mAh rechargeable battery for up to 15 hours working time and a week in standby
• Plug-and-play device supports micro SD memory card up to 32GB of optional storage
• Connects up to 10 Wi-Fi Users/Devices simultaneously
• Compatible with all cellular network SIM card – JIO, AIRTEL, V!, BSNL. Enjoy high Speed Internet/Wireless Connection on any mobile Network.
• Easy and instant access to any cellular network with SIM card
• Download speed upto 150 Mbps & upload speed upto 50Mbps. Enjoy even on non-4G devices. Operating System : Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 or Later
• Plug and Play, no need configuration

Why we recommend purchasing this dongle?

The BMF423 acts as your personal Wi-Fi hotspot allowing you to share a 4G LTE connection with up to 16 Wi-Fi devices. It also comes with Voice functionality to make phone calls over the Internet. The BMF423 uses a 4G LTE mobile Internet connection to give you a fast, high-performance Wi-Fi network, anywhere you want. Just plug in your operator’s micro SIM card and you can share a fast 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi devices.

It achieves high 4G LTE/3G speeds up to 150Mbps downlink/50Mbps uplink and blazing-fast speeds of up to 300Mbps on Wireless N. Send large e-mails in your home or small office, while your kids stream their favorite shows or Video chat with their friends with no loss in quality.

Advantages of WiFi Dongles

WiFi dongles are starting to become popular thanks to their significant advantages. For this reason, more and more people are investing in WiFi dongles. If you want to know in detail what kind of advantages they offer, read on.

• They don’t need you to have a traditional phone line.
• They allow you to connect to the Internet in areas without ADSL and optical fiber.
• They are ideal for traveling, as you can connect to the Internet wherever you are.
• They offer fast and very stable connections, superior to ADSL type connections.
• Unlike connections via ADSL or optical fiber, they do not require any type of installation and are extremely easy to configure. Just insert the SIM card to be able to navigate.
• You have an Internet connection even when you don’t have access to the power supply, as most models run on battery power.
• They allow you to connect multiple devices at the same time.
• You can also use them with a prepaid rate. You do not need to pay a fixed fee, as happens in the case of ADSL or fiber-optic connections.

WiFi Dongle Buying guide

When buying a WiFi dongle, it is essential to consider a number of purchase criteria to make sure you are buying the right product. To make the selection process easier, we have chosen those that, in our opinion, are the most important.

We did it to provide you with a practical guide that allows you to take full advantage of the value for money.

1. Technology

Mobile phone networks today use different technologies, which differ from each other in terms of coverage and speed of navigation. The technologies used today are 3G, 4G and 4G+, whose characteristics can be summarized as follows:

• 3G reaches a theoretical maximum download speed of 7.2 Mbps, excellent territory coverage;
• 4G reaches a theoretical maximum download speed of 21.6 Mbps, good territory coverage (expansion in progress);
• 4G+ reaches a theoretical maximum download speed of 150 Mbps, limited territory coverage (expansion in progress).

The compromise that you must therefore consider is precisely that between performance and coverage. If you use a 4G or 4G+ SIM you can take advantage of the higher browsing speeds only in those areas covered by this technology (and navigate more slowly in areas not covered).

Particular mention should be made regarding LTE and LTE Advanced technologies. These represent the evolution of mobile phone generations, enabling mobile broadband access and increasing browsing speed.

Although the download speed can theoretically reach 408 Mbps (LTE) or 4.1 Gbps (LTE Advanced), the quality of the devices and the network heavily affect the final performance.

2. Locked or Unlocked

Another very important aspect to consider when choosing a Wifi dongle is its compatibility with other SIM cards. A dongle can either be unlocked, i.e. without any SIM included and compatible with SIM cards of any operator you choose, or locked, i.e. sold by a telecom operator and tied to the SIM included in the purchase. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages:

It is therefore clear that the choice of an unlocked or locked portable Wi-Fi router depends very much on your needs. If you travel in India only, will probably feel good even with a locked device, but if you spend long periods abroad you may prefer an unlocked dongle with which a local SIM can be used.

In choosing the operator, whether you choose a locked or an unlocked device, you must always keep in mind that there are operators that offer higher navigation speeds than others, even with the same technology used.

3. Battery

Since it is a travel device, the WiFi dongle is battery powered. It is a battery similar to that supplied with modern smartphones, lithium-ion, with a long operating time and relatively fast charging. Not all batteries are the same, however, and the operating time of a WiFi dongle can vary greatly from model to model. It ranges from a minimum of 6 hours to a maximum of about 25 hours.

The life of a battery is determined by the mAh (milliAmpere / hour). 2000 mAh batteries last around 6 hours, the 4000 mAh ones about 12 hours and the 6400 mAh ones can reach 25 hours.

It is also important that a WiFi dongle works while charging, so that you don’t have to wait for it to charge before you can connect it. Charging is possible either by connecting the dongle to a USB port on your laptop or desktop, or by attaching it to a power outlet using an appropriate adapter.

4. Connections

If you buy a WiFi dongle, it’s mostly because you need to surf the internet on more than one device at a time. For this, you must consider if the model you are considering supports all the connections you need.

It must be said that even the economical models normally allow a maximum of 10 devices to be connected simultaneously, a limit that will suffice to meet the needs of most people.

Those who need even more connections, however, will have to opt for a higher-end model, which can hold up to 15 simultaneous connections .

5. Frequency bands

WiFi dongles can send and receive data on two different frequency bands, that of 2.4 and that of 5 GHz.

• 2.4 GHz has greater coverage but is more heavily affected by interference from household appliances that use the same frequency, such as microwaves and cordless telephones;
• 5 GHz has less coverage but is less vulnerable to interference and also allows much higher transfer rates.

Wi-Fi routers that use only one frequency, usually that of 2.4 GHz, are called ” Single Band ” and obviously have the problems that we have listed above: the signal can suffer interference and the maximum transfer rate will be quite low.

On the contrary, routers that use both frequencies are called ” Dual Band”, and allow to diversify the use of frequencies according to the type of device connected. In fact, these routers preferably use the 2.4 GHz band for connections to low bandwidth terminals, such as cell phones, and reserve the band faster than the 5 GHz in terminals with higher bandwidth demand such as console and computer.

In most cases you can still turn off the 5 GHz frequency and turn it on only when you need to support a higher data traffic.

There are also some very high end “Tri-Band” models mainly designed for online gaming and video streaming. These exploit the usual 2.4 GHz band and two bands in the 5 GHz band. Considering what we have already said above, the use of two high-frequency bands gives these dongles high traffic capacity and makes them suitable for very intense bandwidth use.

6. Connectivity standards

Currently, there are several wireless connectivity standards. A WiFi dongle can support several at the same time, and a combination of the characteristics of each standard can result in very sophisticated overall performance. In general, the following are the characteristics of current standards, from the oldest to the most recent:

• 802.11a uses the 5 GHz frequency for transmissions up to 54 Mbps, with coverage of about 35 m indoors;
• 802.11b takes advantage of the 2.4 GHz frequency and transmits up to 11 Mbps. The coverage also in this case is about 35 m indoors;
• 802.11g uses the same frequency as 2.4 GHz but reaches speeds of 54 Mbps. Coverage is a bit more extensive, up to 38 m indoors;
• 802.11n uses both frequencies, 2.4 and 5 GHz, with speeds up to 150 Mbps and coverage up to 70 m indoors;
• 802.11ac uses the 5 GHz frequency with top speeds up to 433 Mbps. Coverage is always 35 m.

Furthermore, starting from 802.11n, ” MIMO ” (multiple-input multiple-output) technology was introduced, thanks to which it is possible for the router to use an antenna (up to 4 for the standard and 8 for the ac) for the transmission and reception of data.

This allows the transmission to be more stable, in relation to domestic interference and obstacles encountered by the radio wave. A further innovation was then introduced by the ac standard, which implements MU-MIMO technology(multiple-users multiple-input multiple-output).

The MU-MIMO technology allows the simultaneous connection of multiple terminals, without the need to alternate the transmission from one to the other.

7. Security encryption

In order for the wireless connection to be accessible only to authorized persons and devices, it must be protected against unauthorized access. The username and password that you enter when you first connect to the router are not sufficient; the radio signal must be encrypted too.

Over the years, several encryptions have followed one another, gradually more secure: the oldest, now obsolete and abandoned, is WEP, followed by WPA and finally by WPA2. You will not find any WiFi router after 2006 that does not have a WPA2 security key, so you can rest be assured that any recent model will be perfectly updated from this point of view.

You will often find the wording WPA2 associated with other abbreviations, such as PSK or AES or TKIP. A WPA2-PSK encryption will be fine for home users. If you have the possibility to make a further choice between TKIP and AES (two different encryption algorithms), always choose AES, more secure than TKIP.

8. Firewall

Firewall is another security feature which you can find and can activate on practically all WiFi dongles. This allows you to monitor incoming and outgoing data traffic, and to block any access to the home network deemed potentially dangerous. Its function is therefore that of “entrance gate”, and it is up to you to decide whether to leave it completely open or closed.

9. Antenna type

WiFi dongles can be equipped with both internal and external antennas. Devices equipped with internal antennas are certainly more “comfortable” (especially for transport) and less bulky, however they offer generally worse reception than external antennas. The latter solution, in particular, can be useful if the router signal, in the place where you intend to use the key, is not particularly strong.

The external antennas can be fixed or removable and directional or omni-directional. The power of the antennas is expressed in dBi, i.e. gain in decibels. In general the higher the dBi gain, the better the signal reception, however its quality can be influenced by many other parameters.

10. Brand

The brand of a WiFi dongle can be important for a few reasons. Firstly, the major manufacturers of these devices like TP-Link, Huawei and NetGear, offer their customers much more responsive and easy-to-reach assistance and support than lesser-known brands.

Secondly, they are also able to offer the best products, updated with the latest technologies and with the highest performance.

This does not mean that other manufacturers market products that work worse, but simply that in case of failure it will be more difficult to obtain repair or replacement under warranty.

📌Also Read: Best Wireless Mouse in India

Frequently Asked Questions About WiFi Dongles – FAQs

If you are considering purchasing a WiFi dongle, it is important that you keep in mind a few things. Do not forget that there are different models and not all offer the same functionality. For this reason, in this section, we have tried to answer the most frequent doubts that usually plague potential buyers of this type of device.\

Conclusion

WiFi dongles do not require installation or time-taking and complicated configuration processes. Just insert the SIM card into the device and they are ready to be used.

In this way, the 4G network is a wonderful alternative for times when you do not have access to ADSL or fiber optic connections. And on many occasions, you may even decide to replace ADSL connections completely, especially with telecom providers offering packages with unlimited data rates.

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