Wi-Fi 6 is perplexing. The new standard promises big improvements to Wi-Fi, but in the real world, it doesn’t yet offer many advantages for most home users. The D-Link DWA-X1850 ($59.99), the first Wi-Fi 6 USB adapter, is no different. The X1850 uses a form of Wi-Fi 6 that is no faster than Wi-Fi 5 and only offers benefits in rare scenarios. The adapter improved signal more than other models when used with a Wi-Fi 6 access point in a weak-signal location, but didn’t show a similar advantage in other environments (Wi-Fi 5 or with a better signal). A high-quality Wi-Fi 5 USB adapter, such as the $59.99 TP-Link Archer T9UH, performs just as well (if not better) in most real-world situations.
A Basic Stick
I’m not a fan of the X1850’s design; it’s just a stick. The adapter lies flat when sticking out of a USB port and sports a single blue LED on top. At 3.8 by 1.2 by 0.5 inches (HWD) and 0.8 ounces, it’s narrower than competitors such as the TP-Link T9UH and Netgear A7000, and less likely to block other USB ports. The adapter still feels flimsy and looks cheap, however. The included dock (essentially a little stand at the end of a two-foot USB cable) is also poorly built; it’s too lightweight to even stand on its own properly. The TP-Link T9UH’s dock is much sturdier.
The X1850 is compatible only with Windows devices. Plug it in, and a window pops open that prompts you to install the drivers. After that, it operates seamlessly and attaches to whatever network you want. There’s no WPS attachment button on the adapter itself, however.
So-So Performance
Wi-Fi 6 performance isn’t always better than Wi-Fi 5 performance. Both standards have a very wide range of modes from slow to fast. The X1850 is an AX1800 adapter and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 574Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1.2Gbps on 5GHz networks, at least in theory. However, the latest Wi-Fi 5 adapters (the TP-Link and Netgear models I mentioned earlier) are both AC1900 models, with slightly better speed capabilities on both bands.
This discrepancy showed up in my testing results. I evaluated several adapters using a 500Mbps symmetrical Verizon Fios connection, against both a Verizon G1100 Fios gateway router (Wi-Fi 5 at AC1750 speed) and a Netgear AX8 router (Wi-Fi 6 at AX6000 speed.)
All the adapters hit the maximum speed of the source connection when close to the router. Wi-Fi 5’s real-world maximum hits around 650Mbps, which was faster than my source connection.
The D-Link adapter showed better signal improvements in low-signal conditions (around -75dB without enhancement), while the TP-Link adapters showed better signal improvements in medium-signal conditions (around -65dB without enhancement). That should be a plus for the D-Link adapter.
But that just didn’t pan out with speed. The TP-Link and AC1900 adapter enabled better speeds than the D-Link Wi-Fi 6 adapter on 5GHz networks using both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 routers. The D-Link unit did have an advantage in 2.4GHz-only mode on Wi-Fi 6, where the interference-canceling features of Wi-Fi 6 really get a workout. But your Windows PC is unlikely to be in 2.4GHz-only mode that often.
More Like Wi-Fi 5.25
I usually recommend future-facing products. At $59.99, the D-Link X1850 is the same price as the TP-Link T9UH and supports the next generation of Wi-Fi. But once you delve into the fine print (and based on our testing), the X1850’s Wi-Fi 6 support doesn’t result in better performance than an adapter with good Wi-Fi 5 support. Thus, the T9UH is the better adapter to buy right now. If you’re looking for a next-gen Wi-Fi USB adapter, meanwhile, you should wait a little longer.
