ASUS USB-AC53 Nano AC1200 USB Wi-Fi Adapter: specs and who it suits

The ASUS USB-AC53 Nano is a small USB Wi-Fi adapter that gives a desktop or laptop dual-band 802.11ac wireless. If a computer has no Wi-Fi, or only an older standard, plugging this in is a quick way to connect to a modern router without opening the case.

What AC1200 means

AC1200 is a combined label for the two bands the adapter uses: up to 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz plus up to 867 Mbps on 5GHz, roughly 1,200 Mbps added together. ASUS lists download speeds up to 867 Mbps, which is the 5GHz figure. No single connection uses the combined number, and the adapter works on one band at a time.

Real speeds are always lower. ASUS notes that throughput and coverage depend on network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead.

Two bands, two jobs

• 2.4GHz reaches farther and passes through walls better, but is slower and shared with many household devices.
• 5GHz is faster and typically less crowded, but its range is shorter and walls reduce it more.

With a dual-band adapter, the computer can connect to the 5GHz network when it's near the router and fall back on 2.4GHz when it's farther away. Your router needs to broadcast a 5GHz network to take advantage of the faster band.

MU-MIMO in plain terms

MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output) lets a compatible router talk to several devices at once instead of switching between them one at a time. ASUS says the technology lets the adapter connect at maximum speeds to MIMO-enabled routers and access points. The benefit appears mainly in homes with many devices, and it needs a router that supports it as well.

Nano size and plug and play

ASUS describes it as the world's smallest dual-band 802.11ac MU-MIMO USB Wi-Fi adapter. A small body means it sits close to the port without sticking out, which suits laptops that get carried around. The trade-off is that a compact adapter has little room for antennas, so a long, large adapter with external antennas may reach farther in difficult spots.

Setup is described as plug and play. The listing names Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10 as compatible. Check the manufacturer's support page for the current driver list if you use a newer operating system or another platform.

Upgrading an older computer

A desktop without wireless, or an older laptop with a 2.4GHz-only card, can gain 802.11ac this way, which ASUS says provides extended coverage and higher data transfer speeds. Connecting to the port on the back of a desktop, or through a short USB extension cable, often gives a better signal than a front-panel or hidden port.

Who it suits

It suits owners of desktops with no wireless, people with older laptops, and anyone who wants a replaceable adapter they can move between machines. Anyone with a very new router standard such as Wi-Fi 6 would still connect, but at the adapter's 802.11ac limits.

What to check before you buy

• Operating system: confirm drivers exist for your version of Windows or other system.
• USB port: check you have a free port, and where it sits for signal.
• Router: confirm it has a 5GHz network, and MU-MIMO if you want that feature.
• Distance: consider how far the computer is from the router and what is in between.
• Speed expectations: the 867 Mbps figure is a maximum, and your internet plan may be slower.

The short version

• A nano-sized USB Wi-Fi adapter with dual-band AC1200 (2.4GHz and 5GHz).
• Download speeds up to 867 Mbps, according to ASUS.
• MU-MIMO support for compatible routers and access points.
• Plug and play; Windows XP through 10 listed.
• Real speed and range depend on the network and the building.

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