This is a test using a capability that all of the tested adapters have (WiFi 5). All adapters were tested from the same location connected to the same access point (AP).
Test setup:
- WiFi 5
- AC
- 5 GHz
- Channel 116 DFS - clear air (no other APs on the channel)
- 80 MHz channel width
- WiFi Router: ZyXEL NBG6817 (Wave 2) (running OpenWRT 22.03, iperf3 -s)
- WPA3
- Distance: about 7 meters (20 ft)
- Obstacles: 2 walls
- Client system: Desktop i7 running kernel 6.1 (Xubuntu 22.10, iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1)
- Adapters tested in managed (client) mode
The adapters and results are sorted by their bitrate/speed from fastest to slowest.
Note
I used adapters with many modern chipsets so as to show the relative performance you can expect. Keep in mind that this is a speed test at short to medium range, not a range test. The Alfa ACHM and ACH would run away from the pack in a range test.
- WiFi Adapter: Comfast CF-951AX
- Capability: Wifi 6E - AXE3000
- Chipset: mt7921au
- ID 0e8d:7961 MediaTek Inc. Wireless_Device
Warning
Do not take the inclusion of this specific adapter in this test as a recommendation. There are better adapters with this chipset. The mt7921au chipset and the mt7921u driver are proving to be fast and stable.
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.185 port 52582 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 72.8 MBytes 611 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 73.8 MBytes 619 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 73.8 MBytes 619 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 75.0 MBytes 629 Mbits/sec 0 1.89 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 748 MBytes 627 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 746 MBytes 625 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: Comfast CF-958AC
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC1900
- Chipset: rtl8814au
- ID 0bda:8813 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8814AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wireless Adapter
Warning
The driver for this adapter is old and is missing features. You do not want this adapter or any adapter with this chipset.
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.124 port 59926 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 55.3 MBytes 464 Mbits/sec 0 1.16 MBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 71.2 MBytes 598 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 76.2 MBytes 640 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 78.8 MBytes 661 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 77.5 MBytes 650 Mbits/sec 0 1.81 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 747 MBytes 626 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 745 MBytes 624 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: Alfa AWUS036AXER
- Capability: Wifi 6 - AX1800
- Chipset: rtl8832bu
- ID 0bda:b832 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 802.11ax WLAN Adapter
Warning
This is a multi-state adapter. You do not want this adapter.
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.165 port 44936 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 64.6 MBytes 541 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 68.8 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 70.0 MBytes 587 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 70.0 MBytes 587 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 68.8 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 68.8 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 70.0 MBytes 587 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 68.8 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 70.0 MBytes 587 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 68.8 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 688 MBytes 577 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 687 MBytes 576 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: Cudy WU1400
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC1300
- Chipset: rtl8812bu
- ID 0bda:b812 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL88x2bu
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.109 port 43290 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 65.2 MBytes 547 Mbits/sec 0 1.73 MBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 67.5 MBytes 566 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 66.2 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 1.82 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 663 MBytes 556 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 661 MBytes 554 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: ALFA AWUS036ACH
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC1200
- Chipset: rtl8812au
- ID 0bda:8812 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8812AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2T2R DB WLAN Adapter
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.188 port 38814 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 59.8 MBytes 502 Mbits/sec 0 1.66 MBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 58.8 MBytes 493 Mbits/sec 0 1.76 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 60.0 MBytes 503 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 57.5 MBytes 482 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 57.5 MBytes 482 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 57.5 MBytes 482 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 56.2 MBytes 472 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 57.5 MBytes 482 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 56.2 MBytes 472 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 58.8 MBytes 493 Mbits/sec 0 1.87 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 580 MBytes 486 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 577 MBytes 484 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: ALFA AWUS036ACM
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC1200
- Chipset: mt7612u
- ID 0e8d:7612 MediaTek Inc. MT7612U 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wireless Adapter
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.228 port 58404 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 49.4 MBytes 414 Mbits/sec 0 757 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 2 568 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 47.5 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0 646 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 47.5 MBytes 398 Mbits/sec 0 700 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 0 735 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 0 769 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 2 585 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 0 619 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 0 639 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 46.2 MBytes 388 Mbits/sec 0 650 KBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 468 MBytes 393 Mbits/sec 4 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 466 MBytes 390 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: EDUP EP-AC1635
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC600
- Chipset: rtl8811cu
- ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 802.11ac NIC
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.103 port 56144 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 32.7 MBytes 274 Mbits/sec 0 870 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.06 MBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.18 MBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.26 MBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 33.8 MBytes 283 Mbits/sec 0 1.33 MBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.33 MBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.33 MBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.33 MBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 1.33 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 31.2 MBytes 262 Mbits/sec 0 1.40 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 325 MBytes 273 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 323 MBytes 271 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: ALFA AWUS036ACS
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC600
- Chipset: rtl8811au
- ID 0bda:0811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Realtek 8812AU/8821AU 802.11ac
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.172 port 58436 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 32.3 MBytes 271 Mbits/sec 0 686 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 894 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 940 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 1.03 MBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 30.0 MBytes 252 Mbits/sec 0 1.03 MBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 302 MBytes 254 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.01 sec 299 MBytes 251 Mbits/sec receiver
- WiFi Adapter: ALFA AWUS036ACHM
- Capability: Wifi 5 - AC600
- Chipset: mt7610u
- ID 0e8d:7610 MediaTek Inc. WiFi
$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[ 5] local 192.168.1.176 port 36664 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr Cwnd
[ 5] 0.00-1.00 sec 26.8 MBytes 225 Mbits/sec 0 732 KBytes
[ 5] 1.00-2.00 sec 25.0 MBytes 210 Mbits/sec 0 775 KBytes
[ 5] 2.00-3.00 sec 26.2 MBytes 220 Mbits/sec 0 812 KBytes
[ 5] 3.00-4.00 sec 23.8 MBytes 199 Mbits/sec 0 854 KBytes
[ 5] 4.00-5.00 sec 26.2 MBytes 220 Mbits/sec 0 854 KBytes
[ 5] 5.00-6.00 sec 23.8 MBytes 199 Mbits/sec 0 854 KBytes
[ 5] 6.00-7.00 sec 26.2 MBytes 220 Mbits/sec 0 894 KBytes
[ 5] 7.00-8.00 sec 25.0 MBytes 210 Mbits/sec 0 898 KBytes
[ 5] 8.00-9.00 sec 25.0 MBytes 210 Mbits/sec 0 898 KBytes
[ 5] 9.00-10.00 sec 25.0 MBytes 210 Mbits/sec 0 947 KBytes
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Retr
[ 5] 0.00-10.00 sec 253 MBytes 212 Mbits/sec 0 sender
[ 5] 0.00-10.02 sec 250 MBytes 209 Mbits/sec receiver
@morrownr