Wireless-N USB Adapter Final Thoughts

When it comes to networking products looks tend to be somewhat of an afterthought, with the ASUS USB-N53 Wireless N300 USB Adapter this simply isn't the case. I'm sure many of you will agree that first and foremost on your list of priorities when buying hardware is the price, next would be performance and then looks come last. After all its just a USB adapter, so looks need not be so important.

I myself am a sucker for good looking gear and I find the need to have things that fit into a certain scheme, whether it be a color scheme or purely a design scheme, I don't like things that don't fit in very well. The main quality I look for is performance, I always find myself looking for the best performance for the money I have available. When I can find looks and performance in one package then I don't hesitate, that's where reviews like this one are handy.

ASUS USB-N53 Conclusion

Important: In this section I am going to write a brief five point summary on the following categories; Performance, Appearance, Construction, Functionality and Value. These views are my own and help me to give the ASUS USB-N53 Dual Band Wireless-N300 USB Adapter a rating out of 10. A high or low score does not necessarily mean that it is better or worse than a similar product that has been reviewed by another writer here at Benchmark Reviews, which may have got a higher or lower score. It is however a good indicator of whether the ASUS USB-N53 is good or not. I would strongly urge you to read the entire review, if you have not already, so that you can make an educated decision for yourself.

The performance of the ASUS USB-N53 is very respectable indeed, compared to a Wireless G 54Mb/s and the Wireless N150Mb/s connection there is simply no competition, sure the throughput tapered off with distance but this is to be expected anyway. The throughput is on par (if not better than) with hard wired 100Mb/s LAN to LAN throughput so the results are not to be shrugged off.

The ASUS USB-N53 appearance will score very highly. I have already stated that I am a sucker for good looks and that is exactly what the USB-N53 has, as I'm sure you will agree. It fits nicely into the 'Black Diamond' product line and will set a new bar for competing manufacturers to aim for.

The construction of the ASUS USB-N53 is very good indeed. Initial setup is a simple two step process; attach it to the positional USB extension and plug it in to your computer. The unit could be considered quite big but that is necessary for an adapter with this feature set, ASUS do much smaller adapters but they cannot compete with the USB-N53. It has been built very well and it feels really rugged, it is just a shame that the end cap is untethered when you need to use the adapter which means it can be easily lost.

Functionality of the ASUS USB-N53 also gets top marks. It is able to run on 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands depending on user preference and hardware compatibility, the setup is far from basic and gives power users some extra settings to tweak and get the most out of their connection. The USB-N53 also has a software Access Point mode which allows you to share an internet connection rather than connecting to a wireless network.

The ASUS USB-N53 is available for $39.99 NewEgg.com / $37.71 Amazon.com. At this price point it is one of the cheaper Dual-Band wireless N300 USB network adapters. Prices of other brands have fell recently, whether it is just a Newegg promo I don't know but as it stands they are about on par. With this in mind, mixed with a dash of style and good performance, I would say the ASUS USB-N53 offers reasonable value for money, but will still be considered slightly high for those who only need a simple network adapter for home use.

If you are looking for a stylish, feature rich and great performing USB network adapter then you should definitely consider the ASUS USB-N53 as one to put on the shortlist.

Pros:

+ Great performance
+ Very unique stylish looks
+ Good throughput
+ Range is good for home use
+ Dual-Band (2.4/5GHz) operation
+ 2x Internal anttena with signal monitoring utility
+ Doubles as a (software) Access Point
+ Lightweight but sturdy construction

Cons:

- Throughput not close enough to 300Mbps
- Price slightly high for most home users
- Finger print magnet
- Untethered end cap will be easily lost

Ratings:

• Performance: 8.00
• Appearance: 9.50
• Construction: 9.50
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 8.00

Final Score: 8.80 out of 10.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.

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