Slow internet on the go? These two Wi-Fi 7 adapters can boost your connections

Public Wi-Fi networks are a nice commodity in the modern world, although they can often be frustrating. We’ve all experienced connections slowing down or even disconnecting while working on a laptop at a coffee shop. Over at CES 2025, both Asus and Acer previewed portable Wi-Fi adapters that can improve the user experience out in the public.

Asus RT-BE58 Go

First is Asus’ RT-BE58 Go, a small device with rabbit-ear antennas measuring 3.8 x 3.7 x 1.2 inches. And it can do a surprising amount. The little gadget functions as a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router, supporting data transfer speeds up to 3,600 Mbps. When outside, it can create 4G/5G mobile hotspots “for on-the-go connectivity.” That tethering ability works with iPhones, Android devices, and 4G dongles for laptops.

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Speaking of hotspots, the device can establish private connections over public Wi-Fi networks thanks to WISP mode. VPN tech is present on the RT-BE58 Go, too, providing security and anonymity against online threats. It also gives access to “certain data or streaming [content] without district limitation.” What’s neat is the VPN tools are activated just by flipping the switch on the side. Other notable features include one-tap security scans and the ability to act as a Wi-Fi extender via Asus’ AiMesh software.

Acer Wave D7

Acer has a slimmer product: the Wave D7 Wi-Fi 7 Dongle. 

It functions similarly to a USB drive. Plugging the device directly into a laptop’s USB-A port gives the computer access to Wi-Fi 7 networks with speeds up to 2,880 Mbps. This performance extends to all three of its frequency bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz). 

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According to Acer, the Wave D7 supports MLO Plus (multi-link operation), which allows apps on the connection to choose the best access points for sending data. 

Many modern laptops lack USB-A ports. If you own a recent machine, you may think a gadget such as the Wave D7 is useless to you, but that’s not the case. The dongle base has a USB-C cable protruding out; you can use the cord to establish fast connections instead.

Availability

The Asus RT-BE58 Go isn’t available for purchase, and we don’t know how much it’ll cost at this time. We did reach out to the brand for more details. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

 Acer, on the other hand, is more forthcoming with information. The Wave D7 dongle will launch in North America sometime during Q1 2025 for $79.