The Ac56 and Ac68 are electronic devices configured to enhance wireless connectivity between the computers and the internet and other devices. They thus transmit data through radio waves, directly to the routers where they are then forwarded to internal networks.

We are currently renovating our office and one of the major task is to equip all the offices with fast effective WiFi signals. Network connectivity is quite a tricky topic especially when it comes to the devices being used. The wireless adapters however, can offer connectivity to multiple devices while covering a wide range.

Important to note is that not all the adapters will work the same and that is why we did a review of the AC56 and the Ac68, wireless adapters before settling with one.

What is the difference between the Ac56 and the Ac68?

Model	Ac56 (Winner)	Ac68
Antenna	one	Two
Speeds	867Mbps over 5G 400Mbps over 2 4G	600mbps at 2.4GHz 1300mbps at 5GHz
Wireless type	802.11ac	802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
Number of USB ports	USB 3.0, 1 Port USB 2.0, 1 Port	USB 3.0, 1 port
	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

Ac56 vs Ac68- how do they compare?

Performance

The Asus Ac56 and the Ac 68 are both stable Wi-Fi adapters; however, the latter seems to be a little toned down in terms of performance. Ac56 utilizes the 802.11ac range while Ac 68 utilizes the 802.11n range, which tends to be a bit slow giving about 450mbps at maximum speeds. The 802.11ac, on the other hand, offers high performance with faster speeds at 1.3Gbps maximum speeds.

There are also some notable differences in terms of capacity, to which the 802.11ac has the capability of accommodating up to 100 users when running at optimum speeds while the 802.11n can only cater to a maximum of 40 clients while at optimum performance. The next generation ac56, therefore, offers its users super-fast Wi-Fi speeds, thus delivers a clean 867 Mbps at 5 GHz. The above tends to be 3x faster than the 802.11n range.

Ac68, on the other hand, doesn’t have much in terms of speeds and performance at least when compared to the ac56. However, you can expect your PC to get a wireless boost of about 33% on the 2.4GHz band, the percentage goes up on the 5GHz band and you can expect to get up to 300%. Users with the Asus Ac68 Wi-Fi adapter can, therefore, engage in the bandwidth-intensive activities as they have been provided with a combined data rate of 1900mbps.

Coverage 

The Asus ac56 offers wider coverage when compared to the ac68, therefore, if you decide to invest in the ac56, you can expect it to cater to your home or office Wi-Fi needs and mind you the unit will offer seamless connectivity and a multi-floor unit. And besides the high performance of the external antennas, the Wi-Fi adapter has also been equipped with internal antennas, meant to enhance the transmission power for the larger areas.

The unit can also be customized to meet the user’s needs and you are thus allowed to remove the detachable antenna in a bid to reduce the power, and you can also invest in a much more powerful antenna if the existing one, does not suffice your needs. The USB-Ac68 has been furnished with a desktop cradle, which is supposed to help you with positioning, as you search for the perfect reception in areas with Wi-Fi signal problems.

And still on performance the Ac56 has also been equipped with an intelligent signal management feature, “the ASUS Airadar” that has been configured to strengthen the connectivity of the wireless device, via the precise directional signal amplification, which will then increase the range with which the Wi-Fi signals travel, users will also experience increases stability and high data throughput.

USB performance

Ac56 is a USB 3.0 and 2.0 enabled thus permits the wireless adapter to pair with desktops and notebooks utilizing a bandwidth that is about 10 times that of a USB 2.0. The Ac68 USB 3.0 works in the same manner as Ac56 the only difference is that in the latter you get to maximize on the 802.11ac networking, while on the Ac68 you will be able to completely utilize the latest Wi-Fi standard incorporated in the device.

Both units have been equipped with a three-foot cable to offer flexibility during positioning. The Ac68 also gives users the option of upgrading their PC’s Wi-Fi without much hustle, and you can, therefore, enhanced signal coverage thanks to the equipped 3 x 4 MIMO design, the Airadar beamforming technology, and the external antennas.

Ac56 vs Ac 68-A Comparison overview

Ac56-Overview

The Ac56 has to be one of the Wi-Fi adapters with the simplest designs ever because you only get the antenna and the USB. Out of the box the USB has been equipped with caps on both ends, one that covers the external connector for the antenna and the other for the USB 3.0 connector. And on the side of the unit, it has incorporated a WPS button necessary for the WPS connections.

The device is also USB 2.0 compatible meaning that you can use it with a USB 2.0 port but don’t expect to get very high speeds. And among the incorporated accessories, users will get a driver and support CD, complete with a manual and a VIP warranty card. The Ac 56 has also been equipped with a TurbaoQAM, the above is a technology that enables the Wi-Fi adapter 2.4GHz band with up to 40 MHz channels to gain a maximum transfer rate of at least 200mbps per data stream.

The Wi-Fi adapter has been designed to offer scalability, flexibility, and high performance, the design of this unit also encourages service prioritization for data. Users must, however, note that the actual data throughput and range are dependent on the environmental factors and network conditions.

The user, therefore, needs to limit the volume of the network’s traffic, be keen on the material used for construction and the networks overhead which will consequently result in lower wireless coverage and data throughput. So if you plan to make the most of your Ac56 wireless adapter, you must first ensure that all the connected devices are 802.11ac compatible.

The Ac56 also features some scalable options and facilitates ease of use by paring with the desktops and notebooks via bandwidth that is higher than the USB 2.0. In essence, is that the Ac56 has incorporated the most advanced technological features when compared to the Ac68.

What we like

• The wireless adapter features Asus Airadar technology that intelligently strengthens wireless device connectivity
• The unit is flexible for maximum wireless coverage
• Comes incorporated with a three-foot cable, which provides flexibility in positioning
• The adapter has been equipped with sufficient throughput overhead for the fast network speeds

What we don’t like

• The wireless adapter is not compatible with windows 10
• Features inconsistent connection speeds

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Ac68-Overview

The Ac68 features a simple design with two external and internal antennas, complete with three positions that it can be turned to for maximum Wi-Fi coverage. The external antennas are foldable so when used with devices such as laptops they help to enhance coverage. The unit is also pretty compact and with the antennas closed, it becomes portable.

The wireless Ac68 has been configured to give your PC a boost with up to 600mbps on the 2.4GHz and 300mbps on the 5GHz, so users can expect to be furnished with a combined data rate of 1900 Mbps. The latter can, therefore, handle the higher bandwidth tasks effectively.

The incorporated USB 2.0 interface allows the Wi-Fi adapter to pair with desktops and notebooks with ease and while offering higher performance. Wireless connectivity of the Ac68 receives a boost from the incorporated AiRadar and beamforming technology, there is also the unique Asus RF fine-tuning that enhances the coverage range, stability, and increases the data speeds.

The adapter is also easy to use and offers a much wider coverage when compared to the Ac56. While both units are compact, Ac56 is more portable especially after getting rid of the detachable antennas and replacing its cap.

What we like  

• instantly upgrades the networking devices such as desktops or laptops
• The Wi-Fi adapter has three positioning settings designed to enhance coverage
• Equipped with a cradle for flexibility in positioning

What we don’t like  

• Has driver problems, which makes it to lose connection
• Overheats and constantly restarts itself

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Conclusion

While both the Wi-Fi adapters can be adopted to different settings and work effectively, it all boils down to your needs. The Ac68 does offer faster upload and download speeds, but this also depends with your ISP, which should match the speeds of your Wi-Fi adapter. For users who want to run intensive tasks then the AC56 is your go to Wi-Fi adapter.

Verdict: so, which is better between the Ac56 and the Ac68?

The Asus USB-Ac56 turns out to be the better option when compared to the Ac68, one because it has been equipped with the Next-generation 802.11ac wireless, which is 3x faster, thus offers super-fast Wi-Fi on the connected devices.

Better yet is that the device can cater to large homes and offices, and this includes the multi-floor units. The incorporated antennas can also be removed if one wishes to reduce the power and be integrated with a more powerful antenna to enhance coverage and speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why can’t the computer find my wireless Ac56 adapter?

There could be so many explanations but what you could do is to ensure that your computer has been equipped with a wireless adapter.

2. How do I find my Ac68 serial number?

The serial number can be found either in the warranty card or at the back of your Ac68 beginning with the initials SN.