Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
TP-Link UB500 vs ASUS USB-BT500
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best USB Bluetooth Adapters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The TP-Link UB500 is the easy default: a current Bluetooth 5.x nano that just works on Windows 10 and 11 for the price of a coffee. The ASUS USB-BT500 is the equally tiny, equally reliable backup for desktop builders who value ASUS's driver support or run into a conflict.
TP-Link UB500
Buy itThe default answer for most people: tiny, plug-and-play on Windows 10/11, and cheap enough to be an impulse buy.
- Genuinely plug-and-play on Windows 10/11 — no driver disc or hunting required
- Bluetooth 5.x with wide backward compatibility for mice, keyboards, controllers and headsets
- Nano form factor sits nearly flush in a USB-A port
- Still protrudes just enough to catch on a laptop bag
- Windows falls back to the basic SBC audio codec — no aptX or LDAC
- Windows 7 users still have to install a driver manually
ASUS USB-BT500
Buy itA rock-solid, ultra-compact Bluetooth 5.0 alternative with a strong driver track record for finicky desktop builds.
- Very small, low-profile design that barely clears the port
- Dependable Bluetooth 5.0 connection well suited to keyboards, mice and controllers
- Backed by ongoing ASUS driver support for stubborn motherboards
- Some owners report needing the ASUS driver, and ASUS lists Windows 8.1 and 10 plus Linux support
- Also limited to SBC audio on Windows — not an audiophile solution
- Priced a touch above the cheapest nano dongles for similar everyday performance
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| TP-Link UB500 Our pick | ASUS USB-BT500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone adding Bluetooth to a desktop or older laptop for peripherals and everyday headsets. | Desktop builders who want a dependable pick or who hit conflicts with a generic dongle. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $ · budget |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.x | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Best use | All-round peripherals + audio | All-round peripherals + audio |
| Audio codecs | SBC (Windows) | SBC (Windows) |
| Typical range | Standard nano (short-to-mid) | Standard nano (short-to-mid) |
| Setup | Plug-and-play on Win 10/11 | May need the ASUS driver |
| Form factor | Nano | Nano |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the TP-Link UB500 if
anyone adding Bluetooth to a desktop or older laptop for peripherals and everyday headsets.
Know before buying: still protrudes just enough to catch on a laptop bag.
Pick the ASUS USB-BT500 if
desktop builders who want a dependable pick or who hit conflicts with a generic dongle.
Know before buying: some owners report needing the ASUS driver, and ASUS lists Windows 8.1 and 10 plus Linux support.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the TP-Link UB500 - The default answer for most people: tiny, plug-and-play on Windows 10/11, and cheap enough to be an impulse buy. Choose the ASUS USB-BT500 instead if desktop builders who want a dependable pick or who hit conflicts with a generic dongle.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best USB Bluetooth Adapters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).