USB C to Ethernet Adapter 5G, WAVLINK 5G Ethernet Adapter for Laptop, Compatible with Type C Device to Network for MacBook, XPS, iPad Pro-USB3.1 Gen 2 Required

We recently upgraded to 5Gbps internet at home (yes, probably overkill, but why not!), and I quickly realized my old Ethernet adapter wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I tried a few different ones, but the WAVLINK 5Gbps USB-C to Ethernet Adapter really stood out.I'm using it with a 24" iMac via a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port, and the whole setup runs on CAT 6 cabling. So far, it’s been solid, local file transfers are super fast, and download speeds are right where they should be for 5Gbps. No noticeable bottlenecks.What surprised me most is the build. It feels sturdy, no flimsy connections, and the USB-C port actually fits snugly (some cheaper adapters I tried were annoyingly loose). Also, it doesn’t heat up like others I’ve used; it gets warm after a while but never uncomfortably hot.Overall, I’m really happy with it. If you’ve got multi-gig internet and want to make sure your gear can actually handle it, this adapter is definitely worth a look.

Worked like a charm... plug in play, instantly on my windows 11 platform. has helped with consistency of speeds as well.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:This version supports 5/2.5/1G vs most others out there which support 2.5G at best. Functionality:This shows up in MacOS as a 5G ethernet port. It connects up to my switch at 5G and appears to work fine. It has quite a lot of air venting near the port on the dongle for cooling. It does get warm. I’ve seen a lot of 10G-BASE-T SFPs get very hot in switches so it’s probably not unexpected that this would get warm. I worry about that venting getting clogged with lint/debris if carried in a bag over time as well as the battery impact if it is creating that much heat. I have no practical experience yet using this for a long period on a MacBook Pro to relate if that’s a real concern. It is larger than my other 2.5G adapters so I’ll take a star off for that and the heat and venting concerns.Software compatibility:I didn’t need to download a driver for this in MacOS. It did offer drivers in the documentation. That might be needed for Windows or Linux.Ease of use:On MacOS it was as easy as plugging it in. No issues there.

Device works great

My Experience:Tested this WAVLINK 5G USB-C Ethernet adapter on Macs, PCs, and Linux. Plug-and-play every time — even on an M1 Mac, despite the listing saying it needs M3 or newer. Achieved ~4.7Gbps speeds with CAT6 cable and 5Gb switch. Solid aluminum body stays cool; connection is snug, no wiggle. Worth the three Jacksons if you need faster-than-gigabit but don’t want to pay for 10GbE. Also WAVLINK is a respected brandname.What Other Buyers Said:✅ Consistent high speeds on macOS, Windows, and Linux without driver installs on modern systems✅ Compact, sturdy aluminum case; better build than cheap plastic gigabit adapters✅ Clear LED indicators show negotiated speed (green = 5Gbps, amber = slower)✅ Reliable performance even for heavy tasks like 4K video editing or large file transfers✅ Good support for Wake-on-LAN, including remote wake-up features❗ Needs USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) port and 5Gb-capable switch/router — buyers on USB 3.0 ports reported max 2–3Gbps speeds❗ Some noted it’s pricey compared to gigabit adapters if you don’t need >1Gbps❗ Doesn’t work with Nintendo Switch 2 (as expected, but worth knowing)Shipping & Packaging:Came securely boxed, clean, no damage or missing parts. Includes quick start guide and driver link card.Bottom Line:If your device and network are up to it, this adapter reliably beats 1GbE/2.5GbE dongles without the cost of 10GbE gear. Great for anyone needing wired speed beyond Wi-Fi or gigabit limits.

Laptop recognizes it quickly and often exceeds the speeds of the internal adapter. Its fast though I do not have the ability to test the adapters capability. Reliable so far..

This worked for me with every USB-C capable machine I tried it on (several Macs, My desktop PC, several mini PCs and my SteamDeck). I didn't have any compatibility issues, and I didn't need to install any special drivers. One note: the copy claims that it won’t work with a Mac that has less than an M3 processor, but it worked without issue on my M1 Mac.On devices with only a USB 3.0 port (i.e. 5 Gbps USB), I was only able to get about 2-3 GBps, but that is to be expected, as with overhead, getting 5 Gbps out of a 5Gbps USB port is basically impossible; I was just happy to see that it still functioned, and did so at faster than 1Gbps speeds.For all of the other devices with faster ports (I tried it with USB 3.2 gen2, USB 3.2 gen2x2, USB4, as well as Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5), I was able to get the expected 5 Gbps connection to my 10 Gbps switch without issue.This adapter is:- Far more capable than 1GbE and 2.5GbE adapters- Far less expensive than 10GbE adapters.- Far more convenient and compatible than PCIe-based networking cardsThis makes a significant upgrade to just about any machine that doesn't already have 10GbE, and I've already picked up several more for my mini PCs.I’ve had good experience with Wavlink adapters and hubs in the past, and this is no different.Update: I thought it important to add that this does not work with the Nintendo Switch 2 (they never claimed it did, so that doesn't dock any points in my view, but it's important to know)