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Devices like keyboard, mouse, headphones, speakers, controllers etc. use Bluetooth for connectivity and to use these devices with your PC or Laptop, you’ll need Bluetooth support.
Most devices already have integrated Bluetooth support. If your PC/Laptop doesn’t have it already or the integrated Bluetooth doesn’t work with your Linux distro, then you can easily overcome the problem using an External/USB Bluetooth Adapter for Linux.
You can easily find a USB Bluetooth adapter that works with Windows OS but it is difficult to find one that is compatible with Linux distros. Since most manufacturers don’t support Linux out-of-the-box.
But Don’t worry, I have made this list of the best USB Bluetooth adapters for Linux to save you the hassle. Here’s the summary of the best Bluetooth Adapters for Linux.
Update (May 2023): Added Hideez USB Bluetooth Adapter to the list.
| Bluetooth Adapter for Linux | Link to Product |
|---|---|
| Hideez USB Bluetooth Dongle | See details at Amazon |
| Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter | See details at Amazon |
| Kinivo BTD-400 USB Bluetooth Adapter | See details at Amazon |
| Panda USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter | See details at Amazon |
| Edimax Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter | See details at Amazon |
Before Proceeding:
I want you to consider the following things before proceeding with this post:
1. There are many Linux based distros available out there. The Bluetooth adapters mentioned in this post may not work with every Linux distro.
2. On some distros you may have to install the drivers manually to make the Bluetooth adapter work properly.
Check the official site of these USB Bluetooth adapters or contact the manufacturer for detailed information.
Now, let’s look at the best USB Bluetooth adapters for Linux.
5 Best USB Bluetooth Adapters for Linux
1. Hideez USB Bluetooth Dongle
The first Bluetooth adapter for Linux on this list is the Hideez USB Bluetooth adapter. This Bluetooth 4.0 device is bundled with the CSR8510 chipset.
You can just plug and play this adapter with popular Linux distros such as Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Manjaro, Fedora etc. I tested this Bluetooth adapter on both older and newer kernel versions and it worked without any hassle.
Moreover, it is also compatible with Raspberry Pi and works out-of-the-box with Raspbian OS. You can also find the user guide to use this adapter with Linux on the Hideez website.
Being a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter, it is also equipped with the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology which makes it less power-hungry. Also, due to its compact design, it seamlessly gets plugged into a computer/laptop without blocking the surrounding USB ports.
If you are looking for a Bluetooth adapter that works out-of-the-box with Linux and Raspberry Pi, then the Hideez Bluetooth adapter will be the best choice.
Features of Hideez USB Bluetooth Adapter:
- CSR8510 Chipset.
- Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter.
- Compact Design.
- Dual-mode Bluetooth transfer.
- Plug and Play on most Linux distros and Raspberry Pi.
2. Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter
The second Bluetooth dongle for Linux on this list is the Plugable USB Bluetooth adapter. It works out-of-the-box with most Linux Distros including popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora.
Plugable USB Bluetooth adapter has a range of 32 feet (10 meters) and is capable of connecting multiple devices simultaneously.
This is a certified class 2 device and has been validated by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG).
You also don’t have to worry about power consumption or handling of the device. Being a Bluetooth 4.0 device, it consumes less power and because of its tiny design, you can even leave the device connected to your laptop while you are on the move.
This USB Bluetooth adapter is also compatible with Raspberry Pi.
Features of Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter:
- Broadcom BCM20702 Chipset
- Works out-of-the-box with most Linux Systems.
- Nano Design.
- Range up to 32 Feet (10 Meters).
- Connect multiple devices at once.
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi.
3. Panda USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter
Panda USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter is bundled with CSR chipset and works out-of-the-box with many Linux distros including Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora and Kali Linux.
It is a class 2 Bluetooth device and is backwards compatible with older Bluetooth versions. This adapter also has EDR (Enhance Data rate) and Low Energy consumption.
You can pair multiple devices simultaneously and if any connected device is a Bluetooth smart device, you can get a range of approx. 80 feet.
Like all other Linux compatible Bluetooth adapters on this list, this one also has a Nano design, so you can leave it plugged in on your laptop without blocking nearby USB ports.
Panda Bluetooth adapter supports a maximum of 3Mbps transfer rate and is also compatible with raspberry pi.
Features of Panda USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter:
- CSR Chipset
- Backward compatibility with Bluetooth versions 2.0/2.1/3.0 devices.
- Bluetooth Smart Ready 4.0 LE+EDR (Low Energy + Enhanced Data Rate).
- Nano Design.
4. Kinivo BTD-400 USB Bluetooth Adapter
Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth adapter is bundled with a Broadcom chipset and works out-of-the-box with some popular Linux distros including Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Fedora.
This is a class 2 Bluetooth 4.0 adapter with low energy technology and connects with devices within a range of 32 feet (10 meters). It is also fully compatible with older Bluetooth equipment.
Kinivo BTD-400 has a sleek design that ensures that adjacent USB interfaces in a laptop do not get blocked and you can even leave it plugged in while you are on the move.
Apart from being Linux compatible, it also works flawlessly with Raspberry Pi.
Features of Kinivo BTD-400 USB Bluetooth Adapter:
- Broadcom BCM20702 chipset
- Fully compatible with older Bluetooth equipment.
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi.
- Nano Design.
- Range up to 32 Feet (10 Meters).
5. Edimax Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter
The last on this list is Edimax USB Bluetooth Adapter that is bundled with the Realtek chipset. Unlike other Bluetooth 4.0 adapters on this list, Edimax Bluetooth Adapter uses Bluetooth version 5.0.
Being a Bluetooth 5.0 device you can enjoy 3x faster transfer speeds and almost 4x long-range than Bluetooth 4.0.
This nano-sized adapter consumes less power and is also compatible with previous Bluetooth versions, including v2.1 + LE.
Note that, this is not a plug-and-play adapter; you may have to install drivers manually. Edimax provides official support only for Fedora and Ubuntu (Kernel 2.6.32-5.3) as of writing this post.
Features of Edimax Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter:
- Realtek Chipset
- Nano Size
- Supports dual-mode (BR/EDR + LE Controllers)
- Compatible with previous versions
- Bluetooth version 5.0
Conclusion
That’s it for the best USB Bluetooth adapters for Linux. Choosing the best Bluetooth adapter for Linux can be a daunting task, however, all the Bluetooth dongles mentioned here work on most Linux distros without any problems. You can also install Blueman Bluetooth Manager to use the Bluetooth feature efficiently.
By the way, the above-mentioned adapters also work with Windows OS.
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