Gadget Review: Benfei USB-C to Ethernet Adapter

Sure, WiFi is basically fine. But sometimes you need the raw power, high speed, and utter reliability of Ethernet. Billions of packets hurtling down twisted copper pair in order to deliver your data - that's what it is all about, right?

But - alas! - laptops don't have Ethernet ports these days. And mobile phones tend to shun them as well. Who can save us from the tyranny of multi-GigaHertz radiowaves?!

The good folk at Benfei have sent me their latest gadget and, somehow, I need to make 300 words out of "plug into device, plug in Ethernet cable, data go fast". Let's see how that goes!

My hands trembling, I plugged in the svelte USB-C plug into my waiting laptop. With a satisfying "clunk", the Ethernet cable docked into the waiting receptacle. An instant later, subtle LEDs began to flicker as the data pulsed through the CAT6 and into my computer.

For Linux nerds, this is a 0bda:8153 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. Plugging it in just worked - although there are drivers for Linux, Mac, and Windows if you need them.

Just for a laugh, I plugged it into my Android phone and - amazingly - it also just worked. I was free from the shackles of poor 5G coverage. Well, I could only go as far as my Ethernet cable stretched, but the speeds were fantastic.

This claims to be good up to 1Gbps. Sadly, I downgraded my Gigabit broadband, but let's see just how fast it can go. Here's a speed test run from my Android phone:

Fair play! That totally maxed out my home broadband.

Verdict

It's a cute little unit. For about a tenner - depending on how The Algorithm feels - this can't be beat. The short cable is nicely braided, the silver design is inoffensive, and you get the standard Ethernet blinkenlights to tell you it's working.

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