Intel AX201NGW Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 M.2 2230 adapter

What this adapter is and who it fits

The Intel AX201NGW is a Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 M.2 2230 module built as a companion RF unit for integrated Intel wireless solutions. It delivers dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation with a maximum throughput of 2.4 Gbps on a 160 MHz channel. The card targets laptops with 8th generation or newer Intel processors that expose a CNVio2 interface. Desktop systems and older platforms cannot use this module.

Check your system before ordering

Verify that your laptop has an M.2 Key E slot wired for CNVio2 and runs Windows 10 or 11 64-bit, or a supported Linux distribution. The adapter will not work with a standard M.2 Key E socket lacking CNVio2, and it cannot replace a 9560 module. Drivers are not included in the package; they typically download automatically or can be obtained from the Intel website. Confirm compatibility with your system or motherboard manufacturer before purchase.

Sustained load behaviour

Under continuous traffic the adapter maintains 2x2 MU-MIMO 802.11ax operation across both bands, keeping throughput near the 2.4 Gbps ceiling when the router supports 160 MHz channels. Thermal output remains low for the M.2 2230 form factor, and the CRF architecture offloads baseband processing to the platform, so performance scales with the host CPU rather than throttling on the card itself. Bluetooth 5.2 coexistence stays stable during heavy Wi-Fi streams.