Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 867Mbps WiFi Bluetooth Module

The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 is a half mini PCIe wireless module designed to bring 802.11ac connectivity to laptops that originally shipped with older Wi-Fi standards. Supporting dual-band operation on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, it delivers theoretical speeds up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band, a significant improvement over 802.11n adapters. The integrated Bluetooth radio eliminates the need for a separate adapter, consolidating two wireless functions onto a single card and freeing up USB ports or additional internal slots.

Installation is straightforward for anyone comfortable opening their laptop's access panel — the card connects to existing internal antenna leads and slots into a standard half mini PCIe socket. The most important consideration before purchasing is compatibility: HP, Lenovo, and Dell laptops often enforce BIOS-level whitelist restrictions that will prevent unrecognized wireless cards from operating, even if they physically fit the slot. For laptops from other manufacturers or custom-built systems, the 7260 offers a reliable and affordable path to faster wireless networking and modern Bluetooth support.