Realtek Rtl8723bs Wireless Lan 802.11n Sdio Network Adapter Free Access

For Debian/Ubuntu (and Raspberry Pi OS):

The is a workhorse for low-cost embedded Wi-Fi/Bluetooth needs, especially in the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. Its limitations (2.4 GHz only, SDIO bus sharing, driver quirks) are manageable for IoT and light networking, but it is not suitable for high-throughput or low-latency applications. For new designs, consider the RTL8821CS or migrate to USB-based solutions.

It is adequate for general office work and media consumption. It is not suitable for competitive online gaming or large file transfers.

Technically, the RTL8723BS is "obsolete." It operates on 802.11n, a standard released in 2009. In 2025, most home networks run 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).

# Step 1: Ensure firmware exists sudo apt install firmware-realtek

This adapter is typically found in budget-friendly Windows and Android devices, including: Product Specification

Realtek RTL8723BS is a highly integrated single-chip combo module that provides both 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0