A wireless communication system is provided that includes a first wireless communication device, a second wireless communication device, and a base station. The first and second wireless communication devices perform one of indirect communication via the base station and direct communication not passing via the base station. The first wireless communication device obtains the type of communication function with which the second wireless communication device is compatible, and transmits a data frame using at least one of the communication functions with which both the first and second wireless communication devices are compatible. The second wireless communication device measures communication quality of the data frame transmitted from the first wireless communication device for each communication function used. One of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, based on the communication quality, determines whether to perform one of the indirect communication and the direct communication.