FiiO Air Link Review: a Fix for Mobile Device Bluetooth Audio Quality Issues

Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for my honest review. The Metalverse is an independent website, and all opinions expressed are our own with no monetary incentive. We thank the team at FiiO for giving us this opportunity.

What Is the FiiO Air Link?

The FiiO Air Link is a pocket-sized Bluetooth transmitter that plugs directly into any USB-C port, instantly upgrading the device's wireless audio capabilities with premium codecs that most smartphones don't natively support. Think of it as a translator that speaks high-resolution audio languages your device never learned.

Here's the fundamental problem it solves: most smartphones have poor Bluetooth codecs (iPhones only support AAC—fine for casual listening, but it’s a format that loses some sound quality during bluetooth transmission. Android phones typically support LDAC natively now, but they don't offer aptX Lossless, and many budget Android devices still max out at basic aptX or even just SBC. Gaming consoles like PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch have notoriously poor Bluetooth support, if they have it at all.

The Air Link bridges these gaps by bringing LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive (up to 96kHz/24-bit), aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, and standard aptX to any USB-C device you plug it into. It's powered by Qualcomm's flagship QCC5181 chipset, which features a quad-core processor with dual 240MHz Kalimba audio DSPs—serious processing power for a device weighing just 5 grams.

At $59 the Air Link is priced well against more expensive competitors, but the previous BT11 had some connectivity and app issues that left mixed feedback. The Airlink is FiiO’s follow-up that looks to fix problems users may have had with the previous iteration.

Build Quality and Design

The Air Link nails the fundamentals of what a portable Bluetooth transmitter needs to be: small, light, and unobtrusive. At just 5 grams, it's one of the most compact transmitters on the market. The T-bar USB-C connector design sits relatively flush against your device, minimizing the risk of accidental snapping by barely protruding.

The housing is primarily plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap or fragile. The USB-C male connector features gold plating and what appears to be a reinforced collar for added durability during repeated plugging in and out. This is a good improvement over earlier FiiO dongles that showed wear quickly.

One genuinely smart feature is the secondary USB-C port that provides pass-through charging. This means you can juice up your phone while simultaneously using the Air Link—solving one of the biggest pain points of USB accessories that block your charging port. For users who stream music for hours and burn through battery quickly, this feature alone might justify the purchase.

The RGB lighting system provides at-a-glance codec status through different colors: white for LDAC, green for aptX Adaptive and Lossless, yellow for aptX HD, purple for aptX Low Latency, and blue for SBC. When the device is in pairing mode, you'll see alternating red and blue flashes. This is useful for confirming which codec is active without diving into apps or settings.

The multifunction button handles pairing, codec switching between LDAC and aptX Adaptive modes, and factory resets. However, there are no dedicated volume or playback controls, so you'll rely on your headphones' controls or your source device for those functions.

Available in black or silver finishes, the Air Link maintains FiiO's signature minimalist aesthetic. It's functional without being overly flashy.

How the Air Link Affects Sound

Here's something crucial to understand upfront: the Air Link is a Bluetooth transmitter, not a DAC or amplifier. The Air Link doesn't actually produce sound—it takes digital audio from your source device and transmits it wirelessly to your headphones or speakers. The final sound quality still depends on your headphones. However, what the Air Link does is ensure you're getting the absolute best wireless transmission possible by supporting premium codecs that preserve more audio information than standard AAC or SBC, getting the most out of your headphones.

The Codec Advantage

When compared against native smartphone Bluetooth and using a good set of headphones or earbuds, sound quality is noticeably improved. Audio that may have previously sounded slightly thin or compressed can now sound fuller and even have added detail retrieval.

LDAC at its highest 990kbps bitrate and aptX Lossless should make a noticeable difference in overall sound quality. Bass should have some more texture and character; instruments may sound more natural, and highs could have increased air and smoothness. The increased audio quality transmission will make high-quality headphones shine and sound even better than on standard Bluetooth codecs.

Latency Performance for Gaming and Video

The Air Link targets approximately 50ms latency using the aptX Low Latency codec (compared to the standard Bluetooth latency of 100-200ms), which matters significantly for media and gaming use. This is low enough that we didn't perceive any sync issues between audio and visuals, which should make the Air Link viable for gaming applications where many Bluetooth solutions may feel slightly delayed.

Usability and Setup

The setup is where we encountered a slight hurdle. During the initial setup, I had to turn the Air Link and my Bluetooth headphones off/on a few times before they successfully paired. Overall this process was still quite easy and only took 2-3 minutes.

Fortunately, once you have the devices paired, the setup is seamless from then on, once the Air Link is plugged in and your headphone is on, they will automatically connect. Even switching the Air Link between devices, from a Phone, to iPad to Desktop computer, the connection was seamless and worked as expected. While the initial setup may have taken a few minutes, after the first pair the Air Link worked flawlessly.

The app provides useful features like manually enabling/disabling specific codecs, forcing LDAC to operate at 660kbps or 990kbps, viewing currently paired devices, and selectively connecting, disconnecting, or deleting entries from the transmitter's onboard memory.

Battery Life and Power Draw

Unlike Bluetooth receivers that need their own batteries, the Air Link draws power directly from your source device via the USB-C connection. This means no batteries to charge, no running out of juice mid-listening session, and one less device to manage. The power draw is minimal, there was not a significant draining of my phone’s battery during use with the FiiO Air Link.

The pass-through USB-C charging port is a great quality-of-life feature, allowing you to charge your phone while using the Air Link simultaneously. The only limitation is that it only supports 5V charging, so rapid charging won't work—but standard charging is perfectly functional.

Compatibility

The Air Link works with any device featuring a USB-C port, which includes computers, iPhone 15 and newer, iPads with USB-C, all modern Android phones, PCs, Macs, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and various other devices. Older iPhones with Lightning ports (iPhone 14 and earlier) require a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter.

The transmitter also supports multipoint connectivity, allowing you to manage multiple paired devices and switch between them through the app—a handy feature for users who regularly swap between different headphones or speakers.

Final Verdict

The Air Link's specifications are excellent, the price is cheaper than alternatives, and its codec support is comprehensive. I think the FiiO Air Link improves where the BT11 came short, the user experience is better overall—although initial setup still isn’t quite seamless. The app provides useful features and expands the usage beyond the single button on the Air Link.

Given FiiO’s reputation for releasing firmware updates for problems with their devices, I think the Air Link is a great, affordable alternative to other Bluetooth transmitters. The Air Link is an improvement from the BT11 and shows that FiiO is happy to listen to reviews and customer feedback to create a better experience for everyone. At its price the Air Link has great technical specifications and achieves its goal of helping you squeeze every last bit of high quality bluetooth audio out of your headphones.

Technical Specifications

• Chipset: Qualcomm QCC5181 (quad-core processor with dual 240MHz Kalimba audio DSPs)
• Bluetooth Version: 6.0
• Bluetooth Profile: A2DP
• Supported Codecs: LDAC (up to 990kbps), aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive (up to 96kHz/24-bit), aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX, SBC
• Snapdragon Sound: Supported (requires compatible receiving device)
• Maximum Sampling Rate: 96kHz / 24-bit
• Latency: Approximately 50ms (using aptX Low Latency mode)
• Transmission Range: 50m+ in open spaces, 35m+ with obstacles (typical conditions)
• Antenna: FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) internal antenna with PDS (Power Distribution System) technology
• Bluetooth Multipoint: Supported
• Connector: USB-C male plug
• Pass-Through Port: USB-C female port for simultaneous charging (5V compatible devices only)
• Rated Input Power: 5V / 1A
• App Support: FiiO Control app (iOS 1.2.14+, Android 3.27+) and web interface access
• Compatibility: Any device with USB-C port (iPhone 15+, iPad, Android 5.1+, Windows 10 version 1803+, macOS, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)

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