FiiO AIRLINK Portable High-Res Bluetooth Transmitter

The FiiO AIR LINK is a tiny, plug-and-play USB-C Bluetooth transmitter that upgrades phones, tablets, computers and games consoles to high-resolution wireless sound. Many devices, such as the iPhone 15, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PCs and Macs, only send SBC or AAC over Bluetooth. Plug in the AIR LINK and they can send LDAC, aptX Lossless or aptX Adaptive at up to 96kHz/24-bit to compatible wireless headphones and speakers, through Qualcomm’s flagship QCC5181 chip and Bluetooth 6.0. It is Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified, weighs about 5g, and comes in black or silver.

Flagship Qualcomm QCC5181 and Bluetooth 6.0

The QCC5181 combines a quad-core processor with two powerful Qualcomm Kalimba audio DSPs, giving the processing power for smooth, high-quality sound. Bluetooth 6.0 brings more stable connections and a longer range: FiiO measured over 50m in open space and over 35m with people in the way. The QCC5181 also supports Snapdragon Sound for an immersive, lossless experience with headphones that support it too.

LDAC and every aptX codec

The AIR LINK sends LDAC (including its 990kbps top quality) and SBC, plus all of Qualcomm’s aptX codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive (96kHz/24-bit), aptX HD, aptX and aptX Low Latency, so you can choose the benefits of each, from lossless sound to low latency. AAC is not supported for licensing reasons, and neither is LHDC, so it is best with headphones or speakers that support LDAC or aptX. If your phone already sends LDAC, the AIR LINK may make little difference; it is designed for devices that can’t.

Works with phones, computers and consoles

The AIR LINK uses the standard USB Audio Class 1.0, so no driver is needed. It works with most Android phones (some heavily customised systems are not supported), iPhones and iPads with USB-C, Windows 10 and later, Macs (through USB-C or, with the included adapter, USB-A) and consoles such as the Switch and PS5; Linux should work, but FiiO cannot guarantee every version. It connects through the USB port and leaves your phone’s own Bluetooth alone; to go back to the phone’s Bluetooth, simply unplug it.

Multipoint, a multi-function button and RGB lighting

Pair the AIR LINK with two Bluetooth receivers at once. With both connected it uses SBC, because Bluetooth doesn’t have the bandwidth for two LDAC or aptX Adaptive streams. The multi-function button puts it into pairing mode, clears pairings and switches between some codecs, and the RGB light shows the codec and status at a glance: pulsing white for LDAC, green for aptX Adaptive, red for aptX Lossless, yellow for aptX HD, purple for aptX or aptX LL and blue for SBC; red and blue flashing means pairing mode, blue flashing means reconnecting, and red flashing means a factory reset.

App and web control

Set up and manage the AIR LINK in the FiiO Control app (Android phones and tablets connect over USB, Apple devices over Bluetooth while the AIR LINK is in pairing mode) or in FiiO’s web tool on a Windows or Mac computer, using Chrome, Edge or Opera. Change the Bluetooth codec, manage connections to multiple devices and update the firmware, which can also update over the air.

Charge and listen at the same time

A separate USB-C socket on the side lets you charge your phone while you listen, so battery life is never a worry. It charges at up to 5V/1A (not fast charging) and is meant for phones and other 5V devices, not laptops. When you unplug the charger, the AIR LINK restarts and playback resumes after it reconnects, which is normal.

Small, light and well made

The minimalist body weighs about 5g and measures 34.5 × 23.5 × 9.5mm, with a painted, UV-coated plastic body and a gold-plated USB-C plug that resists wear and oxidation for a stable, reliable connection. A flexible printed antenna is built in.

Good to know

• The AIR LINK only transmits: it sends sound from your device to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
• Headset microphones are not supported, so it is for listening, not calls.
• Volume is set on your device or headphones; whether the phone’s volume bar follows depends on the headphones.
• In the box: AIR LINK, USB-A to USB-C adapter, USB-C protective plug, quick start guide and warranty card.