In this article, we’re taking a look at FiiO’s revised Bluetooth ear hook DAC/AMP, the FiiO UTWS5 2025, which retails for $159 USD.
Disclaimer: FiiO provided the UTWS5 2025 for review at no cost. As always, the thoughts and impressions shared here are entirely my own.
FiiO
Known for its dedication to designing high-quality audio equipment, FiiO is an important pillar of the global audiophile market. Since its launch in 2007, FiiO has specialized in the design and development of a wide range of audio products. With an extensive distribution network spanning continents, FiiO continues to deliver innovative products that resonate with music enthusiasts worldwide.
More recently, FiiO has expanded into speaker territory and launched a new sub-brand called Snowsky. If someone had told me we’d be seeing LDAC support on a $60 product, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here we are. If you’re into affordable wireless gear, definitely check out our review below.
Today, our focus is on the UTWS5 2025, a refined follow-up to the original UTWS5 we reviewed in 2021. FiiO has stuck with the same AKM DACs we liked before but addressed some key durability issues. Let’s revisit the concept and see how this unique tool performs in today’s market.
Over the years, we have reviewed and awarded a lot of FiiO equipment on Headfonia. You can access those reviews through this link: Headfonia FiiO Reviews.
FiiO UTWS5 2025
Essentially, the FiiO UTWS5 2025 is a Bluetooth ear hook DAC/AMP that turns your favorite wired IEMs into fully wireless TWS IEMs. If your IEMs use 2-pin 0.78mm or MMCX connectors, the UTWS5 acts as a plug-and-play adapter that wraps around your ears, making them completely wire-free while keeping the sound quality as intact as possible.
With the 2025 update, the UTWS5 maintains the core feature set that worked well in the 2021 version while introducing key upgrades in durability, battery, and codec support. That’s what we’ll explore today.
The concept is simple: unplug your IEMs from their cable, plug them into the UTWS5, and you’ve unlocked a TWS experience of your favorite IEMs. Each side of the UTWS5 houses an independent AKM AK4332 DAC+HP combo and a Qualcomm Bluetooth chipset. They also have integrated microphones on each side, so you won’t need to remove your IEMs to talk on the phone. Here are the specs and highlights.
- AKM AK4332 DAC (per side)
- New Pin-Free IPX4 Design
- Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth 5.2 Chipset with LDAC, LHDC & AptX Adaptive Support
- TrueWireless Mirroring, Snapdragon Sound & AptX Voice Features
- Parametric EQ via FiiO Control App & Online EQ Profile Fetching
- SNR 110dB | Noise 4uV | Distort. 0.002% | 35mW@32Ω
- 60 mAh Battery (per side) | 7-8h Playback
- 1100 mAh Charging Case Battery | x2 Full Charges
- MMCX/2-pin, Dual-Device Connection, OTA Updates & more
- 93x70x36mm, 145g
What’s new in UTWS 2025?
The capacity of the charging case has increased from 800mAh to 1100mAh. However, the real game changer is the switch from charging the contact pin to charging the wireless charger inside the case.
The 2021 UTWS5 used metal contact pins that were prone to corrosion from sweat or moisture, a common problem for users who wore the hooks during workouts. FiiO received widespread reports of oxidized pins and decided to address the issue head-on.
According to FiiO’s James, “The use of wireless charging instead of contact pins in TWS products is rare. We had to overcome significant engineering challenges to make it power and space-efficient. We had very limited space inside the hooks, and on top of that, the hook and the case had to exchange data for features like auto-connect and sync, which added to the complexity.”
The redesign resulted in a completely sealed, IPX4-rated hook that now charges wirelessly. The housing was also slightly enlarged to accommodate bulkier IEMs more comfortably. The tradeoff? The case itself no longer supports wireless charging, only wired charging via USB-C.
The price was increased to 190-ish dollars from 160, and people asked. Why the price hike? Here’s what James says:
“Each earbud now has its own wireless charging module. We use specialized coils and chips that are much more expensive than standard charging components. Even with the price increase, our margins are lower than before. But profit has never been the goal. The UTWS series is meant to be a useful tool for enthusiasts.”
The good news is that despite an initial spike, prices have now stabilized around $150 to $160, almost identical to the original model.
One final note: No changes were made to the audio circuitry. FiiO says that limited internal space and battery constraints didn’t allow for upgrades, and better chips like the QCC5181 weren’t ready at the time. Instead, the priority was to solve the corrosion problem and restore reliable availability. Fair enough.
Accessories & Packaging
FiiO took a more mature and subtle approach with the UTWS5 2025 packaging. The box is finished in a light gray tone with minimal branding, and aside from the barcode label, there’s no mention of “2025” anywhere. That’s because the original contact-pin version is no longer being produced. From this point forward, I’ll refer to it simply as UTWS5.
Inside the package, the contents are straightforward. You get the ear hooks already placed inside the charging case. There’s also a short USB-A to USB-C cable, roughly 7 to 10 centimeters long, and a basic set of documents, including a quick-start guide and a thicker, multilingual manual. There are no additional accessories. A longer cable would have been useful, but other than that, nothing else is really required.
Design & Build Quality
In terms of design, the 2025 version sticks closely to the original layout. The most obvious change is the FiiO logo on the front. It now uses a glossy black background with gold lettering instead of the silver embossed letters we saw previously. The hinge on the case also feels more refined, with a tighter and more stable open-close motion, but that may be due to production variance.
I really like the design. It is practical, light, and easy to use. The same three-LED indicator system remains on the front: the center LED shows the charging case status, while the side LEDs reflect the connection and charge state of the left and right hooks. The LEDs have a diffused look that’s easy on the eyes.
The charging case is made from aluminum with a matte black finish, giving it a nice, chic look. The hooks themselves are plastic with a soft silicone-coated memory wire that you can shape for your ears. They’re extremely lightweight at just 8 grams each. The USB-C charging port is under the hinge on the rear of the case.
A multi-function button in the center handles key tasks: tap once to check the battery, hold for three seconds to enter pairing mode, and hold for twelve seconds to initiate a full reset.
While the earhooks look like they might be touch-sensitive, they actually use soft, membrane-style physical buttons. They’re light to press and don’t disturb your IEMs’ fit or seal. Voice pickup is handled by microphones located at the bottom and top of each hook, with one dedicated to ambient sound. Both mics are protected under liquid-proof grilles, and just next to them, each hook features a single status LED embedded inside these grilles.
These LEDs give connection or power cues discreetly. It’s a weird location for status LEDs if you ask me.
FiiO offers both MMCX and 2-pin versions, and if you’re like me and keep multiple IEMs with different connectors, you can always use ultra-short adapters. I do wish they had implemented a swappable connector system like Effect Audio’s ConX or TM2, but maybe we’ll see that in a future version.
The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.
Page 1: FiiO, UTWS5 2025, What’s new?, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality
Page 2: The Experience, Call Quality, Latency, Performance, Last Words
