Disclaimer
Hello everyone. I want to be transparent as I always am and say that FiiO sent me the UTWS5 2025 so I could check it out and share my thoughts with you. Although I was given the UTWS5 2025, I want to make it clear that everything I’ve written here is based on my own experience with the product, and FiiO didn’t tell me what to say or when to say it—I’ve been free to share what I want and whenever I want.
I really want to thank FiiO for giving me the chance to try out the UTWS5 2025. And a big thank you, the reader, for taking the time to read this review. I truly appreciate your trust and support!
Introduction
Today I will be talking about the FiiO UTWS5 2025, which is FiiO’s new wireless hooks (but why does it have the same name as the old one with just “2025” added to it?). When they first announced it, I was very curious to see how they would improve on their already popular UTWS5, but it seems like the main difference is in the wireless charging and a little bit in the technical specs. This new version is a so called “refresh” of the original UTWS5.
The biggest highlight? Contactless wireless charging. It pretty much solves a major issue with sweat or moisture causing the pins to oxidize. It’s one of those “why didn’t they think of this sooner?” upgrades, but I’m so glad that they have come up with this. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and see how the UTWS5 2025 performs!
Unboxing
After unboxing the FiiO UTWS5 2025, I can say that it was actually pretty simple and kinda basic, but it still felt like opening something of a high quality.
Inside the box, I saw the UTWS5 2025 case, and inside the case were the two wireless adapters sitting in their slots. They looked sleek and were securely held in place. Underneath them was the charging case. It felt nice and solid in my hand, with a matte finish that didn’t pick up fingerprints easily—always a plus in my book.
The bottom of the box had the usual extras: a USB-C charging cable, the manual, and a warranty card. Basically all the basics you need in order to start using it.
It wasn’t the flashiest unboxing experience, but it was clean and practical. Everything I needed was there. It sets everything nicely and gives the vibe of a well thought out product.
Technical specifications
Specs
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC5141 with Snapdragon Sound technology
- Bluetooth Version: 5.2
- Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC
- DAC: AKM AK4332 DAC (one for each channel)
- Audio Resolution: Up to 24-bit/96kHz
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 110dB
- Noise: 4uV
- Distortion: 0.002%
- Output power (16Ω): 55mW
- Frequency response: 20-40kHz
- Battery Life: Up to 20 hours (with charging case)
- Charging Case Capacity: 800mAh
- Charging Method: Wireless charging support
- Water Resistance: IPX4 rating (sweat and water resistant)
- Volume Control: 32 levels of volume adjustment
- Connector Compatibility: MMCX and 0.78mm 2-pin
- App Support: FiiO Control and FiiO Music for adjustments and firmware updates
- Multipoint Connectivity: Can connect to two devices at the same time
- Controls: Large tactile buttons for easy operation
Features
Wireless Charging
Why new UTWS5? The main difference between the old one and the UTWS5 2025 is its wireless charging feature for each hook. It will help prevent the charging pins from getting oxidized from sweat or moisture. This is a huge plus for long term use, especially if you work out or live in humid areas.
Better Battery Life
The UTWS5 2025 will give you 8 hours on a single charge and up to 20 hours of total battery life with the case. It’s super convenient when you are taking into account that it’s a Hi-Res wireless that can work with all of your favorite IEMs, and to be honest, it never died on me during use.
Sweat and Water Resistance
It has a rating of IPX4 water resistance, which is another great feature. It’s designed to withstand sweat and light splashes, so it’s great for workouts or outdoor activities.
App features
The FiiO control app will allow you to check the battery charge, adjust 32 levels of volume, which is much more than what the phone allows you to, and many other useful things. Additionally, it gives you the option to use 10-band PEQ through the FiiO control app, which is awesome and adds a lot to its versatility.
button control
You can easily control the music with the buttons on the hooks.
- Press quickly two times to pause the music.
- Press quickly one time when the music is paused to continue playing.
- Press quickly on the left ear to lower the volume.
- Press quickly on the right ear to increase the volume.
- Long press on the left ear will play the previous track.
- Long press on the right ear will play the next track.
- A triple click on the right earhook will turn on/off the ambient sound. I was impressed that it actually works and lets you hear the outside very well. But I have noticed that it makes some noise when the hook isn’t flush to my head and hangs a bit further.
- A triple click on the right earhook will turn on the voice assistant.
- Hold for 1 second to power on the hooks.
- Hold for 5 seconds will turn it off.
And by the way, it is possible to change the control setting to 3 different through the FiiO control app, and I gave just one example.
Light indicator
After you are opening the case, the light flashing will show you the current charge of the case and each ear hook.
- 75% to 100%: White light flashes 4 times.
- 50% to 75%: White light flashes 3 times.
- 25% to 50%: White light flashes 2 times.
- <25%: Red light stays on for 5s.
Also, when charging, it will let you know when it is fully charged when the light is off, and while charging, it will remain on.
Multiple Connections
I absolutely love that it allows me to connect it to two devices at the same time and switch between them quickly when needed. For example, I can easily switch between my phone and laptop without disconnecting the first one.
How it performs?
Using the FiiO UTWS5 2025 has been a really solid experience for me. Right at the start, I have noticed that the sound felt to me very neutral. There is no extra bass boost, no overly sharp highs, just a clean and natural sound. I actually liked how transparent it was without adding any coloration. The best part is the 10 band PEQ, which made it possible for me to make presets for the IEMs I have used. The PEQ is very good, worked flawlessly for me, and gave me the option to make any adjustment I wanted.
The UTWS5 2025 sounds nice overall, but it is definitely not to the level of a good wired DAC/AMP. I feel like it misses some details and fullness to the sound. But nevertheless, they are good for everyday use and casual listening. I have enjoyed them a lot, and they will probably be always attached to my FD15, as I felt like they are a great match.
Power and Battery life
The UTWS5 2025 is surprisingly powerful. I tested it with the FD15, FH19, and FA19, and it drove all of them with ease. I could get more than enough volume out of them, and they still had plenty of headroom left.
The battery life was also good for me. I could sit with these for hours, whether it was during work or just relaxing, and they never died on me. It’s reassuring to not have to constantly think about charging, but the case itself can’t charge them too many times; for me, it was just 2 times, and then I had to charge the case.
How is the connection?
The connection was actually better than what I had expected. For the most part, it was rock solid, and I rarely had any issues. During my entire testing period, there was only one or two times when one of the ear hooks didn’t want to connect. But honestly, it wasn’t a big deal; I just popped them back in the case, took them out again, and they connected right away. No drama there.
Ambient mode
As I have stated earlier, I have to talk about the ambient mode. It works, but not as I would have liked it to. I have noticed that if the ear hook isn’t flush to my ear, it makes very audible noises that are pretty annoying. But as long as the hooks are positioned correctly, it’s worked. Although, to be honest, it’s not something that I would recommend using because of its inconsistency. Let’s hope that it will get fixed with a new firmware update.
Overall, I’m really happy with how the UTWS5 2025 performs. It’s powerful enough for IEMs, pretty reliable, and easy to use, with a lot of features available with the FiiO control app.
Conclusions
Ok, so let’s wrap up the FiiO UTWS5 2025 review. And I have to say that I’m really impressed. It’s a very solid refresh for the old UTWS5, from what I have heard about the old one. I haven’t tried the old version, but I heard that it had quite a few issues that many people complained about. But the newer version, which adds the wireless charging that makes it more convenient and durable and with probably updated firmware, which solved a lot of problems, but still has some which I hope FiiO will fix soon.
The sound is neutral and clear to my ears, and I hear no coloration, which is awesome. It has a very useful 10 bad PEQ for making the necessary adjustments for each IEM. And let’s not forget that it is powerful enough to handle probably any IEM you will throw at it, which makes it super versatile.
The battery life was fantastic, and I could use it for hours without even thinking about charging. The connection was stable almost all the time, with just one or two minor hiccups that were easy to fix. The ambient mode could have been better, but as long as you position the ear hooks properly, it works fine.
I must say that all in all, the UTWS5 2025 is quite reliable, easy to use, and does almost exactly what it promises. Overall, FiiO did a great job here, and I’m mostly happy with it!
Pros
- Neutral sound with no added coloration.
- Powerful enough to drive most IEMs easily.
- Great battery life, which lasts for hours without issues.
- Wireless ear hooks charge, which makes it more durable.
- Stable connection with minimal problems.
Cons
- Ambient mode can be finicky if ear hooks aren’t positioned properly.
- Occasional connection issues with one ear hook, though easily fixed.
- The case can only charge the ear hooks two times before the need to recharge it.
- Very big overall case (you probably can’t make it much smaller, so its a nitpick).