iFi and Questyle launch three USB-C Bluetooth dongles for better phone audio

TechRadar reported that the dongles plug into a source device and expand its Bluetooth capabilities. They are generally designed for phones and game consoles, and they allow for lower latencies and improved bandwidth while supporting advanced codecs. That combination is intended to produce better sound from existing headphones or earbuds.

Questyle's QCC Dongle Pro 2 follows last year's QCC Dongle Pro, which TechRadar said received a near-perfect review. The new model is largely designed for iPhones, which typically do not allow the kind of lossless wireless streaming available on Android devices, though Questyle also lists various game consoles as particular uses. The company does not mention Android support for this model.

The Dongle Pro 2 uses Bluetooth 6.1 for a more reliable connection than a phone has by default, according to TechRadar. It can stream in LDAC, various aptX, LHDC and LC3 codecs and also supports Snapdragon Sound. Users can connect multiple devices using Auracast, and Questyle's app lets them change audio codecs and manage which devices are connected. It costs $99 / £129, or roughly AU$230; Questyle's website ships to Australia, but the price is still in U.S. dollars.

iFi's two new devices are the UP Play at $59 / £59, about AU$110, and the UP Play Max at $89 / £89, roughly AU$180. They also appear to be designed primarily for Apple devices. iFi says the UP Play triples the level of detail in audio sent from Apple devices, while the UP Play Max increases it up to 4x. That appears to be the main difference between the two.

Both iFi dongles are also designed to offer noise suppression in calls, for clearer phone calls or gaming audio. Like the Questyle model, they offer Auracast compatibility, and the codec list appears to match with aptX and LDAC. Unlike Questyle, iFi specifies that Android devices will also benefit from the Play and Play Max, because the dongles are easier to use than changing codec settings in headphones. The dongles also let users pair multiple headphones at once, so two people can listen together, play games or watch videos.

iPhone owners are clearly the target for iFi's products. iFi calls AAC, which it uses for wireless music, "ageing" and pitches its UP Play dongles as filling a needed void, according to TechRadar. The three products give phone and console users an alternative to buying new headphones or a new handset when they want higher-resolution wireless audio.