The best entry-level Hi-Res Audio player is getting a new version for 2026 — make the most of lossless streaming, or up to 2TB of your own files

• The JM21 player gets a bigger battery and more memory
• Same processor and dual DACs as before
• Expect to pay around $250

The Fiio JM21 is one of the best portable music players you can buy, especially if you're on a budget. And now Fiio has updated it for 2026. The JM21 2026 will launch in late January 2026 with a predicted price tag of around $250.

As before, the JM21 2026 comes with dual Cirrus Logic SC43198 DACs. But this time there's a bigger battery and more storage.

FiiO JM21 2026: key features

The JM21 2026 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, the same chip you'll often find in mid-range Android phones. As before, it's running Android 13 in a customized form. There's 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage – and, most importantly, support for microSD cards up to 2TB in size.

There's a good range of formats supported here including Hi-Res Audio at up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD512, and then you've got LDAC, LDHC and aptX HD for high-quality wireless connections.

The battery in the 2026 model is 3,100mAh, up from the 2,400mAh of the previous version, and it delivers up to 700mW of output power for your headphones. There's a switchable three-way gain setting to cater for a wide variety of the best wired headphones and best wired earbuds.

Unless something's gone horribly wrong at the Fiio factory, you can expect a DAC/amp that punches way above its price tag: as we said in our JM21 review last year "it’s a composed, lively and admirably detailed listen... It hits hard at the bottom end, but with no lack of control: its straight-edged attack means rhythmic expression is confident and convincing."

Unless you turn it up to hearing-threatening volumes, it's a very impressive little device with an equally impressive little price tag.

The Fiio JM21 2026 will be available from 23 January 2026.

The best music players for all budgets

➡️ Read our full guide to the best hi-res music players
1. Best overall:
Activo P1
2. Best budget hi-res player:
Fiio JM21
3. Best step-up hi-res player:
Astell & Kern A&norma SR35

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.