Which HiBy Player Should You Buy? R1 vs R3 II vs R3 Pro II vs R4

HiBy's lineup splits cleanly. The R1, R3 II and R3 Pro II run HiByOS, HiBy's lightweight Linux-based player software; the R4 runs open Android 12. On the DAC side, the FC4, FC5 and FD3 are wired USB dongles, while the W3 II and W4 add Bluetooth. Specs come from HiBy's pages and, where HiBy publishes no figure, from two independent reviews.

Availability: TonePier doesn't currently stock HiBy players or dongles, so this guide explains the lineup without listing HiBy prices. Closest in-stock players: the FiiO Snowsky Echo ($74.99) or Shanling M0s ($88.99) for the R1's role (neither streams over Wi-Fi), the Shanling M1 Plus ($182.99; 660 mW balanced into 32 Ω) for the R3 II and R3 Pro II, and the Android-based FiiO M21 ($371.99) for the R4. Closest in-stock DACs: the FiiO KA13 ($66.99) or Shanling UA4 ($117.99) wired, and the FiiO BTR17 ($198.99) for Bluetooth.

Which HiBy player should you buy?

HiBy R1

The R1 is the entry point: a CS43131 DAC, a 3-inch touchscreen, a single 3.5 mm output, and a microSD slot rated for 2 TB. HiBy rates the 1,150 mAh battery at up to 15 hours; the player weighs 70 g. Bluetooth supports LDAC. Wi-Fi brings DLNA, AirPlay and online Tidal/Qobuz streaming (no offline downloads); there is no balanced output. Buy it for the gym, a first player, or a cheap test of whether you like dedicated players.

HiBy R3 II 2025

The R3 II 2025 is the best fit for most buyers: dual ES9219C DACs, a 4.4 mm balanced output rated at 340 mW into 32 Ω, and a 3.5 mm jack. The 2025 revision brought the X1600E processor and a new interface; Bluetooth supports LDAC, aptX and UAT. The 2,000 mAh battery is rated at up to 19 hours single-ended or 16 hours balanced. HiByOS is not Android, but it includes Tidal and Qobuz over Wi-Fi plus DLNA and AirPlay, and the player doubles as a USB DAC. At 118 g with a 3.2-inch screen, it is pocketable.

HiBy R3 Pro II

The R3 Pro II keeps the R3 II's footprint but grows to 21.6 mm thick and 160 g to fit a 4,000 mAh battery rated at up to 21 hours. Dual CS43198 DACs and four OPA1622 amplifier chips deliver 480 mW from the 4.4 mm balanced output; that headroom is the reason to buy it. Same HiByOS with Tidal and Qobuz, same X1600E, Bluetooth with LDAC, aptX and UAT, and a 3.3-inch screen. Already own an R3 II? Skip it. Buying fresh with anything beyond efficient IEMs? The step up is justified.

HiBy R4

The R4 runs Android 12 on a Snapdragon 665 with 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and a microSD slot, so streaming apps install as on a phone. Unusual for a mid-range Android player: four ES9018C2M DACs and a Class A amplifier quoted by reviewers at 525 mW into 32 Ω balanced (HiBy publishes no power figure). Trade-offs: about 11 hours from the 3.5 mm output despite a 4,500 mAh cell, and a phone-sized 231 g body with a 4.7-inch screen. Buy it if streaming apps matter more than battery life; otherwise buy the R3 Pro II.

Which HiBy dongle DAC should you pick?

If your music lives on your phone, a HiBy DAC is the cheaper upgrade. TonePier doesn't currently stock these five; for in-stock FiiO and Shanling alternatives, see our best portable DAC guide and dongle DAC collection.

HiBy FC4 (the 2025 "with Display" version) is the default wired pick: dual CS43131 DACs, a 1.1-inch color OLED, and 3.5 mm plus 4.4 mm outputs rated at 70 mW and 151 mW into 32 Ω. It decodes PCM 768 kHz/32-bit and native DSD512 and weighs about 21 g.

HiBy FC5 (also the 2025 "with Display" version): dual CS43198 DACs, dual SGM8261-5 amps, a 1.1-inch color OLED, and 3.5 mm plus 4.4 mm outputs. Retailer spec sheets list it at up to 245 mW into 32 Ω, so over the FC4 you are paying for the CS43198 DACs, a dedicated amp stage and more power.

HiBy FD3 is a 73 g square puck with dual ES9038Q2M DACs and three outputs: 3.5 mm single-ended plus 2.5 mm and 4.4 mm balanced, decoding PCM 768 kHz/32-bit and native DSD512. Choose it for 2.5 mm cables or desk use. Note that HiBy's spec sheet lists MQA as not supported.

HiBy W3 II is a Bluetooth receiver first: a Qualcomm QCC5125 handles Bluetooth 5.1 with LDAC, aptX HD and HiBy's UAT codec, a CS43131 handles DAC and amp duty, and the single output is 3.5 mm. HiBy rates playtime at 11.5 hours; NFC pairing and a USB dongle mode are included. Need balanced? See the W4.

HiBy W4 is the flagship: a QCC5181 Bluetooth 5.4 chip with LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, dual CS43198 DACs, and 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm outputs rated at 125 mW and 475 mW. It doubles as a USB DAC up to PCM 768 kHz/DSD512; the 1,500 mAh battery is rated at 6.3 hours (3.5 mm) or 5 hours (4.4 mm). NFC, a MagSafe-compatible back plate, 93.3 g: a clip-on brick, not a dongle.

HiBy vs FiiO and Shanling

HiBy's edge is the mid-range: the R3 II 2025 pairs a 4.4 mm balanced output with built-in Tidal and Qobuz streaming. The rivals are FiiO's Android-based JM21 ($200.99) and Shanling's M1 Plus ($182.99), compared here. The JM21 also matches the R4's 4.7-inch screen and is rated higher on paper (700 mW balanced versus 525 mW); the R4's case rests on its Class A quad-DAC design. In dongles, the FC4 sits against FiiO's KA13 ($66.99), the W4 against FiiO's BTR17 ($198.99), and Shanling's UA4 ($117.99) is the wired rival to the FC5. HiBy trails on catalog depth (FiiO), fit and finish (Shanling), and app familiarity for streaming-first listeners. Further reading: FiiO vs Shanling and Do you still need a DAP in 2026?