- 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 to 2026. JM21 2026 will be launched at the end of January 2026 with an expected price 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 often find in mid-range Android phones. As before, it runs Android 13 in a customized form. There’s 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage – and most importantly, microSD card support of up to 2TB.
There’s a good range of formats supported here, including Hi-Res Audio 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 2,400mAh in the previous version, and it delivers up to 700mW of output power to your headphones. There is a switchable three-way gain setting to accommodate a wide range of best wired headphones and best wired earbuds.
Unless something has gone horribly wrong at the Fiio factory, you can expect a DAC/amplifier that punches well 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, but without a lack of control: its straight-edged attack means convincing rhythmic expression.”
Unless you crank it up to ear-threatening volumes, it’s a very impressive little device with an equally impressive little price tag.
The Fiio JM21 2026 will be available from January 23, 2026.
The best music players for all budgets
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