iFi’s UP Play and UP Play Max are USB-C Bluetooth transmitters: they take audio from a compatible USB-C device and send it to Bluetooth headphones or another compatible audio receiver. Both add codec choices such as LDAC for headphones that support them. The UP Play Max adds aptX Lossless and Bluetooth 5.4; its manual lists PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, not the original Switch.
What the UP Play transmitters do
Each unit plugs into a source device’s USB-C port and transmits its audio over Bluetooth. It is not a pair of headphones, and it does not turn headphones into a Bluetooth receiver. iFi describes UP Play as an accessory for Apple and Android sources; on an iPhone, it provides a separate USB-C Bluetooth transmission route rather than changing the phone’s native Bluetooth codec support. The UP Play product page lists USB-C input and its supported codecs.
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That distinction matters because the headphones or other receiving device also need to support the codec you want to use. The connection can use only a codec supported at both ends; listing LDAC or aptX on the transmitter does not make an incompatible receiver use it.
UP Play vs. UP Play Max
| Feature | UP Play | UP Play Max |
|---|---|---|
| USB input | USB-C (iFi product specifications) | USB-C (iFi manual copy) |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 (iFi specifications, accessed 2026) | 5.4 (iFi manual copy, accessed 2026) |
| Listed codecs | LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC (iFi product page) | aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC (iFi launch materials) |
| Two-headphone listening | Two simultaneous connections; iFi says two-device listening uses SBC | Two simultaneous connections; iFi says two-device listening uses SBC |
| Low-latency mode | Managed in the Nexis app; associated with aptX Adaptive by iFi | Managed in the Nexis app; associated with aptX Adaptive by iFi |
| Console examples in reviewed material | Not established in reviewed official material | PS5 and Switch 2 are named in the manual copy |
| iFi UK store listing | £59 (listing accessed in 2026; may change) | £89 (listing accessed in 2026; may change) |
UP Play Max’s aptX Lossless is an additional option, not a guarantee of lossless playback with any Bluetooth headphones. iFi’s launch announcement describes it as CD-quality lossless Bluetooth; using it depends on compatible receiving equipment and operating conditions. The stated codecs are manufacturer specifications, not independent listening or performance test results.
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LDAC with an iPhone, laptop or other USB-C source
UP Play lists LDAC among its codecs, making it an option when the USB-C source can supply audio to the transmitter and the receiving headphones support LDAC. The same two-ended compatibility rule applies to aptX codecs. A codec label on the transmitter alone cannot establish which codec a particular session will use.
For UP Play Max, iFi lists aptX Lossless in addition to LDAC and several other codecs. Check the receiving headphones’ specifications for the codec you intend to use. If they do not support it, the transmitter must use another mutually supported option, such as AAC or SBC where available.
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PS5 and Nintendo Switch compatibility
PS5
The UP Play Max manual copy names PS5 as a console example. It connects through USB-C, but the reviewed material does not establish compatibility for every console configuration, game, or headset. iFi does not provide independent latency or console-use test results in the cited materials.
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The UP Play Max manual copy names Switch 2. Do not read that as confirmation for the original Nintendo Switch: the reviewed material does not establish original Switch support. Verify the exact console model and current manufacturer instructions before buying for that use.
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Gaming delay and shared listening
iFi says the Nexis app can activate low-latency mode, associated with aptX Adaptive. That feature does not by itself guarantee low delay end to end: the receiving headphones must support the relevant mode or codec, and actual results can depend on the equipment and conditions. No independent latency measurements are available in the cited product materials.
Both models are described as supporting two simultaneous headphone connections. iFi says playback to two devices uses SBC, so this shared-listening mode should not be assumed to retain LDAC, aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless. UP Play Max’s launch materials also announced Auracast for a post-launch firmware update; they do not establish that the update has shipped. Check current firmware documentation before relying on Auracast.
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Using the Nexis app
iFi describes its Nexis app as the place to manage paired devices and codecs, toggle K2 and low-latency features, and install over-the-air updates. UP Play Max launch materials also name Auracast control. The exact available controls may depend on model and firmware.
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- Choose UP Play if its listed codecs meet your needs and you do not need aptX Lossless. It has Bluetooth 5.2 and supports LDAC and aptX-family codecs, subject to receiver compatibility.
- Consider UP Play Max if you want its additional aptX Lossless option, Bluetooth 5.4, or the console examples named in its manual. These features are useful only when the other equipment and use case support them.
- Check your specific setup first if your priority is the original Nintendo Switch, guaranteed low gaming latency, or Auracast. The reviewed materials do not establish the first, provide independent evidence for the second, or confirm the third as currently available.
The iFi UK store listing showed £59 for UP Play and £89 for UP Play Max when accessed in 2026; those are regional listing prices, not guaranteed current prices elsewhere. iFi’s September 2026 UP Play Max launch announcement gave launch prices of £89, €99, US$89 and CAD$149, which should be treated as launch figures rather than current local prices.
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