HiBy R4 Android Digital Audio Player Review
An Android 12 portable player from HiBy built around a four-way ES9018C2M DAC array, listed at $249 in four colors. Per the page it has a 4.7-inch Sharp LCD screen, a 4500mAh battery, native DSD up to 256 and PCM up to 32bit/768kHz.

Our verdict
A fit for someone who wants an Android 12 player with four ES9018C2M DAC chips, native DSD up to 256 and a 4500mAh battery at $249 in four colors. Look elsewhere if you need a stated output power, an output list or a weight, as the listing text gives none. The main caveat is that the page's performance and sound descriptions are the maker's claims and were not checked here.
- Best for
- Someone who wants an Android 12 player with four ES9018C2M DAC chips at $249.
- Skip if
- You need a stated output power, a full output list or a weight, none of which the listing text gives.
The HiBy R4 is described on the page as a portable player (DAP) running Android 12, with a 4-way ES9018C2M DAC array of four separate chips, a Snapdragon 665 chip with an 8-core CPU, a 4.7-inch Sharp LCD screen and a 4500mAh battery. The page lists native DSD up to 256 and PCM up to 32bit/768kHz. It is listed at $249 in four colors.
Options and pricing
There are four orderable options, Silver, Black, Green and Orange, all at $249, so the color choice does not change the price. The listing text names no bundle contents and no other differences between the colors, and all four share one listing and one set of specifications.
How it compares
The Shanling UP6 is $199 and its listing text mentions ES9069Q, SGM8262 and Bluetooth 5.2, while the Shanling UA7 is $269 and mentions ES9069. The xDuoo XD05 BASIC2 costs $254.15 and mentions Bluetooth 5.4, against the four ES9018C2M chips on this $249 listing.
Shipping
- Methods and costs. The store's shipping page offers Standard Shipping (4PX, Yanwen or Yun Express), free for most countries, and Express Shipping (DHL Express, FedEx or SF Express) at 15-50 USD depending on the country, free for orders over 270 USD in most countries (checked 2026-11-11).
- Delivery times. It says an in-stock order ships within 3 working days, Standard takes about 2 weeks after shipping out (up to 1-3 months for some countries, and the store makes no refund for that transit time) and Express takes about 3-7 days. Festive seasons and other circumstances can change the timing.
- Taxes and fees. The buyer pays any customs, import or processing fees. The page says Standard via YunExpress is tax-inclusive for some countries, that remote areas can carry extra Express charges, and that a parcel refused or left uncollected over taxes is deducted two-way freight and may be destroyed with no refund.
- Where it ships. The page says the store can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to confirm Standard with the team for your country. It cannot ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses and can only use Express to Hawaii. It does not name the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, so confirm before you pay.
- Lost parcels. If a parcel has been in transit for at least 3 months, the page offers a one-time reshipment or a full refund for orders under $50 and a 50% refund for orders above $50.
Returns and warranty
- Returns. The return page allows returning any non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying the shipping. Email [email protected] within that period; the store asks for the return to be shipped within 5 working days of the RMA instructions and in most cases processes a refund within 5 business days of inspecting it (checked 2026-11-11).
- Opened items. A product opened within the first 7 days after delivery can be returned for the price minus a restocking fee of 35% of its retail value, including when it still works properly.
- Refund or credit. The buyer can choose a refund to the original payment method (PayPal or card) or store credit; with no answer within 48 hours of confirmation the default is store credit, which can also be prioritized during promotions, final-sale events and for items 40% or more off retail.
- Not returnable. Customized products, including faceplate designs, are non-refundable, and the page says the same applies to carry cases, cables, ear tips and other accessories, "due to hygiene purposes". If one item in a package is defective, incorrect or missing, the refund or replacement covers only that item.
- Warranty. The page gives a 1-year warranty on products, excluding carry cases, ear tips and other accessories, and 3 months on cables and adapters, from the date of purchase. It covers factory defects that affect proper function, not damage from human error, negligence, accidents, dismantling, water, abuse or modification (checked 2026-11-11).
- Not covered or limited. It does not apply to items bought elsewhere (AliExpress, Amazon, local dealers and the like), prize or giveaway items, normal wear or colour change, commercial use, or items that were stolen or went missing. Coverage is limited for products 40% or more off retail, for review units and for items repaired or modified by anyone Linsoul has not authorized.
- Claims. Email [email protected] with the order number, the issue and photos and videos of the fault. The store may ask for the unit back for a replacement. It covers shipping for some defects reported within 7 days of delivery if the fault can be shown on video or photo; after 7 days the buyer ships it back. For wrong or missing items an unboxing video of the whole sealed parcel is required.
Before you buy
Linsoul says it was founded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team to bring Chinese HiFi makers closer to listeners worldwide, and that it now sells other makers' products alongside four brands of its own, THIEAUDIO, Kiwi Ears, ZiiGaat and Tripowin (checked 2026-11-11).
We have not read any independent review of this product or of the store. Ratings and owner reviews shown on the store's own pages are the store's and were not verified.
What we liked
- The page names the DAC array: four ES9018C2M chips with native DSD up to 256 and PCM up to 32bit/768kHz
- The page says it runs Android 12 and works with mainstream apps and streaming platforms
- A 4.7-inch Sharp LCD screen and a 4500mAh battery are listed
- All four colors cost $249
Worth noting
- The page mentions a 3.5mm SE output only in its battery line and gives no output power or full output list
- The 11 hours of battery run time is the page's own figure and covers the 3.5mm SE output only
- The listing text gives no weight or dimensions
Questions before you buy
Is the R4 a dongle or a player?
The page describes a portable player (DAP) based on Android 12, with a Snapdragon 665 chip, an 8-core CPU and a 4.7-inch Sharp LCD screen.
Which DAC chips and formats does it list?
The page lists a 4-way ES9018C2M DAC array of four separate chips, with native DSD up to 256, PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and separate conversion pathways for PCM and DSD.
What battery life does it list?
The page lists a 4500mAh battery and up to 11 hours of battery run time on the 3.5mm SE output. It gives that figure for the 3.5mm SE output only.
Can I return it if I change my mind?
The return page allows returning a non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying shipping. An opened product returned within 7 days carries a 35% restocking fee. Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit, which is the default if you do not choose.
How long does shipping take?
The shipping page says in-stock orders ship within 3 working days. Standard Shipping takes about 2 weeks after shipping out, up to 1-3 months for some countries, and Express takes about 3-7 days. Standard is free for most countries; Express costs 15-50 USD and is free over 270 USD (over $499.99 for large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs).
Does Linsoul ship to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?
The page says Linsoul can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to ask the team about Standard for your country. It names no restriction for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, but it does not list them either, and it can only use Express to Hawaii.
What warranty does it have?
The page gives a 1-year warranty on products from the purchase date for factory defects, not for human error, accidents or modification. Coverage is limited for items 40% or more off retail and for review units, and it does not apply to items bought from other sellers.
Sources & verification
What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.
From the store
- HiBy R4 product page: specs, options and price (the buy buttons go there)Specs, options and the listed priceRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul shipping pageStandard and Express shipping, costs and times, import taxes, lost parcels, couriers, trackingRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul return policy and warranty page30-day returns of sealed items, 35% restocking fee on opened ones, 1-year and 3-month warranties, exclusions, how to claimRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul support FAQThe same shipping, return and warranty rules in question form, plus order changes and cancellationsRead November 11, 2026
- About LinsoulFounded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team; names its own brands; the awards listed there are the store's own accountRead November 11, 2026
What we couldn’t verify
- The page's descriptions of higher resolution, wider dynamic range and smoother sound are the maker's claims and were not checked here.
- The listing text gives no output power, output list or weight, and the 11 hours of battery run time covers the 3.5mm SE output only.
- We have not read an independent review of this product or the store, and the store's own ratings were not verified. We read the store's catalog description only: a specification table or image shown just on the live page was not read.
- The shipping page names no US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand times or fees: its figures are general and we could not confirm them for these countries.
Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.


