A device, system, and method perform an adaptive link adaptation. The method, at a user equipment (UE) connected to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network via an evolved Node B (eNB), includes determining a type of wireless traffic being utilized by the UE based upon at least one application executed on the UE, the wireless traffic being one of a data only, a voice only, or a combination thereof. The method includes determining a block error rate (BLER) target value to be used in a channel state feedback operation associated with a link adaptation operation for a connection between the UE and the eNB.