Dynamically control of receive diversity switching in a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. By dynamically controlling the switching between enabling and disabling the receive diversity, power consumption in UEs, such as smart phones and other mobile devices may be reduced. Control is based, at least in part, on measurements for data activity performed by the UE. When the UE finds measurements that would suggest data activity, the UE will switch to enable a receive diversity state when conditions are available for the switch. Similarly, when the UE finds measurements that would suggest data inactivity, the UE will switch to disable the receive diversity state when conditions are available for the switch.