Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for receive chain selection at a user equipment (UE) with efficient switching between a reduced number of receive chains and an increased number of receive chains for downlink communications based on conditions at the UE. A UE may adaptively adjust the number of active receive chains based on downlink grant activity, channel conditions, network parameters, or any combinations thereof. An estimator block at the UE may determine to adjust the number of receive chains based on a number of downlink grants within one or more time periods. In some cases, grants for an amount of data that exceeds a threshold may be qualified in order to be counted at the estimation block. Further, a transient state may be provided where the UE may maintain a higher number of active receive chains until UE feedback is provided.