A method and apparatus are described for communicating data frames over a wireless data link between an access point and a transceiver in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a processing subsystem in the electronic device is configured to determine a frame interval based on a codec used to generate data contained in data frames. The transceiver is configured to use the frame interval as a timing reference for transitioning the transceiver between a constant awake mode and a power save mode so that during each of one or more frame intervals, the transceiver: transmits a data frame to the access point that indicates that the power save mode is disabled, enters the constant awake mode, receives one or more frames from the access point, transmits a frame to the access point that indicates that the power save mode is enabled, and enters the power save mode.