I picked up the Twelve South AirFly SE, Premium Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter for AirPods or Wireless Headphones – Use with Any 3.5 mm Audio Jack for In-Flight, TV, Gym and Tablets because I was tired of being tethered to older equipment. The Twelve South brand delivers solid gear, and this wireless audio transmitter promised to solve a real problem. For thirty-four dollars and ninety-nine cents, I figured it was worth testing whether this little device could actually bridge the gap between my AirPods and the countless 3.5mm audio jacks still out there. After weeks of using it in different situations, I can tell you straight: this thing works.
Why the Twelve South AirFly SE, Premium Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter for AirPods or Wireless Headphones – Use with Any 3.5 mm Audio Jack for In-Flight, TV, Gym and Tablets Stands Out
The setup is dead simple. You plug the Twelve South AirFly SE, Premium Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter for AirPods or Wireless Headphones – Use with Any 3.5 mm Audio Jack for In-Flight, TV, Gym and Tablets into any 3.5mm jack, hold the button for a few seconds, and pair your AirPods or other wireless headphones. No apps to download. No complicated pairing sequences. Just plug, pair, and listen. I tested it on my gym’s treadmills, my office TV, an older rental car, and a hotel room setup that had nothing but an auxiliary jack. Every single time, it paired on the first try and the connection stayed solid.
What impressed me most was the range. I was able to move about thirty feet away from my laptop while wearing my AirPods and never lost connection. The battery lasts a full eight hours on a single charge, and the charging cable is standard USB-C. I threw it in my gym bag and didn’t think about recharging it for two weeks. As someone who runs my own business and travels frequently, this kind of reliability matters. I’ve added this to my recommended products for anyone dealing with older audio equipment.
The build quality feels solid for the price point. It’s lightweight and compact, about the size of a car air freshener. No moving parts to break. No buttons that stick. The aluminum body doesn’t feel cheap. During my time using it, I found myself grabbing it without hesitation whenever I needed to connect wireless headphones to something with only a 3.5mm input. That’s the real test of a product in my book. Does it become something you actually use without thinking?
Would I Buy the Twelve South AirFly SE, Premium Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter for AirPods or Wireless Headphones – Use with Any 3.5 mm Audio Jack for In-Flight, TV, Gym and Tablets Again
There aren’t many downsides to mention. The only minor issue I ran into was that the device sits flush against the audio jack, so if you have a bulky case on your phone and you’re using the headphone jack on a phone, it might be awkward. That’s not really Twelve South’s fault though. That’s just the reality of how things are designed now. Also, keep in mind this is a transmitter, not a receiver. You can’t use it to add AirPods compatibility to a device that has Bluetooth. You need a device with a 3.5mm jack as the source.
Yes, I would absolutely buy the Twelve South AirFly SE, Premium Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter for AirPods or Wireless Headphones – Use with Any 3.5 mm Audio Jack for In-Flight, TV, Gym and Tablets again without hesitation. After all my testing, it does exactly what it promises without any nonsense. If you own wireless headphones and encounter 3.5mm audio jacks regularly, this transmitter solves your problem cheaply and reliably.