Best Bluetooth Adapter for Xbox Series X (2026)
The Xbox Series X still does not speak Bluetooth audio. Controllers pair to phones over Bluetooth; game sound does not. A USB dongle in the back of the console will not magically add AirPods support either — Microsoft does not load generic Bluetooth audio drivers. The workaround that actually works is a 3.5mm Bluetooth transmitter plugged into the controller headphone jack. The last version of this page led with the original Twelve South AirFly Pro and the Skull & Co. AudioStick. The Pro has been replaced by the AirFly Pro 2, and Skull & Co. now prints “Not for Xbox” on the AudioStick listing. I rebuilt the list around transmitters that hang off the controller jack, support aptX Low Latency when your headphones do, and do not pretend a USB stick will pair. The AirFly Pro 2 is the one I would buy first.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Reviewed September 2026 · Independently tested by our editorial team
Bluetooth 5.3, 25-hour battery, aptX Adaptive / LL, dual pairing.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓aptX LL and USB-C without the AirFly price — skip the old Micro-USB SKU.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓20-hour SBC stick for AirPods — aptX will not help those buds anyway.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
How We Tested
Xbox Series X still has no Bluetooth audio profile for headphones in 2026. I treated that as a hard constraint, not a rumor to wait out. Every adapter had to plug into the official Series X/S controller 3.5mm jack (or a TV headphone/optical jack for the “leave the dongle off the pad” option). USB Bluetooth transmitters — Creative BT-W6, UGREEN’s PS5 USB-C stick, Skull & Co. AudioStick — were failed on spec; the console does not enumerate them as audio devices. I paired each 3.5mm transmitter with AirPods Pro (SBC/AAC only), Bose QuietComfort Ultra (aptX Adaptive), and a set of aptX Low Latency buds, then watched muzzle flashes in Call of Duty against footstep cues and lip sync in a cutscene. Latency only dropped into the “competitive enough” zone when both ends negotiated aptX LL or Adaptive. AirPods never do. Battery claims were checked on a continuous game-audio loop. Party chat was tested the honest way: headset mic back through the transmitter. None of the 3.5mm TX sticks returned a usable mic path. Chat belongs on the Xbox mobile app or on a real Xbox Wireless headset.
Best Bluetooth Adapter for Xbox Series X: Detailed Reviews
Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 View on Amazon
| Plug | 3.5mm analog — controller jack, not USB |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3 · TX and RX modes |
| Codecs (TX) | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Battery | 25+ hours · USB-C, ~2 hour charge |
| Extras | Pair 1 / Pair 2 buttons · volume / mute · LED battery |
This replaces the original AirFly Pro on this list. Pro 2 is the same idea — a 15-gram stick with a short 3.5mm lead that hangs off the Series X controller — but the radio and the buttons are new. Bluetooth 5.3, Qualcomm codecs through aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, and a claimed 25-hour cell that actually outlasts a weekend of sessions. Dedicated Pair 1 and Pair 2 buttons make couch co-op with two Bluetooth headsets less of a ritual than the old single-button Pro. Volume and mute live on the dongle, which matters because Xbox’s chat mixer is a terrible place to ride game loudness every death. aptX Low Latency is real when the headphones also speak it; with AirPods or Sony WH-1000XM5 (SBC / AAC / LDAC, no aptX) you fall back to SBC and you will hear a little lag in a twitch shooter. That is a headphone limit, not an AirFly limit. Receive mode is unused on Xbox. Do not buy the original AirFly Pro in 2026 unless it is half the price of Pro 2 — you lose Adaptive, HD, the 25-hour cell, and the extra buttons.
- True 3.5mm controller plug — the path Xbox actually allows
- 25-hour battery, dual pairing, and volume on the stick
- aptX Adaptive / LL when your cans support them
- No microphone path for party chat
- AirPods and XM5 still get SBC-class delay
UGREEN Bluetooth 5.3 3.5mm Transmitter View on Amazon
| Plug | 3.5mm AUX cable (TX in, RX out) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3 · TX / RX |
| Codecs | SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL |
| Power | USB-C · internal battery (not Micro-USB) |
| Do not buy | Old UGREEN 5.0 Micro-USB SBC stick, or any UGREEN USB-C PS5 dongle |
The previous budget pick on this page was a UGREEN Bluetooth 5.0 3.5mm stick that charged over Micro-USB and spoke SBC. That SKU is discontinued. The current 5.3 3.5mm transmitter/receiver (often listed as CM672 or 35222A) is the one to search for: USB-C, aptX Low Latency, aptX Adaptive, dual headphone TX, and a cable rather than a folding jack. Plug the 3.5mm lead into the controller, pair once, and leave it. It is bulkier than an AirFly, so it dangles more, but it undercuts Pro 2 by a wide margin while covering the same codec brief. Confirm the listing says Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Low Latency, and that the photos show USB-C. A “UGREEN Bluetooth transmitter” search still surfaces the old Micro-USB SBC unit, USB dongles meant for PS5/PC, and RX-only car kits. Those USB dongles will not talk to an Xbox. This is the value row because the codecs are right, not because every UGREEN listing is interchangeable.
- aptX LL / Adaptive at roughly half the AirFly Pro 2 street price
- USB-C — the old Micro-USB UGREEN is retired for a reason
- Dual pairing in TX mode for silent local co-op
- Amazon mixes this SKU with PS5 USB sticks and the older Bluetooth 5.0 model
- Larger body than AirFly; more lever on the controller jack
Twelve South AirFly SE View on Amazon
| Plug | 3.5mm analog, AirFly form factor |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Codecs | SBC only (Twelve South’s own Pro 2 comparison chart) |
| Battery | 20+ hours · USB-C |
| Pairing | One headset — no dual-pair, no RX |
If your headphones are AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or Sony WH-1000XM5, aptX Low Latency is a brochure line you cannot use. Those products do not implement aptX. The AirFly SE is the honest buy in that case: same jack, same tiny body, 20-hour battery, USB-C, one pairing, SBC. You will hear 150–200 ms of delay in a close-range gunfight. That is fine for Starfield, Forza cruising, and most single-player campaigns. It is not fine for ranked shooters. Spend the Pro 2 money only if your cans actually decode aptX Adaptive or LL (many Bose Ultra / older Sony XM4 / dedicated gaming buds). Skip the SE if you already own aptX headphones — the UGREEN 5.3 stick or Pro 2 will use that codec and the SE will not. Charging is USB-C; there is no Micro-USB port in this family.
- Smallest reputable 3.5mm TX, 20-hour cell
- Correct choice when the headphones are AirPods-class (no aptX)
- Same plug-and-forget shape as Pro 2
- SBC only — no dual pairing, no Adaptive / LL
- Noticeable lag in competitive multiplayer
1Mii B06TX View on Amazon
| Inputs | Optical, 3.5mm AUX, RCA — not Xbox USB |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3 · transmitter only |
| Codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, SBC |
| Xbox catch | Series X has no TOSLINK — use the TV’s headphone jack or the TV’s optical/ARC |
| Skip | Any 1Mii USB dongle listing that says “not for Xbox” |
If you hate a dongle swinging off the pad, stop putting Bluetooth on the controller. Sit the B06TX next to the TV, take analog or optical from the set, and pair headphones there. Series X itself has no optical port; the path is HDMI into the TV, then the TV’s 3.5mm, optical, or ARC/eARC feeding this box. Latency then includes whatever processing the TV adds, so game mode / low-latency HDMI on the television matters as much as aptX LL. Dual pairing and volume buttons are on the front. This is a living-room transmitter, not a travel stick — it will not clip onto a controller, and that is the point. 1Mii also sells USB audio dongles for PC and PS5. Those listings often say “not for Xbox.” Believe them. Do not plug a USB Bluetooth stick into the Series X and expect AirPods to appear in the audio menu.
- Controller stays clean — no 3.5mm pendulum
- aptX Adaptive / LL with optical or AUX from the TV
- Dual headphones for two people on the couch
- Needs a TV jack or optical; the console has neither optical nor Bluetooth audio
- TV post-processing can add delay on top of Bluetooth
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Bluetooth Adapter for Xbox Series X
Comparison Table
| Product | Price | Best For | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 | ~55 | Default 3.5mm TX | 4.8/5 | Check |
| UGREEN 5.3 3.5mm TX | ~30 | aptX LL for less | 4.6/5 | Check |
| Twelve South AirFly SE | ~35 | AirPods / SBC | 4.4/5 | Check |
| Avantree Relay | ~55 | Codec LED + firmware | 4.7/5 | Check |
| 1Mii B06TX | ~40 | TV jack, not the pad | 4.5/5 | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plug a USB Bluetooth dongle into the Xbox Series X?
No. The console does not load generic Bluetooth audio drivers. Creative BT-W6, UGREEN’s PS5 USB-C transmitter, 1Mii USB sticks, and Skull & Co. AudioStick will not show up as headphones. Use a 3.5mm transmitter on the controller, or send audio from the TV.
Does the Skull & Co. AudioStick work on Xbox?
Skull & Co. (now Savage Raven) marks the AudioStick “Not for Xbox.” The previous version of this article treated it as a value pick with a 3.5mm pigtail. That was wrong. Leave it on Switch and PS5.
Will AirPods Low Latency or Sony XM5 aptX save me?
AirPods speak SBC and AAC. WH-1000XM5 speak SBC, AAC, and LDAC — not aptX. These transmitters cannot do LDAC. Buy AirFly SE if that is your headset, and accept shooter lag, or buy an Xbox Wireless headset instead.
Can I use my headset microphone for party chat?
Not through a 3.5mm Bluetooth transmitter. The jack is sending analog game audio out; it is not a bidirectional USB headset. Use the Xbox app on a phone for chat, or a licensed Xbox Wireless headset with its own mic.
AirFly Pro vs AirFly Pro 2 — should I upgrade?
Only if you want 25 hours instead of ~16, aptX Adaptive/HD, dedicated dual-pair buttons, and volume on the stick. The original Pro still works in the same 3.5mm jack. Do not pay Pro 2 money for a used Pro unless the discount is obvious.
Should I buy an adapter or an Xbox Wireless headset?
Adapter if you already own expensive Bluetooth headphones and mostly play single-player. Headset (Xbox Wireless Headset, Arctis Nova 7X, Stealth 700 Gen 3) if you live in party chat. Bluetooth on Xbox is a workaround, not a platform feature.
Final Verdict
Xbox Series X still has no Bluetooth audio. Plug a 3.5mm transmitter into the controller, not a USB dongle into the console. Start with the AirFly Pro 2, take the UGREEN 5.3 3.5mm stick when you want aptX LL for less, and only buy the AirFly SE if your headphones cannot decode aptX. Party chat still wants an Xbox Wireless headset or the phone app — these adapters will not carry a mic.