This is a first world problem, but it’s still a problem. You sit down in your airplane seat, ready to watch the in-flight entertainment, only to discover that your AirPods won’t work. They’re wireless, of course, and paired to your phone. So what do you do? Then you remember the Twelve South AirFly Pro, which you wisely remembered to keep on your keychain for just such an emergency. This handy little accessory plugs into a 3.5mm audio jack (still common on airplanes) and pairs with your AirPods or other wireless earphones or headphones. Here’s my AirFly Pro review.
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verdict: This great accessory is a must-have for anyone who travels with AirPods or other wireless earphones, but it’s also useful for other things, like adding Bluetooth audio to an older home stereo.
- Capable of receiving and transmitting Bluetooth audio
- Supports pairing with two sets of earphones or headphones simultaneously
- Up to 25 hours of operation on a single charge
- A bit pricey and rarely discounted
- It’s a good idea to keep the manual handy
$55 at HSN
This isn’t just limited to airplanes, for example, if you have a Nintendo Switch, you’ve probably wanted a wireless audio option, and that’s where the AirFly Pro comes in. The AirFly Pro effectively transmits Bluetooth audio from your airplane, game console, or whatever you connect it to.
But the device also doubles as a receiver: you can plug it into the AUX-in jack of an old home stereo or car radio, for example, and use your phone to stream music, podcasts, and more — all over Bluetooth, and setup requires just the press of a button.
With its glossy white finish and rounded edges, the AirFly has a decidedly Apple-esque look, and would certainly be a worthy companion to your AirPods. Charging is via a USB-C port (Twelve South promises up to 25 hours of operation on a single charge, which is great), and it even comes with a little keychain cap for the stereo plug. The latter is a snug fit, so you’re unlikely to accidentally lose the AirFly by dropping it off, but I still feel a bit uneasy about putting it on the passenger seat with my keys. Thankfully, there’s also a drawstring carrying case if that’s what you prefer.
The case also includes an instruction manual, and although the print is small, it’s clear and easy to follow: After the initial pairing process with your AirPods or other device, you press and hold the power button for five seconds to turn the AirFly on, and another five seconds to turn it off again.
Meanwhile, there’s a small switch on the side that toggles between transmit and receive modes. If you’re not interested in the latter (i.e. you only want a headphone option for on an airplane or similar), the AirFly Duo is $10 cheaper.
One big benefit of both is that you can pair two sets of headphones at the same time, so you can watch the same movie together with your companion on the plane.
In my testing, the AirFly Pro worked flawlessly, pairing easily with my AirPods Pro and remembering that connection from session to session.
There are cheaper Bluetooth transmitter/receivers on the market, including this one that has a status screen, but I’m not sure they work as effectively as the AirFly Pro; I like the latter’s compact, all-white design.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a way to turn your wired headphone jack into a wireless one, this dongle is the way to go.