Twelve South Debuts New 'AirFly' Wireless Transmitter for Using AirPods With In-Flight Entertainment Systems

Tuesday May 15, 2018 6:57 AM PDT by Juli Clover
Twelve South today announced the launch of the AirFly, a new adapter accessory that's designed to let you use your AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones in situations where only wired headphone jacks are available, such as on an airplane or at the gym.

When you fly, in-flight entertainment systems often require you to plug wired headphones into the headphone jack to hear sound, preventing you from using AirPods or Bluetooth headphones. The AirFly connects to these kinds of systems, allowing you to listen wirelessly using your AirPods.


AirFly is a small Bluetooth device that's about the size of the AirPods themselves. You connect them to the AirPods over Bluetooth and then use a small cable to plug the AirFly into any headphone jack that requires a physical connection.


This is a bit of a niche product because this likely isn't a situation most people run into on a daily basis, but for long-haul flights where in-flight entertainment is essential, the AirFly is a useful little addition to your carry-on. It's also handy for workout equipment at the gym that requires a physical connection to listen to the gym's entertainment offerings, or in a car that doesn't have native Bluetooth support.


As previously mentioned, the AirFly is similar in size to the AirPods, and it comes with a travel pouch, so it's easy to take with you. Along with the pouch, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo audio cable is included, plus there's a micro-USB to USB-A cable for charging the AirFly.


The AirFly has a built-in battery that will last for approximately eight hours, and it can charge from any USB port.

You can purchase the AirFly from Twelve South's website or from Amazon.com for $39.99.

Tag: Twelve South
54 comments


Top Rated Comments

(View all)
Avatar
lars666
17 months ago
A normal bluetooth transmitter, branded as "AirFly", to sell it for four times the price ... nice!
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
windywalks
17 months ago
I can't imagine using my AirPods on a flight - the sound insulation is non-existent and the volume levels necessary to hear anything are both offending to passengers and border on permanent hearing damage.
ANC cans all the way on a plane.
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
SlaunchaMan
17 months ago

It's also handy for workout equipment at the gym that requires a physical connection to listen to the gym's entertainment offerings, or in a car that doesn't have native Bluetooth support.


I would avoid suggesting that people use AirPods in the car. You need to be able to hear while you're driving!
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
csurfr
17 months ago
Or you could buy what is most likely the exact same thing in a different case for 1/2 the price from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B073XYXVZL/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Appleaker
17 months ago
This does not deserve an article.

I first thought it was just an unoriginal product selling for an outrageous price, but as others have pointed out it’s simply a rebranded existing product, or more accurately a branded existing product.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Agneev
17 months ago
Max $15. Over priced.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
ActionableMango
17 months ago

Without an AptX compatible device, these devices are useless with video.


Not just any AptX, you need specifically an AptX low latency compatible device. AptX devices without AptX low latency exceed the 100ms threshold for noticeability, and most are around the same ballpark (150-170ms) as Airpods (168ms).

I speak from personal experience. My headphones are AptX, but not AptX low latency. I use an Avantree bluetooth adapter with AptX, but the latency is still quite noticeable when used with video.

The same headphones paired with my iPhone, iPad, or Galaxy Tab, something in the OS or video player is delaying the video by the proper amount, because there is no noticeable audio delay. However, video game has delayed audio because you can't delay video game display.

It's a big mess. If we're really going to live in a world without headphone jacks, everyone needs to come together and fix it in an industry standard type of way.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
H818H
17 months ago

Not just any AptX, you need specifically an AptX low latency compatible device. AptX devices without AptX low latency exceed the 100ms threshold for noticeability, and most are around the same ballpark (150-170ms) as Airpods (168ms).

I speak from personal experience. My headphones are AptX, but not AptX low latency. I use an Avantree bluetooth adapter with AptX, but the latency is still quite noticeable when used with video.

The same headphones paired with my iPhone, iPad, or Galaxy Tab, something in the OS or video player is delaying the video by the proper amount, because there is no noticeable audio delay. However, video game has delayed audio because you can't delay video game display.

It's a big mess. If we're really going to live in a world without headphone jacks, everyone needs to come together and fix it in an industry standard type of way.


or....we can just use the industry standard, tried and tested headphone jack. Cables don't bother me, reliability does.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
ActionableMango
17 months ago

I would agree but deaf people are allowed to drive...


I used to think the same thing. But in retrospect, that's not really equivalent.
[LIST=1]
* Deaf people are accustomed to paying more attention with the rest of their senses. People who can hear are not.
* If you have headphones on while driving, you have the added distraction of listening to music/podcast/conversation, which deaf people wouldn't have.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Mac 128
17 months ago

But most airplanes still have that dumb dual 3.5mm port, the one where there's a separate plug for the right and left ears. So... this device is pretty much pointless.


That doesn't make the device useless. You just need the same two prong adapter people have been using for years to plug in their own headphones.

Heck, the complimentary headphones they gave me on my Quantas flight came with a removable adapter -- which I removed and kept for just such a situation.
Rating: 2 Votes
[ Read All Comments ]