The viral wireless audio dongle for in-flight entertainment just got a major upgrade – and it’s legit
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The AirFly Pro 2 allows users to listen wirelessly to traditionally wired-only systems like in-flight entertainment systems.
- You can use your favorite headphones with the AirFly Pro 2 and enable their special audio features like noise cancellation and spatial audio.
- If you don’t fly regularly or don’t need a Bluetooth dongle in your everyday life, the $60 price tag may be a big ask.
Flying for hours on end is the bane of my existence. From sitting in a tiny seat for hours to the highly communal restroom, I must keep myself distracted throughout the flight to keep from going crazy. I try my best to work, sleep, or read the whole flight because watching movies on a plane just isn’t the most luxurious experience.
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But flying on an airplane is an apt opportunity to catch up on your 2025 Oscars watchlist, even if the plane entertainment system can thwart your plans. You have two options: use the airline-provided “headphones” and hear everything on the plane except your movie, or use your headphones and be tethered to the back of the person in front of you.
To avoid either scenario, I’ve been testing TwelveSouth’s latest Bluetooth adapter, the AirFly Pro 2 The company sent me the latest AirFly adapter to test on my flight last week, and if you’re a frequent flyer and a movie buff, here’s my verdict after hours of use.
The original AirFly was one of Twelve South’s most popular products, and for good reason. It’s a multi-use Bluetooth adapter that wirelessly connects headphones to airplane entertainment systems, gym equipment, and gaming consoles, as long as the host devices have a 3.5mm adapter.
The new AirFly Pro 2 has all the most desirable features from the previous AirFly model — dual headphone connection, physical volume buttons, a lengthy battery life, and auxiliary input compatibility — and much more.
On my flight from Atlanta to New York last week, I tucked the AirFly Pro 2 into my personal bag and plugged it into the plane entertainment system’s 3.5mm headphone jack. After turning it on, I put my Sonos Ace into pairing mode and watched “Moana 2.” You can connect two headphones to the AirFly Pro 2, so two people can watch the same media on the in-flight entertainment system.
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The movie sounded terrific through my headphones. I turned on noise cancellation and spatial audio with head tracking to drown out the plane engine noises and enhance my listening experience. In wired mode, most wireless headphones can’t access their wireless audio settings, allowing external noises to leak in. With the AirFly Pro 2, this wasn’t an issue.
Pairing the dongle was rather simple. I pressed my headphones’ power button until they entered pairing mode, then held the AirFly’s “Pair 1” button, and I was all set.
The AirFly Pro 2 has an upgraded Qualcomm chip inside, which improves audio quality, provides more stable wireless connections, and reduces power consumption.
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On the right side of the dongle is a switch to toggle between transmit (TX) mode and receiver (RX) mode. In TX mode, the AirFly transmits audio from an analog source, like an in-flight entertainment system, to your headphones. RX mode receives audio from your phone to play through the aux-in port of a car, boat, or stereo system.
With 25 hours of battery life, the AirFly Pro 2 can last you through a round-trip trip across the US. And when you need to charge it, there’s a handy USB-C port for that.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 is a wonderful travel companion for frequent flyers. It takes up little space in your bag and makes an otherwise unenjoyable listening and watching experience much better. Although it’s marketed for in-flight use, you’ll get your money’s worth with its aux-in compatibility with non-Bluetooth audio devices and systems.
If you’ll likely use this product often, I recommend spending the $60 for a reliable and high-quality product. However, if you want a cheaper option, Twelve South offers the AirFly SE, but it doesn’t have aux-in compatibility or dual headphone connectivity.
