This little bluetooth dongle is now my essential travel and road trip companion.

travel

[ad_1]

AirFly Pro in case and Pixel phone on table next to headphones.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Flights are boring, long ones even more so. Having ears that despise every shape or size of headphones, I often struggled with the default in-flight entertainment options. Over the past few years I’ve started downloading some podcasts and playlists and listening to them using my own tried and tested handy Bluetooth buds. It’s a minimal setup, but it works for me and allows me to skip cramming a tablet or laptop into a small space in front of me.

Looking at my husband next to me, though, I’m still envious of how easily he can grab the headphones or earphones provided by the plane and use them with the in-flight entertainment system. He can watch two movies during our four-hour trip to Lebanon, but I’m struggling to pass the time after the second or third hour.

Audio just goes to distract me on multi-hour flights. Movies are better time-wasters.

Then, as I was preparing for my transatlantic flight to Toronto last month, I realized I needed a solution to help those seven extra hours pass. I found the AirFly Pro in my search for a solution, and having used it on a few flights now, I have to say it’s simply a very neat and versatile little travel gadget.

Airfly Pro Plugs Google Pixel Buds Pro and Air France Headphones into the Air France Passenger Console

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Most airplanes these days have a 3.5mm headphone output and airlines will give you a cheap pair of headphones to plug in. While some older planes may have dual aspect (although it’s been a few years since I’ve personally experienced them), newer ones may offer pre-plugged headphones.

AirFly Pro only works with a 3.5mm jack. It plugs directly into the in-flight entertainment system and lets you stream audio to your own Bluetooth headphones or buds. One button turns it on and puts it in pairing mode, and all you have to do is make sure your headphones are in pairing mode so that they can connect to each other.

I plugged it into the plane’s audio output and enjoyed my own Bluetooth shoots movie.

I tested it with both the Google Pixel Buds Pro and the No Ears 1, and it worked like a charm. Within seconds, I was watching a movie on the headrest in front of me without the comfort of my ears. And without wearing those awful Air France over-the-ear headphones that have been on countless heads before me. (Later I went on another flight where they offered those single-benefits and those too – less e-waste, more comfortable ears, a win-win for everyone.)

AirFly Pro dongle, focus on USB-C port

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

The best thing is that the Pixel Buds Pro can connect to two devices at the same time, so I can easily switch from watching a movie on the airplane screen (with AirFly Pro) to listening to music or taking a video on my phone. , without taking out my buds, pressing any buttons, or plugging/unplugging anything. This isn’t a Buds Pro-only feature, though — look for headphones or buds that offer “multi-point” functionality and you’ll likely have the same seamless experience.

Beyond airplanes, this can add Bluetooth output to older TVs and game consoles, iPods, and gym equipment.

Now back to dongle. It can do a lot. I’m focusing on the travel experience, but you can use this to essentially turn a 3.5mm headphone output into a wireless device. Gym equipment, an iPod nano or classic, an old TV or game console; The list goes on.

There’s a split function that lets you stream the audio to two Bluetooth headsets simultaneously, so you can watch the same thing with a friend, sibling or partner in a public space and still enjoy the privacy of your own headset. Buds.

AirFly Pro dongle, focus on Bluetooth transmission TX and receive RX switching

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

But there is another side to the equation. See that little TX-RX switch on the side of the AirFly Pro? Move it to RX position to completely change how the dongle works.

Now it’s a bluetooth receiver. Plug it into the auxiliary jack of any car or speaker and it will capture and play any audio from mobile devices like your phone, tablet or computer. Very versatile.

One blink and it turns into a Bluetooth receiver for any car or speaker. Perfect for road trips.

On my trip to Canada, I used the dongle in receiver mode to play my favorite tunes in our rental cars. Again, press a button to pair it with my Pixel 6 Pro. I didn’t need to know each car’s Bluetooth pairing process, I just paired it with the dongle and plugged it into the cars. I regret not trying such a solution with my old Subaru XV. That car had a very unstable bluetooth connection and it couldn’t see my phone four times out of five. A bluetooth receiver like this would have allowed me to bypass that entirely.

Despite its small size, the AirFly Pro’s battery lasts for around 16 hours. A seven-hour flight, a few hours of driving, and then the same seven-hour flight. And when it was empty, I just charged it via USB-C and it was ready to go.

If you don’t care about receiver features, you can save a few bucks by opting for the more basic AirFly version. The current options are:

  • The AirFly ($34.99) is only a Bluetooth transmitter and can only pair with one pair of headphones at a time.
  • The AirFly Duo ($44.99) adds the option to pair and listen to two Bluetooth headphones simultaneously.
  • The AirFly Pro ($54.99) does all of the above and also acts as a receiver.
  • The discontinued AirFly USB-C (still sold by third-party vendors for $60 or more) was essentially the same as the Duo but had a USB-C plug instead of a 3.5mm jack.

The Pro makes perfect sense for my use, but I wish it came with a USB-C adapter in the box so I could use it on my Android phones and iPad as well.

AirFly Pro in a case top down next to the headphones.

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

It’s incredibly convenient to make my arrangements to go on any flight and in any car.

Was the AirFly Pro necessary in any of the situations I tested it in? No, of course not. But it was incredibly convenient to go out on a flight or in a car and I knew I had my own set ready to go. And it’s very small and portable too. This is exactly why it has earned a permanent place in my travel bag.

AirFly Pro

AirFly Pro

Best on airplanes • Works in cars • USB-C charging

A versatile dongle that lets you use your own Bluetooth headset on airplanes and more

AirFly Pro is a dual-mode Bluetooth dongle. In streaming mode, it can share audio from any device (including airplanes) to a pair of Bluetooth buds or headphones. In receiver mode, it can be plugged into car or speakers to receive audio from a phone or tablet. It charges over USB-C and lasts for 16 hours on a charge.

[ad_2]

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *