Twelve South AirFly Pro Bluetooth Transmitter/Receiver: Share a 3.5mm Jack

Wireless headphones are convenient until an airplane seatback, treadmill or older television offers only a 3.5mm headphone jack. The original white Twelve South AirFly Pro bridges that gap. In transmit mode, it takes audio from the wired jack and sends it to Bluetooth headphones. In receive mode, it reverses the path, sending audio from a phone or tablet into an AUX input on a car, boat or home stereo.

The original Pro earns its place when both directions matter: headphones for a wired screen on the flight, then phone audio through an AUX-equipped stereo after arrival. It can also share one audio source with two pairs of headphones. Before ordering, distinguish this model from the newer AirFly Pro 2 and the transmit-only AirFly SE. If you only need one pair of headphones connected to a seatback, compare that simpler option before paying for functions you may leave unused.

Turn a wired audio jack into Bluetooth output

Slide the side switch to TX, pair your earbuds or headphones, then plug AirFly Pro into a standard 3.5mm audio output. The arrangement works with equipment that sends audio through that jack, including many seatback screens and gym machines. AirFly Pro remembers previously paired headphones, so later sessions can reconnect without beginning from zero.

Twelve South lists a 25-plus-hour internal battery and a full recharge time of about two hours through USB-C. At 57 by 25.5 by 11 millimeters and 15.6 grams, it is small enough for a travel pouch without adding another heavy charger. Battery life still depends on connection conditions, and the adapter must be charged before use; the airplane screen does not power it through the audio plug.

Two-headphone sharing is the real Pro advantage

After one set is active, a double press of the power button opens pairing for a second set of Bluetooth headphones. That lets two travelers hear the same seatback movie without passing one earbud back and forth. It is also useful for sharing audio from a television or handheld game system that has one headphone output.

This feature does not create independent volume controls or separate audio streams. Both listeners hear the same source, and each headset may need its own volume adjustment. Bluetooth latency also depends on the source, headphones and codecs in the whole chain, so do not buy on an assumption of guaranteed lip-sync or competitive-gaming performance. Pair both sets and test them before a flight rather than learning the controls at the seat.

Receive mode gives older stereos a second job

Move the switch to RX and the adapter becomes a Bluetooth receiver. Pair a phone, then plug AirFly Pro into an AUX input to play phone audio through a car, powered speaker or stereo that lacks native Bluetooth. This makes the Pro more versatile than a transmitter-only travel adapter and gives it a useful role between trips.

The boundary is the port: it needs a working analog 3.5mm input or output. It does not add Bluetooth to USB-only or optical audio equipment, cannot control an airplane screen and does not include a two-prong airline adapter in the standard kit. The box contains AirFly Pro, a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable, travel pouch, keyring holder, quick-start guide and manual.

Compare the original Pro before paying the premium

AirFly Pro is the right choice when you want both TX and RX modes plus two-headphone sharing. AirFly SE costs less for one listener who only needs to transmit from a wired jack. The newer Pro 2 adds easier dedicated pairing controls, volume and mute buttons, and a battery indicator, which may justify the difference for frequent travelers.

Choose the original Pro when its price is meaningfully lower and its simpler single-button pairing is acceptable. Skip it if you need a USB audio adapter, optical input, independent listener controls or the newest on-device controls. Its practical value is precise: it keeps otherwise useful Bluetooth headphones working with the last wired audio sources in your routine.