Skip to main content

AirFly connects wireless headphones to wired-only devices

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Plenty of wireless headphones include a cable to plug into audio gear that doesn’t support wireless, but if you’re using headphones like the Apple AirPods, you’re out of luck when it comes to anything that doesn’t support Bluetooth. There are gadgets that let you use your wired headphones with Bluetooth devices, but what about the other way around? That’s exactly what Twelve South’s AirFly is meant to do.

The AirFly is a compact gadget that features a 3.5mm jack for plugging in to the gear of your choice and a USB port for recharging. Just pair your headphones with the AirFly, and you’re free to use your wireless headphones with anything that features a headphone jack, from the in-flight entertainment on an airplane to your vintage stereo. The AirFly offers up to eight hours of battery life, so while it won’t last through the longest of flights without a recharge, it will last long enough for most use cases.

This isn’t the only device of its kind that we’ve seen. There are plenty of Bluetooth transmitters available that are meant to let you use your wireless headphones with wired-only audio gear but many, like Astell & Kern’s AK XB10, are meant to be used with higher-end gear. These can be nice, but they don’t offer the same compact and easily portable package as the AirFly, and they’re also on the pricey side.

While the AirFly can be used with most Bluetooth headphones and any gear with a 3.5mm headphone jack, Twelve South clearly has a few specific use cases in mind for the product. Fitness clubs and flights are frequently referred to as when you’d want to use the AirFly, and Apple’s AirPods are shown prominently on the product page. If you’re familiar with AirPods, you’ll know they generally prefer to be paired with an iPhone or iPad, so the AirFly product page features a video showing you how to pair your AirPods.

The AirFly is available now for $40 direct via Twelve South. If you’re having trouble getting your AirPods to pair, take a look at our guide showing how to fix the most common AirPods problems.

Editors' Recommendations

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
What is Bluetooth multipoint and why your next earbuds or headphones should have it
Sony WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5 seen side-by-side.

Wouldn't it be great to quickly and easily switch between audio sources with your Bluetooth headphones, without having to manually disconnect and pair them to one device at a time? As with most consumer tech wonders, the dream has already become a reality, and in the case of today's deep dive, we'll be tackling an awesome audio feature known as Bluetooth multipoint.

Introduced back in 2010 with the rollout of Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth multipoint was a saving grace for every Tom and Jane using a Bluetooth headset in the workplace. Allowing for a second phone line's unanswered calls to be instantly placed on hold, this was only the beginning of Bluetooth multipoint's range of capabilities and compatible devices.

Read more
Adidas gives its wireless on-ear workout headphones a solar-powered boost
Adidas RPT-02 SOL solar-powered headphones.

Adidas' popular RPT-01 on-ear workout headphones have been redesigned to work with a power source that will be with you wherever your outdoor training sessions take you. The $229 or 200 British pounds Adidas RPT-02 SOL are equipped with a headband that can harvest solar energy, which is used to keep their internal rechargeable battery topped up with power. It goes on sale August 23 at adidasheadphones.com.

It's not the first time a company has released a set of solar-powered headphones. Urbanista did that in 2021 with its Los Angeles headphones. But the Los Angeles are a larger, over-ear model that aren't especially well suited to workouts, which arguably makes the Adidas RPT-02 SOL a better fit for the benefits of solar charging.

Read more
How much are AirPods? A pricing breakdown for each model
Apple AirPods 3.

So you've been researching the best headphones and earbuds online (it's an important decision), have undoubtedly come across Apple's popular offerings, and are wondering how much lighter your wallet's going to be if you shell out for a pair.

You undoubtedly already know that there are currently four models in Apple's oft-raved-about AirPods range: The latest and greatest 3rd-generation AirPods with new MagSafe charging case; the still very-capable 2nd-gen AirPods from 2019, with a charging case or wireless charging case; the AirPods Pro, introduced in October 2019, which come with a wireless charging case; and the first over-ear AirPods, the AirPods Max, which were introduced in December 2020 and come with a Smart Case. But how do these variants differ, and how much does each one cost? Let's find out.

Read more