Cut the cord on in-flight entertainment with this smart gadget. (Amazon)(Amazon)
My AirPods Pro are a trusted travel companion — they're easy to pack, and the active noise cancellation makes them a must for drowning out the drone of a loud plane engine. The only problem? There's no audio cable that I can use if I want to watch the in-flight entertainment. That's why the Twelve South AirFly SE is on my Christmas list. It plugs right into the headphone jack and transmits the audio straight to my AirPods, no cable required. The best part? Right now it's on sale for $30, and it would be a thoughtful gift or stocking stuffer for your favorite frequent flier.
Ever wish you could connect your earbuds to the in-flight entertainment rather than using those flimsy headphones the airline hands out? Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida calls this a "genius gadget" in his review, saying it "worked flawlessly, pairing easily with my AirPods Pro and remembering that connection from one session to the next." It's on rare sale for its lowest price of 2025, so grab one before your next flight. (Psst: You can also hook it up to the treadmill at the gym.)
All-time-low-price alert! If you prefer headphones to earbuds, this is a deal worth considering. "Expect rich, balanced audio with clear highs and punchy bass that’ll make your playlists pop," says Senior Deals Writer Chris McGraw, who specializes in all things tech. "They pair seamlessly with Apple devices, offer up to 40 hours of battery life and are as portable as they are comfortable, making them perfect for life on the go."
Planning any road trips? This popular power station is an absolute steal at nearly $400 off. With a massive 1,070 watt-hour capacity and multiple ports, it's perfect for powering everything from your camping gear to essential appliances during a power outage, and this is the best price I've seen in marked down to months.
If he spends more time in the sky than on land, then give him a "genius gadget" (Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida's words, not mine) to make his plane time way more enjoyable. He can plug this Bluetooth adapter into the airplane seat's audio jack to pair their AirPods (or any wireless headphones) with ease. Broida put it to the test and wrote that it "worked flawlessly, pairing easily with my AirPods Pro and remembering that connection from one session to the next."
I paid over $150 for my AirPods Pro, and I don't want to buy another pair of headphones just for flights. For just $30, I can save myself from relying on airlines' cheap wired headphones (if they offer them at all) or shelling out yet more money just to get my own pair. While the $5 discount may not seem like much, this gizmo rarely goes on sale, and this is the lowest price I've seen on Amazon.
I'll never forget the first time I tried active noise-cancelling headphones. It was on a flight from L.A. to Auckland. On a whim, I had purchased an expensive pair from Bose, and when the plane's engines fired up, I flipped the ANC switch. The silence was life-changing.
Since then, I have taken hundreds of flights, and I can count on one hand the number of times I didn't watch in-flight entertainment when it was available. But while most headphones have joined the wireless revolution, planes' entertainment systems haven't kept pace. The Twelve South AirFly transmitter means you can ditch your old pair of wired cans or earbuds — who needs more cords when traveling? — and hear everything with your preferred wireless headphones that may even have that all-important ANC.
The USB-C cable that I use to charge my AirPods case and the AirFly are the same, so there's no need to turn my carry-on or personal item into a bird's nest of miscellaneous cords. The battery lasts up to 20 hours, so whether you're flying to the next city over or the other side of the planet, you're covered. Spend time at the gym on the elliptical or treadmill? This works just as well there as it does on a plane. Plug it in, pop those earbuds in, and those miles will pass by before you know it.
Over 11,000 happy travelers have given this transmitter a five-star rating.
The SE in AirFly SE might as well stand for "super easy," some fans say. "I bought it primarily for long flights to connect my AirPods to in-flight entertainment, and it worked perfectly," said one five-star reviewer. "The audio was clear, with no noticeable lag or interruptions. It’s also super easy to use — just plug it into any 3.5mm audio jack, and you're good to go."
Others used it with their Nintendo Switch, like this fan. "I used this Airfly SE for a Nintendo Switch; specifically Project Diva (a very high-speed rhythm game) because the Switch's Bluetooth audio has horrible static as it is an outdated Bluetooth chip. This device instantly ... eliminated the issue of 2.4-GHz interference with the JoyCons, and therefore certainly is an improvement." They added, "With such a quick-paced game, any delay would be a problem, but the audio is perfectly synced."
Another five-star reviewer doesn't use it on a plane or with a gaming console, but with an old-school iPod. "If you're like me and have a classic iPod and hate wires up in your grill, then this works really well. The battery life isn't incredible (though I have yet to run into it actually dying) but neither is my iPod's, so that's fine."
Battery life and connectivity are among buyers' biggest concerns.
"This product is fine for listening to audio from a radio or phone. I was going to use it as a monitor in a live band situation and there was too much lag in the sound," said one four-star reviewer. They added: "I experience a slight delay when trying to use it to watch TV as well. I think this is a problem with Bluetooth in general and not just limited to this product."
"The only downside is that it could have a bit more battery life. It's fine for shorter trips, but on longer flights or extended gym sessions, I do find myself needing to recharge it halfway through," wrote this shopper. "That said, it’s a minor inconvenience for such a useful device."
Want to connect your phone to your car speakers? The AirFly Pro is both a transmitter and a receiver, and features a bit more battery life.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
