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.
"I have quite a few long flights ahead of me, and this pocket-size Bluetooth transmitter will make it easy to watch movies on the seatback TV with my noise-canceling earbuds. That way I’ll be able to drown out loud talkers, crying babies and other inevitable plane noises and enjoy my in-flight entertainment in peace. I especially have my eye on the Pro since it lets two people — me and my travel buddy — pair headphones simultaneously."
—Amanda Garrity, Gifting Editor
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Make fighting with your family members over power outlets a thing of the past, courtesy of this electrifying gadget. It's equipped with five AC outlets and four USB ports, enough for everyone to charge their iPads, iPhones, MacBooks (you get the picture) all at once. Oh, and it's so much sleeker than having a power strip on your floor — and you won't have to worry about tripping over it.
No, it's not a massive discount, but this bestseller is within a dollar of its all-time low (and it's retailed for as much as $20 in the past).
These stylish Beats Solo headphones are now 50% off, so you can snag all the signature Beats features for just $100. Expect rich, balanced audio with clear highs and punchy bass that’ll make your playlists pop. 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.
Listen up: Our senior tech writer, Rick Broida, has spent the past two decades testing (and testing, and re-testing) hundreds of earbuds. So, when he's surprised by just how good a $40 pair performs, you need to check them out ASAP. When he tested some of the best earbuds on the market, he named this pair the best budget option, praising their sound quality and noise-canceling abilities. And this wallet-friendly option just got even more budget-friendly, currently down to $20 — the lowest we've ever seen them.
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"My bigger iPad Air recently just broke so I was debating between getting another or getting the iPad Mini. I am so happy that I chose the Mini," said one shopper. "I love that it is light enough to carry around wherever I go but still has a bigger screen than my phone so I can do work/school on it. I have also been reading on it a lot and think that it is the perfect tablet for reading."
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.
