Building on their already impressive Bluetooth headphones enhancer, Twelve South has launched the AirFly Pro 2. This clever device lets you connect your Bluetooth headphones to audio sources lacking Bluetooth, such as those found on airplanes, and even share the audio with another person. Furthermore, it enables you to wirelessly play music from your phone through a car stereo’s AUX port.

Now having just jetted away for a weeks holiday I thought the timing couldn’t be better to get a AirFly Pro 2 in for a full review.

In the box you get the AirFly Pro 2, paperwork a quick start guide and a velvet pouch to carry the device in.

That said we fell at the first hurdle shall we say, the Jet2 flight we were on didn’t have any in flight entertainment, so to be able the AirFly Pro’s to there best I had to get a bit creative and that I did.

Good Points:-

• Makes Bluetooth Headphones more versatile.
• Connect to two pairs of headphones at once
• Can be used with car stereo AUX ports, too

Bad Points:-

• Current battery level hard to check

Design:-

Encased in a familiar white plastic with soft, rounded contours, the AirFly Pro 2’s design echoes that of an AirPods case.

Its remarkably pocket-friendly dimensions of 2.2 inches/5.5cm in length, 1.2 inches/3cm in width, and 0.4 inches/1cm in thickness, coupled with a featherlight weight of approximately half an ounce/14 grams make it incredibly easy to carry.

A 3.5mm audio jack is attached to a short, 0.75-inch cable extending from one of its ends. Functionality is enhanced by a thoughtful arrangement of controls: dedicated on/off and transmit/receive sliders are located on the sides, alongside buttons for initiating Bluetooth pairing with up to two devices.

The front face prominently features two large volume adjustment buttons. Charging is conveniently handled via a USB-C port situated on the end.

In Use:-

As I mentioned above, my test flight didn’t go to plan thanks to no inflight entertainment system on board our recent flight, then I had that light buld moment, wht don’t I pair the AirFly to my favourite headphone of choice (in this case the bose QC35 II ) and use the Airfly from device to device, in this case my GalaxyBook 360, my SteamDeck and my Galaxy Tab A therefore meaning only had pair the Bose to one connection (the Airfly ).

Then I was able to connect my wifes Airpods to the Airfly aswell meaning we could both watch the same movie from the GalaxyBook with no pesky wires getting in the way.

To begin using the AirFly Pro 2, the initial steps are straightforward: pair it with your wireless headphones, like AirPods, and then plug the attached 3.5mm connector into the audio output of your chosen device. However, the setup involves a little more than just these basics.

Because your headphones are likely already paired with a device, you’ll need to initiate a reset on the earbuds to establish a connection with the Bluetooth adapter. This is easily done with a press of a button usually.

The pairing process with the AirFly Pro 2 feels a bit unusual as there’s no display. You simply activate Bluetooth pairing on both the adapter and your headphones and wait, relying on the blinking lights or audio ques, nevertheless, I’ve found the pairing to be consistently successful.

Twelve South promised enhanced pairing speed and reliability with the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.3, and in my testing, this claim holds true.

One potential drawback to consider is the repeated need to disconnect your headphones from your device to pair them with the AirFly, and then switch back. This back-and-forth might become tedious for frequent users. If you anticipate doing this often, you might want to think about having a dedicated set of wireless earbuds for the adapter. However, for those who only need to do this occasionally, like when traveling by air, the minute or so it takes to re-pair shouldn’t be a major inconvenience.

One of the better features of AirFly Pro 2 is that two sets of headphones can be paired with it simultaneously, as I mentioned above As noted, there are buttons on each side of the adapter to pair with one set, then the other.

This allows you and a spouse/partner/friend to listen to the same movie playing on a plane’s seatback entertainment system without having to pay for it twice. Or connect to two Bluetooth speakers and fill a room with sound.

Audio Quality:-

Twelve South touted the AirFly Pro 2’s “upgraded Qualcomm audio chip,” complete with Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Audio, suggesting a noticeable audio boost for everything from music to gaming. Intrigued, I pitted it against my original AirFly Pro using top-notch headphones. Listening to familiar tunes, I did pick up on a change, but it wasn’t a night-and-day scenario. Credit where it’s due – the original AirFly Pro sounds fantastic. So, comparing it to the latest version is really about discerning the subtle improvements between great and even better.

Even without prior experience with the AirFly Pro, you can expect impressive audio quality from the Pro 2. Music and podcasts are rendered well, providing a satisfying listening experience from deep bass to crisp treble.

Naturally, Bluetooth technology has its inherent limits, and lossless audio isn’t within its capabilities. It’s also worth noting that the quality of your headphones will significantly influence the overall audio output; high-quality headphones are recommended.

The addition of physical volume buttons is a genuinely useful feature, streamlining the process of adjusting your listening volume without needing to interact with your device

An Audio Receiver Aswell

The AirFly is typically used to send audio to headphones, but the AirFly Pro 2 adds a convenient receiving mode. Just flip a switch, and it becomes a Bluetooth receiver, allowing you to stream music from your Phone to a speaker via a wired connection.

A key benefit is its seamless integration with car AUX ports. Beyond that, I find it particularly useful for quickly connecting my phone to any speaker without the usual Bluetooth pairing process. Visiting a friend? Just plug in the AirFly to their Bluetooth speaker and play your music – no need to pair your phone or worry about switching back later.

For those with wired headphones, a simple and affordable 3.5mm audio coupler, lets you enjoy the AirFly Pro 2’s Bluetooth capabilities with your existing setup.

Battery Life.

Twelve South boasts a 25-hour battery life for the AirFly Pro 2, and I can confirm it easily endured my entire testing process without needing a recharge.

Charging is a breeze thanks to the USB-C port, which conveniently accepts the same cable used for many  devices like iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads.

However, the one significant drawback I encountered is the inability to check the battery level. Beyond a low-power blinking LED, there’s no way to know how much charge remains. This limitation means you’ll likely need to adopt a habit of plugging in the AirFly whenever it’s not in use, just to avoid it running out unexpectedly.

Conclusion:-

The AirFly Pro 2 cleverly elevates the utility of bluetooth headphones, making them even more valuable in various scenarios, from long journeys to workouts. You’ll quickly find it an essential companion.

By also functioning as an audio receiver, it unlocks a wealth of additional possibilities. Combine it with an audio coupler, and Twelve South’s gadget can interface with almost any audio device you encounter.

The only element holding it back from a perfect score is the inconvenient lack of a way to monitor the battery status.

Pricing & availability

AirFly Pro 2 launched Tuesday, March 25. The Bluetooth audio adapter sells for £54.99

Buy it from: Twelve South or Amazon