AirFly wireless headphone dongle adds a screen to guide users through the pairing process
Screen simplifies headphone pairing
The AirFly View is a new version of Twelve South’s AirFly dongle. It connects wireless headphones to devices that do not natively support Bluetooth. Rather than relying on flashing or changing-color lights, the built-in display walks users through pairing. Instructions are available in 24 languages, including Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese and Polish.
Price and included accessories
The AirFly View is available starting today for $79.99. The package includes a carrying case and an adapter that connects its short 3.5mm headphone cable to an airplane’s split headphone jack.
The screen also displays the dongle’s battery level. Twelve South estimates the device can run for 16 hours, and the indicator helps users gauge how much charge remains.
Audio sharing and Auracast
The display identifies connected wireless headphones or earbuds by the names they report over Bluetooth. That may help when several travelers are using their own headphones. One AirFly View can stream audio to two connected headphone pairs simultaneously. Twelve South also says it supports Auracast broadcast audio, which could allow more devices to receive a signal, but that requires headphones with Auracast support, which remain uncommon.
Key points
- The AirFly View pairs wireless headphones with devices that lack native Bluetooth support.
- Its screen provides step-by-step instructions in 24 languages and shows battery level and connected headphone names.
- The $79.99 device includes a carrying case and an adapter for airplane split headphone jacks.
- It supports two headphone pairs at once; broader Auracast use requires compatible headphones.