Twelve South AirFly View Adds a Screen to Its Wireless Headphone Adapter
AirFly View pairs two wireless headphones with wired audio jacks, adds guided setup and battery details on screen, and costs $79.99.
The new screen is the meaningful change in Twelve South’s AirFly View: it makes a small wireless audio adapter easier to set up and check while traveling. The device connects wireless earbuds or headphones to a traditional headphone jack, including the socket on an airplane seatback. It’s available starting today in Black and Coastal blue for $79.99, with an international airline adapter and a zippered hard-shell travel case included.
AirFly View builds on Twelve South’s earlier transmitters, which address the mismatch between wireless headphones and audio sources that still use a wired jack. The display now shows pairing steps, connected headphones and battery status. That could make setup less guesswork-heavy, particularly when a traveler is pairing devices in a cramped seat or trying to connect headphones that have already been used with another source.
Setup and battery details move onto the screen
The display provides guided setup in more than 24 languages, according to the product details. It also shows which headphones are connected, so users can confirm the pairing before settling in to watch or listen. The screen dims and turns off when it isn’t being used, while the adapter can run for up to 16 hours on a charge. That figure is the company’s stated maximum; actual runtime will depend on use.
These are practical additions to an accessory whose basic job remains straightforward: take audio from a wired output and transmit it to Bluetooth headphones. Without a display, pairing status and remaining charge can be less visible. AirFly View puts both on the device, though the source doesn’t specify display dimensions, charging time or how long a recharge takes.
“Airfly started with one narrow problem: wireless headphones, and the wired jacks still bolted into airplane seatbacks, gym treadmills, and older cars. It has been solving that simply ever since. Airfly View keeps the same simplicity and puts every step on screen.”
The statement captures the product’s appeal: it’s meant to bridge familiar wired audio connections and personal wireless headphones, with the screen helping users see what the adapter is doing. For people who already own a previous AirFly transmitter, the new display is the central upgrade described here. The supplied details don’t identify other changes to sound quality, wireless range or physical controls.
Two headphone connections, with uses beyond flights
AirFly View can connect two sets of AirPods or wireless headphones at once. That gives two people a way to listen to the same program from one wired source, without sharing earbuds or relying on the seatback’s speakers. It may suit travel companions or a parent and child watching together, though the source doesn’t give details about whether both listeners can adjust volume independently.
Airplanes are only one of the listed settings. The adapter can connect wireless headphones to a headphone jack on gym equipment, such as a treadmill. With an AUX input in a car or boat, it can also send audio from a phone to the vehicle’s stereo. Twelve South says AirFly View supports Auracast broadcast audio as well, positioning it for compatible Bluetooth headphones that use that feature. The source doesn’t name specific compatible headphones or explain the setup for those connections.
That range of uses makes the adapter relevant to people who encounter wired audio inputs in several parts of their routine. Still, the product’s role depends on the connection available: it uses a headphone jack for personal listening, or an AUX input to send music from a phone to a stereo. It doesn’t replace the audio system or add wireless playback to every device automatically.
What comes in the box
- AirFly View in Black or Coastal blue.
- An international airline adapter.
- A zippered hard-shell travel case.
- On-screen setup in more than 24 languages.
- Support for two wireless headphones at once.
- Up to 16 hours of battery life, with charge level shown on the screen.
- Support for headphone jacks, AUX inputs and Auracast broadcast audio.
At $79.99, AirFly View bundles the display, dual-headphone connection and travel accessories into one adapter. Its clearest case is for people who regularly use wireless headphones with wired entertainment systems and want pairing and battery information visible at a glance. For anyone considering an upgrade from an earlier AirFly, the screen is the main stated reason to look at this model; the product details here don’t establish a change in audio performance.
AirFly View is available starting today in Black and Coastal blue for $79.99. Twelve South also recently introduced its AirFly Drive CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter. For this model, the practical question is whether a visible setup guide and charge readout are useful enough to justify choosing it over a simpler transmitter.
Find more coverage at the 9to5Toys homepage, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Other resources include Apple deals, the daily podcast and the YouTube channel.
