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Let’s face it: Airplane headphones are kind of the worst. If wireless earbuds with superior sound quality are typically your go-to, hooking yourself up to scratchy, low-quality headphones isn’t ideal. Especially because airplane movies tend to be top-notch. Why would you want to miss out on all those still-in-theaters hits? That’s where the Avantree Relay comes in.
This tiny Bluetooth-compatible 5.3 power adapter, which costs just $30-$35 on Amazon, works with any device that outputs audio using AUX. Examples of that might include airplane entertainment systems, TVs, and gym equipment — so when you’re not flying, you can use this device to connect to a treadmill at the gym or stationary bike at home.
The Relay transmits high-quality audio at a low latency, meaning there’s minimal delay or lag in audio. It also comes with intuitive LEDs that allow you to easily connect two devices, meaning you can share audio with a friend or family member while you fly.
It’s long-lasting, too, with a 20-hour battery life. But if you run out of battery on a long flight, worry not: You can plug the Relay into seat outlets with a USB cord and still use it all flight long. Through built-in controls, you can adjust volume, reconnect, pair, clear pairing history, and see battery level.
Don’t just take our word for it: Users can vouch for this tiny 4.5-ounce device that does it all, too. It has over 2,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, and reviewers rave about it. “I got three of these for a family trip with long flights. Easily paired with my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and a pair of AirPods but would not pair with my son’s Galaxy Buds Pro,” one user wrote. “Kept it fully powered with the short included USB cable plugged into the USB port near the headphone jack on the seat back screen. The small zippered fabric pouch is nice and works well. Had full stereo sound the whole time.”
As for the low-latency audio, the same reviewer can vouch for how well it works. “I’m somewhat sensitive to lip sync issues, but this adapter was low-latency enough with my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro that I barely noticed the lag while looking for it and didn’t notice it at all when I was just focused on watching the movies. Using wireless earbuds with noise cancellation made for a very comfortable experience watching movies during flight, and when trays went up and down for food or someone needed to go to the bathroom it was great not needing to deal with headphone wires.”
Long story short, this device will make it possible for you to say goodbye to those low-quality, easily tangled airplane headphones that haven’t had an upgrade since the early 2000s. It’s available right now in four colors. Happy listening!
Check out some more promising reviews of the Avantree Relay:
“Easy to connect to the airplane viewing system and my Bose noise cancelling headphones. Great sound quality for the long plane trip. Comes with all needed accessories and adapters which was handy in addition to the carrying case. I am still surprised that some airplanes do not have screens with Bluetooth capabilities, so this came in handy. I am very pleased with the purchase!” — SMF
“I’m on the plane right now using my AirPods with this device. It was simple to setup and has been working flawlessly. If you want to free yourself from the tether on an airplane get this device.” — E A
“After using cheap wired earbuds on planes for years, I saw my seatmate using one of these last month. I ordered one right away and don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it sooner. first time setup took maybe 2 minutes. Then I just plug and play. I get to watch movies on the plane with all the great sound of my AirPods along with the active noise canceling. Not yet sure how long a charge lasts, but it definitely made it through an entire movie with juice to spare. If you travel frequently, buy this now!” — BB123
“Some air carriers have seatback screens that will connect to your bluetooth devices, but most still only have a place to plug in a corded set of earplugs. This device plugs into the port that the corded earplugs would plug into, and then easily connects to your earbuds or headsets. Once you’ve set up the bluetooth connection, it remembers it for the next time. I always sit in the aisle seat and so if I use corded connections I have to unplug any time a seatmate needs to get up. With this, I don’t. And I get to use my preferred earbuds.” — Dee in Alaska