Avantree Relay Airplane Bluetooth 5.3 Adapter (3.5mm AUX) with Qualcomm aptX Adaptive

If you’ve ever tried to make plane entertainment work with random wired earbuds, you’ll know the hassle: the cable feels in the way, the connection is temperamental, and sharing audio usually means passing around one headphone lead. The Avantree Relay is built to slot into an airline seat’s standard 3.5mm AUX output and turn it into Bluetooth audio, so you can stream wirelessly to compatible headphones.

The standout idea here is simple—wireless listening for flights—while also keeping the experience organised for two people. Depending on your seat setup and what the airline provides, this can be a neat way to upgrade your in-flight audio without getting tangled in a cable situation.

At a glance

The Avantree Relay is a Bluetooth 5.3 wireless audio transmitter for use on planes, specifically designed to connect to a 3.5mm AUX jack on an aircraft seat entertainment system. It supports pairing two Bluetooth headphones (or AirPods) at the same time, which is handy for couples or travel companions who want to listen together.

On paper, the audio side looks focused on reliability: it uses Qualcomm aptX Adaptive and is described as providing balanced sound and dependable wireless performance during flights.

You also get a claimed run time of up to 20 hours on a single charge, which should cover plenty of long-haul travel—though your real world time will depend on volume and how consistently the signal holds up.

What it’s for (and how it works on a flight)

This adapter is intended to be used with the standard 3.5mm AUX output commonly found on in-seat entertainment systems. In practice, that usually means plugging the transmitter into the seat output, switching on the adapter, then pairing your wireless headphones.

A simple micro-scenario: imagine you and your partner both bring wireless earbuds. You plug the Avantree Relay into the 3.5mm jack at your seat, start the film on the screen, then pair both earbuds to the adapter. If it all lines up, you and your partner can listen at the same time without needing to share one headphone cable.

Key takeaways for buyers

Where this makes sense is when you mainly want wireless audio for air travel and you want the convenience of supporting two listeners at once.

A big limitation to bear in mind is compatibility. This is described as not being suitable for TVs, phones, or tablet devices, and it’s not intended for instruments musicales. So if you’re buying this as a general Bluetooth hub for everyday gadgets, you’ll likely be disappointed.

It’s also not presented as a receiver for your own phone or laptop. It’s a transmitter for the plane’s entertainment audio—nothing more.

Where it shines

The things that feel most convincing from the information provided are:

• Two-device audio pairing for flights: you can connect two AirPods or Bluetooth headphones simultaneously, which is a practical feature rather than a gimmick.
• Built around 3.5mm AUX: it’s specifically designed for the seat entertainment connection most travellers recognise.
• Qualcomm aptX Adaptive support: this points to an approach focused on keeping wireless audio performance consistent, not just making it “work”.
• Long enough battery for trips: up to 20 hours is a strong number for long-haul travel, and it reduces stress around charging mid-trip.

What might not be the best match

It may not suit you if your travel setup doesn’t include a 3.5mm AUX headphone output at the seat. It’s also not compatible with TV use, and the product description is clear that it can’t be paired with phones or tablets.

If you’re the kind of buyer who wants one adapter to do everything—turn your phone audio into Bluetooth to a speaker, connect to TVs, and so on—this is probably too narrow. You’d be better off looking at a more general Bluetooth transmitter/receiver approach, rather than an airline-focused model.

Also, while aptX Adaptive is promising, the description doesn’t provide specific testing results, so it’s sensible to treat it as a “designed for reliable travel audio” feature rather than a guarantee of perfect sound under every airline environment.

Tech summary

You’re getting a Bluetooth 5.3 airplane AUX adapter that acts as a wireless audio transmitter for 3.5mm entertainment outputs. It supports connecting two compatible wireless headphone devices at once, and it uses Qualcomm aptX Adaptive for the audio codec side.

On battery, the listing states up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge.

Mini FAQ

Does it work with TVs or home entertainment? The description says it’s not compatible with televisions, so it’s best treated as a flight-specific transmitter.

Can I pair it with my phone or tablet? No—the description states it can’t be paired with phones or tablets.

Can two people listen at the same time? Yes, it supports pairing two AirPods or Bluetooth headphones at the same time.

What connection does it use at the seat? It connects to the plane entertainment system via a standard 3.5mm AUX jack.

Is it worth it?

Worth buying if you fly often (or you’re planning a long-haul trip), your seat entertainment provides a 3.5mm AUX headphone output, and you want a cleaner wireless setup—especially if two people will listen together. It also suits you if you like the idea of aptX Adaptive for more dependable in-flight wireless audio.

You may want to skip it if you need a general-purpose Bluetooth adapter for phones, tablets, or TVs, or if your in-flight entertainment setup doesn’t offer a 3.5mm AUX output. In those cases, this product’s airline-focused design is more limitation than benefit.