Apple seemed to have lost them for a while, but it’s finally here: the AirTag! Here are 13 things you should know about Apple’s latest product.
AirTag FAQ: All the little details about the tracker
The AirTag is a brand new product category for Apple and so there is plenty to say about it. Apple kept it brief during the presentation yesterday, but we have now located the smallest details. That way you are informed about everything.
1. What is an AirTag?
The AirTag is Apple’s newest device with a clear goal: to prevent you from losing valuable items. The tracker sends out a signal that is picked up by the ‘Find My app’ which is installed by default on Apple devices. This allows you to find out the exact location.
2. Engrave with emoji or text
A tiny white circle is not that personal by itself, but luckily Apple has thought of this. Every AirTag you order can be engraved for free with three letters or two emoji. Handy if you order multiple Tags and therefore don’t accidentally get them confused. You will automatically come across the engraving option if you buy the device via the Apple website.
3. Battery (duration)
You cannot charge the AirTag, but it has a small battery that you eventually have to replace. By unscrewing the back of the AirTag you can easily change the battery. This is a standard CR2032 battery that is readily available at the supermarket. According to Apple, the AirTag has to last an average of a year with a battery. As soon as the battery life is low, you will receive a notification on your paired iPhone.
4. Connected at lightning speed
If you use AirPods, you will know how easy it is to pair the earbuds. The AirTags behave the same way: by holding the Tag near your iPhone, a window automatically appears with which you can link the device. In a few seconds it is set up and ready for use.
5. Lost mode
Have you lost the AirTag because it no longer gives a signal? Then you can put it in Lost Mode. This mode enables a special feature that allows nfc devices to locate the Tag as well. As soon as someone finds the Tag, he or she will receive information about the serial number, whether the owner has reported it as lost, and information on how to contact the owner. Provided the owner has set this up, of course.
6. Also discoverable for Android devices
Once the AirTag has been put into ‘Lost Mode’ by the owner, it is discoverable for multiple devices. IPhones and Android devices without a U1 chip that do have an NFC chip can then also find out the location. However, you still need an Apple device to set up an AirTag. Thus, for Android users, the device is not usable and can only help locate someone else’s Tag.
7. Wide choice of accessories
Apple would not be Apple if multiple accessories for the AirTag were not immediately available. From key rings to stylish leather cases: there is already plenty to choose from. Accessory manufacturers such as Belkin have now also offered their products for sale. Because there is no hole in the AirTag, you will have to buy a holder to hang the Tag on your key ring. Striking detail: a holder is just as expensive as the AirTag itself.
8. U1 chip for extra accuracy
The Ultra Wideband chip plays a key role in the AirTag. The chip makes it possible to register the location extra accurately, a lot better than bluetooth does. Do you have an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12? Then you can use the U1 chip to be sent in the right direction with an arrow on your screen. This way, even if the AirTag is within a radius of one meter from you, you can quickly and purposefully walk to the exact location.
9. IP67 water resistance
The AirTag has received an IP67 certification, which means that the device is waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to thirty minutes. Despite this water resistance, Apple warns that the lifespan can deteriorate if the Tag is underwater for a long time or regularly. So it is not recommended to hang one on your diving equipment.
10. Protection against prying eyes
The purpose of the AirTag is to find your stuff, but it can also be used in an annoying way. By secretly putting a Tag in someone’s jacket or bag, you can secretly track his or her location 24 hours a day. To prevent this, your iPhone will notify you if you unsuspectingly take an AirTag that is not yours. You only get this notification after a while, so that a train full of people with AirTags does not generate a notification flow.
11. Great focus on privacy
A device that continuously sends out its location is a privacy nightmare in the making. Fortunately, Apple handles it carefully. Only you can see where an AirTag is and the location data is not stored on the Tag itself. The devices that transmit the location also remain anonymous and the necessary data is encrypted. As a result, Apple itself is not aware of the location of the AirTag or who owns it.
12. Dimensions
Because the AirTag should hang easily on a key ring or fit in a side pocket of your bag, Apple has made it as small as possible. The AirTag is therefore about the same size as a bottle cap. Fortunately, you cannot lose the AirTag yourself.
13. Price and release date
The AirTag can be ordered from Friday 23 April at 14:00 Dutch time in the Netherlands. An AirTag costs 35 euros, or can be ordered in a package of four for 120 euros. The first copies will be delivered in the week of April 30.