The AirTag is a very handy accessory, but not indispensable. We have tested the tiny bluetooth tracker and you can read all about it in this AirTag review.
The AirTag that we used for this review was purchased by iPhoned itself.
Read the AirTag review
The unveiling of the AirTag during the April event came as no big surprise. Apple’s tracker has long been the subject of speculation and rumors. Several times, clues have surfaced via leaked screenshots and test versions of iOS. iPhone has now tested the tracker and in this review you can read our findings.
Most indoor use
The new accessory from Apple is especially very practical. You can attach the AirTag to things, such as your wallet or keys. You then link the tracker to your Apple ID via Bluetooth. Have you lost something? You can find your belongings very quickly via the Search My app.
The AirTag is very useful if you just don’t know where in the house you left your keys, for example. That is also the most common reason that you use the AirTag. But even if you have lost your belongings elsewhere, the AirTag offers the solution.
Via the Find My app you can see where your belongings are from a distance. Some people even attach the AirTag to their pet’s collar. For example, if you have a cat that walks outside, you can see where the animal is at any time.
Simple and intuitive
As we are used to from Apple, setting up and linking the AirTag is quick and simple. As soon as you take the AirTag out of the box, the pairing actually speaks for itself. You pull a tab from the AirTag, after which the accessory is immediately recognized by your iPhone.
You give the AirTag a useful name by which you can recognize it, such as Keys, Wallet, Bag or something else. The AirTag is waterproof, so even if you end up in a heavy rain shower with your keys, there is nothing wrong. The tracker works with a simple standard button cell battery, which lasts about a year. So you don’t have to charge it and replacing the battery is simple and cheap.
Lost mode provides security
The fact that the AirTag can be found from a great distance gives you a certain degree of certainty. Even if your belongings are stolen, you can immediately see where the thief with his loot is. In addition, you can put the tracker in Lost mode. You will then automatically receive a notification if your AirTag comes close to a smartphone with NFC.
Nfc is the same technology used for Apple Pay or other payment methods with your smartphone. It can therefore also be an iPhone belonging to people you do not know. It is also possible to set people to receive your phone number when they tap your AirTag with their device.
AirTag is not indispensable
Once you have attached the AirTag to your belongings, you no longer have to look at it. But that is also the problem for us: we just don’t lose our stuff that often, so we don’t actually need the AirTag. We use playing a sound the most, because then you can hear where your stuff is very quickly. The animation with the arrow actually takes just too long, but it can be useful if you really don’t know where the sound is coming from.
Also, the fact that stalking someone with the AirTag could be quite easy makes us question the use of the AirTag in practice. We can well imagine that it is very handy to attach the AirTag to your pet or child at times when you are afraid of losing sight of it. Consider, for example, a cat that walks outside or a small child that you take to a busy place.
Cover is necessary
The AirTag competes with the Tile, the bluetooth tracker that has been on the market for years. It is therefore not surprising that the price of the AirTag (35 euros) matches the Tile. What is striking is the fact that the AirTag has to be attached to something for most ways of use.
This is only possible if you put the AirTag in a case, which you have to buy separately. The cases that Apple sells are about the same price as the AirTag itself, while the competition has simply attached a ring to its tracker. In addition, Apple’s covers are quite long, which is not always convenient depending on use. Fortunately, there are also plenty of cheap alternatives.
Unfortunately, the metal part also appears to scratch quickly with the cover and there are fingerprints on it quickly. If you attach the AirTag to something that you often have in your hands, such as a bunch of keys, the tracker will not last long. Of course that is less important with the AirTag than with an iPhone, for example.
Conclusion AirTag review
The AirTag is a very practical device. Setting up and pairing with your iPhone is done in a flash, the battery lasts for a long time and replacing it is also very easy. Using the AirTag offers security, especially if you often lose your belongings. Lost mode even allows you to receive calls if you have lost something.
The metal part of the tracker scratches quickly and a cover is necessary if you want to attach it to something. Apple charges almost as much for this as for the AirTag itself. The tracker can save you a lot of time if you often lose something, but most people will not need it on a daily basis. In practice, the AirTag turns out to be handy, but not indispensable.
Read more about the AirTag
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AirTag review: Apple’s new tracker is useful, but not indispensable
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Replacing the AirTag battery: this is how you do it
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Set AirTag: pair the smart tracker with your iPhone or iPad
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You can use the AirTag in these 6 ways
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Round-up: This is what international media think of Apple’s AirTag