In maybe one of the worst kept secrets in its history, Apple has just announced the long-awaited AirTags during the Spring Loaded event, Apples first of 2021.
Apple AirTags
Having recently opened up its “Find My” app to 3rd parties such as Chipolo to increase its reach, Apple has now all but crushed other Bluetooth trackers for iPhone users with the new AirTags.
But if the device wasn’t really a surprise to you, then the price will be. For a shiny new Apple device, the AirTag is just $29 or $99 for a pack of 4.
Being an Apple product, it’s packed full of technology and centres around a simple but unparalleled user experience and is perfect for travellers with a habit of losing things.
Features
At just 11g and 32mm in diameter, the stainless steel tag has been designed to be added to anything with the minimum of intrusion. While the device’s price is modest, for Apple, the accessory market will no doubt explode in the coming days and weeks.
AirTag is a Bluetooth tracker built with the Apple U1 Chip and promises Precision Finding for owners of newer 11/12 iPhones. The AirTags will work on any iOS device running 14.5 or later and iPadOS 14.5 or later.
The button-like design is water & dust resistant and houses a built-in speaker for audio warnings. Like other lost item trackers, the AirTags work directly with your iPhone/iPad when in Bluetooth range, but where Apple has now cornered the market is with the Find My App and user network when it’s out of Bluetooth range.
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Find My App
AirTags are essentially accessories to the Find My App and enable you to add a small piece of Apple hardware to any valuables you can’t afford to lose when travelling. When an item with an AirTag attached is lost, the app uses the camera, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope for Precision Finding capabilities.
The real power of Apple AirTags and App is when your lost item is out of Bluetooth range because now every iPhone user with the Find My App installed can potentially help you find your item.
That’s nearly 1 billion devices able to locate your missing bag or device!
Using the App, you can flag an AirTag as missing by putting it into Lost Mode, and then when another user gets within Bluetooth range of it, anywhere in the world, their iPhone notifies them.
When an AirTag is found, a tap of the iPhone to the tracker will launch a browser window where the owner of the missing item will have left contact details. If a non iOS owner finds an AirTag, this will also work with NFC enabled devices.
Alternatively, using the App when the missing tag is within the range of another user, its location will ping up on your iPhone and thanks to the vast network of users, this is what makes the AirTags so appealing.
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Security
Privacy and security are important to many and Apple has acknowledged that during the AirTags launch.
AirTag is designed from the ground up to keep location data private and secure. No location data or location history is physically stored inside AirTag. Communication with the Find My network is end-to-end encrypted so that only the owner of a device has access to its location data, and no one, including Apple, knows the identity or location of any device that helped find it.
Apple Pressroom
Apple continually stressed during the demonstration that they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure data/users are anonymous and have taken steps to prevent unwanted location tracking within the technology.
The device is physically secured by an IP67 waterproof rating, which translates to being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes or less.
A single replaceable CR2032 battery powers the AirTag. These are common button style batteries that often deliver about one year of usage before being replaced.
AirTag Specifications
| Apple AirTag | |
| Dimensions | Diameter – 31.9mm Thickness – 8mm |
| Weight | 11g |
| Battery | Replaceable CR2032 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Speaker | 1 |
| Waterproof Rating | IP67 |
| Customisable/Engraving | Yes, Free |
| In the Box | AirTag Manuals |
Apple AirTag Pricing
The Apple AirTag lost item tracker is $29/£29 or $99/£99 for a pack of 4 and will go on sale April 30th on the Apple Store.
The Air Tag looks pretty nifty. Been enjoying the Spring Loaded event, the new I Mac looks very impressive with its super slim and sleek design.
It was an impressive event all around. Usually, you have to really look for any positives but all of the launch devices showed big progression from previous models.