Apple's AirTag item trackers can be custom-engraved using text, numbers, and even emoji, but users looking to express some college humor will likely need to look elsewhere, because Apple's online AirTag personalization tool is easily offended.
An AirTag is just big enough to fit up to four characters or up to three emoji. That might seem just enough to get dubiously creative with your diction, but as The Verge points out, Apple puts pretty strict limitations on what you can emblematize on an AirTag.
For instance, a Pile of Poo emoji can't come after a Horse Face emoji, but other animal-poo combinations are fair game. Similar limitations apply to potentially offensive words spelt out with text, although some customers will surely find their own ways around the system.
This isn't the first time Apple has clipped the wings of would-be comedians and toilet humorists – many of the same emoji restrictions are present on AirPods and iPad engravings, for example. However, the ability to engrave several, more affordable AirTags is likely to introduce more people to Apple's guarded funny side.
AirTags start at $29 each or $99 for a four-pack. Online orders open this Friday, April 23, with AirTags shipping April 30. Engraving is free.
Wednesday August 12, 2026 11:52 am PDT by Juli Clover
Google today introduced the Pixel Tag, its answer to Apple's AirTag. Pixel Tag is Google's first item tracker, even though Google implemented an item tracking network two years ago that's been used by third-party devices.
The Pixel Tag is made from stainless steel, and it is IP67 water- and dust-resistant. There's a built-in speaker that can play a sound when an item it's attached to is...
Tuesday August 25, 2026 8:39 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today unveiled a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chip options, a new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options, a new version of the Polishing Cloth with a lower price, and updated Magic Keyboards for Macs.
To learn more about these products, read our coverage below:
Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips and More
Apple Unveils New Mac Studio With M5 Max and M5...
Apple today quietly introduced updated Magic Keyboard models with revised U.S. English key labeling.
On the new keyboards, the tab, caps lock, shift, return, and delete keycaps are labeled with glyphs rather than edge text. On the full-size models with a numeric keypad, the change goes further, with the home, page up, page down, end, clear, and enter keys also swapping their text labels for...
I’m a bit tired of all this “censor” Apple applies to make everything so politically correct. I know this message is going to receive a lot of downvotes but this time I’ll understand it, because it is a controversial comment. Even if MR deletes it, yeah, I can understand.
That said, it feels certainly silly when I try to type (swiping) swearing words on iOS 14 and Apple has forbidden many words and pair of words to appear in the suggestions, thus, making it impossible to use those words by swiping, both in English and Spanish. It feels childish, at least let us disable it if we want! (There are people over 18yo using Apple devices too). And no, including those words into the dictionary no longer works like it did on iOS 13.
On the device engravings I can understand the decision to an extent. But with the iOS keyboard and other areas, I cannot get it.
You know you've found an American when they start talking about free speech without understanding that a private company not providing the specific option that you want doesn't come under free speach. But as long as we've got those freedumbs.
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Anyway. I'd be more interested in the obvious oversights in emojis here. Why is the key emoji not there? Why not a house? and a car? so I can combine emoji into "Car Key" and "House Key" and where is the backpack emoji? It doesn't seem very well through through.
