Apple in April 2021 unveiled its long awaited AirTag after years of rumors and speculation. The small circular tag is designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets to allow these accessories to be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app.
AirTags Price
A single AirTag is priced at $29, and a package of four AirTags can be purchased for $99.
AirTags are available directly from Apple, and that price point does not include the accessories needed to attach the AirTag to an item. Apple sells AirTags accessories separately, and there are also several third-party options.
Third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are also offering AirTags for sale.
AirTags Release Date
AirTags became available for preorder on Friday, April 23, 2021 and officially launched on Friday, April 30, 2021.
AirTag Reviews
Ahead of the launch of AirTags, members of the media were able to test them out and first impressions are positive. AirTags have been described as "smart" and capable" for those in Apple's ecosystem, and tracking has been lauded for its accuracy.
It can sometimes take a full 30 seconds or more to get an initial location for an AirTag from another room, and it's possible to get inaccurate locations foiled by obstructions and walls due to Bluetooth. The U1 Precision Tracking is helpful to get around that.
Make sure to check out our full review roundup for additional details.
AirTags Design
The AirTag is a small, button-shaped tracking device with a glossy white front that can be customized with an engraving and a silver backing. AirTags are designed around the CR2032 batteries that are inside, and need additional accessories to attach to an item.
AirTag measures in at 1.26 inches in diameter, and it has a height of 0.31 inches, or 8mm. It weighs 0.39 ounces (11 grams).
AirTags Engraving
Each AirTag can be engraved with up to four letters or emoji characters, though there are some restrictions on multiple emoji due to size limitations. There are also limitations on some emoji strings and phrases due to Apple's content filtering.
You can't, for example, pair a Horse Face emoji with the Pile of Poo emoji, nor can you use curse words.
AirTags Features
AirTags are added and managed in the Find My app under the "Items" tab that Apple introduced in iOS 14.3. Like other Apple devices, each AirTag is displayed on a map in the Find My app so you can see its location. AirTags connect to your iOS and macOS devices over Bluetooth.
Apple added a U1 chip in each AirTag so you can see its precise location indoors or out if it's nearby, or its last known location if it is not. There are built-in speakers to play a sound to find a lost AirTag in the house, and you can either play a sound through the Find My app or ask Siri to find an AirTag with a sound.
If an AirTag is lost or stolen, the Find My network can help you find it. The Find My Network takes advantage of hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices to help you locate an AirTag, with the AirTag showing up on a map when it is located by someone else's device.
In Lost Mode, an AirTag will automatically send out a notification when it's detected by someone in the Find My network, and you can add your contact info so someone who finds your item can get in touch with you.
Apple is able to regularly update the AirTags firmware and has done so several times since the AirTags launched.
Precision Finding
iPhones with a U1 chip, which includes the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 models, can take advantage of Precision Finding, a feature that lets you see specific instructions on how to get to your lost AirTag. Precision finding combines AR, sound, and haptic feedback to help you out.
Returning a Lost AirTag
If you come across a lost AirTag, or if someone comes across your lost AirTag, it can be scanned with any smartphone that's equipped with NFC to bring up contact information.
This works on iPhones and Android devices, so if you find an item, give it a scan to locate the owner. If in Lost Mode, the AirTag will also relay its location back to the owner through the Find My network.
Separation Alerts
Apple in iOS 15 added Separation Alerts to the Find My app, which are designed to let you know if you leave an Apple device, a device attached to an AirTag, or a Find My-enabled third-party device behind.
You can set up Separation Alerts in the Find My app, so if you want to make sure your iPhone is always with you or that you don't leave the house without the keys, this is the feature to use.
AirTags Battery
AirTags use a replaceable CR2032 battery that is designed to last about a year before it needs to be replaced. The batteries are user replaceable, and to swap out a battery, you can press and twist on the back panel of the AirTag to pop it off.
Here’s how you replace the battery on the new #AirTags #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/PReMFDSBqL — MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) April 20, 2021
If your AirTag is low on battery life, you'll get a notification that the battery needs to be replaced.
AirTags Charging
There is no need or way to charge an AirTag because Apple designed them with user replaceable CR2032 batteries.
AirTags Range
Apple has not yet provided details the range of the AirTag, but the maximum Bluetooth range is around 100 meters, so an AirTag should be trackable at least to that distance. More experimentation will be necessary to find more specific range information.
AirTags Water Resistance
The AirTag features an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means it can withstand immersion in water up to one meter (3.3 feet) for 30 minutes in laboratory conditions. That means the AirTag will hold up well to liquid exposure from rain or accidental spills.
AirTags Setup
As with AirPods, setting up an AirTag can be done with a one-tap gesture after it's unboxed. Each AirTag can be customized with a name and an item description.
AirTag Ownership Limits
Each Apple ID can be associated with up to 16 AirTags, so you can keep track of 16 items at one time.
AirTags Privacy and Security
Each AirTag you own is linked to your Apple ID and no one else can track it. Location data and location history are not stored on the AirTag, and devices that relay the location of a lost AirTag stay anonymous and location data is encrypted every step of the way.
You may see where your lost AirTag is on a map if it's picked up by someone else's device, but you won't know the identity of the person that helps find it. Apple also does not see where AirTags are located because of the end-to-end encryption.
AirTags have unique Bluetooth identifiers that rotate frequently, a feature that ensures you're never tracked from place to place.
AirTags Stalking
Apple has built in security restrictions that are designed to prevent an AirTag for being used for unwanted and secretive tracking purposes.
If an AirTag that someone else owns is in your belongings and has been traveling with for you awhile, your iPhone will send you an alert about an AirTag being detected near you, which will prevent someone from tracking you with a planted AirTag. You will get an alert on an AirTag that's with you when you return to your home address or to a location that's frequently visited.
When this happens, you'll see a notification that says "AirTag Detected," which you can tap to disable the AirTag. If the AirTag is attached to an item you're borrowing, you can choose to turn off "AirTag Detected" notifications for one day. If it's an item from a family member, you can turn off Safety Alerts for those who are in your Family Sharing group.
AirTag Detected alerts are only triggered when an AirTag is separated from its owner, so you don't need to worry about friends or family members with nearby AirTags. An AirTag away from its owner for eight to 24 hours will play a sound to alert you to its presence, letting you know if someone has illicitly stuck an AirTag in your belongings.
There have been multiple news stories about AirTags being used for vehicle theft, stalking, and other nefarious purposes, which has led Apple to make several updates to how AirTags work to prevent criminals from taking advantage of them.
As of iOS 15.4, when setting up an AirTag, Apple will show warnings to thwart malicious use. The warning will make it clear that the AirTag is linked to an Apple ID, that using it to track people is a crime, and that law enforcement can request identifying information about the owner of the AirTag, which Apple will readily provide.
With an update in April, Apple made the AirTag sound louder, also to help cut down on stalking attempts.
Apple is also working on new safety features set to be implemented later this year. Precision Finding, improved display alerts, and louder sounds will make AirTags more difficult to use for people-tracking purposes. Apple adjusted the tone sequence to use more of the loudest tones to make AirTags louder and easier to find.
- Precision Finding - iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 users who receive an unwanted tracking alert can locate an unknown AirTag with precision, similar to the Precision Finding feature that's available to AirTag owners. The feature will provide the distance and direction to an unknown AirTag when it is in range, making it easier to locate.
- Display alert with sound - When an AirTag separated from its owner plays a sound to alert those nearby, it will also display an alert on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch so that it can be tracked down by sound or Precision Finding if the feature is available. Apple says that this feature will help if the AirTag sound is hard to hear or if the speaker has been tampered with.
- Updated unwanted tracking alerts - Apple is going to update its alert system to notify users earlier that an unknown AirTag or Find My network accessory may be traveling with them.
There is no specific timeline for when these new features might be released, but Apple has them in the works for release this year.
Sharing AirTags
If you plan to share an item with an AirTag on it with someone else, you can disable safety alerts if the person you're sharing it with is someone in your Family Sharing group. If they're not a part of your family, the person who borrows the item can temporarily disable alerts.
Aside from disabling safety alerts, there are no other features for sharing an AirTag with someone else. Only you can track an AirTag linked to your Apple ID with your own Find My app. You cannot provide tracking access to other people, so spouses cannot track each other's items nor can a parent track a child's item.
Tracker Detect for Android
In December 2021, Apple released "Tracker Detect" in the Google Play Store, with the app designed to allow Android users to scan for AirTags and other Find My-enabled items.
With this app, Android users can make sure that no AirTags or Find My-enabled accessories are being used to track them. The app will locate any nearby AirTags, and Android users will be able to cause the AirTag or Find My-enabled accessory to play a sound so it can be located. The app also provides instructions on how to disable an AirTag by removing the battery.
Traveling With AirTags
If you're planning to use an AirTag while traveling, there are certain limitations that you should be aware of. Precision Finding, for example, won't work in certain countries like Russia, Indonesia, and Argentina, with a list available in our AirTags travel guide.
Tracking Pets and Children
Apple designed AirTags to track items, and Apple does not recommend that they be used to track pets or children. For keeping tabs on children, Apple recommends an Apple Watch that uses Family Setup.
AirTag NFC Shortcuts
The built-in NFC chip in the AirTag can be used by Apple Shortcuts to trigger automations. Users can create a shortcut that triggers by tapping the top of an NFC-enabled iPhone on the white plastic side of the AirTag.
AirTag Accessories
If you need a holder, keychain, or other AirTag accessory to attach your AirTag to an item, we have a dedicated AirTag accessory guide that rounds up some great options.
AirTags How Tos
Everything you need to know about using an AirTag is available in our list of how tos below.
- How to Add an AirTag to Find My on Your iPhone
- How to Locate an AirTag in Find My on iPhone
- How to Play a Sound on an AirTag
- How to Put an AirTag in Lost Mode
- How to Use Precision Finding to Locate an AirTag With iPhone 11 and iPhone 12
- How to Change an AirTag's Battery
- How to Check an AirTag's Battery Life
- How to Factory Reset an AirTag So Someone Else Can Use It
- 'AirTag Found Moving With You' - What it Means and What to Do
- How to Turn Off AirTag Item Safety Alerts
- What to Do If You Find an AirTag Making a Sound
- How to Check Your AirTags Firmware Version
AirTags vs. Tile
Wondering how AirTags compare to popular item trackers for Tile? We have a detailed comparison guide that walks through the features of each product.
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