Introduced in 2021, the Apple AirTag is Apple’s first venture into the world of tracking devices. Priced at £29 for 1 or £99 for a 4 pack (at the time of writing), the AirTag is a small tracker weighing just 0.39 ounces. The AirTag is extremely lightweight yet feels strong and durable, especially when compared to alternative trackers such as Tile. It uses a CR2032 battery which is easily accessible with a gentle push and twist of the casing, with the battery estimated to last around a year.
How to Use It
Once your AirTag arrives and you remove the protective tab/film, it's almost good to go. Your iPhone will recognise its presence and ask to pair it up to your Apple ID, at which point you can name your AirTag something which suits its purpose.
With that purpose in mind, the Apple AirTag has one goal, to help you keep track of your keys, wallet, bag, luggage, or anything else you may need to track. The AirTag connects to Apple’s "Find My" network to share location information, allowing you to find your items using the Find My App on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Although compatible with all iPhones with iOS 14.5 software (at the time of writing) the iPhone 11 (and newer devices) makes tracking missing items even easier. These iPhones have ultra Wideband technology which allows precision findings providing you with the exact distance to the AirTag and what direction to head in.
The AirTag benefits massively from being a part of the Apple ecosystem. Whether you own an AirTag or not, every iPhone automatically functions as a receiver for lost devices/items. Any lost AirTag which is detected by an iPhone will send through a notification showing the AirTags last location. According to Apple, no personal data is shared by this process and it is all anonymous and encrypted. Although for those of you that are concerned you do have the choice of opting-out of the Find My Network, should you wish to do so.
Many iPhone users are already familiar and comfortable with the idea of the Find My service, so it's difficult to find fault with Apple's tracking device, but if we were to be picky, one possible drawback comes from the AirTag’s IP67 water resistance rating. While this allows the AirTag to survive being submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, the latest iPhones have achieved an IP68 rating, allowing them to be submerged in 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This may not be the be all and end all as (hopefully) your AirTag won’t end up underwater, but it does perhaps provide scope for future evolutions or generations of the Apple AirTag meaning the current version may at some point be somewhat less relevant.
Accessorise Your AirTag
Since it can be used to track almost anything, the good thing about the Apple AirTag is that there is also a wide variety of accessories available. Let’s be honest, how often do you misplace your keys? It certainly happens more often you would like. The beauty in using a Leather AirTag Keyring with your Apple AirTag (aside from the fact it looks great), is that you’ll always be able to easily locate your keys.
If you’re always losing your keys or your wallet or are a frequent flyer looking to keep better track of your luggage then an AirTag accessories would be an excellent purchase for you.
