After many months of waiting for the AirTag, this product finally became a reality in yesterday’s keynote, so we tell you specs, price and how to use it. A keynote in which we also saw the launch of the new iMac in seven colors and the iPad Pro. There are many new features of the AirTag that were not even mentioned in the presentation, so let’s see all the details.
Apple Airtag specs
Battery life
One of the most important questions about these new accessories is the battery life – do we need to charge them very often? As it turns out, no. The AirTags are powered by a CR2032 battery which, according to Apple, offers “more than a year of battery life”.
Changing the device’s battery is also really simple, just press down on the back cover, turn it slightly and you can access the battery compartment to replace it.
Water resistance
Another important point is the water resistance of these small devices. Apple claims that the AirTags are IP67 rated. This means that they could be submerged up to one meter for 30 minutes and come out of the experience unscathed.
In this field, it is convenient to keep in mind that, as Apple says in the explanation of the product, this resistance is not a permanent condition and may decrease with time and normal use of the device. In any case, we also know that Apple is usually extremely conservative with the resistance of their devices.
Apple accessories
Along with the AirTag, Apple has introduced a series of accessories to make these small devices fit on any key ring, suitcase, etc. On the one hand, we find the AirTag strap, made of polyurethane and available in white, deep navy blue, sunflower, and electric orange. An accessory that we can buy at Apple for $35.
On the other hand, we find the leather straps for the AirTag, available in caramel brown and Product(RED) for $39. Moving on to the key rings, Apple offers us the leather keyring for the AirTag. Priced at $39, this accessory is available in Baltic blue, caramel brown, and Product(RED).
Third-party accessories
Along with these options, we find several Hermès accessories, from the pendant for the handbag, to the keychain, through the luggage. These accessories range from $299 to $449. All available in various colors on the Apple website.
Belkin also offers accessories for the AirTag, in this case, we find a protector with a strap that for $12.95 is available in white, black, blue, and pink. Again for $12.95 and with the same four colors as an option, we find the keychain variant.
Location
Beyond being able to locate our AirTag on a map, these small devices, thanks to the U1 chip, offer us a precise location where the iPhone combines the signal from the AirTag, accelerometers, cameras, and other sensors to guide us precisely to the object we are looking for.
To enjoy this precision we need an iPhone with a U1 chip, i.e. an iPhone 11 or an iPhone 12. Thanks to the two chips, the system offers a very visual indication of the direction to follow, including haptic and audible feedback to help us easily locate the AirTag.
Privacy
As in all its products, Apple prioritizes privacy throughout the product design and conception process. AirTags, therefore, enjoy maximum privacy protections.
The Bluetooth signal identifiers transmitted by the AirTag rotate frequently to prevent unwanted location tracking. iOS devices can also detect an AirTag that is not with its owner, and notify the user if an unknown AirTag is seen traveling with it from place to place over time.
And even if users don’t have an iOS device, an AirTag separated from its owner for an extended period will beep when it moves to draw attention to it. If a user detects an unknown AirTag, they can tap it with their iPhone or NFC-capable device and the instructions will guide them to deactivate the unknown AirTag.
Third-party findings
AirTags have an NFC chip that is capable of communicating information. The idea is that if a person finds a lost item and it contains an AirTag, the contact information can be read by any iPhone or Android as long as the device is in lost mode.
Touch and hold the top of your iPhone or NFC-capable smartphone on the white side of the AirTag. Tap the notification that appears. A website will open that provides information about the AirTag, including its serial number.
If the owner marked it as lost, you may see a message with information on how to contact the owner. You can contact the owner to let them know that you have found their AirTag. You can view a Lost Mode message on any NFC-capable smartphone, such as an iPhone or Android phone.
The AirTag is a well-rounded product in many ways. Tags with an impressive battery life allow us to accurately locate any misplaced items. Doing so in the knowledge that our privacy is safe and doing so in style thanks to the accessories already available and those yet to come.
Apple AirTag price and release date
Apple AirTag will be out on April 30, and it will cost $29 for one and $99 for a four pack.
