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Eyex

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 23, 2021
6
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Can anybody tell me why reviewers don't mention this? How will the AirTags work with devices that don't have the U1 chip? How will the precision finding operate? Will those devices lack that feature completely? Could someone clarify this?
 
I wonder if they’ll allow it with the Apple Watch, I’m not willing to upgrade from my iPhone X yet and there’s no reason why the newer watch with U1 can’t, Other than Apple preventing it of course
 
It’s a good question. You’d think a good reviewer would test it out with an older iPhone.

I’d imagine it would still work decently with BLE, just loses the very accurate location / direction type of stuff.
 
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It’s a good question. You’d think a good reviewer would test it out with an older iPhone.

I’d imagine it would still work decently with BLE, just loses the very accurate location / direction type of stuff.
I was searching on the internet for hours and nobody tested it with an iPhone older then the 11 series...
 
You have to consider who Apple chooses to send these to, and the time the reviewers had with the tags.

Apple is only choosing those with the latest, greatest, and usually top of the line models as if price is no object. They want things reviewed under the best conditions. Also the reviewers get a short window to due to their reviews / tests, before they have to produce content early enough to get all the eyeballs they can.

If Apple really wanted you to know how they perform on older units, they would have a doc. It's easier to let customers find out themselves on older units. Best case scenario Apple can hope this would be the thing that convinces you to go the latest models.

Apple's only concern at launch is putting forth the best look of their products, under the best conditions.
 
It will only ping a sound. Or it will try to locate via the Bluetooth signals of other iPhones. Good for congested areas like airports, but if you’re in a rural area probably useless.
 
It has a speaker that chirps. So, just like "Find my AirPod" or "Find my iPhone" , once youre close enough then you listen your way to it.


BTW, based on the videos I've seen so far then the "precision finding" is pretty slow compared to just pinging it and using your senses to find it.
 
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It will only ping a sound. Or it will try to locate via the Bluetooth signals of other iPhones. Good for congested areas like airports, but if you’re in a rural area probably useless.
This is the answer. Precision tracking won't work, but everything else will. This is why the system requirements for AirTags allow for use with iPhone 6S or later.
 
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ordered mine with in minutes of the store opening back up now preparing to ship meant to arrive on the 30th.

I'll have a go if someone else doesn't before I do as I've got an XR so no U1 chip. I guess everything apart from precision tracking will work.
 
I have an iphoneSe and will not not be able to take advantage of precision finding . This means that the major advantage the Airtag has over a Tile does not apply. I am heavily into the Apple ecosystem and would like to get Airtags but the Tile has some advantages: no extra cost to buy a strap for a keychain, the Slim fits inside a wallet. Is there something about Airtags that I am missing ?
 
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I have an iphoneSe and will not not be able to take advantage of precision finding . This means that the major advantage the Airtag has over a Tile does not apply. I am heavily into the Apple ecosystem and would like to get Airtags but the Tile has some advantages: no extra cost to buy a strap for a keychain, the Slim fits inside a wallet. Is there something about Airtags that I am missing ?


Integration with "Find My".


Doesn't seem like it's worth switching from tile to Airbag in your situation, but you could always do a gradual switch as your Tiles die or whatever. I'm using an iPhone 8 so no UWB either. But I don't use Tile today so I think AirTags still make more sense
 
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I have an iphoneSe and will not not be able to take advantage of precision finding . This means that the major advantage the Airtag has over a Tile does not apply. I am heavily into the Apple ecosystem and would like to get Airtags but the Tile has some advantages: no extra cost to buy a strap for a keychain, the Slim fits inside a wallet. Is there something about Airtags that I am missing ?
You will be able to locate your AirTag, virtually anywhere on the map, thanks to Apple’s FindMy network. You can not do that with Tile.
 
BTW, based on the videos I've seen so far then the "precision finding" is pretty slow compared to just pinging it and using your senses to find it.
Precision Finding is a cool feature, but I feel like it’s only really going to be useful in really busy, loud, or complicated spaces where the AirTag item could be in a multitude of locations or you can’t hear the ping well.
 
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