AirTags Feature IP67 Water Resistance, User Replaceable Battery That Lasts a Year

[Ronal]

What's the maximum distance one can track something?

from apples site"

Get by with a little help from hundreds of millions of friends.​

When youʼve left something far behind, like at the beach or the gym, the Find My network — hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac devices around the world — helps track down your AirTag. And it is designed to protect your privacy every step of the way.

How does it work?​

Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy. And itʼs efficient, so thereʼs no need to worry about battery life or data usage.

Lost Mode makes finding things even easier.​

Just like your other Apple devices, AirTag can be put into Lost Mode. Then, when it’s detected by a device in the network, you’ll automatically get a notification. You can also set it so someone can get your contact info by tapping your AirTag with an NFC-capable smartphone — that’s the same technology that lets people pay for things with their phones.




so basically the community with more Apple products the better, theres no distance it will let you know once other Apple products PING it and it will send you a notification. this is what makes it different than other tags out there (tile or Samsung). the product itself is nothing fancy or reinvention, the software and Apple's ecosystem is what makes this product insanely better than others out there

 

[tranceking26]

Worth the wait? I think so. Might be tempted to get one to try out.

 

[Aston441]

I wanted these for my dogs, but you can't really engrave anything useful on them with a 4 character limit.

what's the range of these, say, in the woods, with no other iPhones around?

 

[ellsworth]

what's the range of these, say, in the woods, with no other iPhones around?

I would suspect that the range, in this case, is determined based on the range of Bluetooth 4 (LE). Doing a quick search, it looks like Bluetooth LE's range is Up to 100 meters / 328 feet.

 

[Brainjax44]

At its jam-packed "Spring Loaded" event today, Apple finally announced its long-rumored item tracker, called AirTags. AirTags allow users to keep track of items such as their keys, bags, and more using the Find My network, and ultra-wideband technology.

AirTags are small in design, and according to Apple, this small design means that it is water-resistant per the IP67 industry rating. An IP67 rating means that AirTags are water-resistant with a maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes. Despite this rating, Apple says the resistance may “decrease as a result of normal wear.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384617207901077505

As for battery life, Apple says that AirTags, thanks to their use of low-energy, and encrypted Bluetooth, feature more than a year of battery life. Once the battery does run out, it can easily be replaced since they use a CR2032 coin cell battery. Learn more about AirTags.

Article Link: AirTags Feature IP67 Water Resistance, User Replaceable Battery That Lasts a Year

I would have preferred a rechargeable via induction battery. Toss them on a Qi charging pad for a min or two once a year and boom. Also, how's it gonna fit into a wallet?

 

[nims]

Apple will easily sell a billion of these in the first year! Think of all the iPhone toting dog owners, travelers! Every house hold in America could easily have an average of 5 of these in their homes!

 

[deevey]

Apple will easily sell a billion of these in the first year! Think of all the iPhone toting dog owners, travelers! Every house hold in America could easily have an average of 5 of these in their homes!

I'd guess that a whole load of manufacturers will be putting pockets into kids shoes. Like Nike+

#AirtagReady

 

[Ronal]

Who attaches an AirTag to their iPhone? The iPhone is an AirTag itself. Not sure what you are asking.

no, if the thief steals a backpack with an air tag inside it and he owns an iPhone, the air tag will alert the thief's iPhone informing him the backpack is being tracked. The air tag will make sound in which the thief will find the air tag and throw that out.

 

[koruki]

Just for those who don't know you can get rechargeable 2032's

 

[thermal]

I wonder if they'll fit in a wallet without too much bulk. I've lost my wallet a few times at home/in the car; these would help tremendously.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Does the tag work as a button? Like for example Chipolo?
Would be neat to take pictures if your phone on a tripod, or double click so you can find your phone, no?

Apple Watch.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I wonder if they'll fit in a wallet without too much bulk. I've lost my wallet a few times at home/in the car; these would help tremendously.

Just so you know ... these will only help you find said items at home quicker. It’ll not prevent you from loosing them in the first lance which maybe a major issue at the time you’re ready to order this helping measure

I used to loose my house keys at 10/11yrs old all the time. When I didn’t get keys anymore from my pops - I’ve never lost my keys again - misplaced them in a jacket in the closet or in the jeans night before and that was solved in seconds before I could leave my condo as an adult. Only twice.

wallet. Never lost my wallet. Left in the drawer 3x only in my life. Slap the butt cheek check works (well not a slap really.).

I hope you’re fully digital wallet by now.

 

[mrr]

If they just put a tiny little hole in the air tag you wouldn’t need to buy a whole attachment - just to attach it to something else.

 

[mrr]

Apple TV remote should’ve had this built-in.

 

[ralphyman]

Ted is asking what the reach is.. does it go all the way down to Cancun?

 

[wigby]

no, if the thief steals a backpack with an air tag inside it and he owns an iPhone, the air tag will alert the thief's iPhone informing him the backpack is being tracked. The air tag will make sound in which the thief will find the air tag and throw that out.

They said that the owner is notified before it makes any sound. Not sure how much time they give owner to respond but it might be selectable.

 

[Fidgit]

Yeah these are awesome. I'd be interested to stick one of these in the car, but am not sure of it's anti theft abilities there - hopefully it's not going to tell a thief that it's travelling with them...

Yeah it looks to me like it will? If the thief has an iPhone it’s going to tell the phone that it has a tag travelling with them from what I understand. Unless there’s a way you can stop it doing that from your own phone - which thinking about doesn’t make sense because that would completely destroy the point of the alert feature in the first place?

 

[svish]

User replaceable battery is great. IP67 rating is also good.

 

[randomnut]

Apple with a user replaceable battery AND one that is of a standard type? Didn't think i'd see the day

 

[Karllake]

User replaceable battery is very good, phew!

I still feel this is very un apple, wirelessly charged internal batteries makes more sense environmentally, I predict this will be a v2 feature.

 

[iEnvy]

I still feel this is very un apple, wirelessly charged internal batteries makes more sense environmentally, I predict this will be a v2 feature.

Because the tags are supposed to be static and last, ideally, “forever”. The idea of removing tags and charging them regularly isn’t ideal and would deplete it.

A rechargeable battery would not make sense. Not only would it be a hassle to remove the tags from all your items and find places to charge them, you also set the life of the product. These batteries are too small to be constantly charged and depleted. The AirTag would last shorter than the AirPods (battery life) everyone complains about.

Being able to replace the battery shows that Apple plans for this product to be around for a very long time and through multiple iterations of iPhones and iOS updates.

 

[Karllake]

Because the tags are supposed to be static and last, ideally, “forever”. The idea of removing tags and charging them regularly isn’t ideal and would deplete it.

A rechargeable battery would not make sense. Not only would it be a hassle to remove the tags from all your items and find places to charge them, you also set the life of the product. These batteries are too small to be constantly charged and depleted. The AirTag would last shorter than the AirPods (battery life) everyone complains about.

Being able to replace the battery shows that Apple plans for this product to be around for a very long time and through multiple iterations of iPhones and iOS updates.

respectfully disagree, removing the item to charge overnight once so often isn't significantly more effort that replacing the battery, not sure how you're equating the life of a replaceable battery vs a fixed rechargeable one, not sure what you mean by "constantly" as these are low power drain devices the charge cycles would be nothing close to AirPods.

 

[gammamonk]

Stick one under the saddle

Until it notifies the thief of its presence and starts beeping. You'd better hope your neighborhood crooks use androids.

 

[StoveToastRandy]

Because the tags are supposed to be static and last, ideally, “forever”. The idea of removing tags and charging them regularly isn’t ideal and would deplete it.

A rechargeable battery would not make sense. Not only would it be a hassle to remove the tags from all your items and find places to charge them, you also set the life of the product. These batteries are too small to be constantly charged and depleted. The AirTag would last shorter than the AirPods (battery life) everyone complains about.

Being able to replace the battery shows that Apple plans for this product to be around for a very long time and through multiple iterations of iPhones and iOS updates.

I agree with this. It's more of a "set it and forget it" stance. I'd rather only have to worry about changing out the battery once a year at its worst rather than having the burden of yet another device or thing I have to remember to recharge.

 

[deevey]

If they just put a tiny little hole in the air tag you wouldn’t need to buy a whole attachment - just to attach it to something else.

You think they don't know that ?

On the upside. By not adding a hole they have successfully spawned a whole new industry supporting thousands of jobs worldwide on Airtag accessories.