AirTags Said to Be 'Completely Waterproof' and Use Magnetic Charging Like Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

In a report touching on several topics today, Japanese site Mac Otakara claims that Apple's Tile-like "AirTags" item trackers will be "completely waterproof" and use similar magnetic wireless charging to that seen on the Apple Watch.

AirTag image found in iOS 13 build​

Evidence of AirTags has been found in builds of iOS 13 since last summer, and it appears the small item trackers will show up in the Find My app and enable users to locate misplaced items. With ultra wideband support found in the iPhone 11 lineup and augmented reality, it looks like AirTags could offer high precision and direct the user straight to an item, even pinpointing it within a room.

We're not sure when to expect AirTags to launch, but it looks like it may not be imminent yet, as noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said just last week that production isn't expected to ramp up until the second or third quarter, and today's report from Mac Otakara claims an announcement in the fall of this year, which would likely be alongside new iPhones in September.

Article Link: AirTags Said to Be 'Completely Waterproof' and Use Magnetic Charging Like Apple Watch

 

[M-Life]

We goin' fishin' with our Airtags!

 

[Glideslope]

These are gonna be big if they work as designed. The margins will be huge.

 

[robinp]

I hope they use the exact same charger. It would be incredibly annoying to add yet another charger to use these.

 

[MarkAtl]

“Similar magnetic charging”

Ideally they should support Qi wireless charging, and hopefully not another magnetic charger.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I hope they use the exact same charger. It would be incredibly annoying to add yet another charger to use these.

Don't worry. Apple will release revise Airpower to charge your phone, watch, Airpods and tags

 

[Loxen88]

They should partner with some companies to have this built into their products and run off their internal batteries. Thinking Cars, Motorbikes, drones etc.

 

[DoctorTech]

I am really looking forward to these. I have 2 carbon fiber bicycles I want to put these on.

 

[nattK]

I wish it would use the same wireless charger as the Apple Watch. One less charger to carry around and it will make the current watch charger more useful since it won't just be used to charge the watch.

 

[Westside guy]

Hopefully they’ll only need to be charged every 6-12 months, along the lines of what’s already out there, though.

 

[DinkThifferent]

I can totally imagine that the Apple Watch charger fits beautifully on the Apple logo of the Air Tags. That would be neat!

 

[jeblis]

I am really looking forward to these. I have 2 carbon fiber bicycles I want to put these on.

What's the expected range? Don't Tiles work over only a few feet? Seems like at that range locating your bike should be easy.

 

[cmaier]

I hope they use the exact same charger. It would be incredibly annoying to add yet another charger to use these.

That would mare them a little bigger than i’d like. I’m willing to use a different charger if they are small enough.

 

[farewelwilliams]

AirPower getting axed possibly delayed a lot of new products. Magic Mouse 3, AirTags, Pencil 3, new lightning-free Apple TV remote

 

[ersan191]

Qi or at least the exact same charger as Apple Watch would be good. I also hope they don’t bundle a charger, will need multiple tags and not multiple chargers.

 

[cmaier]

“Similar magnetic charging”

Ideally they should support Qi wireless charging, and hopefully not another magnetic charger.

True, but given their small size might be real difficult to line them up properly on a typical qi charger.

 

[HacKage]

In an ideal world, it would use Qi charging, but this is Apple we are talking about here. It will no doubt have a proprietary charger that costs £20 for the cable.

 

[pmjoe]

Wireless charging sounds like a great idea - until you attach one of these to something that is incompatible with the charger.

 

[julesme]

I didn’t realize these would be rechargeable at all (maybe I missed that in a previous report). That seems like a game changer vs Tile.

 

[windowsblowsass]

“Similar magnetic charging”

Ideally they should support Qi wireless charging, and hopefully not another magnetic charger.

People have gotten Qi to work on Apple watches.

 

[latts]

True, but given their small size might be real difficult to line them up properly on a typical qi charger.

I think given their size it would be easier to line them up!

 

[cmaier]

I think given their size it would be easier to line them up!

No, the coil would be very small (much like Apple Watch), which means there’s a smaller target.

 

[nikaru]

It should have a range of a couple hundred feet at least, a battery duration of at least 3 months, it should be the size of Apple Watch charger coin or smaller, and it should cost no more than 39$.

 

[bookcase]

I honestly don't understand the hype with these trackers -- it's not something I'd ever need.

 

[the future]

Qi charging is not magnetic, hence it will be either the Apple Watch charger or something similar.