Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How has real world performance been for you?
- Thread starter darthbane2k
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Only if it's constantly tethered. That costs tremendous battery. The AirTag is a beacon. It cannot compete with a connected GPS locator for absolute location precision.
I’m pleased so far. I stuck one under my kid’s bike seat and can get updates every 5-10 mins or as he bikes around the neighborhood with his friends…thanks to all the iPhones, iPads, etc in the houses, cars, and peoples pockets.
Planning to do this. Just wish spouses can access the AirTag also through family sharing.
Don't wanna put two under the seat.I am disappointed with the AR U1 tracking thing. I had to be 4 feet away for it to work on my 11 Pro in my house.
exactly my experience here. UWB thing only works when it’s about 3-4 meters away.Planning to do this. Just wish spouses can access the AirTag also through family sharing.
I am disappointed with the AR U1 tracking thing. I had to be 4 feet away for it to work on my 11 Pro in my house.
I understand the device and its limitations. But the fact it didn't update the location through the Find My network at all even when I literally had another iPhone on a separate Apple ID with location services and Find My enabled right there in my pocket is what concerns me about the usefulness of this thing.
For one thing in the middle of a busy London street there's no way it didn't pass multiple iOS devices with location services enabled.
And for another, to state this again, I literally had one in my own pocket.
Location still did not update at all until I enabled location services again on my main iPhone I set the AirTags up with while they were in bluetooth range. But that makes the devices virtually useless as their primary purpose is to assist in tracking lost items.
Does the AirTag just not bother trying to ping off nearby iOS devices when it's in bluetooth range of the iPhone I set it up with, is that perhaps the issue?
Further experimentation is certainly warranted before I come to any further conclusions. Going out again today to the other side of the city so we'll see how well the AirTags perform then.
Did you put the item into "Lost Mode"?
Also, it might be that the Find My network for AirTags needs iOS 14.5 which most people won't have updated to yet. Once the majority of people's phones have been updated, it might be more reliable.
Nope didn't put it into lost mode but someone who had a successful run testing their AirTag out said this is not necessary. Lost mode is for providing contact details and alerting nearby devices to its presence but it should be silently tracking through the Find My network either way.
Afaik it doesn't require iOS 14.5 to be able to ping off the Find My network since that was added back in 14.3. But the work iPhone I had in my pocket was on 14.5 and it still didn't work. I even double checked it had bluetooth and location on and it did. I literally waved the phone in front of the AirTag. Still nothing.
But as I said I'll reserve further judgement for now. I'll see how well it performs today when I go on a longer journey.
I was thinking this too. I'll turn off both location and bluetooth today and see if it starts working. If so then I'm happy because I know it'd work in a situation where I actually have lost something.
Not tested it much but so far I’m impressed. Will do the job whats needed. Keys and tech bag is all i have it connected too.
Yes the Find My Network was there in 14.3 for iPhones, etc. but it's possible that something about the AirTags require 14.5. You can't set them up on a device with less than 14.5, even though the Item panel is shown in iOS 14.4.
Yes I know you need 14.5 to set up an AirTag, but I don't see a reason the AirTags would be special and require 14.5 if they're just pinging off the Find My network.
But in any case I've just disabled both location and bluetooth on my main iPhone, enabled location and bluetooth on my work iPhone which has a separate Apple ID and runs 14.5, and am waiting to see if Find My on my personal iPhone picks up on the location of my two active AirTags. Both are in bluetooth range of the work iPhone so it should work.
So far no luck. It's been 18 minutes and no update on either AirTag.
Neither of them say "with you" because bluetooth is off on the main iPhone the AirTags are actually setup with. The work iPhone runs 14.5. Surely there's zero reason the AirTags shouldn't update their location from my work iPhone as part of the Find My network?
I even checked in Find My settings and yes the Find My network is enabled on the work phone.
About to head out so I'll see if real world performance is better this time. Maybe it just needs more devices before it reports a location.
Kudos for being rational and doing further experimenting before reaching an ultimate conclusion. Many here would have already gotten their pitchforks out for Apple and returned the Tags right away,
Thanks man. The way I see it no need to get the pitchforks out for a £30 tracker (£25 since I got a 4 pack).
Even if it doesn't work at the moment I have enough faith in Apple that whatever bug is causing that will be fixed in the next iOS update anyway.
It’s hard to comment on real world performance until I lose it, I’ll share my experience if and when that happens lol
Mine worked over 100s of km yesterday. Have you tried using the Find My app to see them?
And I use mine to see where my kids are around my neighborhood on their bikes…all of the iPhones, iPads, etc, around the neighborhood keep tabs on the airtag location for me, and I receive updates every 10 mins or so (which is fine for me for this application).
Can you still use your eyes if your thing is under something else?
I think a few folks on this thread have unreasonable expectations. These trackers will not give real time updates constantly. It works fine enough for me. I misplaced my wallet or keys it will help me locate it.
My concern is the form factor is on the thick side for my wallet. And the battery housing is too easy to open. Also the stainless steel looks bad already with 3 days of use in my leather wallet. Lots of micro scratches from the friction and movement.
My concern is the form factor is on the thick side for my wallet. And the battery housing is too easy to open. Also the stainless steel looks bad already with 3 days of use in my leather wallet. Lots of micro scratches from the friction and movement.