At Apple's Spring Loaded virtual event, Apple took a step away from its usual lineup of devices to announce something completely different: AirTags. These small Bluetooth tracking devices function much like Tile trackers, allowing you to attach them to your wallet or keys, and then track their locations via your iPhone.
Apple AirTags Help You Find Lost Items
Apple AirTags offer yet another solution for finding lost objects. These sleek, stainless steel disks can be slipped into a pocket of your backpack, or attached via a separate accessory on your keyring or purse handle.
Once attached to an item, you can open the Find My app to pinpoint its location on a map. The AirTag's Bluetooth signals will bounce off of other Apple devices in the Find My network, enabling you to locate your item. But if the item happens to be nearby, you can use the Find My app to make the AirTag play a sound instead.
In a press release on the Apple Newsroom, Apple made it clear that the tracking devices won't infringe on your privacy. "Communication with the Find My network is end-to-end encrypted so that only the owner of a device has access to its location data, and no one, including Apple, knows the identity or location of any device that helped find it," Apple wrote.
Apple also noted that the AirTag's Bluetooth signal identifiers "rotate frequently," which stops bad actors from tracking your precise location.
Setting up the device is also quite simple. All you have to do is bring the AirTag close to your iPhone, and your iPhone will automatically connect to it. When you attach or place an AirTag in one of your belongings, you can assign a name to the item. This helps you differentiate between your backpack, suitcase, wallet, and so on.
The AirTag is IP67 water and dust resistant, and comes with a convenient removable battery cover. If you order an AirTag from Apple's website, you'll be given the option to add a free custom engraving—you can add text, or choose from a selection of 31 emojis.
Apple AirTags: Price and Release Date
The AirTag will be available for purchase on April 23, 2021 at 5am PDT on Apple's website. It will cost you $29 for a single AirTag, and $99 for a bundle of four.
And in case you want a keyring or loop holder for the AirTag, you can choose from a variety of accessories from Apple's website as well.