Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Experiencing the sinking feeling of
Fortunately, panic was unnecessary. Prior to checking my suitcase at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I had discreetly placed a small tracking device inside. With just a few taps on my iPhone, I could see my bag had seemingly opted for an extended stay in Paris. (Perhaps understandably!)
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Over the years, I have come to depend on Apple AirTags to monitor the whereabouts of virtually all my easily misplaced valuables. Their utility extends beyond suitcases; I also employ them to keep tabs on keys, bicycles, and even my vehicle. One can never possess an excessive number of these practical gadgets. Consequently, I intend to capitalize fully on the Amazon Big Spring Sale, which significantly reduces the price of a four-pack of AirTags to $70.
Here’s how the Apple AirTag, which accompanied my suitcase on that memorable trip, operates. It employs an ingenious method of self-tracking, detecting its location through nearby iPhones and leveraging them to anonymously relay its coordinates to a secure server, accessible via my iPhone. Until recently, this capability would have seemed like something out of an espionage thriller.
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Instead of speculating whether my belongings were stranded on a forgotten luggage cart or scattered across the tarmac, I could observe in near real-time that my suitcase was still located at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. This allowed me to calmly inform the airline that my bag had missed the flight, and arrangements were promptly made for its delivery within a few days.
Apple AirTags: Providing Peace of Mind
An individual AirTag, by itself, is unassuming. Resembling a 1.26-inch smooth, circular disc, similar in appearance to a glossy white breath mint, it easily settles at the bottom of a bag or hangs from a keychain (using a compatible keyring, sold separately). Its design is intended for inconspicuous placement.
Activating the AirTag involved a straightforward pairing process with my iPhone. Subsequently, as it lacked immediate functionality upon unboxing, I admittedly gave it little further thought.
However, the next instance I misplaced my keys, the effect was remarkable. My iPhone not only indicated their proximity but also guided me directly to their location, courtesy of the AirTag’s integrated Ultra Wideband chip. Suddenly, the countless hours previously spent retracing steps and searching under furniture felt like relics of the past.
Currently, I have AirTags incorporated into or affixed to every significant item I wish to monitor: My everyday laptop bag, camera backpack, frequently used suitcase, keychain, car, and smaller sling bag for walks. I can access the Find My application on any of my Apple devices (or log into iCloud via any web browser) to ascertain the real-time location of my items and the last recorded time AirTags registered their positions.
Clip an AirTag onto a bag or bury it in the depths.
AirTags are not solely for personal everyday items. Acquaintances in the film industry have shared that AirTags are routinely placed within nearly every bag and Pelican case, not only as a theft deterrent for valuable equipment but also to expedite identification among similar-looking containers. Certain friends also attach AirTags to their pets’ collars, although specialists suggest superior methods exist for pet tracking.
Versatile Tracking: AirTags for Items Near and Far
The ability to pinpoint my luggage’s location across continents undeniably provided reassurance. However, on a more localized scale, my AirTags also trigger alerts if I stray too far from tagged items. For instance, should I inadvertently leave my camera bag in the car while stopping for lunch, a Find My notification promptly appears, informing me of the forgotten bag. This functionality also extends to newer AirPods models.
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Enhanced Sharing Capabilities for AirTag Tracking
My household possesses two vehicles, and I desired the capability to monitor both. Previously, it was inconvenient to associate the AirTag in my wife’s car with her iPhone (and similarly, the one in my car with my iPhone).
To mitigate potential unwanted tracking, an AirTag will signal its presence to nearby iPhones, resulting in notifications whenever I drove my wife’s car without her, alerting me to an AirTag traveling with me. (These alerts are suppressed if the owner is in proximity to the AirTag.)
However, with the advent of iOS 17, AirTags gained sharing functionality, resolving this issue. I shared “my” car’s AirTag with my wife, and she reciprocated, enabling either of us to locate our respective vehicles more easily in congested parking areas without persistent, unnecessary alerts.
Share an AirTag’s location with someone you trust.
A recent enhancement to AirTags, introduced in iOS 18.2, is the ability to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with a trusted individual. Referring back to my luggage scenario, if the suitcase was at the airport but staff had not yet been able to physically locate it (a common occurrence during peak travel periods), I could grant temporary location access to an attendant who could expedite its retrieval from restricted areas.
Apple AirTag Specifications
- Diameter: 1.26 inches (31.9 mm)
- Height: 0.31 inches (8 mm)
- Weight: 0.39 ounces (11 g)
- Splash, water, and dust resistance: Rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery: Replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery
Minor Drawbacks: Battery Replacements
An AirTag incorporates Bluetooth, the U1 Ultra Wideband chip, and an NFC chip for sharing essential details in Lost Mode. All functionalities are powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, which, in my experience, typically lasts approximately a year before requiring replacement.
Notifications are provided when battery levels are diminishing, although a precise gauge indicating remaining charge is absent until it reaches a critical point. Battery replacement is simple. However, my collection of AirTags necessitates replacing multiple batteries annually. I purchase them in packs of 20 to manage this ongoing need.
The CR2032 battery in an AirTag is easily replaceable.
AirTags: Excellent Gift Options
Apple AirTags consistently feature in our gift guides throughout the year, given their versatile utility. Frequently discounted when purchased in four-packs, they also benefit from a growing ecosystem of mounting accessories, ranging from robust vaults for vehicle attachment to subtle fabric holders for garments like bomber jackets. Demonstrating the practicality of AirTags on a bag or keychain invariably sparks interest, often leading to others desiring one upon witnessing their functionality.
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