Apple AirTag: Price, engraving and everything else to know about rival Tile

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Apple has revealed AirTag tracking the plates on Tuesday at Spring Loaded – the company’s first virtual event in 2021. The revelation comes in the same month Apple has begun allowing Find My to locate lost items made by third-party companies, signaling the growing interest of the iPhone manufacturer in pursuing the technology outside of Apple’s core offerings.

Rumors of a future AirTag product returned in 2019, and the pieces began to fall into place for Apple observers after AirTag technology was hinted at in iOS 13 code and when iPhone 11 it was found to incorporate ultra broadband or UWB technology. The basics for the gadget were put even further, in 2014, with iBeacon, a small cheap Bluetooth transmitter that aimed to provide location-based information and services to iPhones. While Bluetooth can track items at about five meters, UWB can track them up to five to 10 centimeters.

Now that the Apple tracking tag has arrived, here’s everything you need to know about AirTag and how it works.

What is an AirTag?

AirTag works similarly to the Tile label, as you can attach one of the small devices to keys, a bag, or anything else using a separate keychain. The label can also be used without a keychain and placed in a wallet or bag. AirTag can be paired with items like your iPhone and works with Find my app.

AirTag is a small, lightweight, stainless steel disc with the Apple logo on one side. You can customize the other side with a free engraving. The new device is also water and dust resistant, with a removable cover designed to make it easy to change the CR2032 battery, which promises a one-year battery life with daily use.

How much does AirTags cost and when can I get one?

If you would like to order an AirTag, you will be able to do so on April 23 (here you can pre-order an AirTag). The general sale of the labels starts on April 30. The new technology costs $ 29 per label or $ 99 for a pack of four. And while it’s not necessary, you can more easily attach AirTags to your keychain accessories. Here’s what Apple has to offer:

• AirTag leather keychain for $ 35 in Baltic blue, brown saddle, red product.
• AirTag leather loop for $ 39 in brown and red saddle produced.
• AirTag polyurethane loop for $ 29 in electric orange, sunflower, navy blue and white.
• Belkin Secure Holder with strap for $ 13 in white, black, blue and pink.
• Belkin Secure Holder with keychain for $ 13 in white, black, blue and pink.

In addition, Apple and Hermès have created the Hermès AirTag, which features a line of handmade leather bag charms, keychains and travel and luggage tags:

• AirTag Hermès trunk starting at $ 349 in orange, indigo blue and fauve.
• The charm of the AirTag Hermès bag starting at $ 299 in orange, indigo blue and fauve.
• Charm for AirTag Hermès luggage starting at $ 449 in fauve.

How does AirTag work?

Once you set up AirTag, a process that Apple says works just like AirPods, new items will appear in the Find Me tab. You can also name your articles with suggestions from the app or your own name.

From there, you can see the last known location of the article if you attached an AirTag to it. If the item is within range of Bluetooth, you can use the Find My app to signal the AirTag’s built-in speaker to play a sound. AirTags also have Siri support, so your iOS assistant can help you locate the lost object.

Labels and the Find My app take advantage of Apple’s U1 chip with Ultra Wideband technology to use Precision Finding, a feature that relies on camera input, ARKit, accelerometer and gyroscope to guide you to AirTag using haptic and visual sound and feedback. With the Find Me app, you’ll get useful notes, such as a few feet away from AirTag and in which direction. Precision Finding also has a voice option to help visually impaired or blind users.

If you’re not within range of Bluetooth, you can put AirTag in Lost mode and receive a notification when it’s within range of the Find Me network. If someone else finds your AirTag, they can use an iPhone or NFC compatible device to view your contact number, if you’ve listed it.

Do AirTags keep my information private?

In Tuesday’s AirTag announcement, Apple reached privacy. The company said people can participate in the Find Me network without having access to their location with anyone, including Apple. Carolyn Wolfman-Estrada, an engineer at Apple, said there are safety features that discourage unwanted pursuits.

“AirTag is designed to track articles, not people,” Wolfman-Estrada said during Tuesday’s event.

AirTags does not store location or history data, and communications history through the Find Me app is end-to-end encrypted, according to Apple.

What can be engraved on AirTag?

Apple will engrave part of your AirTag for free after you have purchased it. When you get to the command screen, you can use the letters of the alphabet, the numbers (from zero to 50) and any of the 31 different emojis. Because the label is small, you can choose up to four characters to engrave on the back. As you choose your emojis, letters, and numbers, you’ll see a preview of what the engraved label will look like.

Why do I need to use AirTags?

AirTags will need a running device iOS 14.5 or later. Users will also need an Apple ID to sign in to their iCloud account. Here are the compatible devices:

• iPhone SE, 6s or later.
• 7th generation iPod Touch or later.
• iPad Pro, fifth generation or later.
• iPad Air 2 or later.
• iPad Mini 4.