The wait for Apple’s AirTag is finally over. The long-awaited tracking device was officially unveiled at Apple’s Spring Loaded event this evening. Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s answer to the Tile tracker and Samsung SmartTags.
Apple’s attachable GPS tracker has been the subject of leaks and rumours since 2019 and we’re excited to finally learn more about it tonight. Like Tile trackers, the AirTag is a compact tracker that can be attached to your keys, wallet, luggage or anything else you might be prone to misplacing that doesn’t already support Apple’s Find My technology.
Here’s everything Apple has announced about its AirTag, including design, features, when you can get it and how much it costs.
AirTag release date – When can you get it?
The AirTag was announced at Apple’s Spring Loaded event on April 20. The device will be available from April 30, with orders starting April 23.
AirTag price – How much does it cost?
The AirTag is priced at $29 for one, or $99 for a set of four. Apple has yet to announce UK or EU prices, but as this is an Apple product, we’d expect it to cost £29 for one, or £99 for a four pack.
Tile currently sells the Tile Sticker for £34.99 (two pack), the Tile Mate for £19.99, the Tile Slim for £24.99 and the Tile Pro for £29.99, meaning Apple’s prices line up best with the Tile Pro.
AirTag design – What does it look like?
The AirTag is a small, round tracker made from polished stainless steel. The tracker can be personalised with laser-etched letters and emojis and features a built-in speaker to alert you when its nearby.
The AirTag is also dust and water resistant to IP67 so it can be used alone or with an array of accessories, including bag charms, luggage tags and keyrings. These make it possible to attach the tracker to you backpack, luggage or anything else you’re worried about losing.
Apple has even collaborated with Hermès on a handcrafted leather edition. This includes a bag charm, luggage tag and keyring, each with their own AirTag etched with the Hermès signature, presumably at a more premium price but Apple has yet to confirm how much the designer set will cost.
AirTag features – How does it work?
The AirTag works in conjunction with Apple’s Find My network to help you keep track of your belongings.
You can view your AirTag on a map, play a sound to help find it and use a feature Apple calls Precision Finding to see directions to your AirTag when its nearby. The latter method uses the iPhone’s U1 chip to create an overlay to point you in the direction of your AirTag and let you know exactly how many feet away the tracker lies.
“As you move, Precision Finding uses our U1 chip to get the precise distance to your AirTag”, said Engineering Program Manager of iPhone Systems, Carolyn Wolfman-Estrada during the announcement.
“iPhone fuses that data with input from the camera, accelerometer and gyroscope to give you visual, haptic and audible feedback guiding you right to your AirTag”.
Apple also claims that privacy has been built into the AirTag, as well as its Find My network. Safety features such as unwanted tag detections, rotating identifiers and audible alerts from unknown tags are used to discourage unwanted tracking and anyone can participate in the Find My network without worrying about their location being exposed to others.
Trusted Take – Hannah Davies, Staff Writer
The AirTag is a product that’s been a long time coming. Find My integration is sure to make the Apple tracker incredibly convenient for those of us caught up in the Apple ecosystem and the device fits in nicely with the rest of Apple’s product line.
However, it isn’t cheap. A single AirTag costs the same as Tile’s most premium Pro tracker and a four pack to cover my luggage might actually be worth more than the inside of my suitcase. If I’m looking for basic tracking, I’ll probably stick with Tile’s cheaper lines for now.