Yup, you can either get a Hermes Luggage Tag for your AirTag or get a new iPhone SE for $399 – That’s Apple for you ladies and gentlemen! We’ve been using the AirTag for over a week now and they worked super well and are easy to set up, but there’s also room for improvements. Here are all the Pros and Cons we have collected in our Apple AirTag Review.
Hardware and Design
The AirTag might be the smallest gadget Apple currently sells, they have put some real engineering under the hood. It is a small button-shaped tracking device with glossy stainless steel out front and a glossy plastic embedded on the back. Like always, the product looks premium and doesn’t feel like you’re using something cheap.
You can also customize your AirTag design with free engraving which includes up to 4 letters and various Emojis. However, we found out that the aluminum side of the AirTag is a bit too easy to scuff. Even the slightest of contrast with your car keys makes a little bit of scratch on the front.
In terms of Hardware, Apple doesn’t want you to play around with the internals and has only listed out the information that is useful for a consumer. For instance, the AirTag uses the standard CR2032 Battery which can last up to a full year and is easily replaceable.
The AirTag AirTag also has a built-in speaker, NFC, Bluetooth LE, Accelerometer, and is rated IP67 for water and dust resistance. That’s a lot of features for such a small device, which to my surprise Apple can really put out.
Setup and How it works
The best part about AirTag is that it blends easily into the Apple ecosystem. When unboxing, just pull the cover off and the AirTag will be automatically activated with a little beep sound. Now, place your AirTag near your iPhone and it will walk you through the setup process. This includes
- Naming the AirTag
- Registering it with your Apple ID
From here you can play sound on your AirTag, Find it on the Map App, or use Precision Finding.
Performance
One of the most highlighted features of AirTag’s is the precision finding. To use it, you have to be at least 30 meters away from your AirTag to actually work. You will see a very helpful UI on your iPhone with directions that will guide you to where your AirTag is located. Once you’re in near proximity, the AirTag will play a sound and you will feel haptic feedback on your iPhone.
This is all thanks part to Ultra-Wideband Technology found in the new U1 chip in iPhone 11 and 12 (Older iPhone will use Bluetooth). One thing we love about these AirTags is how precise they are. The animation, haptic feedback, sound, responsiveness, everything feels really impressive.
How about if your AirTags are not in the 30 meters proximity?
Well, the AirTags log your last known location in Find My App. For example, if you leave your AirTag in a shopping mall and walk back home, you can open the Map app to see where your AirTag was last connected to your iPhone.
Another interesting thing we love about AirTag is how it uses other iPhones for anonymous help. When your AirTag comes in contact with the nearby iPhone via Bluetooth, those iPhones will communicate with the AirTag and update its last known location. This is very helpful in case you lost your AirTag or it gets stolen.
Apple also has a dedicated ‘Lost Mode’ that makes finding things even easier. With this feature, if you come across a lost AirTag or someone finds your lost AirTag, it can be scanned with any smartphone with an NFC-capable technology. If you place your AirTag in the lost mode, it will also relay its information back to the consumer, with a dedicated message, or a phone number.
Privacy and Safety
If you’re worried about privacy, Apple has an entire page that lists out all the details related to your privacy concerns. We know you won’t be reading the entire page so we’ll include all the interesting things for your concern.
To start off, Apple says the entire AirTag connection system is anonymous with end-to-end encryption. This includes your location log and other related data. Even Apple won’t be reading your location privacy.
One of the interesting things we noticed is that if someone decides to slip an AirTag in your bag or your car, or wherever – Your iPhone will pick up that AirTag and sends you a notification that there’s an unknown “AirTag Detected Near You”. And this feature is only triggered when an AirTag is separated from its owner. So, you’re safe in a public location where a lot of people might be using an AirTag.
The Final Verdict
The AirTag’s are surely a piece of art that makes a complex task look simple. It offers a lot of different features and blends perfectly into the Apple Ecosystem. So perfectly, that the design makes it a bit of an ‘easy money grabber’ as it’s pretty much useless without the extra accessories.
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