The long-awaited Apple AirTag has finally been unveiled, but is Apple’s expensive location-tracking accessory a worthy rival to Tile?
Apple’s long-awaited location-tracking device, the AirTag, has finally been made official, and while it may be small it’s set to be a big help with finding misplaced items such as your keys, wallet or bag. As well as emitting an electronic beep when you can’t locate a tagged item, if an AirTag is paired with an iPhone 11 or above you can get accurate directions to the item using the Find My app. Called Precision Finding, the feature utilizes the iPhone’s accelerometer, camera, and gyroscope to provide on-screen and haptic directions. Apple’s Find My device network can also be harnessed to help reunite you with an AirTag that you deem lost rather than misplaced. If another device in the network passes by an AirTag that’s been placed in Lost Mode, you’ll get an anonymous update on its location, and you can also assign a phone number to a lost AirTag so that if someone finds it, they can alert you. The disc-shaped tracker can be slipped into a wallet or bag, but if you want to attach it to keys or other items you’ll have to purchase an optional key fob or loop that it slots into; however, these will set you back the same price, and in some cases more, than the AirTag itself. We’ve been trying out an Apple AirTag for a short while now – we haven’t used the location tracking feature for long enough to pass a decisive verdict yet, but these are our initial impressions. A single Apple AirTag costs $29 / £29 / AU$45; you can also purchase a pack of four for $99 / £99 / AU$149. AirTags can be pre-ordered now, and will go on sale on April 30. As mentioned, if you want to attach an AirTag to keys, bikes or other items you’ll need to purchase an optional key fob or loop – these come in silicon or leather, with prices starting from $29 / £29 / AU$45.
