AirTag: technical sheet, price and opinions on Apple's smart tags

What is AirTag?

An AirTag is a small connected object a little larger than a coin, which integrates sensors allowing it to be located in real time. This way, you just have to place it with almost any other object that you don't want to lose to find it thanks to a companion app, Find My, accessible on Mac, iPad and iPhone. The AirTag can, for example, be hung with your keys, stored in the bottom of your wallet or simply hidden in your glove box to prevent your car from being stolen.

Apple designed the AirTag based on the model of Tile, a specialist in smart tags. The Cupertino tool, however, integrates much better with the rest of the Apple ecosystem, as often with the firm's products.

• Also read: which iPhone to choose to go with your AirTags?

AirTag Features

If you're looking for your AirTag, you can pinpoint its precise location on a map using Find My. The platform, accessible on iPhone, then guides you with detailed directions to the beacon. If, despite everything, it cannot be found, then simply ring it from your mobile. Easy as pie.

Just in case, the owner of an AirTag can choose to create a message that will be displayed on the iPhone of nearby passers-by. This makes it easy to leave your contact details to be called back and collect the accessory. Otherwise, even without this alert, the AirTag can be located thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, by other iPhones which have activated this network and are nearby.

Finally, still on the functionality side, know that the AirTag respects your privacy and it is not possible to use it to track you without your consent. If anyone tries, you will receive a notification on your iPhone and can turn off geolocation immediately.

Price and availability

It is possible to buy an AirTag alone, at a price of thirty-nine euros. Apple also offers a group rate: one hundred and twenty-nine euros. When ordering, the manufacturer also offers to add free engraving to personalize the device. It usually only takes a few days to receive the AirTag at your home, especially if you live in a big city with an Apple Store.

Detailed technical sheet

Design

The AirTags are only available in white, however, which is quite a shame. The circular tags are plain on one side and shiny aluminum on the other, with the Apple logo. Each AirTag has a diameter of 31.9 mm for a thickness of 8 mm and a reduced weight of 11 g on the scale, which may not suit all budgets, but remains acceptable for a pencil case or glasses case. And Apple has provided IP67 certification, for water resistance up to 1 meter deep (for a maximum of 30 minutes), while the temperature supported by the gadget ranges from -20 degrees Celsius to +60°.

AirTags Connectivity

No GPS in the AirTag. Everything works thanks to NFC and Bluetooth. Therefore, you guessed it, you should not lose the beacon in a rural area... If you want it to be detected and located, iPhone users will need to pass nearby. Apple explains that it has also integrated a U1 chip for UWB and identifies the position more precisely, which is not to be refused.

Autonomy

Apple indicates that AirTags,that we tested, can last more than a year without needing to change the battery. It is a CR2032 model, included in the box and which costs almost nothing commercially if it needs to be changed.

Compatibility

The AirTag works with all iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later, the same for iPod touches. The version number is the same for iPadOS as well.