- Twice as many AirTag-type tags would have been sold at the start of 2023
- The end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent announcement of these devices may explain this
- Competition could undermine this model, with more affordable prices
According to figures reported by a specialized research firm, there is a sector which is apparently not experiencing the crisis: that of travel. Circana reports that Americans are spending much more at the moment on dedicated accessories, including a94% increase in sales of smart tags like the AirTagin January 2023. This model, which overshadows Tile alternatives that have existed for many years, probably quickly became the world number one thanks to a renowned manufacturer: Apple.
The firm also offers its users the ability to find the position of this device in real time via its app.Locate, from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. It is therefore not surprising to note that equipped customers appreciate its use on the move, especially when it comes to taking a plane and finding their suitcase after a loss or theft. In our columns, we also report very regularlymatters of this kind, giving more and more trouble to the baggage handlers behind the traffic in question at airports.
No official numbers
Unfortunately, for the moment it is still impossible to validate with confidence Apple's sales figures for AirTag in Europe. Tim Cook's company only communicates on overall revenues and by category, the small tags being included in that of accessories. In other words, the third most profitable in terms of turnover, according to Apple's latest quarterly results.
At now thirty-nine euros per unit, it is however easy to assume that Cupertino has already been able to reap several billion euros in profit with its AirTags. And for good reason: according to star analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, relayed among the media most followed by investors,fifty-five millionof these products could have been sold by the manufacturer until the end of 2022.
The pandemic will not have got the better of travelers
To try to better understand these amazing scores, it is important to first remember that Apple launched its AirTags in2021only. However, like any product or service, it is completely normal to observe double-digit growth percentages from the start, but it is quite rare to maintain this trend in the medium term. It is therefore a safe bet that Cupertino will see its sales of smart beacons grow a little slower in the future, especially with the arrival of many third-party sellers on the market. Obviously offering lower prices.
With this, Circana explains that the restrictions linked to the pandemic ofcoronavirushave also been able to slow down travel habits, which are picking up again since the reopening of the borders. However, it is they who would be among the most likely to see a use for AirTags, therefore for finding lost luggage.
