Apple AirTag review: much more than an object locator?

The AirTag is an accessory offered by Apple since spring 2021. It is a tag barely larger than a coin, to attach to an object that you would like to avoid losing: a bunch of keys, handbag, wallet, etc. Before its release, the AirTag was the subject of numerous rumors, which led to a significant wait until the day of its announcement which took place during the KeynoteSpring Loadedof April 20, 2021. In addition, shortly before the arrival of the AirTag, Samsung, Apple's great adversary, released its solution of the same type: the Smart Tag, to compete with Tile, another recognized player in the mobile phone market. object locators, and take the lead on the Californian.

Needless to say, Apple was expected to turn the corner with its AirTag. So, exactly, what is it worth? Does it have any interest in general, but also strong arguments against its competitors? These are the answers that we will try to answer within the framework of anew iPhon.fr test.

AirTag: too perfect a design?

Unpacking

As always with Apple, care is taken with the products right down to the packaging. With the AirTag, we are therefore entitled to a small cardboard box with a neat design and simple colors. A single mention on the front: “AirTag”, with the illustration of the product. It's time to unbox the beast.

Inside we find a booklet that unfolds into 3 parts, with the famous object tracker in the center. On the left and right, simple instructions are spelled out for quick startup and setup of the AirTag.

A successful design, but…

By inspecting the tag more closely, we realize that the product displays aexemplary finish.On the front, everything is white, unless you have chosen an illustration when ordering, in our example, the “ghost sticking out its tongue” smiley.

At the back, the round metal plate features a bitten apple and some indications of design location and assembly.

The whole displays apolished construction,free from any defect, as we are used to with Apple.

On the other hand, a small criticism at this level. Only the sensorcannot be attached to an object due to its design. It is therefore necessary to add an accessory. Apple offers several types, in a price range ranging from €35, for the polyurethane strap, to €45 for the leather strap. But many alternatives are offered by third-party manufacturers, including Belkin and Hermès on the Apple site, as well as several othershere at Amazon.

The almost obligatory purchase of a third-party accessory, hook or protection, to avoid scratching your AirTag too quickly, increases the bill by a few euros or tens of euros. And it isvery unfortunate.

Note that in our case, we took the Apple polyurethane strap in Navy Blue.

This one is very well finished, I like it a lot. But unfortunately it does not protectneither the front nor the back of the AirTag.

Final word on the construction of the roller: the waterproofness of the latter is announcedIP67. This ensures that it is dust-tight and water-resistant (immersion up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes). If the AirTag is not made to be washed in the shower or to be put in the washing machine in a bag that you have forgotten for example, it is designed to resist humidity, perspiration, rain, snow , etc.

Dimensions and weight

The sensor weighs10 gand measures 3 cm in diameter. Its thickness is 0.5 cm. It is therefore a little bigger than a 2 euro coin.

Needless to say, it will easily find its place in a pocket of a bag, in a wallet, in a small bag or even in the glove box of a car to easily find it in a parking lot, for example.

Installation and adjustments

Configuring the sensor is very simple. After removing the paper that holds the battery in the out-of-contact position, simply approach the iPhone and follow the instructions on the screen. Normally, the tracker configuration launches automatically. Otherwise, it is necessary to launch the Locate app before doing “Add an object” in the “Objects” tab and finally pressing “Add an AirTag”.

The iPhone asks you to name the sensor, it is possible to indicate a personalized name, but also to choose an image to represent it.

Two or three more validations and that's it, the AirTag isoperational.

The procedure isextremely simple.I don't know how the competitors operate, but having a working AirTag doesn't take more than two minutes.

Operation and reviews

AirTag: how does it work?

The Apple website explains well how the AirTag works. In short, the sensor uses your iPhone's Bluetooth so that it can locate it. It works at short distance, therefore, within Bluetooth range. But what happens when the sensor is far away from us? Well, it’s the “network devices,” like the Apple call, that take over. These are probably other users' iPhones, which, when they pass near the AirTag, send the position information to the owner of the object.

The Californian firm makes it clear that these exchanges areanonymousand that the iPhone user close to the AirTag knows neither the position nor the owner of the latter.

Furthermore, the system is announcedvery energy and data efficient.

And in practice?

As you will have understood, the system is very dependent on the number of iOS device users (compatible with the AirTag tracking functionality and with Bluetooth activated) nearby.

And after several days of testing, in a real situation, it turns out that the AirTag confirms the fears of many. In short, it isvery easy to spot in townand particularly in the city center, where there is a lot of traffic and therefore a lot of nearby devices supporting the location network.

But by moving away from busy places, into quieter streets, or even further away, in the countryside, the AirTag is much less comfortable because it is obviously less often located. We will come back to this point at the end of the test.

How do you locate your AirTag?

To locate an AirTag, you have several ways to do it: you can ask Siri “Where is *airtagname* right now?”. You can also, in the settings of your AirTag in the Find app, “Objects” tab, decide if you want to be notified each time the AirTag is located by a network node. Or, you can try to follow it in the same page on the map directly, knowing that its position is only updated when it is located by a node in the network.

You should also know that the AirTag embeds the technologyUltra Wideband, dites UWB. If you have an iPhone compatible with it (iPhone 11/11 Pro or newer model), you can locate your AirTag to the nearest meter and the precise direction thanks to a special viewing mode in the Find app.

This feature is very practical for finding a key ring lost in the house, for example, or for finding your bike parked in town among hundreds of others.

The Case of Lost Mode

If you have lost the object with which your AirTag was associated, you can declare it in “lost mode”. This will have the effect of making it discoverable (actively) by an iPhone or Android smartphone user who gets their hands on it.

Declaring lost mode is done via the Locate app, in the AirTag management page. You can specify, during the procedure, a telephone number to call, which will be displayed when the person who finds the sensor approaches it with their phone.

We saw herehow to act when we find an AirTag that is not ours. Note that just like iPhones, Android smartphones can scan a lost AirTag and display the associated contact information.

Of course, in lost mode, you can still track your AirTag in the Find My app. Lost mode will be particularly useful if the object has not been located for a while and if it is located in a place with no traffic and especially without an iPhone nearby.

The battery

A word on the autonomy of the sensor. First of all, you should know that the AirTag is powered by apile bouton CR2032, found almost everywhere in stores at low prices (here for example): a very good point!

In addition, Apple announces aone year battery lifeon a single stack. It's therefore comfortable not to worry about the battery status of your beacon too often. Also note that the AirTag's battery level is indicated in the Find My app, while iOS notifies the user if the battery needs changing. Finally, changing the battery is very easy.

Mes impressions

So, what is an AirTag for?

I see several uses for the AirTag sensor. First of all, hecan be very practical indoors. Thanks in particular to UWB, but also to the integrated speaker, it is, thanks to the AirTag, very easy to get your hands back on a key ring or any other small object that you might have misplaced in an enclosed space, typically , a house, or even a changing room in a gym or swimming pool, etc.

Otherwise, the AirTagcan be used outdoors in several situations: to locate your bike for example, your parked car, but also to avoid misplacing a bag or wallet. Be careful, if your wallet or handbag is stolen, the AirTag can be useful, provided it is hidden. The thief will not be fooled in most cases and will get rid of the sensor before keeping his loot. In addition, if the criminal has an iPhone, he will be notified after a few hours that an AirTag is tracking him, as we describe further down in the article. The AirTag is notnot designed to be used as an anti-theft device.

For my part, I found a particular interest in following the movements of a person, like a child or a friend (with their agreement of course) in places full of people, amusement park , concert hall, etc.

Then the question arises of places without passage and tracking without permission…

Two major flaws

If the AirTag is therefore extremely usefula would. In the countryside and even in the streets of small towns with little traffic, it's a different story. In the mountains, in the forest and in nature more generally, if you lose an object associated with an AirTag, needless to say that you will have little chance of finding it. Unless a knowledgeable walker passes nearby. But even in this case, he must firstly have an iPhone with him, compatible with the AirTag network, or else, he must get his hands on the AirTag and know what to do to find the information of contact.

The fact that the Apple sensor is not compatible with Android smartphones directly for automatic location is a major problem in my opinion, which also affects the tracking of people without their consent. Indeed, if Apple has foreseen this and alerts an iPhone owner when another user's AirTag is following them, what about Android smartphone owners?

In short, it is possible, with the AirTag, to track a person without their consent, if they do not have a smartphone, if they have an Android smartphone, or if they have an iPhone with Bluetooth completely disabled.

We obviously hope that this malicious use will remain marginal. But we fear that it will still be useful to a few idiots.

Conclusion

The Apple AirTag is a great object finder. Its configuration is easy and quick. And as always, at Apple, the product is perfectly finished, with quality construction. All for an acceptable price, comparable (without additional accessories) to what the competition offers. The fact remains that its operation is double-edged. If the AirTag is perfect for locating an object indoors, without being too far from the sensor, or for tracking an object in the city, it is much less practical in the countryside. And then what about the possibilities offered to follow people without their consent? The breach is open.

Ultimately, my impression of the AirTag is mixed. If the product is very good and for my part finds many useful cases, I cannot help but ask myself the question: from the image I have of Apple, products marked with the apple are a dream . But with the AirTag, I don't find this sensation. I find it difficult to understand why the Californian firm is committed to this market, unless it is preparing the ground for a much larger project? Would the AirTag then allow the Californian to test its mesh network, with the idea of ​​deploying future objects which will also take advantage of it?

Until my hypotheses are confirmed or not, I will take the time to enjoy my first AirTag. Without forgetting the already present desire to turn to an additional set of 4 trackers shortly, a sign of asuccessful bet for Apple!