Apple today officially unveiled the Apple AirTag, after months of rumours. The tiny accessory will help you locate personal items, as long as the AirTag is attached to it, thanks to the use of Ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, as well as NFC technology.
Apple AirTag
The Apple AirTag measures about 8mm thin and weighs 11 grams, which makes it kind of bigger than a coin. Battery source is a CR2032 battery cell, which is user replaceable. According to Apple, each battery cell should be able to last up to one year with everyday use. But then again, how often do you lose your personal items?
The Apple AirTag works in tandem with the company’s Find My feature, which is the same app that is used to find your iPhone. It uses Bluetooth to find your device when it’s within range, allowing the AirTag to play a sound with its built-in speakers. When out of range, other Apple devices around it will help detect the signal from the AirTag and sends that information to you in a secure, anonymous, and private manner.
Apple mentioned there are currently close to a billion Apple devices on the Find My network, and that will inadvertently increase your chances of finding your lost item globally. If someone else does find your item, they can use their Apple or any NFC-enabled device to tap on the AirTag to view the owner’s information.
For phones equipped with UWB like the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series, you can get an even more precise tracking as it can even show the distance and direction to your AirTag. This is thanks to Apple’s U1 chip, as well as the AirTag’s accelerometer. For visually impaired users, the feature also supports Voiceover which can offer audio directions like “AirTag is 5 feet away on your right.” Compatibility wise, iPhones and iPads that are running on iOS 14.5 and above can use the AirTag.
In terms of security, the Apple AirTag does not store any personal information, and all location data is end-to-end encrypted. If someone is found to be using the AirTag for illegal tracking, it will let you know if another AirTag that belongs to another Apple ID user has been following you. It will also play a sound to alert you that it’s there. For convenience, users can also set the Apple AirTag to notify you when the AirTag is away from you.
Privacy still remains a main focus for Apple and they emphasised that the AirTag does not store any personal information and all location data is encrypted end to end. If someone misuses the AirTag for illegal tracking, Apple will let you know if another AirTag which belongs to another Apple ID user has been following you and it can play a sound to let you know that it’s there. You can also set the AirTag alerts to notify you when your item is separated from you.
For extra day-to-day protection, the Apple AirTag is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance. There’s also an engraving service where users can choose to put emojis, text or even a number for free when your order it from Apple’s online store. But because of its small size, you can only engrave up to 4 characters, or 1 emoji.
There will also be more AirTag accessories in the future as Apple is allowing third-party support under the Find My network accessory program. This means that third party companies could integrate AirTag features directly into their products.
Pricing And Availability
The Apple AirTag will be priced at RM149 per piece in Malaysia, and it will be coming soon. In the US, a pack of four costs USD 99 (approx. RM407). As for accessories, there’s the AirTag Loop that costs RM149, while the Leather Loop and Leather Key Ring will cost RM199 each. If that’s not luxurious enough for you, how about an Hermes AirTag Key Ring, Bag Charm, or Luggage Tag? They will be priced from USD 299 (approx RM1,230) to USD 449 (approx. RM1,850) each.
