AirTag — Everything You Need To Know About Apple’s Latest Accessory

We had been waiting for it…

Published in

Mac O’Clock

3 min readApr 21, 2021

Apple says “AirTag is a super-easy way to keep track of your stuff. Attach one to your keys, slip another in your backpack. And just like that, they’re on your radar in the Find My app, where you can also track down your Apple devices and keep up with friends and family.”

Apple recently updated the Find My app with a new items tab. Now they have made their own accessory to track whatever you want. Along with this, third party companies now also have the ability to add devices to the items tab, currently: Logitech, Vanmouf and Chipolo have created products with Find My support.

When you lose something, with AirTag you can play a sound on the built-in speaker. To do this go to the new Items tab in the Find My app, or say “Hey Siri, find my wallet.” If it is nearby just follow the sound and the search is over.

With Precision Finding, if your AirTag is nearby you will see the distance to your AirTag and which direction to head in. This is due to Ultra Wideband technology and the U1 chip. Precision finding is only available for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

If the item you have lost is not nearby the hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac devices around the world will be utilised to help track down your AirTag and missing item. It is designed to protect your privacy every step of the way and Apple has been very clear about the safety of these.

AirTag sends out a Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby iPhone, iPad and Mac devices around the world in the Find My network. These devices proceed to send the location of your AirTag to iCloud. Once this has happened you can go to the Find My app and see it in the items tab. Everything anonymous and encrypted to protect user privacy.

Similar to your Apple devices, AirTag can be put into lost mode. When the AirTag is detected by a device in the network then you get sent a notification to any of your devices that have the Find My app. If you choose, someone can get your contact information by tapping your AirTag with an NFC-capable smartphone to help you get your item back.

Setup is extremely simple and works similar to setting up your AirPods, Apple TV, HomePod mini, HomeKit enabled devices and more. Battery life is long and can last over a year. When a new one is needed you will be alerted. If they fall in water, its not an issue as they are water resistant. They can also be personalised with engraving for free. You can personalise with emojis or letters.

After Apple’s partnership with Hermès to create the Apple Watch Hermès, there partnership is expanding with the AirTag Hermès. Three handmade leather pieces have been announced a luggage tag, bag charm and key ring. They will each come with an exclusive AirTag Hermès etched with the iconic Clou de Selle signature.