AirTag (2021)

AirTag extended the Find My network to keys and bags, combining Bluetooth, U1 and a replaceable battery rather than its own cellular link.

Specs

Launch and context

Apple introduced it on April 20, 2021, opened orders on April 23 and announced sales from April 30. US pricing was $29 each or $99 for four. The disc measures 31.9 mm in diameter and weighs 11 g. Initial setup required iOS or iPadOS 14.5 and an Apple account; Precision Finding was offered on compatible U1-equipped iPhone 11 and 12 models. Not every device using Find My offered that directional guidance. [tag-launch, tag-spec]

How Apple presented it

The proposition was finding belongings: nearby, a speaker and Bluetooth; with U1, distance and direction on a compatible iPhone. Beyond direct range, other Find My devices could detect the signal and relay encrypted location to the owner. Coverage therefore depends on nearby participating devices, rather than continuous tracking through its own GPS and cellular connection. Lost Mode could expose contact information through NFC. The Verge praised precise finding but noted easy scratching and no keyring hole, requiring a holder to hang it from something. [tag-launch, tag-review]

Documented issues

IP67 describes testing to 1 m for 30 minutes; resistance is not permanent. Apple estimated over a year of use from a replaceable CR2032 battery, depending on conditions. Current guidance warns that some bitterant-coated cells may not make contact: it recommends batteries marked AirTag-compatible and keeping the battery, cover and device away from small children because of ingestion hazards. Unwanted-tracking alerts are part of the design; the 2021 description does not establish unchanged timings or features today. AirTag is an item finder, not a guarantee of personal safety. [tag-spec, tag-battery, tag-launch]

Sources

• tag-battery · Apple, How to replace the battery in your AirTag (2026-10-14) · https://support.apple.com/en-us/102600
• tag-launch · Apple, Apple introduces AirTag (2021-04-20) · https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-introduces-airtag/
• tag-review · The Verge, AirTag location trackers are smart, capable, and very Apple (2021-04-22) · https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/22/22396693/apple-airtag-location-tracker-hands-on-find-my-privacy-safety
• tag-spec · Apple, AirTag technical specifications · https://support.apple.com/en-us/111847

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