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Apple AirTag Unboxing, Setup, and Accessories!

10:00 video

I picked up the four-pack of AirTags, two Belkin accessories and Apple’s Loop in yellow. This is a general overview, not the crazy testing some bigger channels are doing.

Unboxing and hardware

The four-pack is $99 (a single AirTag is about $29). I also got two Belkin holders: the Secure Holder with Strap (blue) and the Secure Holder with Key Ring, plus the Apple AirTag Loop.

AirTags are a bit thicker than I expected, a little bigger than a quarter, kind of a mushroom shape with the bottom protruding. Remove the plastic and it beeps to show it’s powered. The top is shiny white plastic that feels thin; the bottom is a metallic reflective surface that other reviewers say scratches easily. The battery is a replaceable CR2032 that lasts about a year: push down and turn left to change it. I assume the iPhone warns you when it’s low.

Setup and Find My

Make sure your iPhone is up to date and Bluetooth is on, pull the tab, and hold the AirTag near your phone to get the pairing request. You can name it (I called mine “Backpack” since I don’t know what I’ll attach it to), and it registers to your Apple ID in a few seconds, with a beep. In the Find My app, it shows on a map; you can Play Sound to find it around the house (keys, bag, kid), and get directions on a map if it’s lost outdoors.

I hid an AirTag in the room and used Find: within about 30 feet, it uses Bluetooth and the U1 chip for precise location, with an arrow pointing and a distance in feet, until it says you’re there. Very simple.

If it’s left somewhere (a store, mall or train), other iPhones in the area detect the tag and report its approximate location. You can turn on Lost Mode, set a contact name and phone number, and get notified when it’s found. Someone nearby can see a “lost AirTag” message on their phone and call you.

Accessories

  • Apple AirTag Loop: I chose a bright color that’s easy to see on a bag or luggage. Getting the AirTag in was difficult (I had to read the instructions: you undo the snap, slide it in and snap it). It’s not clear how secure it is: if it’s on baggage in an airport, the snap could get dislodged and you could lose the AirTag.
  • Belkin Secure Holders: I think they look a little better than Apple’s. Apple’s rubbery material is like the iPad Magic Keyboard case, and I’m not sure it will hold up; Belkin’s you twist to disconnect, put the AirTag in and twist again, and it feels more secure. The strap version suits a bag or luggage, and the key ring version suits keys.

Someone on Twitter suggested taping an AirTag to the Apple TV remote: neither the new nor old remote has the U1 chip, so you can’t track it in Find My, and it’s one of the most commonly lost things. I’d probably lose my tape more, so maybe I need to tape one to my roll of tape. If you have cool ideas for using AirTags (everyone wants to use them on dogs), let me know. I also want to see how Lost Mode works when someone else’s iPhone passes my AirTag.

As the world gets back to work and travel, they should be handy for travelers who lose bags if you check them. This is the first of the products from Apple’s spring event; the iMac, iPads Pro and Apple TV videos are coming.

In this video

  • 0:00 AirTag unboxing
  • 2:30 AirTag Setup and Test
  • 5:33 Apple AirTage Loop
  • 7:01 Belkin Secure Holder

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

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