Apple AirTags have become one of Apple’s most popular accessories. These simple-looking, token-sized devices are actually a key-finder designed for Apple users. When put in a bag or attached to your keys, you instantly know where your item is at all times via the Find My app as long as the AirTag is powered. At just twenty-nine dollars a pop are they worth it? Should you buy or skip Apple AirTags?
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00:00Should you buy or skip Apple AirTags? Let's talk about whether I think you should spend
00:04your money on them. In case you've never seen or heard of an AirTag before,
00:09this simple-looking token-sized device is actually a key finder designed for Apple users.
00:13When put in a bag or attached to your keys, you instantly know where your item is at all times
00:18via the Find My app as long as the AirTag is powered. It's become one of Apple's most
00:22popular accessories, and at just $29 a pop or $99 for a four-pack, it's also one of the company's
00:28more affordable products. The first reason I would buy an Apple AirTag is that it's a breeze
00:33to set up. From getting it out of the package to syncing it with your iPhone, it's like maybe
00:38a two-minute process total. Speaking from experience, the easy setup definitely helps
00:42make it a little bit almost addictive to put AirTags on everything you own. You get to manage
00:47each AirTag's label and even assign it a little icon like keys or a backpack that's relevant to
00:52the item it's tied to. There are a dozen or so preset labels that you can change and adapt so
00:56you're never confused about what you're actually looking for. And this one might seem obvious,
01:01but if you're someone who tends to misplace things, there's a lot an AirTag can do for you.
01:06I personally self-identify as someone who loses things and I'm not ashamed of it,
01:10but having precision finding means that I'm always guided right to the object's location.
01:14For me, this means that I can track my dog down in the rare instance he's wandered beyond my backyard.
01:20It means that I never have to guess where I left my wallet or whether my stowed suitcase
01:24made it with me to my connecting flight. Pretty much without fail, when you want to be brought to
01:28your item, precision finding won't just point you in the right direction, but it will lead you there
01:33with distance markers right down to the foot. I would also buy AirTags because of the sheer
01:38amount of accessories that are out there to make AirTags more practical for your needs.
01:42Although it's kind of annoying that the AirTag doesn't have a built-in keychain loop, you can
01:47get compatible keychains for like three or four dollars a pop on Amazon. I mainly use this style
01:52for my luggage, but there's also waterproof versions worth considering that are good for
01:56outdoor conditions or even just the accidental splash. For more discreet solutions, there are
02:01wallet cards like these that keep your AirTag stowed conveniently, as well as this rugged
02:05mount that lets you securely attach an AirTag to an important bag without being so glaringly obvious
02:11that there's a tracker there. If you're someone who cannot stand replacing batteries, AirTags
02:17might not be right for you. Here's the thing, when they're in standby, the battery actually
02:21lasts a very long time, up to one year. But if you're pinging your AirTag often, forcing it to
02:25play the locating sound, I've found that it cuts down how long the non-rechargeable batteries last.
02:31There have been times when I'm traveling and constantly checking in on my bags,
02:34only to find that the battery of one of them has died. Now, I always check my AirTag's battery
02:39level before a trip and find my Sense notifications when the battery is low. Because of that, I think
02:44it would be a smart move to stock up on lithium 3-volt coin batteries if you're going to use
02:49AirTags. Non-Apple users will want to avoid AirTags too. You need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to
02:55pair the AirTag for the first setup, and there's just no getting around that. Similarly, for all
03:00the precision-finding features, you need one of these Apple devices to actually track your AirTags
03:05down. Luckily, if you are an Android user, there are plenty of solid alternatives. Chipolo and Tile
03:11are two key finder brands with third-party apps for tagging your item. Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag
03:16is also comparable to an AirTag. Now, if you're someone who is wary of tracking technology,
03:21it'll be really hard to convince you to buy an AirTag. Some of these concerns are definitely
03:25valid. Especially at the launch, there were reports of stalking tied to AirTags, but Apple
03:30has introduced some safety measures. For example, you'll be notified if an AirTag that isn't yours
03:35is following you and give you the option to play a sound so that you can find it. That said, whether
03:40or not you're buying an AirTag, it's worth familiarizing yourself with how AirTag privacy
03:45features work. For Apple users who could use help keeping track of their things, AirTags are
03:50totally worth buying. They've come in handy for me plenty over the years, which is why I personally
03:56keep buying them and even often buy them as gifts for others. That said, they go on sale quite a lot
04:01on Amazon, so I would recommend waiting until you see markdowns. You definitely don't need to be
04:06paying full price. Better yet, put some of those savings towards some accessories. I've linked the
04:11ones that I've shown in this video down below. Of course, if you're pained by the idea of replacing
04:16batteries or you've come to this video not realizing that AirTags don't play nice with
04:20your Android phone, Apple's trackers probably aren't right for you. But let me know whether
04:25you'd buy or skip AirTags in the comments of this video and you might as well subscribe to our
04:30channel while you're here. We're also everywhere on social at Tom's Guide and you can find me
04:34at Kate Kozich. Thanks for watching. I'll catch you next time.