Apple Airtags

[Flyfrequently]

Well folks, the end is near. Low battery.
View attachment 434006

Post an old fashioned letter to the address @CaptainCurtis ?
(I have trouble letting go.......)

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Well folks, the end is near. Low battery.
View attachment 434006

Well time for another update. For the past week or so, the Airtag hadn't moved at all from its MEL airport location. I had assumed the battery died, until I received the following text:

Hey there your AirTag is in the staff car park bus shelter on the windowsill in Melbourne

So I guess the million dollar question is - anyone going past the staff car park at MEL anytime soon?

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyone looked at these?

10 yr battery case for AirTag

Runs off 2AA batteries

They have other AirTag carrier products




Video showing how it works

 

[SYD]

Anyone looked at these?

10 yr battery case for AirTag

Runs off 2AA batteries

They have other AirTag carrier products

View attachment 435890


Video showing how it works

Why? Just replace the battery in the AirTag. It tells you weeks in advance that it’s going flat.

Losing $10k of camera equipment and blaming it on a flat AirTag battery they didn’t replace is embarrassing TBH….

Besides, who knows what better tech will be available long before that 10 yr promise….?

 

[mt4789]

Worth mentioning there are rumours of an Airtag 2 being announced (next week WWDC?) with 3x greater range. Evolution as opposed to revolution.

Apple's next product will likely be AirTag 2: Features, release date, and what to expect - 9to5Mac

Apple has long wrapped up its spring releases, including the new iPhone 16e, M4 MacBook Air, M3 iPad Air, and...

9to5mac.com

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Anyone looked at these?

10 yr battery case for AirTag

Runs off 2AA batteries

Just ordered a kit of 4 of them for $40 USD off Amazon.com (with it being shipped to my home in Canada). It seems like these don't ship to Australia though and going through the official website of the company they just offer shipping to the US. It should be noted that you would want to use more expensive Lithium AA batteries to ensure that it actually remains working for 10 years.

Why? Just replace the battery in the AirTag. It tells you weeks in advance that it’s going flat.

You raise a good point and certainly for items like keys it seems completely impractical to have such a big item attached to your keyring (kind of reminds me of the keys of service stations restrooms that have a brick attached to it so people don't wander off with it).

Where it could come in handy is for checked luggage where you have the room to fit a slightly bulkier case and where the convenience of not having to replace the battery so often can be beneficial. For instance, when travelling do you really want to be hunting for CR2032 batteries when the AirTag in your checked bag goes low? I understand that you get advance warning but also realize too that for every trip you take you need to ensure the AirTag will function for at least 3 weeks. The reason being is if the bag is lost the airline has 3 weeks to find it before having to pay you out under Article 19 of the Montreal Convention. There is something to be said of the peace of mind that comes with knowing your AirTag will last a long time indeed, and it's not that expensive either - I bought a 4 pack of those for $40 USD. Considering how quickly AirTags eat through CR2032 (at a rate of 1 per year) it shouldn't be too long before I make my "investment" back in having to replace batteries less frequently.

Besides, who knows what better tech will be available long before that 10 yr promise….?

Worth mentioning there are rumours of an Airtag 2 being announced (next week WWDC?) with 3x greater range. Evolution as opposed to revolution.

Apple's next product will likely be AirTag 2: Features, release date, and what to expect - 9to5Mac

Apple has long wrapped up its spring releases, including the new iPhone 16e, M4 MacBook Air, M3 iPad Air, and...

9to5mac.com

I think it goes without saying that Apple will at some point release an improved AirTag. But the question remains, how are they going to make it much better than what we already have? Are they going to introduce cellular or satellite capability? Maybe better range or battery life? It's all incremental improvements in my mind having had first hand experience losing luggage with AirTags. The fact remains that with AirTags you have a very good sense of where your luggage is.

 

[SYD]

Where it could come in handy is for checked luggage where you have the room to fit a slightly bulkier case and where the convenience of not having to replace the battery so often can be beneficial. For instance, when travelling do you really want to be hunting for CR2032 batteries when the AirTag in your checked bag goes low?

Just make a diary note to replace the batteries (ideally before you travel). They say about 12mths battery life, but mine have been lasting longer.

CR2032 batteries are commonly used worldwide. Easy to get.

I understand that you get advance warning but also realize too that for every trip you take you need to ensure the AirTag will function for at least 3 weeks. The reason being is if the bag is lost the airline has 3 weeks to find it before having to pay you out under Article 19 of the Montreal Convention.

I did have one start to show low battery during a trip, so I swapped the tag in my carryon and checked bag (which was low battery), until I got home. The low battery soldiered in for a month before I replaced both. It may have gone longer.

Certainly better to DIY than rely on the Montreal Convention….

 

[LondonAussie]

CR2032 batteries are commonly used worldwide. Easy to get.

But oddly expensive in the UK/Europe.

Here in London a pack of 4 sells for about £8 or $16 AUD. Last time I was in Australia I paid $5.

 

[VPS]

But oddly expensive in the UK/Europe.

Here in London a pack of 4 sells for about £8 or $16 AUD. Last time I was in Australia I paid $5.

I bought 4 from Amazon UK for just over 5 quid

 

[SYD]

But oddly expensive in the UK/Europe.

Here in London a pack of 4 sells for about £8 or $16 AUD. Last time I was in Australia I paid $5.

About A$2 to $4 ea here. Looks like Bunnings is a good buy (4 pack is $9,90).

BTW, they have a 10 yr shelf-life.

 

[LondonAussie]

Looks like Bunnings is a good buy (4 pack is $9,90).

$5 for a 4 pack at Kmart & Target, but that's their own brand version rather than a big name.