Apple Airtags

[VPS]

Two of my tags showed low battery, so I went to replace. As pushka said up-thread, there is no 'live' battery gauge, just a low level warning in Find My). The back on one unscrewed effortlessly (you put two fingers/two thumbs either side of the back disc and twist), the other wouldn't budge. Nope, no way.

So I googled and found a tip to wear washing up gloves. It untwisted, but still with difficulty. Comments on google suggest that its a random thing.

I've got two that are showing low battery so I'm going to leave them until I go away again and replace them all at once then but will have to remember that trick

 

[Quickstatus]

I've got two that are showing low battery

I just take the batteries out

 

[Lat34]

The back on one unscrewed effortlessly ... the other wouldn't budge. Nope, no way.

So I googled and found a tip to wear washing up gloves. It untwisted, but still with great difficulty...

Had similar issue opening one of five airtags plus after opening, it was very difficult to twist closed

Took the offender back to the local Apple store (with receipt), demonstrated the problem and promptly received a replacement

 

[Hvr]

And here's another use for Air Tags.

How a $49 Apple gadget is helping drug traffickers

International drug syndicates are smuggling in vast amounts of drugs by using a cheap Apple tracking gadget to circumvent customs inspections and police operations.

www.theage.com.au

 

[blackcat20]

Costco has the air tag packs on sale today: AirTag 4 Pack | Costco Australia

 

[TheRealTMA]

And here's another use for Air Tags.

How a $49 Apple gadget is helping drug traffickers

International drug syndicates are smuggling in vast amounts of drugs by using a cheap Apple tracking gadget to circumvent customs inspections and police operations.

www.theage.com.au

And the opposite. DEA Uses Apple AirTag to Track Drug-Related Shipment From China

wonderous things aren’t they!

 

[justinbrett]

Buy AirTags.

100%.

A couple of months ago I was flying SEA-JNU on AS in really bad weather. After about 5 minutes at the carousel I noticed my tags were still saying the bags were in SEA. I went to the baggage service desk, they said most bags for the flight were left at SEA due to fuel requirements. While she was logging my claim they made an announcement on the PA, and a queue formed that was literally to the door of the terminal.

Those tags saved me waiting in a queue for an hour.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Those tags saved me waiting in a queue for an hour.

Same for us in Lisbon @justinbrett

MCT was always a concern and when we just made our connecting AMS-LIS flight, our bags were still at Schipol.
Must give credit to Lisbon & KLM ground staff, easy reporting process & good communication, bags delivered within 24 hours.
Airtags

 

[Pushka]

Just a note. I remember changing air tags in the last couple of years and think I posted here. Anyway on the recent trip, three of them showed low battery signs. I bought some new ones today and replaced them all (4) and saw on the battery pack they had a 10 year life. Well, clearly not once inserted. Might be a case of changing them each trip. None of them went completely flat.

 

[DeKa]

saw on the battery pack they had a 10 year life

10 year storage life. Once installed in an AirTag you have about a year.

Also note Duracell batteries don’t work in AirTags.

 

[Pushka]

10 year storage life. Once installed in an AirTag you have about a year.

Also note Duracell batteries don’t work in AirTags.

Ah. Thankyou. I never realised that. It's not exactly a buyer attraction, unlikely any supermarket holds on to 10 year old stock.

 

[DeKa]

Sorry meant to link this re Duracell batteries.

 

[Pushka]

10 year storage life. Once installed in an AirTag you have about a year.

Also note Duracell batteries don’t work in AirTags.

So I'm curious then. Why do retailers charge more for the batteries that are guaranteed for 12 years than the 10 years ones I bought. We pay more for extended shelf life but not usability?

 

[DC3]

Just changed my four batteries after 18 months of use, and showing as low battery

 

[burmans]

Just changed my four batteries after 18 months of use, and showing as low battery

I’ve just used mine close to 18 months of use, still going but they have started chirping when I come near, probably time to replace but I’ll wait until I go away again.

 

[Port Power]

I just changed the battery in my second AirTag. It chirped as I closed it up and still shows low battery. That might mean the battery has already exceeded its shelf life, although I bought them in October 2020. (I wrote the date on the back of the packet.)

I just read the packet again. "Best if used by 2023". It doesn't pay to buy in bulk, even if a good brand. Off to JayCar before my next trip.

 

[vetrade]

Since there might be 6 months or more between trips for us nowadays, I take the batteries out at the end of a trip. I know they are not expensive but it's simple to remove them and why have the tags active when we're not travelling?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I have quite a few of them and tend to agree with others that they are an invaluable gadget for bags. First they tell you whether the bag was with you on your flight regardless of airline. Second, they tell you how long you have to wait for your bag to arrive. For instance if it says 1 km away you know you'll be waiting a little while longer whereas if it says 100m or with you, then you know it's about to come out.

Also in addition to my above post, I can recommend these AirTag holders if you wish to place on your luggage externally:

Belkin Secure Holder with Wire Cable for AirTag - White

The Belkin Secure Holder with Wire Cable features added layers of security that ensure your AirTag is always protected. Buy online now at apple.com.

www.apple.com

They attach very securely with a metal cable and you need to use an allen key (included) to remove it. They are a lot more durable than some of the other AirTag holders I've seen.

I can vouch for the other AirTag holders not being good. In particular, I got the official Apple AirTag luggage holder for suitcases and about 5 trips in the sucker got eaten up the by the baggage machine at SYD International and that AirTag was lost. Probably your best bet would be to avoid any of those holders and simply stick the AirTag directly inside the bag. That way there is no chance of it getting, "eaten" by the machines. Additionally, if there are airport workers who are weary of their work being "checked" by the AirTags, they won't be able to see it readily.

Just my 2 cents.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Pushka]

I have quite a few of them and tend to agree with others that they are an invaluable gadget for bags. First they tell you whether the bag was with you on your flight regardless of airline. Second, they tell you how long you have to wait for your bag to arrive. For instance if it says 1 km away you know you'll be waiting a little while longer whereas if it says 100m or with you, then you know it's about to come out.



I can vouch for the other AirTag holders not being good. In particular, I got the official Apple AirTag luggage holder for suitcases and about 5 trips in the sucker got eaten up the by the baggage machine at SYD International and that AirTag was lost. Probably your best bet would be to avoid any of those holders and simply stick the AirTag directly inside the bag. That way there is no chance of it getting, "eaten" by the machines. Additionally, if there are airport workers who are weary of their work being "checked" by the AirTags, they won't be able to see it readily.

Just my 2 cents.

-RooFlyer88

They don't go on the outside but inside.

 

[Port Power]

They don't go on the outside but inside.

I have my AirTags inside a plastic coin bag, and then taped to the suitcase shell underneath the lining. No-one is going to get that out easily!