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Carolyn Wolfman-Estrada, program manager of engineering at Apple, presents AirTags (with one visible in her right hand).
Apple
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AirTags – visually customizable to boot!
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Apple introduced AirTags alongside various types of accessories to enhance their flair and attachment options.
Apple
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AirTags works with an iPhone app to direct you to a specific location for those lost keys.
Apple began taking orders on Friday for its new AirTags location-tracking product and the new purple color for the iPhone 12, but AirTag supply is already lagging behind demand.
Announced earlier this week, AirTags are Apple’s answer to the already established and relatively popular Tile product. Each AirTag is a small disk that attaches to a valuable asset so you can track it with your iPhone if you lose it.
Each AirTag sends out a Bluetooth signal that nearby compatible devices detect on the “Find My” network. When a device detects the AirTag, it will report its location and you can use the newly rebranded “Find My” app to locate it; Apple claims the process is anonymous, secure, and encrypted.
In addition, recent iPhone models with Apple’s U1 ultra-wideband chip (the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 families) enable a feature called precision search that directs you directly to the AirTag with more precision.
A single AirTag costs $29, but they’re also sold in packs of four for $99. If you order through the Apple Store, you can get your AirTag engraved for free, but that service isn’t available through other retailers.
Unfortunately for those excited to get their hands on AirTags soon, orders have been backed up on Apple’s online store for two to five weeks. When you get an AirTag depends on whether you choose engravings; at the time of writing, AirTags that are engraved are estimated to ship as late as June 1, while AirTags that are not engraved could arrive as early as May 3.
In addition to the AirTags themselves, Apple sells numerous AirTags accessories, such as keychains and luggage tags that can house the devices. They come in a variety of colors such as saddle brown, sunflower, pink and blue. Many of the accessories are made with partners Apple has worked with in the past on iPhone or Apple Watch accessories, such as Belkin or Hermès.
As mentioned above, Apple is also selling a new purple variant of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. At the moment, the purple iPhone 12 still shows the original intended delivery date: April 30.