Apple AirTag (4-Pack) Review
The travel accessory that matters more than the suitcase.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedThe short answer: Put one in every bag you check and one on your keys, then stop worrying. The Find My network is the product; the tag is just how you join it.
- Buy it if
- iPhone owners who check bags, lose keys, or lend things to teenagers.
- Skip it if
- You use Android — buy a tracker that works with Google's Find network instead.
- Best feature
- Apple's Find My network is enormous, so a bag in another airport shows up on the map within minutes.
- Biggest annoyance
- There is no hole for a keyring; you need a holder for everything you attach it to.
- The catch
- The coin battery lasts about a year and then you have four to replace. Buy a pack of CR2032s now.
- Evaluation
- In use for over a year
- Model
- Apple AirTag
The 20-second verdict
The travel accessory that matters more than the suitcase. Put one in every bag you check and one on your keys, then stop worrying. The Find My network is the product; the tag is just how you join it. Best for: iPhone owners who check bags, lose keys, or lend things to teenagers. Skip if: You use Android — buy a tracker that works with Google's Find network instead.
What we loved, and what annoyed us
What we loved
- Find My network makes a lost bag findable across the world
- Precision Finding walks you to keys in a couch
- Year-long replaceable coin battery
- Water resistant
What annoyed us
- No keyring hole — holders required
- iPhone only
- Unwanted-tracking alerts can confuse family members sharing a car
What We Loved
A checked bag that did not make a connection showed up on the map at the next airport before the airline knew where it was. Keys down the side of the sofa were found in a minute. It has become the thing we recommend to every traveler.
What Annoyed Us
You have to buy holders for everything. And if a family member drives your car with your AirTag in it, their phone will warn them about it, which takes explaining.
The Catch
CR2032 batteries last about a year, and then you have four of them to change. Buy a pack now.
Who it is for
- iPhone owners who travel
- People who lose keys
- Parents lending things to teenagers
Who should skip it
- Android users — buy a Find My Device network tracker instead
How we evaluated it
- Evaluation period
- Over a year
- Where
- Luggage, keys, backpacks, a car
- What we did with it
- Tracking checked bags, finding keys, locating a parked car
- Compared against
- Tile; a Google Find My Device tracker
- What we looked at
- Time to update location in transit, Precision Finding accuracy, battery life
- Limitations
- None significant
- Product source
- Purchased at retail
- Dates
- Ongoing
Read how we evaluate products and our editorial standards.
Performance
Excellent wherever iPhones are common, which is almost everywhere.
Ease of use, design, and build quality
Ease of use
Hold it near an iPhone; it pairs.
Design and build quality
A sealed disc with a twist-off battery cover. Robust.
Privacy and connectivity
Apple's anti-stalking features are appropriate and occasionally inconvenient.
Safety notes
Keep coin batteries away from small children.
Cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing costs
Replace the battery yearly; wipe it clean.
What it keeps costing you
| Consumables | CR2032 batteries yearly |
|---|
Value
Excellent per tag in the four-pack.
Alternatives
A Chipolo or Pebblebee tracker on Google's Find My Device network.
Also in Tech
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Comfortable, dependable, and the easiest recommendation for iPhone owners who travel.
Worth It
Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Better sound and battery. Fussier to live with.
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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)
Weeks of battery, a screen you can read in sunlight, and no notifications. Bliss.
Specifications
| Brand / model | Apple AirTag |
|---|---|
| Battery | CR2032, user-replaceable, about 1 year (manufacturer states) |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
| Range | Bluetooth plus the Find My network |
| Precision Finding | iPhone 11 and later (U1/U2 chip) |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Only specifications that affect the buying decision are listed. Figures marked “manufacturer states” are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
Warranty and returns
One year from Apple.
Reader questions
Does it work with Android?
Final verdict
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedKaren Verified. The travel accessory that matters more than the suitcase.
- Best for
- iPhone owners who check bags, lose keys, or lend things to teenagers.
- Skip if
- You use Android — buy a tracker that works with Google's Find network instead.
- Main strength
- Apple's Find My network is enormous, so a bag in another airport shows up on the map within minutes.
- Main weakness
- There is no hole for a keyring; you need a holder for everything you attach it to.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Update and correction history
- Routine re-check.Why: Routine.Verdict unchanged
- Published.Why: Initial evaluation.Verdict unchanged
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As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this site we may receive a commission. You do not pay more because of this. Affiliate relationships do not determine which products we evaluate, recommend, criticize, or reject. Brands cannot buy a Karen Verified verdict. Full affiliate disclosure. Photographs on this page illustrate the product in use and are not test evidence; see our image policy.