Apple AirTags review | Good Housekeeping UK

I don’t leave the house without my AirTags. I have one in my bag that I bring to the office; one on my keychain; one that goes in my luggage before I go on holiday; one that goes in my overear headphones carrying case; another that goes with a smaller set of keys for my cupboard at the office — and the list goes on…

Since I first started using AirTags, I’ve learned that they’re a musthave not only for finding and tracking your items but also for general peace of mind. I now don’t spend my time wondering where my keys are. If I didn’t have them, I’d get an automatic “left behind” notification on my iPhone. If I haven’t, I know I’ve got them close by.

Apple AirTags: At a glance

Setting up an AirTag is about as easy as it gets, but you need to be an iPhone user.

When you bring the new AirTag close to your device, it’ll automatically recognise it and prompt you to pair it with your Apple account, guiding you through the process.

There are some simple onscreen instructions and you can name the AirTag – I’ve used simple names like “Simon’s Keys” and “Simon’s Backpack” – then assign it an emoji symbol to help you recognise it in the list.

Once setup is completed, you’ll see your AirTag in the “Find My” app on your phone. Here, you can see its last known location, use “Precision Finding” to track it down, ask it to play a sound to help you find it, or enable “Lost Mode” to receive notifications if it’s found by somebody else (you can also choose to show contact information to someone who scans your lost device).

An AirTag is designed to last for a year, and it has a replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery — the same kind you’d put in your kitchen scales. When the battery runs low, you’ll get alerted in the Find My app.

One thing worth noting is that, unlike many other trackers, AirTags aren’t made with a builtin loop to attach them to a keychain.

However, they easily fit into loads of thirdparty accessories including loops, pouches and cases that’ll add some style to your AirTag and come in various materials and colours. My current favourites are from Nomad, and they’ve helped me put AirTags on my keyring.

Why should you pick AirTags over other Bluetoothenabled item trackers? Well, they’re the most wellequipped and capable, and the network of iOS devices that they run on is larger than the main rival option from Tile. If you need to find your stuff and you use an iPhone, an AirTag is a nobrainer.

You’ll be able to track down and locate your items even when you’re out of Bluetooth range thanks to the “Find My” network, and there aren’t any extra fees or a subscription associated with using it — something that can’t be said for all of the competition.

They come with water resistance, comprehensive tracking (so they’re always on your radar with the “Find My” app), useful “left behind” alerts whenever you leave your items behind, a loud siren and stepbystep instructions to find your nearby item via your phone, and the ability to share your tag’s location with up to five people, so your family can help you your items too.

Apple AirTag (Four Pack)

Some thirdparty trackers work on Apple’s Find My network too, from brands including Eufy, Groove and Chipolo. They’re often more affordable than AirTags and I’ve tested a number of them for Good Housekeeping’s luggage trackers roundup.

They’re just as good and offer the main tracking features you’re getting from an Apple AirTag, but the main feature they lack is “Precision Finding”, which is one of the more advanced features available.

Arguably the standout feature of AirTags, “Precision Finding” uses the U1 UltraWideband chip within iPhone models from the iPhone 11 onwards. This enables highly accurate tracking to guide you to a lost AirTag, with onscreen instructions telling you how far away you are and which direction to turn to find your item. It can be highly convenient and more intuitive to use than making the tag play a sound, especially if you’re in a crowded or loud space.

Overall, Apple’s AirTags offer a powerful suite of features that few other trackers can match. Android users are starting to get similarly capable trackers with the launch of Google’s network, but it’s in its infancy compared to the one Apple has.

So, if you have an iPhone, Apple AirTags are by far my top pick for their seamless integration with other Apple devices. They’re incredibly simple to set up and use, and they make tracking down your personal items, luggage or keys straightforward.