[Test & Review] Apple AirTags for my Cat, my Bag & my Suitcases
Everyone has heard of Apple AirTags. But many people think they’re only useful for finding keys or small objects – I did too – so for a long time, I wondered what they could really be used for.
I bought them with my own money. This article is not NOT sponsored !
Until one day I asked a real user and he told me that the range of AirTags is impressive:
- someone sent a package from Europe to the United States and put an AirTag inside; they could track the AirTag in real time
- another person left their AirTag inside their suitcase and was able to pinpoint its location when they didn’t find it upon arrival (it was still at the departure airport)
- some people have put AirTags on their pets to find them if they run away
That clicked in my head and I decided to buy AirTags:
- for my cat. She roams the garden under supervision but tends to do a “Prison Break”. I’ll feel more at ease putting a collar with an AirTag on her before she goes out, so if she escapes, I can find her within the hour
- for my suitcases. That way, if a suitcase goes missing, I can find it ASAP
- for my handbag. In case of theft, thieves will just grab the valuables. They’ll toss the bag and documents (plus cards) in the trash. So being able to locate the bag (and documents) via AirTags reduces the admin work you’d otherwise have to do.
- if you have a car / motorcycle / bike: you can hide it somewhere in your vehicle. If the car is stolen (or if you can’t remember where you parked), you can find it quickly
- of course, it also works for small items: keys, wallets…
Apple sells them individually or in packs of 4. Since we have multiple uses, we bought 4. On Apple’s website, you can personalize them for free, which we do to better recognize each AirTag.
As long as the plastic film isn’t removed, the battery isn’t activated. Once you remove the plastic, the battery will last about 1 year.
Changing the battery is easy; you’ll need a CR2032 battery, which costs only a few euros.
AirTags have no GPS chip or internet connection; the operation is much smarter. The AirTag emits a Bluetooth signal detectable by devices connected to the Find My network (called “Localiser” in French). Without knowing it, that device can report where your AirTag is.
Which devices are connected to the Find My network? Simply all iPhones, Macs, iPads, etc., over a billion devices spread across the planet. In other words, as long as your AirTag is near (within Bluetooth range, about 10 meters) of a human with an Apple device connected to the internet, you can find it. Unless your AirTag is in Siberia, the Sahara Desert, the Moon, or the bottom of the ocean, you should be fine. The info is encrypted, so no one can track your AirTags except you.
The AirTag is tiny and can even be worn by my little cat.
So she roams with an AirTag-compatible collar & a leash. If she ever escapes, I can check my iPhone, the “Find My” app, to see which direction she’s in.
You can buy the same thing on Amazon:
- the silicone collar (Amazon link)
- the leash (Amazon link)
In the case of the cat, since she’s always moving, we don’t get an arrow pointing to her, but if I move around, I can see which direction brings me closer, and head towards her.
However, if it’s an object that doesn’t move at all (like keys), you can get the precise direction of the item. If it’s upstairs, for example, the app can tell you the object is upstairs… or not. It’s super precise!
If needed, you can:
- Make the AirTag play a sound, which is very discreet. I made it sound while it was still on the cat’s collar, and it’s so subtle she doesn’t flinch at all; she doesn’t even realize the noise came from her.
- View the precise location on a map
You can see we don’t need to activate Lost Mode to see the AirTag’s exact location.
However, if you lose it, you can activate “Lost Mode” to get notified when it’s found, or leave a message along with your phone number for whoever finds it.
Here’s what the person who finds your AirTag can see:
For keys, you can buy a simple keychain on Amazon, since Apple’s are overpriced:
A few precautions
However, due to the popularity of AirTags, thieves now use them to track people with nice cars, to find out where they live, and monitor their movements. That’s why Apple has implemented the following measures:
- If a person is being tracked by an AirTag that isn’t theirs, an alert will appear on their iPhone
- As soon as an AirTag is away from its owner, it will beep discreetly, whether it’s in Lost Mode or not.
- You absolutely cannot disable this feature
So, in the case of a lost pet, if you don’t find it quickly, the AirTag, away from the owner, will beep every hour. In Rosalie’s case, the noise doesn’t bother her, but other animals might freak out and become even more disoriented.
To avoid problems, Apple says AirTags should not be used on animals, but in reality, in case of escape risk (going on vacation, a cat that tends to wander off during a walk…), you can use them. However, for a cat that’s used to going outside and disappearing for days, it’s not very cool to have an AirTag that beeps regularly. It could be very bad for its safety (imagine it hiding and a dog comes by…).
Note: don’t use AirTags to track people against their will. Not only is it illegal, but it’s also too easy for them to find you. Every tracked AirTag is linked to an Apple account. Each AirTag also has a unique serial number. To find out who an AirTag belongs to, the police can trace it back to you quite easily.
For now, the “Find My” app is not available on Android. The Android app can only read a lost AirTag, see the message… but cannot pair with an AirTag or track AirTag locations. This app is extremely buggy. So even if someone finds the cat, if the person doesn’t have an iPhone, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to read the message left on the AirTag. So you’ll still need to leave a physical note (like sticking your phone number on the AirTag). In short, it’s better to rely on the pet’s owner to follow the alerts and location, rather than strangers who find the AirTag.
In the case of suitcases, AirTags inside will beep but so discreetly that no one will notice.
Features are a bit more limited on iPad than on iPhone.
In short, if you have an iPhone, buy AirTags with your eyes closed. If you only have an iPad or Android, wait for Apple to improve the apps for you.
You can buy AirTags on Apple’s website or at Fnac
Finally, let me leave you with the live demo by JB. You’ll see how easy it is to get started:
