Enamored by the design of Apple's object tracker, but that hole-less design makes you wonder how to attach AirTags to objects? Well...
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What devices do the Apple AirTags support?
Apple has finally launched an object tracker of its own – the AirTag. If you’ve used an object tracker such as those sold by Tile before, you’ll know the basic premise. However, Apple has also armed the AirTag with support for the Ultra-Wideband technology – thanks to the U1 chip inside – for more accurate location tracking. Priced at $29 a pop (or $99 for a bundle of four), this coin-sized gadget goes on sale later this month. But before they hit the shelves, you must be wondering about the compatibility part.
What devices are AirTags compatible with?
The answer is iPhones, iPads, and iPods. However, the Apple device you’re rocking must be running iOS 14.5 that will be released later this month. Thankfully, you don’t necessarily need to own the latest iPhone to make use of the AirTag, as is clearly evident from the complete list of devices that are compatible with the Apple object tracker:
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Mini | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max |
| iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max | iPhone XS |
| iPhone XS Max | iPhone XR | iPhone XR | iPhone X |
| iPhone 8 | iPhone 8 Plus | iPhone 7 | iPhone 7 Plus |
| iPhone 6S | iPhone 6S Plus | iPhone SE Gen 1 | iPhone SE Gen 2 |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) |
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) |
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) |
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation) |
iPad Pro 10.5-inch | iPad Pro 9.7-inch | iPad Air 2 |
| iPad Air (3rd generation) |
iPad Air (4th generation) | iPad mini 4 | iPad mini (5th generation) |
| iPad (6th generation) | iPad (7th generation) |
iPad (8th generation) | iPod Touch (7th generation) |
Only the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series supports the Precision Finding feature of AirTag
Now, there is a caveat here. Not all the AirTag features are supported by the devices mentioned above. The best example is Precision Finding, which employs the U1 chip inside the AirTag to locate items using the Ultra-Wideband technology for more accurate positioning. However, you need to own an iPhone model that also comes fitted with a U1 chip. Apple says that only the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 series devices support Precision Finding at the moment. But later this year, the iPhone 13 series will also be added to the compatibility list as well.
AirTags also support Android devices, sort of…
The AirTag is only compatible with Apple devices, and not Android phones, primarily because it works after being linked to the Find My app. The aforementioned app is not available for Android phones and tablets yet – and likely won’t be released in the near future either. However, if you have an Android phone with NFC support, it might offer a very limited – but useful – interaction with the Apple object tracker.
Get an Android phone with NFC, and be a good samaritan for AirTag owners!
Apple has created a Lost Mode that allows you to find an AirTag that has gone out of range. So if you come across an AirTag out in the wild and happen to own an Android phone with an NFC chip inside, you can just tap the phone on the tracker to open a Lost Mode message. This Lost Mode message will guide you to a website that will show the contact number of the AirTag’s owner so you reach out to them and help them find their lost object tracker, and the item it is attached with.
Moreover, if there is an AirTag that is moving with you and is making sounds after being put in Lost Mode by the owner, you can tap your NFC-capable Android phone on it to shush the tracking device after following the on-screen instructions. This will also help you find the necessary information for returning it to the person who lost it in the first place.
Sure, the AirTag will come in handy if you tend to often misplace objects like your wallet or car keys, but it is equally important to shield your phone too. If you happen to own an iPhone 12, we’ve rounded up an exhaustive list of the best cases to protect your shiny phone from accidents and keep it in pristine shape.
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Apple AirTag is now up for pre-order starting today
In case you’ve been patiently waiting for the Apple AirTag, your prayers have finally been answered. The AirTag is finally up for pre-orders. You can place an advance order for the Apple object tracker at $29.99 a pop. However, we advise going with the 4-pack bundle that costs $99 and saves you a good $30 to spend on accessories. And trust me, you’ll need an accessory because the AirTags lack a keyring hole for attaching them to objects like a bag or your pet’s collar.
Get the 4-pack bundle and save a good $30 to spend on accessories
The AirTag is currently available to pre-order from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and the official Apple online store. However, if you pre-order them from Apple.com, you’ll be able to get them engraved with your name or an emoji at no additional cost. As for accessories, both first-party and third-party accessories are also up for grabs from the Apple store and other online retailers like Amazon.
Pre-order Apple AirTag at AmazonPre-order Apple AirTag at Best Buy
Coming to the device itself, the AirTag pair over Bluetooth to your Apple device, but it must be running iOS 14.5. The Find My app is where the setup and all the location tracking happens. However, if you have an Apple phone with a U1 chip inside, the process of pairing is fairly simple – just bring the two devices close or tap them, and you’ll get the pairing prompt on your phone’s screen.
While location tracking relies on Bluetooth, the U1 chip inside AirTag also allows for a more accurate positioning experience, thanks to a feature called Precision Finding. It relies on the Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology and will show you an AR overlay with directional and audio assistance on a compatible phone (read: only iPhone 11 and 12 series) to find your lost item.
Interesting in knowing more about the AirTags? Go read this everything you need to know article about the Apple object tracker. And in case you missed Apple’s Spring Loaded event earlier this week, watch this Pocketnow recap video to check out everything that was announced. It begins with a meme, and has solid takes too!
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