00:00Should you buy or skip Apple AirTags? Let's talk about whether I think you should spend
00:04your money on them. In case you've never seen or heard of an AirTag before,
00:09this simple-looking token-sized device is actually a key finder designed for Apple users.
00:13When put in a bag or attached to your keys, you instantly know where your item is at all times
00:18via the Find My app as long as the AirTag is powered. It's become one of Apple's most
00:22popular accessories, and at just $29 a pop or $99 for a four-pack, it's also one of the company's
00:28more affordable products. The first reason I would buy an Apple AirTag is that it's a breeze
00:33to set up. From getting it out of the package to syncing it with your iPhone, it's like maybe
00:38a two-minute process total. Speaking from experience, the easy setup definitely helps
00:42make it a little bit almost addictive to put AirTags on everything you own. You get to manage
00:47each AirTag's label and even assign it a little icon like keys or a backpack that's relevant to
00:52the item it's tied to. There are a dozen or so preset labels that you can change and adapt so
00:56you're never confused about what you're actually looking for. And this one might seem obvious,
01:01but if you're someone who tends to misplace things, there's a lot an AirTag can do for you.
01:06I personally self-identify as someone who loses things and I'm not ashamed of it,
01:10but having precision finding means that I'm always guided right to the object's location.
01:14For me, this means that I can track my dog down in the rare instance he's wandered beyond my backyard.
01:20It means that I never have to guess where I left my wallet or whether my stowed suitcase
01:24made it with me to my connecting flight. Pretty much without fail, when you want to be brought to
01:28your item, precision finding won't just point you in the right direction, but it will lead you there
01:33with distance markers right down to the foot. I would also buy AirTags because of the sheer
01:38amount of accessories that are out there to make AirTags more practical for your needs.
01:42Although it's kind of annoying that the AirTag doesn't have a built-in keychain loop, you can
01:47get compatible keychains for like three or four dollars a pop on Amazon. I mainly use this style
01:52for my luggage, but there's also waterproof versions worth considering that are good for
01:56outdoor conditions or even just the accidental splash. For more discreet solutions, there are
02:01wallet cards like these that keep your AirTag stowed conveniently, as well as this rugged
02:05mount that lets you securely attach an AirTag to an important bag without being so glaringly obvious
02:11that there's a tracker there. If you're someone who cannot stand replacing batteries, AirTags
02:17might not be right for you. Here's the thing, when they're in standby, the battery actually
02:21lasts a very long time, up to one year. But if you're pinging your AirTag often, forcing it to
02:25play the locating sound, I've found that it cuts down how long the non-rechargeable batteries last.
02:31There have been times when I'm traveling and constantly checking in on my bags,
02:34only to find that the battery of one of them has died. Now, I always check my AirTag's battery
02:39level before a trip and find my Sense notifications when the battery is low. Because of that, I think
02:44it would be a smart move to stock up on lithium 3-volt coin batteries if you're going to use
02:49AirTags. Non-Apple users will want to avoid AirTags too. You need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to
02:55pair the AirTag for the first setup, and there's just no getting around that. Similarly, for all
03:00the precision-finding features, you need one of these Apple devices to actually track your AirTags
03:05down. Luckily, if you are an Android user, there are plenty of solid alternatives. Chipolo and Tile
03:11are two key finder brands with third-party apps for tagging your item. Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag
03:16is also comparable to an AirTag. Now, if you're someone who is wary of tracking technology,
03:21it'll be really hard to convince you to buy an AirTag. Some of these concerns are definitely
03:25valid. Especially at the launch, there were reports of stalking tied to AirTags, but Apple
03:30has introduced some safety measures. For example, you'll be notified if an AirTag that isn't yours
03:35is following you and give you the option to play a sound so that you can find it. That said, whether
03:40or not you're buying an AirTag, it's worth familiarizing yourself with how AirTag privacy
03:45features work. For Apple users who could use help keeping track of their things, AirTags are
03:50totally worth buying. They've come in handy for me plenty over the years, which is why I personally
03:56keep buying them and even often buy them as gifts for others. That said, they go on sale quite a lot
04:01on Amazon, so I would recommend waiting until you see markdowns. You definitely don't need to be
04:06paying full price. Better yet, put some of those savings towards some accessories. I've linked the
04:11ones that I've shown in this video down below. Of course, if you're pained by the idea of replacing
04:16batteries or you've come to this video not realizing that AirTags don't play nice with
04:20your Android phone, Apple's trackers probably aren't right for you. But let me know whether
04:25you'd buy or skip AirTags in the comments of this video and you might as well subscribe to our
04:30channel while you're here. We're also everywhere on social at Tom's Guide and you can find me
04:34at Kate Kozich. Thanks for watching. I'll catch you next time.
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