The prodigal AirTag is finally here

In its latest online-only event, Spring Loaded, Apple introduced the long awaited AirTag which is a small accessory that helps you to keep track of where your items are and you can even buy a Hermes one too.

The accessory is designed to be attached to a handbag, keys, phone, bag or any other item that you want to find with Apple's Find My app.

What is AirTag?

AirTag is a small and elegant accessory that is designed to attach to items that matter the most and you can track them via Apple's Find My app. AirTags can help to locate a lost item while, Apple claims, maintaining your location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption.

How much does it cost?

AirTag can be purchased in one and four packs for 29 dollars and 99 dollars, respectively, from apple.com, in the Apple Store app, at Apple Store locations, and through Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary) beginning Friday, April 30.

If you purchase from apple.com or the Apple Store app you can add personalized engraving for free.

Accessories and Hermes

Apple-designed AirTag accessories include the following:

- Leather Key Ring in Saddle Brown, Red, and Baltic Blue for 35 dollars

- Leather Loop in Saddle Brown and Red for 39 dollars

- The Polyurethane Loop in White, Deep Navy, Sunflower, and Electric Orange for 29 dollars.

AirTag Hermes includes the premium Bag Charm and Key Ring in Fauve Barenia, Bleu Indigo, and Orange leather, as well as the Luggage Tag and Travel Tag 6 in Fauve Barenia leather, all of which will be available beginning Friday, April 30.

"We're excited to bring this incredible new capability to iPhone users with the introduction of AirTag, leveraging the vast Find My network, to help them keep track of and find the important items in their lives," said Kaiann Drance, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.

"With its design, unparalleled finding experience, and built-in privacy and security features, AirTag will provide customers with another way to leverage the power of the Apple ecosystem and enhance the versatility of iPhone."

Design

According to the Apple website, AirTag is small and lightweight with polished stainless steel and is IP67 water- and dust resistant. It has a built-in speaker that assists in locating the item and will have replaceable batteries.

AirTag is similar to AirPods in that you can connect your phone to it simply by bringing them closer together. Users can assign AirTag to an item and name it with a default like "Keys" or "Jacket," or provide a custom name of their choosing.

Where to find it on your Apple Device?

Once AirTag is set up, it will appear in the new Items tab in the Find My app, where users can view the item's current or last known location on a map. If the item is misplaced then the user can use the app to play a sound from the AirTag to help locate it. If AirTag is separated from its owner and out of Bluetooth range, the Find My network can help track it down.

The best part is, if a lost AirTag is found by someone, they can tap it using their iPhone or any NFC-capable device and be taken to a website that will display a contact phone number for the owner, if they have provided one. How awesome is that?

Privacy and data protection

"AirTag is designed from the ground up to keep location data private and secure. No location data or location history is physically stored inside AirTag," according to Apple.

Communication with the Find My network is end-to-end encrypted so that only the owner of a device has access to its location data, and no one, including Apple, knows the identity or location of any device that helped find it."