Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Apple’s new Tile-like tracking device could be called AirTags

By

Apple is working on creating its own Bluetooth tracker, similar to Tile. The tiny device could be used like Tile to track things like keys, wallets, and more.

Reportedly called “AirTags,” the devices are expected to be small, round circles that can be attached to items and then tracked through Apple’s “Find My” app, similar to how you might track a lost iPhone or iPad.

Recommended Videos

The device’s name was spotted by 9to5 Mac in Apple’s iOS 13.2 release Monday, October 28. It also noticed a “BatterySwap” video asset that suggests that the batteries in the device can be swapped out.

The device is expected to leverage the ultra-wideband U1 chip in the newest iPhones to offer more precise tracking than some competitors are capable of. It will also reportedly have an augmented reality component that would allow you to locate an item by pointing your camera at an area where your keys or other items might be.

While it initially launched as just a keychain, Tile currently offers a wide range of different trackers. Options for the device include a sticker that can be attached to something like a remote control; Slim, a card-like tracker that fits in a wallet; and the Pro and Mate trackers that sport the device’s initial keychain design.

Pro has a range of 400 feet, Mate and Slim 200 feet, and the Sticker 150 feet. All four devices are water-resistant. You can also activate a ringing noise in each from your phone to offer a little assistance when it comes to finding them. It’s not quite the AR-style offering that Apple is presumably offering with Airtags, but it is exceptionally helpful.

The folder within iOS 13.2 called AirTags currently contains placeholder images for things like Apple’s HomePod and AirPods, according to 9to5Mac, so there are still more details to be revealed.

One big question is if Apple plans to launch the device is when it might make that announcement. Many expected to see it at Apple’s September event, but the company didn’t announce it then. Since the file folder exists in this recent version of the OS, 9to5 Mac suggests that the announcement could potentially come as soon as this week.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Emily Price
Emily Price
Emily is a freelance writer based in San Francisco. Her book "Productivity Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Accomplish More at…
Apple’s new iPad Pro keyboard is a bigger deal than you think
iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard.

A fresh crop of iPads is here, and this time around, Apple pulled out all the stops. The new models feature an OLED display, new Pro apps, the thinnest chassis ever, and a next-gen M-processor that has yet to appear elsewhere save for the new iPad Pros. Starting at $999, Apple is charging quite some premium for its new slates. But what truly stood out to me was the new Magic Keyboard — and for multiple reasons.

This one has a full row of function keys and a dedicated escape button. For a device that wants to compete with a laptop, the lack of an escape key was quite a bummer, as was the lack of quick-control function keys. Heck, the Magic Keyboard for the base iPad got that perk, so it was an overdue tweak for the flagship iPadss.

Read more
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
There’s something Apple isn’t telling you about the new iPad Pro
A render of the front and back of the 2024 iPad Pro.

Earlier this year, I bought a new MacBook Air. It was the entry-level 13-inch trim with an eight-core graphics engine. If my budget allowed, I would’ve loved to go with the higher-end M3 version with a 10-core GPU inside.

Spending a few hundred dollars for the higher RAM and storage configuration automatically gets you the more powerful M3 variant. Conversely, you can’t just pay more for an M3 version with a beefier GPU. If you want the best performance possible, you have to pay for the higher storage/RAM models. It’s an infuriating and darn expensive situation, but that’s how Apple rolls.

Read more