Apple Airtags are one of our favorite topics and gadgets of Apple we talk about on Apple Veteran. We have tried to answer as many questions you have, but the most common query we get is regarding Airtag’s range where you might be wondering “How far does an Airtag reach” or “How far away does Apple Airtags work”.
However, there is a difference between knowing the range of an AirTag and its ability to track a lost item. Here we will look at these differences and see if Apple shares some information and what we have tested.
What is the Range of an Apple AirTag?
AirTag works utlizing your iPhone’s bluetooth range that is 33 feet or 10 meters.
AirTags themselves do not have a defined range because they work within the range of Apple’s Find My network. This means that the AirTag distance limit is unlimited. However, as long as an AirTag is within Bluetooth range of your iPhone, it can passively communicate with it and pick up the location and ping to Apple servers which will send the location to you.
Then how can you track AirTags miles away?
If the Airtag’s range of 33 feet is taken into account, you’d wondering how can you track your Apple AirTags miles away. It’s a fact that you can track your personal AirTags even if it’s in the other corner of the world.
But How?
Any device can detect an AirTag nearby and ping its location. For example, you can locate an AirTag that’s hundred of miles away so long as somebody with an iPhone walks near it. It can not track AirTags if you happen to lose them in a remote area where nobody is likely to walk by.
This is because these item trackers use cell phone towers and GPS tracking. The AirTag doesn’t have a defined range to function, but it does require a connection to a mobile tower. For this reason, your key finder won’t show up on the “Find My iPhone” page if it has been moved to a cellular dead zone.
How Accurate is AirTag Location?
According to link Labs, Apple’s location trackers rely on Ultra-Wideband, sometimes mistaken with GPS functionality. UWB then determines if the key finder is within its range of 33ft. For example, if you are 10 ft away from a lost item, your Bluetooth tracker will provide a precise location of the item.
AirTag Competitor’s range: Comparing Bluetooth Trackers
The AirTag’s Bluetooth range is notably inferior to some competitors.
- Tile Mate: Bluetooth range of 250 feet / 76 meters.
- Tile Pro: Extended range of 400 feet / 120 meters.
- Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag: Matches the Tile Pro with a 400 feet range.
We have in depth guides on how AirTag compares with SmartTag, Tile, Eufy and Pebblebee.
Despite the range disparities:
- AirTag’s Unique Feature: It’s the sole tracker connecting to the Find My network.
- Significance: If a modern Apple device is near a misplaced AirTag, the owner gets an exact location alert.
- Strength: Hundreds of millions of Apple devices bolster the Find My network, presenting a significant advantage.
Does AirTag show the exact location?
AirTag item tracker will show you the exact location on the map if your location tracker is within the range of your device or if the Find My network detects it.
Precision finding is the most exciting thing about the Apple AirTag Bluetooth tracker. The $29 item tracker is insanely accurate if you have an iPhone 11 or newer with the U1 chip inside.
How often does AirTag update its location?
Your AirTag will update the location as frequently as every two minutes or two provided that it is in a busy area where there are lots of iPhones coming and going.
So, the added advantage of Apple’s AirTags via its Find My Location capabilities makes it a very hard competitor for the rest of them, and let me know in the comments what’s your favorite thing about Apple’s AirTags.