AI News Feed
Market watch
Engadget Picks $230 Switch Lite as Cheapest New Mainstream Console in 2026Thermaltake CAPO X dual-system case passes first cooling review, with upper PC about 5°C warmerEngadget Flags Common Home Network Setup MistakesEngadget: AirTag Battery Life Can Fall Short of Apple's One-Year EstimateEV batteries rely on thermal management, but parked features can still drain chargeTechRadar Publishes Oct. 25 Answers for Connections, Strands and Quordle
Engadget Picks $230 Switch Lite as Cheapest New Mainstream Console in 2026Thermaltake CAPO X dual-system case passes first cooling review, with upper PC about 5°C warmerEngadget Flags Common Home Network Setup MistakesEngadget: AirTag Battery Life Can Fall Short of Apple's One-Year EstimateEV batteries rely on thermal management, but parked features can still drain chargeTechRadar Publishes Oct. 25 Answers for Connections, Strands and Quordle
Products & Applications

Engadget: AirTag Battery Life Can Fall Short of Apple's One-Year Estimate

Engadget explains AirTag battery replacement and ways to slow drain, including limiting alerts and Precision Finding.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-25 09:40

The guide said Apple's estimate usually holds, but repeated sound alerts, Precision Finding and frequent checks in the Find My app can shorten battery life to a few months. The second-generation AirTag released earlier this year uses the same battery and offers the same battery performance, Engadget reported.

Every AirTag uses a 3V CR2032 lithium battery, the kind commonly used in car key fobs and watches. The batteries are widely available and typically cost no more than $1 each, according to the guide. A new AirTag ships with a battery installed; to replace it, the owner presses and twists the steel underside cover until it comes off, removes the old battery and inserts the new one with the positive side up. After the cover is twisted back on, the AirTag should play a short sound if the replacement was done correctly.

Battery status can be checked in the Find My app under the Items tab. An orange battery icon next to an AirTag indicates that the coin cell needs replacement; if the battery is in good condition, the app shows no icon. Older versions of Find My always displayed a battery indicator, but Apple removed it because it was often inaccurate, Engadget reported. When power is low, the AirTag restricts some features, disabling Precision Finding and sound alerts. The guide suggested setting a reminder for a year after each battery change.

The AirTag has no on/off switch because it continuously sends its location through the nearest Apple device, the guide said. Repeatedly triggering the sound alert drains the battery because it requires the speaker to fire repeatedly, while Precision Finding uses more power by enabling the Ultra Wideband chip to communicate in real time with an iPhone or Apple Watch. Constantly opening Find My to check a tag in the next room also uses power. The guide said normal use of these features is not a problem, but playing with them just to see them work can speed drain.

If a battery runs low during a trip and cannot be replaced, the guide advised limiting tracking or locating unless necessary. Depending on use at critical power, an AirTag can last from a few days to weeks or even a month, Engadget reported. Battery quality also matters: generic CR2032 cells tend to hold less charge, and Apple recommends the Duracell 2032 Lithium Coin Battery. Some bitterant-coated CR2032 batteries may not work in an AirTag.

Temperature affects battery life, and Apple rates the AirTag for operation between minus 4 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20 and 60 degrees Celsius, the guide said, making a car trunk a poor location. An AirTag that is constantly moving also tends to drain faster because it is always pinging its location; if a tag kept in a car dies before one on a keychain, Engadget said that is normal.