Stop Losing Your Stuff. Apple AirTags Are at Their Cheapest Yet

You can currently get four Apple AirTags for just $60, which is a record-low price and a deep discount off the $100 list price. That's just $15 per tag, which is an exceptional value on these popular Bluetooth trackers. The only catch is that this is the first-generation model of AirTags (you can see the fairly minor differences between first- and second-gen AirTags here). I don't know how long the price will hold, so snag them now before this deal sells out.

The AirTags dipped to $70 for four earlier this year, so this is a better price for this amazing item tracker. The newer AirTag that was announced in January offers a handful of new features, but it's priced at $99 for four. Availability on Amazon has been inconsistent and it's currently unavailable, so this deal may not stick around for long. The good news is that Best Buy and Walmart are currently matching the price, so you've got options.

Not long ago, as I waited at baggage claim after a trip to Paris, I became increasingly nervous as bag after bag dropped onto the carousel, none of them mine. I knew there was no need to panic, though.

Back at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I had slipped a sophisticated tracking device into my trusty rolling suitcase before handing it over and heading to my gate. So, I pulled out my iPhone, and with just a few taps, I could see that my bag had never left the City of Lights. (Merde!)

Over the last few years, I've come to rely on Apple's AirTags will keep track of my easily lost valuables. They're not just good for luggage; I use them to track wallets, bikes, keys and even my car. I tell everyone who will listen that you can never have too many of these handy devices. 

And just because they're an Apple product doesn't mean they are super expensive. As mentioned, the four-pack of AirTags have dropped to $60. If you want to buy a single one, it's typically $29 each. 

Apple AirTags 4-pack: $60 (original price: $99) $60 at Best Buy

Here's how the AirTag (like the one that was in my suitcase on that fateful trip) works. It uses an ingenious method of tracking itself, detecting its location from nearby iPhones and using them to anonymously piggyback the coordinates to a secure server where I could look it up on my iPhone. Until just a few years ago, this would have seemed like a scene straight out of a spy movie.

Instead of wondering if my belongings were stuck on an abandoned luggage cart or strewn across the tarmac, I could see in almost real time that my suitcase was still chilling at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. I calmly informed the airline that my bag didn't make the flight, and they arranged for it to be delivered to me a few days later.

Apple AirTags are all about peace of mind

By itself, an AirTag isn't much. A smooth, round 1.26-inch puck that resembles a glossy white breath mint, it sinks to the bottom of a bag or dangles from a keychain (with a compatible key ring, sold separately). It's meant to disappear.

Activating the AirTag was a simple process of pairing it with my iPhone. And then, because it obviously doesn't really do anything out of the box, I forgot about it.

But the next time I couldn't find my keys? Sorcery. My iPhone didn't just tell me they were nearby. It walked me directly to them, thanks to the AirTag's built-in ultra-wideband chip. Suddenly, all that time I'd spent retracing my steps and overturning couch cushions in the past felt like ancient history.

Now, I have AirTags attached to every significant item I'd want to keep track of: my everyday laptop bag, my camera backpack, the suitcase I use most when traveling, my keychain, my car, and a smaller sling bag I take on walks. I can pull up the Find My app on any of my Apple devices (or sign in to iCloud in any web browser) to see where my items are and the last time the AirTags registered their locations.

AirTags aren't just for my everyday items. People I know in the movie business tell me that AirTags are tossed into nearly every bag and Pelican crate, not solely to ensure that the valuable equipment inside doesn't walk away but also to quickly differentiate equipment amid similar-looking containers. Some of my friends also attach AirTags to their pets' collars (though experts say there are better ways to track your pets).

AirTags are also useful for things that you want to keep close by

Being able to detect my luggage a continent away provided a sense of relief, to be sure. But at the local level, my AirTags will also trigger an alert when I get too far away. For example, if I accidentally leave my camera bag in the car when I stop for lunch, a Find My notification appears, telling me I've left it behind. It works the same for newer AirPods models as well.

Sharing is now a big part of AirTag tracking

My family has two cars, and I wanted to track both of them. But it used to be inconvenient to pair the AirTag in my wife's car to her iPhone (and the one in my car to my iPhone).

To guard against unwanted tracking, an AirTag will notify nearby iPhones of its existence, so whenever I drove my wife's car without her in it, I got a notification that an AirTag was traveling with me. (If the owner is near the AirTag, the alert does not appear.)

However, since the release of iOS 17, AirTags are shareable, which solves this problem. I shared my AirTag with my wife and she with me, so regardless of which car I'm driving, I can find it more easily in a crowded parking lot without getting constant, unnecessary alerts.

A more recent feature is the ability to temporarily share an AirTag's location with someone I trust. In my luggage example above, if the suitcase was at the airport with me but the staff hadn't yet located it (not uncommon during peak travel times), I could share its location with an attendant who could quickly retrieve it from areas inaccessible to the public.

Apple AirTag specs

• Diameter: 1.26 inches (31.9 mm)
• Height: 0.31 inches (8 mm)
• Weight: 0.39 ounces (11 g)
• Splash, water and dust resistance: Rated IP67 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
• Battery: Replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery

The only minor annoyance about AirTags

An AirTag includes bluetooth, an ultra-wideband chip and an NFC chip to share basic details when it's in Lost Mode. That's all powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, which in my experience lasts roughly a year before I need to replace it.

I get notified when a battery is starting to get low, although there's no gauge to see how much is left until it goes into the red. And it's easy to change batteries. But my small fleet of AirTags means I need to replace multiple of them each year. I buy them in packs and slowly work through them.

AirTags also make great gifts

Apple AirTags consistently appear in our gift guides throughout the year because you can always find another use for one. They're often discounted when sold in packs of four. And there's an ever-growing ecosystem of ways to mount them, from sturdy vaults that attach to a car to discreet fabric holders that keep your favorite classic bomber jacket from flying away. Whenever I show someone how I use AirTags on a bag or keychain, I kind of wish I had a pocketful of AirTags to hand out, because once someone sees how it works, they're sold.

AirTag (1st Gen) vs. AirTag 2: Is the $40 Premium Worth It?

Physically, the second generation of Apple's AirTags looks the same as the previous iteration. But it's got a few improvements in functionality, including a longer Bluetooth range, a louder speaker, a new chime, and Precision Finding, which guides you to the exact location of your missing item. 

However, the first-generation AirTag is still an excellent option for tracking down essential items, and at this price, it's a great value.

When will this deal expire?

I recommend placing your order while you can be sure to get this price, because I'm confident you'll find new uses for them once you have a few. Amazon prices fluctuate wildly, though Walmart and Best Buy are both offering discounts on the four-pack. However, there's no telling when this offer will end.