Although it was not exactly the first of its kind, the Apple AirTag made item trackers more popular and more usable. Pair that with the company’s expansive Find My network, and you’re almost guaranteed to never permanently lose a precious device, bag, or umbrella. Of course, it’s not completely foolproof, especially if a thief recognizes the object for what it is. It’s biggest flaw, however, is in its battery life.
Like any other electronic device, the AirTag runs on batteries, and batteries die over a period of time. While the AirTag’s one-year uptime sounds long enough, the human mind’s propensity to forget even important things is almost a guarantee you will forget to replace it before it runs out of juice. This nondescript enclosure doesn’t completely remove the need for battery replacements, but it promises you won’t have to remember doing that for another decade at most.
Designer:
Truth be told, the AirTag has other design flaws, like the need for separate accessories just to hook it to keys, umbrellas, cameras, and other items. That said, its small body was designed to slip into bag pockets or even wallets, so that’s not exactly a big deal. Remembering to replace the coin battery regularly, however, is a bigger issue. Given the length of time, you’re unlikely to actually check the AirTag’s status until the item it’s attached to actually gets lost, and by then it might already be too late.
TimeCapsule, not to be confused with a discontinued Apple product of the same name, tries to mitigate that problem by extending the time you need to replace the batteries from one year to ten. The secret is to actually ditch the AirTag’s CR2032 coin cell battery, along with its back plate, and install the tracker on the plain black rectangular box that can hold two AA batteries that are advertised to have 14 times more power capacity. Of course, not all AA batteries are created equal, and those figures were tested using Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.
The bulky and boxy enclosure is admittedly not much to look at, especially compared to the tiny white body of the AirTag. That, however, works in its favor, because thieves are less likely to associate it with the tracker hidden inside. They’ll simply presume it’s part of the bundle and take it with them, increasing the chances that the owner will be able to locate the stolen goods.
That’s not to say that the TimeCapsule is a cheap coffin for the AirTag. Made from a premium fiber-reinforced composite material and boasting an IP69 dust and water resistance rating, the enclosure is a perfect addition to kits and bags that tend to go with you everywhere. Of course, it doesn’t remove the need for changing batteries, but at least you’ll have up to 10 years to remember.
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