Its stainless steel underside is a booby trap of sorts.
I spent the holidays in San Diego last week, visiting family and visiting places like the San Diego Zoo. My partner and I had been flying a lot in the first quarter of this year and wanted to keep the momentum going, so we decided to fly from San Francisco to Southern California. As an Apple-centric household, we attach his AirTags to our luggage (among other things) so that we can track our bags as they move around SFO, especially to ensure they reach their final destination. did. When I’m not flying to a destination, I always keep his AirTag in my keychain and wallet to record daily information. They give a great sense of security.
While traveling, many AirTags displayed low battery notifications on their respective iPhones. This is not only from a power standpoint, but also because Apple says in the Find My app that “some features will be unavailable” if his AirTag’s battery is low. Armed with his needed pack of CR2032 batteries, I visited the Apple Store closest to his Airbnb and tried to ask an employee for help.
While AirTags are easy to access, as one example allows VoiceOver users to verbally dictate their location to a screen reader, this little sucker turns out. can’t access Regarding access to the battery compartment. Apple’s instructions are clear and concise both online and in the Find My app, but the mechanism for opening and closing the compartments requires a level of hand-eye coordination that not everyone can achieve. This means that if you try to replace the battery yourself, you will no longer be able to open the AirTags. It’s a classic exercise in futility and literal pain, as your palms turn red when you try to push and twist according to Apple’s instructions. His aforementioned Apple Store visit was a last resort. I’m sure someone will help me replace the battery.
As it turns out, it wasn’t One The person who helped me – that is four people.
So I stood at a table displaying a Vision Pro demo unit and watched four very kind and very brave Apple Store employees try in vain to pry open the AirTags to replace the battery. I watched in awe for 15 minutes. Some tried to put lotion on his hands, others tried to put lotion on his shirt. Yet another person tried using one of those $19 microfiber polishing cloths. All valiant attempts ultimately failed. Employees passing by joined in the attack, their palms turning red and their spirits weakening. He picked up the AirTag, held it in his palm, twisted it a little, and suddenly the battery door fell harmlessly onto the table. We all cheered for this long, hard-fought victory, just as Padres fans would celebrate if their team won the World Series at Petco Park.
The point of this anecdote is to illustrate how interesting the situation is.that should not Four people are required to access the AirTag’s battery compartment. In my review of the Vision Pro earlier this week, I praised Apple for its mastery of magnetism in products like the Vision Pro, the iPad Smart Cover, and the MagSafe Battery Pack. As I warned in my article, I’m not a materials engineer, but in the case of AirTags, it definitely would have been better if Apple had used magnets to open and close the battery door. Admittedly, my fine motor skills are not in the realm of accuracy. That’s why I think it’s so important to be able to easily attach a MagSafe battery pack to your iPhone, for example. This is also why I think the argument for going all-in on USB-C is going a little too far. As with any other disability, not everyone has the luxury of having typical fine motor skills. Apple’s AirTags design operates under the premise that users can negotiate their movements, but that’s not the case for everyone.
Apple needs to re-evaluate aspects of AirTags if they are ever updated.
Overall, AirTags is a great helper and much more accessible than previous tile trackers. Tight integration with iOS is both functional and accessible. I wish I didn’t break out in a cold sweat every time my phone notifies me that my AirTag needs a new battery.