Apple’s AirTags Are On Sale. Again. But This Time It’s Actually Kinda Good.
Here’s the thing: Apple products rarely, rarely see significant price drops. Especially not their newer stuff, or accessories that are just… universally useful. You know how it is. You want an Apple product, you pay the Apple tax. It’s the law of the land. So when Engadget (good folks, by the way) flagged that a four-pack of first-gen AirTags is going for a measly $64, my cynical, seen-it-all journalist brain actually did a double-take.
Think about it. That’s sixteen bucks a pop. Sixteen dollars for something that can find your keys when your dog decides they’re a chew toy, or locate your backpack when you’ve had one too many coffees and just can’t remember where you put it. Or, god forbid, help you track down a lost piece of luggage when the airline inevitably decides to play hide-and-seek with your belongings. I mean, come on. We’ve all been there. That sinking feeling in your gut? Sixteen dollars to potentially avoid that? Yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty sweet deal.
The Catch? It’s “First-Gen.” Who Cares?
Now, some of you tech snobs out there might be scoffing. “Oh, but it’s first-gen,” you might whine. And to that, I say: so what? What do you really need a second-gen AirTag to do that the first one can’t? Make your coffee? Drive your car? Call your mom? No, these things are simple. They locate stuff. And the first-gen ones do that just fine. They’re tiny, they’re precise enough (especially with that U1 chip for Precision Finding, which is genuinely slick), and they just work. It’s not like the iPhone 15 is going to magically make your lost wallet less lost if it had a hypothetical “AirTag 2.0” attached to it. The core functionality is there, and it’s solid.
But Wait, Isn’t There a Dark Side to AirTags?
Okay, yeah, you’re not wrong to ask that. And it’s a valid question. Because as amazing as AirTags are for finding your stuff, there’s been, shall we say, some… unfortunate incidents. People using them for nefarious purposes, tracking others without consent. It’s a real issue, and it’s something Apple has tried (and honestly, is still trying) to address with various updates and warnings.
“The tech itself is neutral. It’s the user who decides if it’s a tool for good, or… something else.”
And that’s the rub, isn’t it? Like a hammer can build a house or, well, you know. The tech itself is neutral. It’s the user who decides if it’s a tool for good, or… something else. Apple’s put in place some safeguards, like notifying people if an unknown AirTag is traveling with them for an extended period, which is a good step. But it’s not foolproof, and it’s definitely something you should be aware of. It’s the kind of thing that makes you go, “Man, this is great, but also… yikes.”
The Real Implications of a Cheap AirTag
So, what does this $64 four-pack actually mean? For one, it means more people are going to buy them. Duh. And that’s going to expand Apple’s Find My network even further. The more iPhones, iPads, and Macs out there that can anonymously ping a lost AirTag, the better these things work. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy of tracking goodness (or mild creepiness, depending on your perspective).
But it also tells me something about Apple’s strategy. They’re probably clearing inventory. Getting ready for something new? Maybe. An “AirTag 2” has been rumored for ages, though I’m not holding my breath for anything revolutionary. More likely, they just want to get these things into as many hands as possible to solidify the Find My ecosystem. It’s a brilliant, insidious plan, really. Get you hooked on the convenience, make it indispensable, and then… well, then you’re just in their world.
What This Actually Means
Look, if you’ve been on the fence about AirTags, this is probably the best deal you’re going to see for a while. Sixteen bucks apiece? That’s practically impulse-buy territory for a lot of folks. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve shelled out more than that for a fancy coffee and a scone before, and that certainly didn’t help me find my keys.
My honest take? Go for it. Grab a pack. Stick one on your keyring, one in your wallet (if it’s not too bulky), one in your laptop bag, and maybe give the fourth to a notoriously forgetful friend or family member. The peace of mind alone is worth it, even with the slight existential dread of modern surveillance tech hanging over your head. It’s not perfect, but it sure beats tearing your house apart for the tenth time looking for your blasted headphones. And hey, if you’re worried about being tracked, just remember to check for unknown devices. Be smart about it. But also, be found. Or let your stuff be found, anyway. It’s a messy world, and sometimes a little Apple tech (on sale!) just makes it a tiny bit less messy.
