This article shows you how to perform an AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test, which checks the fit of your AirPods ear tips to determine which size provides the best seal and acoustic performance.
How Does the AirPods Ear Tip Fit Test Work?
Unlike previous generation AirPods, AirPods Pro come with three sizes of silicone tips for a customizable fit. These tips help to form a seal appropriate for optimizing the audio experience and the noise cancelling and Transparency modes, so it's important that you choose the right size tip for your ears.
The Ear Tip Fit Test is designed to help you with that, by testing the quality of the seal and identifying the best ear tip size for you. After placing AirPods Pro in each ear and running the test, algorithms work together with the microphones in each AirPod to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what's coming from the speaker driver.
The algorithm detects whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit, or should be adjusted to create a better seal. Here's how to perform the test.
How to Run the AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap Bluetooth.
Under My Devices, tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Tap Ear Tip Fit Test.
Tap Continue.
Make sure you're wearing both AirPods, then press the blue Play button at the bottom of the screen.
Check your Ear Tip Fit results under the corresponding left and right AirPod images. A good seal is shown in green, while a sub-optimal seal shows up in yellow.
Tap Done.
If you get a yellow result for an AirPod, adjust the earbud or try a different ear tip, then run the test again to see if it's been fixed.
This article explains how to customize the functions assigned to AirPods Pro gestures. Bear in mind that iOS devices need to be running iOS 13.2 in order to support AirPods Pro. You can check that your device is updated by launching the Settings app and going to General -> Software Update.
Apple's AirPods Pro wireless earbuds feature a new, innovative force sensor on each stem that responds to gestures which you can use to play/pause and skip tracks, answer and hang up phone calls, and switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes.
By default, you can press and hold either AirPod Pro stem to cycle between the Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes (you'll hear a tone when switching between the two functions). You can also customize the press-and-hold gestures by accessing onscreen menus on your connected iOS device. Here's how it works.
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap the name of your AirPods Pro, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Under "Press and Hold AirPods," tap Left or Right, depending on which AirPod you want customize.
To activate Siri with a press-and-hold gesture, tap Siri.
To change the Noise Control features that are activated via a press-and-hold gesture, tap Noise Control so that it's ticked, then tap the functions below that you want to assign to it: The options are Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off (which disables noise cancellation and transparency mode).
Note that you can assign more than one noise control feature to the press-and-hold gesture on either earbud – pressing and holding the stem will cycle between the selected modes.
This article explains how to control the noise cancellation feature on Apple's AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. Bear in mind that iOS devices need to be running iOS 13.2 in order to support AirPods Pro. You can check that your device is updated by launching the Settings app and going to General -> Software Update.
How Active Noise Cancellation Works on AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are Apple's first in-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is designed to adapt to the shape of your ear and block out the outside world so you can focus on what you're listening to.
When ANC is active, an outward-facing microphone on each earbud detects external sound, which is then countered by corresponding inverted audio frequencies to cancel the sound before it reaches your ears.
Unlike previous generation AirPods, AirPods Pro also come with three sizes of silicone tips for a customizable fit. These tips help to form a seal appropriate for optimizing the ANC feature, so make sure you've chosen the right size for your ears.
How to Control Noise Cancellation on AirPods Pro
There are three methods you can use to control the Noise Cancellation feature on AirPods Pro. The first method involves using the Force sensors on the AirPods themselves with default settings, while the second and third methods are accessed via onscreen menus on the connected iOS device.
Method 1:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Press and hold either AirPod Pro stem to cycle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency, the latter of which lets outside sound in.
You'll hear a tone when switching between the two functions.
If you want, you can customize the press-and-hold gesture on the AirPods Pro earbuds, and even use it to turn off the noise control features completely. Click here to learn how.
Method 2:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap the name of your AirPods Pro, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Under Noise Control, tap Noise Cancellation, Off, or Transparency, depending on your preference.
Method 3:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Open Control Center on your iOS device: On an iPad with a Home button, double-tap the Home button; on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen; and on a 2018 iPad Pro or iPhone X and later, swipe down from the upper right of the screen.
Press and hold the Control Center volume bar (a pair of earbuds will be visible inside of it to indicate the AirPods Pro are connected.)
Use the strip of buttons at the bottom of the screen to switch between Noise Cancellation, Off, or Transparency, depending on your preference.
How to Control Noise Cancellation on Mac
If you've got your AirPods connected to a Mac running macOS Catalina, you can also control noise cancelling mode from the volume icon in the menu bar. Simply hover over your AirPods Pro in the Output Device list to reveal a submenu, where you can click Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and Off.
Did you know that AirPods Pro feature an Ear Tip Fit Test to help you choose the right size of eartips for your ears? Click here to learn how it works.
ShopRunner, a paid membership service that offers free two-day shipping from dozens of online brands, today announced that it is offering its shipping service free to customers who check out with Apple Pay at some ShopRunner retailers.
ShopRunner's service normally costs $79 per year, but it is a perk offered with many credit cards, including the Apple Card.
The benefit to the Apple Pay checkout is that no ShopRunner account is required to get the two-day shipping offer - you simply need to use Apple Pay as the payment option when checking out.
Retailers that include Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Chico's, White House Black Market, and Soma will begin offering free two-day shipping from ShopRunner with Apple Pay purchases starting next week, while additional popular brands like Cole Haan and Alice + Olivia will begin supporting the feature in December.
Customers will also be given the option to sign up for a complimentary ShopRunner membership by using the Sign in with Apple feature, which will presumably give ShopRunner access even on sites where Apple Pay is not a payment option.
Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey said that Apple is "thrilled" to work with ShopRunner on this new benefit.
"With Apple Pay, customers can make easy and secure purchases with just a glance or touch on their iPhone, iPad and Mac," said Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay. "We're thrilled to work with ShopRunner and leading retailers so that even more customers can quickly and conveniently shop online at their favorite brands as we head into the holidays."
ShopRunner works with hundreds of online shops for major brands like Adorama, Fresh, MacMall, Bloomingdales, Lancome, Jockey, American Eagle, Peets, and more, with a full list of partners available on the ShopRunner website.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced three years ago in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 95 includes bug fixes and performance improvements forShadow DOM, Images, WebRTC, Clipboard API, Picture-in-Picture Web API, Service Workers, Back-Forward Cache, and Web Inspector.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Mojave and MacOS Catalina, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released in October.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Apple today shared a new featurette for upcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series "See," one of the first shows that will be available when Apple TV+ launches later this week.
The trailer gives an overview of the plot of the series, which is set 600 years after a viral apocalypse. The survivors are all blind and have reverted back to a tribal culture.
The series stars Jason Momoa as Baba Voss, the father of twins who are born with the mythic ability to see. Alfre Woodard is also in the series, playing the role of the spiritual leader of the tribe.
"See" has received less than stellar reviews from media sites so far. The Hollywood Reporter said that it "isn't close to a good show thus far," while Variety said that it wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard.
"Spiraling away from narrative control as its first three episodes unreel, this series, about a post-apocalyptic future in which nearly everyone is blind, wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, among others, on a story that starts from a position of fun, giddy strangeness and drags itself forward at a lugubrious pace."
Apple TV+ will launch on Friday, November 1 with "See," "The Morning Show," "For All Mankind," "Dickinson," and more. Apple plans to add additional TV shows over time, but at launch, content will be limited.
Apple TV+ will be priced at $4.99 per month, but it is free for students with an Apple Music subscription and those who have recently purchased an Apple TV, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Ford today previewed its new SYNC 4 infotainment system, including support for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The new SYNC 4 system will be available on select Ford vehicles starting in 2020.
CarPlay on SYNC 3
The wireless solution works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing an iPhone to be connected to the CarPlay system without using a Lightning to USB cable. Ford joins BMW in offering wireless CarPlay, while brands like Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, and Pioneer also offer aftermarket receivers with wireless CarPlay.
CarPlay is Apple's in-car platform that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, WhatsApp, and Downcast. Since iOS 12, third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze are also supported.
While Apple has started making the first AirPods Pro deliveries to customers in some countries, those hoping to make a purchase in person can head to Apple's AirPods Pro product page and make a purchase for in-store pickup. Pickup is currently available in many countries where Apple has retail stores.
In the U.S., where most stores have yet to open, all stores we've checked are listed as having AirPods Pro available today, but if you want to guarantee to be able to walk in and pick some up, it's probably best to place an online order and select pickup at your local retail store. Store staff will then set aside a pair for you and you won't have to worry about supplies running out.
At one retail store we checked out this morning, there was a line of about four customers waiting roughly an hour before opening.
AirPods Pro became available for order on Monday with availability set for today. Many customers placing online orders were initially quoted delivery dates of Thursday, but quite a few of those have seen their orders move a bit more quickly and they will be arriving today.
Apple's new Mac Pro has received FCC approval today ahead of its release later this year. Apple's website still says the new Mac Pro is "coming this fall," but FCC approval could signal an imminent announcement.
The all-new Mac Pro is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics with 64GB of HBM2 memory. The computer also has eight PCIe expansion slots for maximum performance, expansion, and configurability.
A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. The housing also has a unique lattice pattern to maximize airflow and quiet operation.
The new Mac Pro will start at $5,999 in the United States with an eight-core Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of ECC RAM, Radeon Pro 580X graphics, and 256GB of SSD storage. Apple will also be selling the 32-inch Pro Display XDR with 6K resolution for $4,999, with an optional stand to be available for $999.
Apple's new AirPods Pro wireless earphones have begun launching around the world today. To celebrate, the company shared a few images of customers trying on the AirPods Pro for the first time at Apple retail stores in Shanghai and Tokyo.
AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, IPX4 water and sweat resistance, H1 chip with "Hey Siri" support, and a new in-ear design that supports silicone tips in three different sizes. All of these upgrades have increased the price of the AirPods Pro to $249. That's compared to $159 for the regular AirPods and $199 for the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.
If you're on the hunt for more pictures of the AirPods Pro, be sure to visit the MacRumors forums to find more images and first impressions of the new earphones. Our iPhone accessories forum is also a great place to discuss your AirPods Pro order and delivery status, impressions, and more.
Apple's 2020 iPhones will all use Qualcomm's newest and fastest 5G-capable modem chip, claims a new report out of Asia today.
Apple is expected to launch three iPhones next year in 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch sizes. According to Nikkei Asian Review, all three will carry the 5G modem chip designed by Qualcomm called the X55.
All three of the new iPhones will carry the most advanced 5G modem chip, known as X55 that is designed by U.S. mobile chip developer Qualcomm, four people familiar with the plan told Nikkei. The chip, which enables much faster downloads, faces such an increase in demand that there could be supply constraints, one person added.
The X55 chip offers 7Gb/s peak download speeds and 3Gb/s upload speeds, though these numbers are theoretical maximums and actual speeds will depend on carrier network. The chip is Qualcomm's first 5G chip that supports all major frequency bands, operation modes, and network deployments.
The X55 is also more power efficient than Qualcomm's X50 chip, which means it will draw less energy and will have less of an impact on battery life when connected to a 5G network.
Apple was originally planning to use Intel chips in its 2020 5G iPhones, but Intel is out of the smartphone chip business and Apple has no choice but to use Qualcomm's modem chips.
Apple aims to ship 80 million 5G-capable iPhones next year, claims the report. Apple typically ships between 75 and 80 million new iPhones each year, and it plans to close in on similar targets in 2020 and exploit 5G as a key sales driver, according to Nikkei.
"It will be the first time Apple introduces 5G iPhones ... There will be three of them and the company has set an aggressive sales target," one of the people familiar with the company's thinking said.
In July, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple will offer 5G in all three of its new flagship iPhone models to better compete with lower-cost Android smartphones that will support 5G.
Apple's embrace of 5G is expected to push carriers such as AT&T and Verizon to accelerate their investment in the rollout of 5G infrastructure and catch up with China's rapidly accelerating 5G capabilities.
By 2025, London-based GSMA estimates that China will have 600 million 5G subscribers, or about 40 percent of the global total, notes Nikkei, citing a Financial Times report.
Today's report also corroborates previous rumors that Apple will switch to a 5-nanometer fabrication process for its A14 processor next year. Apple has used a 7nm process since the A12 Bionic chip debuted in 2018, and TSMC has been Apple's exclusive supplier.
Having first announced HBO Max in June, WarnerMedia last night provided further details on the upcoming streaming service, which will combine HBO content with shows and films from CNN, TNT, TBS, The CW, TCM, Adult Swim, and much more.
AT&T has revealed that HBO Max will launch in May of 2020 with 10,000 hours of programming pre-loaded, and the service will cost $14.99 per month – the same price as HBO, but with much more content. From The Hollywood Reporter:
HBO Max will be filled with 10,000 hours of programming from across the media conglomerate’s divisions including such TV hits as Friends, The Big Bang Theory and South Park; Warner Bros. films including Joker; the full HBO catalog; and originals such as the previously announced Ansel Elgort drama Tokyo Vice, a Grease spinoff and a Gossip Girl sequel.
HBO's library of content will include all the big hits like Game of Thrones and Succession, along with classics like Sex and the City and Sopranos, as well as new releases like the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. HBO Max will also have 1,800 film titles including all DC movies and, eventually, the full 2020 feature film slate.
AT&T will offer HBO Max for free to its existing 10 million HBO customers. WarnerMedia also revealed that it will offer the service as subscription-only in its first year, before launching an ad-supported version in 2021. There are also plans for live and interactive programming as well as special events.
The new $14.99 a month service will arrive almost two years after AT&T completed its acquisition of Time Warner, which owns HBO. It will compete with Apple TV+ and Disney+, which will cost $4.99 and $6.99 per month respectively when they launch in November.
Subscribers to Apple Music's $4.99 student plan will get access to Apple TV+ at no additional charge when the streaming video service launches on November 1.
First spotted by 9to5Mac, the bundle deal was revealed in an Instagram Story by "Dickinson" star Hailee Steinfeld and later shared on the official Apple TV Instagram account.
Steinfeld's announcement is short on detail and simply reveals that Apple Music student subscribers will be able to access Apple TV+ "for free" when the service launches this Friday, so we don't yet know if this is a time-limited offer or a permanent deal. We also don't know if it will include the Family Sharing feature that comes with all standard Apple TV+ subscriptions and allows six members of a family to access TV+ content from the one subscription.
If it is a permanent deal, then it sounds very competitive – Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month alone, so offering students access to the Apple Music catalog as well as all Apple TV+ originals for a combined $5 monthly fee would be a big draw.
Earlier this month, the Financial Timesreported that Apple was in discussions with record labels about bundling Apple Music and Apple TV+ as part of a "super-bundle of media content" for one flat monthly rate.
Again, it's not clear if this student-only offer is the first official "super-bundle" of its kind, but we'll update this article as soon as we learn more.
To clarify, Apple Music costs $9.99 per month for individuals in the United States, with a $4.99 tier for students and a family plan for $15 per month. Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 per month and this tier also supports Family Sharing, so up to six members of a family can access content using the one subscription.
In addition, Apple is offering a free one-year subscription to customers who purchase any iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac as of September 10 and later.
Daring Fireball's John Gruber posted his first impressions of the new AirPods Pro this evening. Gruber was able to use the new AirPods Pro for several hours on a return trip from Apple's media briefing back home. Overall, he liked the new AirPods and found the noise cancellation to work well, and the battery life to match Apple's claims.
Apple invited a few dozen media folks to New York today for a briefing and early access to the new AirPods Pro. My initial impression: I like them.
Gruber also notes that the earpiece tips that come in three sizes are available from Apple for $4 if you happen to lose them.
Swapping the tips is easy, but it takes a bit more pull than I expected to pop them off. Don’t be afraid — the tips seem rugged. And replacement tips from Apple will cost only $4 — truly cheap.
The AirPods Pro are starting to arrive at customers homes today. The AirPods Pro cost $249 offers noise cancelation, an in-ear design, and water and sweat resistance.
Apple plans to introduce a new MacBook model with a scissor switch keyboard in the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2020, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggesting the notebook could be announced at either WWDC in June or with a press release in July next year.
16-inch MacBook Pro concept by MacRumors
In a research note today for TF International Securities, seen by MacRumors, Kuo said Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron will be the primary supplier of parts for the scissor switch keyboards in 2020.
It is unclear if this represents a delay of the widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro, which Kuo said would launch in the fourth quarter of 2019 with a scissor switch keyboard. There was some hope that Apple would announce the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a press release this morning, but that did not happen.
Kuo has previously predicted that Apple will transition its entire notebook lineup to scissor switch keyboards in 2020, including all MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. The last MacBook Pro to feature scissor switches was released in 2015 before Apple moved to its problematic butterfly mechanism.
At the Samsung Developer Conference this week, Samsung showed off a new conceptual design for a foldable smartphone, which could be technology that the company works on after the Galaxy Fold.
Rather than folding from tablet sized to smartphone sized like the Galaxy Fold, the design Samsung showed off today features a smartphone-sized device that folds in half much like a flip phone, collapsing down into a smaller size.
The device is also pictured folded in half in a way that would allow one half of it to serve as a stand for the other half, with a cooking video used as an example of a use case.
Samsung says that it plans to continue to explore a "range of new form factors" in the foldable category following the launch of the Galaxy Fold.
The Galaxy Fold finally debuted in September, months after its early 2019 unveiling. Samsung initially planned to launch the device earlier, but had to shelve it due to major issues that impacted the durability and performance of the device.
Samsung has since fixed those early problems, though the Galaxy Fold still seems to be a niche, high-cost device that's prone to damage and rather delicate, as we discovered in our hands-on.
There are rumors that Apple is exploring foldable display technology for the iPhone, but so far, we've seen no concrete evidence that Apple is seriously pursuing a foldable design at this point in time.
Apple in April 2021 introduced the AirTag after years of rumors and speculation. The small circular tag is designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets to allow these accessories to be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app.
AirTags Price
A single AirTag is priced at $29, and a package of four AirTags can be purchased for $99.
Third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are also offering AirTags for sale, and there can sometimes be good sales available.
AirTag Reviews
Ahead of the launch of AirTags, members of the media were able to test them out and first impressions are positive. AirTags have been described as "smart" and capable" for those in Apple's ecosystem, and tracking has been lauded for its accuracy.
It can sometimes take a full 30 seconds or more to get an initial location for an AirTag from another room, and it's possible to get inaccurate locations foiled by obstructions and walls due to Bluetooth. The U1 Precision Tracking is helpful to get around that.
The AirTag is a small, button-shaped tracking device with a glossy white front that can be customized with an engraving and a silver backing. AirTags are designed around the CR2032 batteries that are inside, and need additional accessories to attach to an item.
AirTag measures in at 1.26 inches in diameter, and it has a height of 0.31 inches, or 8mm. It weighs 0.39 ounces (11 grams).
AirTags Engraving
Each AirTag can be engraved with up to four letters or emoji characters, though there are some restrictions on multiple emoji due to size limitations. There are also limitations on some emoji strings and phrases due to Apple's content filtering.
You can't, for example, pair a horse emoji with the pile of poo emoji, nor can you use curse words.
AirTags Features
AirTags are added and managed in the Find My app under the "Items" tab. Like other Apple devices, each AirTag is displayed on a map in the Find My app so you can see its location. AirTags connect to your iOS and macOS devices over Bluetooth.
Apple added a U1 chip in each AirTag so you can see its precise location indoors or out if it's nearby, or its last known location if it is not. There are built-in speakers to play a sound to find a lost AirTag in the house, and you can either play a sound through the Find My app or ask Siri to find an AirTag with a sound.
If an AirTag is lost or stolen, the Find My network can help you find it. The Find My Network takes advantage of hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices to help you locate an AirTag, with the AirTag showing up on a map when it is located by someone else's device.
In Lost Mode, an AirTag will automatically send out a notification when it's detected by someone in the Find My network, and you can add your contact info so someone who finds your item can get in touch with you.
Apple is able to regularly update the AirTags firmware and has done so several times since the AirTags launched.
Precision Finding
iPhones with a U1 chip can take advantage of Precision Finding, a feature that lets you see specific instructions on how to get to your lost AirTag. Precision finding combines AR, sound, and haptic feedback to help you out. U1 chips are included in the iPhone 11 and later.
Returning a Lost AirTag
If you come across a lost AirTag, or if someone comes across your lost AirTag, it can be scanned with any smartphone that's equipped with NFC to bring up contact information.
This works on iPhones and Android devices, so if you find an item, give it a scan to locate the owner. If in Lost Mode, the AirTag will also relay its location back to the owner through the Find My network.
Separation Alerts
Apple in iOS 15 added Separation Alerts to the Find My app, which are designed to let you know if you leave an Apple device, a device attached to an AirTag, or a Find My-enabled third-party device behind.
You can set up Separation Alerts in the Find My app, so if you want to make sure your iPhone is always with you or that you don't leave the house without the keys, this is the feature to use.
AirTags use a replaceable CR2032 battery that is designed to last about a year before it needs to be replaced. The batteries are user replaceable, and to swap out a battery, you can press and twist on the back panel of the AirTag to pop it off. If your AirTag is low on battery life, you'll get a notification that the battery needs to be replaced.
AirTags Charging
There is no need or way to charge an AirTag because Apple designed them with user replaceable CR2032 batteries.
AirTags Range
Apple has not provided details the range of the AirTag, but the maximum Bluetooth range is around 100 meters, so an AirTag should be trackable at least to that distance. More experimentation will be necessary to find more specific range information.
AirTags Water Resistance
The AirTag features an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which means it can withstand immersion in water up to one meter (3.3 feet) for 30 minutes in laboratory conditions. That means the AirTag will hold up well to liquid exposure from rain or accidental spills.
AirTags Setup
As with AirPods, setting up an AirTag can be done with a one-tap gesture after it's unboxed. Each AirTag can be customized with a name and an item description.
AirTag Ownership Limits
Each Apple ID can be associated with up to 16 AirTags, so you can keep track of 16 items at one time.
AirTags Privacy and Security
Each AirTag you own is linked to your Apple ID and no one else can track it. Location data and location history are not stored on the AirTag, and devices that relay the location of a lost AirTag stay anonymous and location data is encrypted every step of the way.
You may see where your lost AirTag is on a map if it's picked up by someone else's device, but you won't know the identity of the person that helps find it. Apple also does not see where AirTags are located because of the end-to-end encryption.
AirTags have unique Bluetooth identifiers that rotate frequently, a feature that ensures you're never tracked from place to place.
AirTags Stalking
Apple has built in security restrictions that are designed to prevent an AirTag for being used for unwanted and secretive tracking purposes.
If an AirTag that someone else owns is in your belongings and has been traveling with for you awhile, your iPhone will send you an alert about an AirTag being detected near you, which will prevent someone from tracking you with a planted AirTag. You will get an alert on an AirTag that's with you when you return to your home address or to a location that's frequently visited.
When this happens, you'll see a notification that says "AirTag Detected," which you can tap to disable the AirTag. If the AirTag is attached to an item you're borrowing, you can choose to turn off "AirTag Detected" notifications for one day. If it's an item from a family member, you can turn off Safety Alerts for those who are in your Family Sharing group.
AirTag Detected alerts are only triggered when an AirTag is separated from its owner, so you don't need to worry about friends or family members with nearby AirTags. An AirTag away from its owner for eight to 24 hours will play a sound to alert you to its presence, letting you know if someone has illicitly stuck an AirTag in your belongings.
There have been multiple news stories about AirTags being used for vehicle theft, stalking, and other nefarious purposes, which has led Apple to make several updates to how AirTags work to prevent criminals from taking advantage of them.
When setting up an AirTag, Apple will show warnings to thwart malicious use. The warning makes it clear that the AirTag is linked to an Apple ID, that using it to track people is a crime, and that law enforcement can request identifying information about the owner of the AirTag, which Apple will readily provide.
Since the AirTag's launch, Apple has added safety features that include Precision Finding and improved display alerts, and louder sounds that are designed to make AirTags more difficult to use for people-tracking purposes. Apple adjusted the tone sequence to use more of the loudest tones to make AirTags louder and easier to find.
Precision Finding - iPhone owners who have an device with a U1 chip and who receive an unwanted tracking alert can locate an unknown AirTag with precision, similar to the Precision Finding feature that's available to AirTag owners. The feature will provide the distance and direction to an unknown AirTag when it is in range, making it easier to locate.
Display alert with sound - When an AirTag separated from its owner plays a sound to alert those nearby, it also displays an alert on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch so that it can be tracked down by sound or Precision Finding if the feature is available. Apple says that this feature will help if the AirTag sound is hard to hear or if the speaker has been tampered with.
Updated unwanted tracking alerts - Apple updated its alert system to notify users earlier that an unknown AirTag or Find My network accessory may be traveling with them.
Sharing AirTags
It is possible for family members to share an AirTag as long as everyone in the family has iOS 17 or later installed. Apple added AirTag family sharing with the iOS 17 update, and you can "Share" any of your AirTags with family members using the Find My app.
Tracker Detect for Android
In December 2021, Apple released "Tracker Detect" in the Google Play Store, with the app designed to allow Android users to scan for AirTags and other Find My-enabled items.
With this app, Android users can make sure that no AirTags or Find My-enabled accessories are being used to track them. The app will locate any nearby AirTags, and Android users will be able to cause the AirTag or Find My-enabled accessory to play a sound so it can be located. The app also provides instructions on how to disable an AirTag by removing the battery.
Apple and Google worked together for an item tracking standard that allows unknown Bluetooth item trackers traveling with a person to send an alert regardless of the person's operating system. This means tracking alerts from unknown AirTags show up on iPhones and Android devices.
Traveling With AirTags
If you're planning to use an AirTag while traveling, there are certain limitations that you should be aware of. Precision Finding, for example, won't work in certain countries like Russia, Indonesia, and Argentina, with a list available in our AirTags travel guide.
Tracking Pets and Children
Apple designed AirTags to track items, and Apple does not recommend that they be used to track pets or children. For keeping tabs on children, Apple recommends an Apple Watch that uses Family Setup.
AirTag NFC Shortcuts
The built-in NFC chip in the AirTag can be used by Apple Shortcuts to trigger automations. Users can create a shortcut that triggers by tapping the top of an NFC-enabled iPhone on the white plastic side of the AirTag.
AirTags How Tos
Everything you need to know about using an AirTag is available in our list of how tos below.
Update: Sony has informed MacRumors that the Apple TV app is not rolling out to Apple TVs at this time and that the supposed image picturing the TV app on a Sony TV is not of a Sony television set. Our original article is below.
Apple has been expanding its Apple TV app to other platforms like the Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and the Roku, and as of today, the Apple TV app is also rolling out to recent Sony TV sets.
As noted by 9to5Mac, owners of some 2019 Sony TV sets can install a firmware upgrade that introduces the Apple TV app.
Image via 9to5Mac
It's not clear which Sony TVs are getting the Apple TV app, but it's likely the same TVs that support AirPlay 2, which includes the Sony Z9G series, the Sony A9G series, the Sony X950G Series, and the Sony X850G series.
The firmware update is being gradually released to Sony TV users, and is probably going to roll out to most prior to the November 1 launch of the Apple TV+ streaming service. The Apple TV app appears to be rolling out worldwide, as a user in Brazil received the update.
On smart TVs, Apple's TV app provides access to TV shows and movies bought through iTunes, Apple TV Channels, and, later this week, Apple TV+.
Apple today 
