Apple's new location beacon pairs with an iPhone, boasting superior privacy for the owner of those devices, but some might be wondering if it could it be used to secretly track other people, becoming a stalking tool. The AirTag was expected to be released last year, but perhaps the reason for the delay was to resolve these concerns. Apple paid particular attention to privacy and security issues with its tracker, not only for the owner of the AirTag but also for others.
The AirTag is remarkably capable for such a small and inexpensive device, containing a user-replaceable battery, ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE), and Near-Field Communication (NFC) transmitters/receivers, an accelerometer for detecting movement, and a speaker. The vast Find My network made up of hundreds of millions of compatible iPhone models means an AirTag can be located with ease and precision almost anywhere in the world. This combination of various technologies allows three different types of finding, via map directions, by triggering a sound from the AirTag, or Precision Finding via UWB, which shows heading and range to the lost item.