Apple’s AirTags—and virtually every other Bluetooth tracker—might last you a year before you have to change the battery. I know this because all my AirTags are dead, and I always forget to buy new batteries. That’s why the ElevationLab’s Time Capsule for your AirTags is so appealing. It promises to make your tag last 10 years instead of one because it uses AA batteries.
ElevationLab claims the $20 capsule for your $30 AirTag is rated IP69 for dust and waterproofing, meaning it is water resistant to rain and should survive for up to 30 minutes at a three-foot depth. Otherwise, the construction is incredibly simple. Two AA batteries link to a charging contact pad. You remove the Airtag’s backplate and battery, then screw the two halves of the shell together.
The other benefit of ditching the CR2032 coin battery is the little capsule looks less like an AirTag and more like a small case for holding drill bits. If you’re concerned that a carjacker will spot your AirTag and toss it out the window, it may offer more peace of mind. Still, the normally coin-sized Bluetooth Tracker takes up much more space than usual. At the very least, ElevationLab claims its shell material, a “fiber-reinforced carbon,” shouldn’t reduce the range or quality of your signals to and from your AirTag.
It’s a bigger and heavier device as well. You also need to consider the quality of your AA batteries. In its blog post, ElevationLab recommended Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries to maximize the battery extender’s shelf life. Those batteries are 1.5V with a capacity of 3,000 mAh, and Energizer claims they should last for a long time without issue in various temperatures. Either way, you shouldn’t just leave the batteries in the shell and forget them. You’d be wise to periodically take the shell apart to check on the state of the box. Lesser-quality alkaline batteries may start to leak after a few years.
ElevationLab has been in the business of making mounts and various other AirTag accessories, so it knows its way around Apple’s trackers. That said, even the device’s shell appears like something you could make with a few minutes in a 3D model program and an hour at a 3D printer. We’d love to see some DIYers take this same design and craft a few custom Time Capsules, maybe even making them work with non-Apple trackers.
The Time Capsule is sold out on ElevationLab’s site, though you can nab one on Amazon. There’s never been a better time to grab a Bluetooth tracker. AirTags now facilitates a Share Item Location software feature for iPhones. You can share a link to your item’s location, and some airlines, like United, are already letting you put those links on a lost luggage report.
Apple is reportedly planning to update its AirTags next year to increase their range, though there’s no word whether this may change the shape or size of its shell. At the very least, sticking your AirTag in a giant case will make it less capable of being used for stalking.
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