Apple’s AirTag is a cost-effective Bluetooth tracking solution designed to help you track and find your misplaced stuff like keys, wallets, bags, and luggage. If you’re not familiar with AirTags, one question you might have is, do AirTags use RFID?
AirTags do not use RFID for identification and tracking. Instead, AirTags use Bluetooth technology and rely on nearby Apple devices that are in the Find My network for location tracking.
In this article, I cover topics like, what is RFID, how do AirTags communicate, and much more.
What Is RFID?
Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID for short, is a technology that uses radio waves to identify an object. These invisible radio waves can communicate the identification data of an object, just like the VIN of a vehicle is used to identify it.
Three components make up an RFID system, the tag, sometimes referred to as a smart label, hardware, and software, that’s it. So let’s take a high-level look at each of these components.
A tag or smart label is the actual RFID antenna that is attached to the object and is programmed with the data to specifically identify it. Next up is the hardware component, these are the physical components needed to communicate with the RFID tag like an RFID reader. And lastly, we have the software. The software allows you to visualize the radio waves and convert the data into alphanumeric characters that are easy for you to read.
Do AirTags Have RFID?
AirTags do not use RFID. AirTags do however rely on Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology for identification and communication.
Each AirTag uses a technology called Ultra Wideband along with Bluetooth to accurately determine its distance and direction from your Apple device and therefore allowing you to easily track down any lost item. If an AirTag is no longer within Bluetooth range of your Apple device it will leverage other Bluetooth devices on the global Apple Find My network and use these devices to broadcast its position.
If your AirTag is close to you, your Apple device, using Precision Finding, will lead you straight to it. This technology makes AirTags perfect for finding lost keys, tracking lost backpacks, and other stuff. Precision Finding uses Ultra Wideband technology to provide spacial and directional information on your supported Apple iPhone or iPad.
How Does An AirTag Communicate?
An AirTag communicates by sending a Bluetooth signal to nearby Apple devices in the Find My network. These devices then send the AirTag’s location data to iCloud so it can be seen on the Find My map, all while happening anonymously and encrypted to protect your privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, I have answered all of your questions related to, do AirTags use RFID. However, you may still have other questions surrounding Apple AirTags. If you do, below I answer some common frequently asked questions.
What is an AirTag’s Bluetooth range?
Does RFID blocking interfere with Bluetooth?
Do AirTags use NFC?
Final Thoughts On Do AirTags Use RFID
So, in conclusion, do AirTags use RFID? AirTags do not use RFID for identification and location tracking. AirTags do however rely on Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology for identification and communication.