My AirTags kept dying, so I switched to this tracker that lasts five years

Elevation Lab 5-Year Compact TimeCapsule

ZDNET Key Takeaways

• Elevation Lab’s 5-Year Time Capsule is available now starting at $20.
• It increases the AirTag’s battery life by up to five years and runs on AAA power, so it doesn’t add extra bulk.
• They are not as loud as AirTags, but they are loud enough.

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Regular readers will know that I am the Apple AirTag biggest fan These little UFO shaped search tags have saved me countless headaches when it comes to lost items. I have AirTags on pretty much anything I can attach AirTags to, but small saucers aren’t the most convenient way to attach them.

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Lifting laboratory is a company that makes accessories to address this problem and I have become a big fan of everything this company makes. You need a way to attach an AirTag to keys, bags, bicycle, jacketsand even you cat either dog? Elevation Lab has you covered with their line of battery packs.

A particularly interesting product from Elevation Lab is the 10 year time capsule — a battery for an AirTag that replaces the CR2032 button batteries with two AA lithium batteriesincreasing battery life from months to a decade.

The problem with the 10-year TimeCapsule is its size. It’s a little thick, about the size of a chocolate bar. It’s ideal for storing in a vehicle or luggage, but is quite bulky for smaller items.

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I found myself wishing the company would do something similar, but smaller. Maybe using AAA batteries instead of AA. Yes, this would reduce battery life, but it would still be measured in years.

Well, the people at Elevation Lab have accomplished… a Smaller and more compact TimeCapsule Powered by smaller AAA batteries, giving the unit a five-year runtime.

The tag is IP69 rated to prevent water and dirt from entering. It’s easy to assemble (the hex wrench you need comes with the kit) and all you have to do is add a couple of AAA lithium batteries. The capsule is also well built, just as you’d expect from Elevation Lab. There’s quality gasketing between the pieces to keep nonsense out, and even the fasteners are captive so they don’t fall out and get lost.

When the AirTag is installed in the case, it works normally, and although the speaker is somewhat quieter, it is still loud enough to help you locate your lost item.

This might have come in handy the other day, when the AirTag I had secured in my hiking backpack died unexpectedly. I received the first warning in the morning and it abruptly disappeared later that day, leaving my equipment vulnerable to loss.

ZDNET Buying Tips

He Elevation Lab Compact TimeCapsule 5 Years It is a product that I was waiting for and the price is correct, with individual, two packagesand packs of four available for $19.99, $29.99, and $39.99, respectively.

I modified mine slightly by adding some double-sided industrial Velcro to the back of the tag so I can stick it to things, but they work just as good out of the box.