Battery replacement guide for AirTag and third party Find My anti-lose device
When choosing anti-lose devices in the Apple Find My ecosystem, battery“Maintainability” is often the key to long-term performance that is easily overlooked — after all, no one wants anti-lose devices to die prematurely because their batteries run out, or have to pay a high cost due to the complexity of replacements. There are significant differences in battery design (replaceable/non-replaceable/rechargeable) , lifetime and maintenance between Apple’s native AirTag and third-party certified products such as Chipolo and Pebblebee, this is directly related to ease of use, environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. In this article, we will explain the battery details of AirTag and the mainstream third party Find My anti-lose device, from replacement steps, life parameters to selection recommendations, help you choose the right device for your needs (long-term use, portability, environmental preferences) and avoid“Battery anxiety” in subsequent use.
The battery replacement options for the AirTag and third-party anti-drop devices that support the Apple Find My app vary by product design, but here’s how:
AirTag battery replacement
AirTag’s battery is user-replaceable, and the official design explicitly supports this:
Battery type: CR20323V button lithium battery (universal model, available at most convenience stores and electronics stores) .
How to replace it:
Press down and turn the AIRTAG’s stainless steel battery cover counterclockwise to remove the old battery.
Insert the new battery, making sure the positive (+) is pointing up. A beep will confirm the connection.
Turn the battery cover clockwise to lock, making sure the three snaps are aligned with the slot.
Key features and advantages:
Battery life: about 1 year (affected by frequency of use, e. g. frequent triggering of the find function shortens battery life) .
Benefits: no need to rely on after-sales, low replacement costs (a few yuan per battery) , to avoid one-time waste of equipment, long-term use of more environmentally friendly.
Cautions:
Keep out of reach of children. It is recommended to choose batteries with bitter coating (e. g. Duracell designed for AirTag) to prevent ingestion.
If your iPhone or Find My app says“Low battery”, change it to avoid compromising your location.
Battery replacement status of other Find My anti-lost devices
Find My-enabled third-party anti-drop devices (such as Chipolo, Pebblebee, Micflip, Tile, etc.) vary widely in design and need to be brand-specific:
1. Third-party devices with replaceable batteries (CR2032 Universal)
Micflip MGP P09:
Using CR2032 Battery, you need a metal clip to open the back cover. The replacement procedure is similar to AirTag. The battery life is about 1 year.
Chipolo ONE Spot:
Optimized for Find My models, use, replaceable CR2032 battery life of about 1 year, no tools to open the case can be replaced, compatibility and convenience close to AirTag.
Some early Tile models (e.g. Tile Mate 2020) :
Support CR2032 battery replacement, but the new multi-turn non-replaceable or charging design, purchasing attention to distinguish between versions.
2. Non-replaceable but refreshable devices
Chipolo Card Spot:
Ultra-thin card design, built-in, non-replaceable battery, up to 2 years of life (due to better power control) ; no need to throw away the battery when it runs out, Chipolo provides an official recycling program, users can get a discount on old equipment replacement, reducing e-waste.
Tile Slim:
The battery is built-in and non-replaceable, with a life span of about 3 years. It needs to be replaced as a whole after exhaustion. There is no official recycling service, and the cost performance is slightly lower than Chipolo Card Spot.
3. Eco-friendly devices with rechargeable design
Pebblebee Clip/Card (Find My) :
The Clip model supports USB-C charging, and the Card model supports wireless charging. The battery lasts for 3-6 months on a single charge (depending on usage) , avoiding frequent battery changes, for sustainability-minded users.
Some new Chipolo models (e.g. Chipolo Loop) :
USB-C charging design, battery life of about 6 months, both portable and environmentally friendly, no need to buy additional batteries.
4. Built-in battery case integrated with other devices
Some devices that support Find My are not stand-alone anti-drop devices. The battery needs to be charged with the main device and can not be replaced by the user:
Belkin Soundform Freedom:
The headset itself has a built-in Battery, which can be recharged through a charging box. The Find My feature relies on the battery to power the headset and doesn’t require a separate battery replacement.
VanMoof smart electric vehicle:
Vehicle built-in large capacity lithium battery, Find My positioning module with the vehicle charge start, battery maintenance through the brand after-sales completion.
Official Apple accessories (such as MagSafe external battery) :
Built-in rechargeable battery, rechargeable via Lightning or MagSafe, Find My features and battery integration design, can not be replaced separately.
The choice and use of advice
Select the type by use case:
Long-term use, low cost: preferred AirTag, Chipolo ONE Spot (replaceable CR2032, easy access to battery) ;
Ultra-thin portable requirements: choose Chipolo Card Spot (2 years + refresh service) ;
Green and sustainable: Pebblebee Clip/Card or rechargeable CHIPOLO model (reduces single-use battery consumption)
Equipment integration requirements: such as headphones, electric vehicles, direct selection with Find My function of the main device, without additional consideration for battery replacement.
Focus on additional services:
Third-party devices are preferred brands that offer after-sales support, such as Chipolo’s recycling refresh and Pebblebee’s charging warranty, to avoid direct obsolescence when the battery runs out.
Confirm Authentication and compatibility:
All third-party devices must be Apple MFi-certified (the package says“Works with Apple Find My”) to ensure location stability and privacy protection (as per Apple data encryption standards) .
Conclusion
| Type of equipment | Battery design | Life | Replacement/maintenance mode | Core Strengths |
| Apple AirTag | Convertible CR2032 | About 1 year | Users replace themselves | Convenient, low cost, strong universality |
| Chipolo ONE Spot | Convertible CR2032 | About 1 year | Users replace themselves | Find My optimization, simple operation |
| Chipolo Card Spot | Non-replaceable built-in Battery | About 2 years | Official Recycling Refresh | Ultra-thin and portable, reduce replacement frequency |
| Pebblebee Clip/Card | Rechargeable (USB-C/wireless) | 3-6 months | Use as you go | Environmental Protection, no waste of disposable batteries |
| Integrated devices (headsets/electric cars) | Built-in rechargeable battery | With the main device | Main equipment charging + after-sales maintenance | No extra equipment required, all-in-one experience |
It is recommended to check the brand website or product packaging before buying, confirm the battery type, life and after-sales policy to avoid inconvenience caused by design differences; pay attention to waste classification when replacing batteries, button batteries need to be put into a special hazardous waste recycling bin to practice environmental protection.
On the whole, most of the Apple Find My compatible anti-lost devices on the market use the universal CR2032 button battery, so users can basically replace themselves, and the follow-up maintenance cost is low; A small number of devices (mostly ultra-thin cards) have non-replaceable batteries built into them, but these devices typically have a battery life of two to three years, and some brands offer refreshment services for older devices, some anti-drop devices are designed to be rechargeable, supporting USB-C, wireless charging and other ways to reduce the consumption of disposable batteries, but also easy to maintain the battery through charging, meet the needs of different users for environmental protection and convenience.
