Yes, you can make your AirTags last for 10 years on a single battery – but you won’t like how it’s done

Elevation Lab Time Capsule

ZDNET Highlights

• This extends battery life by up to a decade.
• It is water and dust resistant.
• However, this adds bulk to the sleek AirTag.

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apple airtags Has revolutionized every aspect of my life. From finding my keys and wallet in the morning to keeping track of my luggage while traveling, not a day goes by when I don’t open the Find My app to locate something lost or check that something is still where it’s supposed to be.

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But I have two misconceptions about AirTags. Firstly, the shape is awkward and does not allow direct attachment to things. The second issue is the battery life of one to two years. The battery life issue is particularly frustrating, and I consistently have a few AirTags that require new batteries. I have now resorted to Buying CR2032 Coin Batteries by the Dozen,

Well, a company called ElevationLabs has solved both of these issues with the TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case. As the name suggests, this is an AirTag case that can make it last for a decade.

Tough and IP69-rated

The case is made of tough, fiber-reinforced composite construction, complete with a gasket that seals it with quality CNC-machined fasteners to an IP69 rating (completely dust-proof and able to withstand high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning). An Allen key is also provided for assembly.

All you need to do is add an AirTag and some AA batteries.

Speaking of batteries, ElevationLabs recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, and I second it. These batteries provide excellent longevity, stable power output, and in many years of using them, I have never experienced a leak. Avoid using inexpensive alkaline batteries for this type of project, because if the battery explodes and its corrosive substance leaks everywhere, you risk damaging both the AirTag and the case.

easy to assemble

Get everything ready, open the AirTag and put the battery and battery cover aside. Fit the batteries into the case, place the AirTag over the metal power plate, put the cover on and screw it down.

A word on screws: they should only be tight enough to gently compress the gasket. I suggest working slowly, tightening one screw at a time until they are hand tight. No need to go all beast mode on them.

I was curious about the overall quality of the TimeCapsule, its dust and water resistance ratings, and whether having an AirTag in a case reduces its effectiveness.

The build quality is exceptional, and the fit and finish is excellent. The case is tough and completely water and dust-resistant. I’ve dropped it and trampled on it without any worries.

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As far as the AirTag’s range inside and out, I tested it in the narrow streets of Marrakesh and found no difference in detection range or location accuracy. I did notice that the case muffles the speaker a bit, but it was still audible in the background noise.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

apple airtags are great, but ElevationLabs TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case Enhances their functionality for various applications. While the AirTag is perfect for attaching to keys or hiding in a wallet or purse, the TimeCapsule is ideal for use in luggage, camera cases, toolboxes, vehicles or similar situations where extra size isn’t an issue.

A single TimeCapsule costs $20, while a four-pack costs $40, so picking up a larger pack is no easy task.

My only concern is that Apple may change the form factor of the AirTag sometime soon. So, my advice is to have AirTags ready for all the TimeCapsule cases you buy and maybe even keep a few extra ones on hand.