At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Estimated 10-year lifespan versus 6 to 12 months for an AirTag-compatible lithium coin battery





• Waterproof against steam cleaning and high-pressure jets (IP69)





• Low cost relative to standard rugged waterproof AirTag cases





• Uses standard AA batteries





• Screws use standard hex-head style (hex wrench included)

Cons

• Larger form factor compared to AirTag

Our Verdict

The waterproof case design and use of standard AA batteries lets an AirTage in the TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case keep tracking stuff for extended periods.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Best Prices Today: TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case

Retailer

Price

$19.99

View Deal

Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide

Product

Price

Price comparison from Backmarket

Apple’s AirTag has proved an invaluable tool in tracking down baggage lost or delayed by airlines, misplaced items you’ve left behind, or stuff stolen from you, whether a bag containing a camera or your car or bike. Its biggest failing? The CR2032 lithium coin battery required to power it lasts about 6 to 12 months. (Apple claims it can last over a year, but I and many others see a more typical shorter life using brand-name batteries.)

Some companies offer Find My network compatible items certified by Apple that have non-replaceable batteries with longer lives, like the 2-year warrantied promise of the Chipolo Card Spot (review), after which they offer a discounted replacement. Others, like Pebblebee with its Card Universal (Apple or Google network support) (review) or Knog’s Scout Bike Alarm & Finder (review) let you recharge an internal battery via external contacts or a port.

Apple AirTag

Read our review

Best Prices Today:


$36.99 at Amazon

Now, there’s something new: not a new Find My device, but a new case that incorporates external batteries. With an estimated 10-year lifespan using two extended-use lithium AA batteries, the Elevation Lab TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case may be an inexpensive answer for certain use cases where you want to go huge periods between changing batteries.

A clever case adds external batteries

The AirTag gave rise to a huge number of cases (now numbering in the hundreds) from dozens of companies. But only one has risen to the challenge of long life. Elevation Lab, an early maker of rugged AirTag cases for bikes, pet collars, and other uses, has released the TimeCapsule 10-Year Battery Case. (Yes, it’s called a “TimeCapsule,” one word, and has nothing to do with Apple’s discontinued networked Time Machine/AirPort Base Station product, the Time Capsule.)